Dominican formators from eight countries participate in Asia-Pacific conference
The 11th Asia-Pacific Formator’s Course, “Authentic Dominican Formation: Forming Preachers for Today,” was held in Caleruega, Philippines, from January 3–26, 2026. In this formator’s course, 15 formators—six Apostolic Sisters and nine friars—from the Asia-Pacific region participated. The sisters and brothers who participated in this formator’s program were from eight countries (Pakistan, Taiwan, the Philippines, Indonesia, Korea, Vietnam, India, and Myanmar).
From the very beginning, the ministry of preaching was part of Jesus’ mission, and he called disciples to follow him. It is remarkable just how much time and energy he devoted to forming his disciples to be preachers in their turn. He gave them precise instructions on how they were to go out (cf. Mt 10:5–15). He lived and travelled with them and explained his teachings to them, forming them to face challenges, and to become living links of God’s love, loving God and neighbour above all (Tul. 71). Formation, and especially the formation of preachers, is the most important and effective form of ministry; therefore, it is important how we form our brothers and sisters, how we shape their minds and hearts, and how we mediate to them the saving mercy of God.
Asia-Pacific, with its rich history and diverse traditions, is shaped by challenges unique to this vibrant part of the world, which require authentic training, experiences, and perspectives. Yet within each challenge there lies an opportunity for growth and innovation. Good formation requires a real investment and sacrifice from all, both those charged with formation and those being formed. Our mission will flourish only if we are willing to invest in formation. Every brother and sister in the Order has the right to a full and authentic Dominican formation that makes us like our teacher, Jesus. This calls us to ensure that new formators are able to develop the necessary skill sets for their work and that they receive appropriate accompaniment (Tultenango 200).
Formation, in its essence, is not just the acquisition of knowledge but a holistic development of mind, spirit, and character. To preach Christ’s message, we are called to become like Him. From His love, we learn to love our sisters and brothers, to care for each other, and to daily take up our cross and die to ourselves so as to live for God. For the authentic formation of our sisters and brothers, we need to have a solid and welcoming formation community, a properly structured conventual life, and a sufficient number of brothers in formation and trained formators (cf. RFG 59–62).
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