Statute

INSTITUTE OF PASTORAL FORMATION

1 – CONSTITUTION
The Institute of Pastoral Formation (IFP) was set up by the Archdiocese of Malta within the Pastoral Secretariat.

2 – CHAIR
The IFP has its chair at the Catholic Institute, Floriana.

3 – AIM
The IFP has the prime purpose of providing a holistic formation, as required by all the members for the Catholic community in Malta. In its effort to reinforce the identity of this community of brethren, the Institute intends offering opportunities for: (a) permanent formation, and (b) spiritual experiences; (c) promoting professional formation of pastoral workers for the performance of their ministries and other work; (d) and also providing experiences of dialogue with Maltese society.

4 – OBJECTIVES
The PFI offers the necessary assistance for meeting the following needs: To help individuals and Christian communities to attain maturity in wisdom, of heart, mind and soul; building up their identity as members of the Maltese Catholic community; To improve their understanding of God’s calling, hence acquiring a better understanding of their responsibility in the face of opportunities provided in our times; To gain strength in the face of the challenge to live and put into practice the Commandment of Love; To attaining a deeper understanding of the beauty inherent in the calling of faith; To enter into dialogue with the challenges put forward by present-day culture and way of thinking; To develop the necessary training, and understanding new methods of action by which, as Christians, they believe they can contribute through the ministerial role to which they feel called; To understand themselves as a people chosen and loved by the Creator, being sent as witnesses to the Risen Christ, who leads them on to a full personal, community and social life.

5 – ACTIVITIES
The PFI has the purpose of providing periods of holistic formation through: Drawing up a common project of formation for the Church in Malta; Providing a journey empowered by a biblical, theological, spiritual, moral and pastoral dimension; Dveloping a more specific project which would include teaching and training both at a general level and on more specialised levels; Poviding experiences of deeper spirituality, these being the mainstay for the disciple to follow in the footsteps of Christ; Directing the courses already being held within the Diocesan Secretariats and Commissions towards a coordinated operation, so as to implement the vision of a coordinated project according to the needs of the Archdiocese; Coperating with other organisations to identify specific areas of work within the Church, and finding out by detailed examination what skills, knowledge and means are needed for them; Cooperating with Diocesan and other organisations eet their requirements of formation; issuing certificates for the courses of pastoral formation; Preparing schemes of levels and standards suitable for the different courses; Ascertaining that the level, contents and methodology of the courses provided by the Diocese are of a satisfactory standard.

6 – MANAGEMENT AND DIRECTION
The PFI: Is a unit within the Pastoral Secretariat; Is managed by a Director appointed by the Archbishop for a period of five years, together with, a Board appointed by the Archbishop, from four to eight members who are qualified in different pastoral sectors of the Church; The Board can call individuals to help in the management and auditing of courses; will also operate from centres on a district basis and pastoral unities.

7 – ANNUAL REPORT
Once a year, the Director shall draw up a report on the working of the PFI. This report shall be presented during the month of May to the Pastoral Secretariat, to the Presbyterial Council, and to the Diocesan Pastoral Council.

8 – FINANCE
Every year the IFP shall draft the budget estimates. This together with the accounts of the PFI will be presented yearly to the Archbishop through the Pastoral Secretary.