October is usually vocation promotion month for the scholastics. For the past years on the day right after the final exams, the scholastics busy themselves preparing for, if not actually already on their way to, their assigned area for vocation promotion. This year however, because of their late semestral break, scholastics were not able to join the vocation campaign. Instead, they underwent a series of formative activities during the two week vacation.

From October 19 to 20 the scholastics attended a retreat giving workshop conducted by Ms. Marie Buhain from the Center of Ignatian Spirituality. For two days they received input on how to conduct recollections and retreats creatively. At the last session of the workshop the scholastics, grouped according to their fields of interest in giving retreats, came up with their own modules for retreats and recollections.

The next workshop gave the scholastics a chance to learn the basics of accounting and how the Order specially the local community handles finances. Ms. Glenda Magculang from the accounting office was the resource speaker. After discussing the basics of accounting, she gave the scholastics a taste of a procurators’ work like petty cash replenishment.

After the basic accounting workshop the scholastics with their formators Fr. Evan and Fr. Boy, held their quarterly review.  They evaluated the activities of the community in the past semester based on the core values and the vision and mission of the community.

The break ended on November 3, just a day after All Souls’ Day.  The scholastics shifted back to their usual schedules; those going to school attended their first class for the second semester also on the same day. Thanks to the formation sessions, the scholastics faced the new semester renewed, rejuvenated, and re-energized.