The Asian Religious Formation Institute (ARFI)

Being a member of an international religious congregation herself, the Founder, Sr. Jacqueline Blondin, MIC, in one of her travels in Asia, particularly Thailand in 1977, saw the need for a program that will tool and re-tool men and women religious formators in Asia. Most religious congregations in Asia then were in transition from western roots to a more inculturated, Asian expression of religious life. It was also at this time that the changes brought in the wake of Vatican II were shaking the Church, not the least the religious congregations and other Church institutions like the priesthood.

ARFI was born imperceptibly, as if from the mind of God and a blow from the Spirit while Sr. Jackie was in Thailand during a SAIDI process session in June 1977 with the Major Religious Superiors. The latter verbalized their need for a course designed to prepare and train people for the important task of religious formation particularly in Asia. Then and there, the Archbishop of Bangkok and the Bishop of Pattaya were consulted to find out what their views are on the matter. They agreed that there is a real need for a comprehensive program adapted to Asian culture. Such a program or course will equip male and female religious and priests to become personally adequate and skilled to meet the demands of a fast-evolving Asian Church.

This seed was in gestation in the heart of Sr. Jackie for almost two years since 1977 when it sprouted into an initial program she called the Asian Religious Formation Institute on January 15, 1979. It had been known as ARFI since then. To date, 31 groups have gone through the eight-month residential program from July 15-March 15 of each year. The first run, in 1977, had 17 participants – 7 from Thailand, 2 from Sri Lanka and 8 from the Philippines.

Why ARFI?

From the words of Sr Jackie herself: "Religious formation in the past had become very cognitive and 'spiritual' in its content and approach, forgetting the human aspect of formation. There is a need to provide a formation for formators wherein they themselves undergo sessions that will help them rediscover themselves and their vocation, and gain fresh insights re: formation for the Third World Church. "(JB, 1979)