:: Initial Formation

Initial formation is of paramount importance to the fruition of salesian mission, more so in our zmb vice province. This crucial stage takes off from the time of aspirantate, prenovitiate, novitiate, post- novitiate, practical training etc. In zmb vice province we have atleast 3  aspirantate houses, prenovitiate, novitiate; while post novitaite is in moshi afe province.

The Salesian journey in ZMB begins with the aspirantate. the formation of an aspirant to salesian life beings around April every year. It starts in the local communities where the experience of Salesian life is shown to the candidate. At this stage the candidate really gets into where it’s happening as regards salesian apostolate be it in the youth centre, parish, etc, being exposed to various activities so as to broaden one’s worldview of the Salesian vocation. At the moment [year 2009] we have 4 aspirants (3 in Malawi and 1 in Zambia) in the province. After a period of 9 months the local community will recommend the candidate to the next stage of formation called: Pre-novitiate. In ZMB Vice-province the communities of Hwange (Zimbabwe), Lilongwe (Malawi) and Chingola (Zambia) are officially aspirantate communities for those countries.

In the pre-novitiate all recommended candidates report to Bauleni in Lusaka, which happens to be the house for the pre-novitiate. Here, candidates are exposed to a more formalised experience of salesian vocation through daily routine in the community, such as prayers, manual work and conferences. At this stage the candidate meets with other candidates who did their aspirantate experience in other salesian communities, most especially those outside Zambia. During this stage of formation, the candidates receive some lessons on Catechesis, Scripture, English language, Psychology, and other subjects which will help the person get to know himself better. However, the stress on studies at this particular stage are not overemphasized since, the pre-novitiate is the preparatory experience to the novitiate where most of the spiritual input will be given. More stress is given to the human formation, formation in Christian values and deepening of the Salesian experience of work with the young. The Pre-novitiate ends in July when the candidates take one month holidays before entering the novitiate. This year 2009, there are 3 pre-novices in this formation stage (1 Malawian and 2 Zambians).

In the novitiate the candidates (or novices) begin the Salesian life. The novitiate experience lasts for one year and the candidates lives there under the guidance of the novice master who as spiritual guide helps the candidate reflect on the Salesian vocation in view to the commitment of religious life through the profession of vows.

The year of novitiate is dedicated fully to prayer, reflection and manual work. No studies of secular nature are conducted at the novitiate. In ZMB the Vice-province the novitiate is located in Kabwe (Zambia). The novitiate in Zambia also receives candidates from South Africa, where until two years ago it was the residence for the novitiate. This year 2010 in the novitiate there are 3 novices (two from Zambia and 1 from Malawi).

The period of formation which follows the novitiate is called Post-novitiate, which is a follow up and deepening in the reflection and assimilation of the Salesian religious life and charism. The experience of Post-novitiate is done in Moshi (Tanzania) and is under the care of the Salesian province of Eastern Africa (AFE). In Moshi there are 13 post-novices in the three years of Philosophy. The Post-novitiate lasts for 3 years.