This e-course offers congregational leaders and vocation/formation directors practical tools for religious life discernment and formation. It covers topics such as relational accompaniment, grief in community life, personality's role in spiritual growth, and transforming feedback for growth. Designed for personal and communal formation, the course requires full participation and is exclusively for congregational leadership and vocation/formation directors, rather than those in initial formation.
Since 1994, Mary Pat Garvin, RSM, Ph.D., has served nationally and internationally in vocation and formation ministry, focusing on training ministers. She has published extensively in journals likeHorizon and InFormation and received the 2017 Penet Award from the Religious Formation Conference (USA) for her contribution to formation ministry.

Time & Duration
Each seminar runs for 2.5 hours - Online

Start Times:

9:30 AM QLD/NSW/VIC/TAS
9:00 AM SA
7:30 AM WA

Event Details
Dates & Seminar Topics:

17 June 2025 - Introductory Seminar: Basic Concepts
This session is open to all participants, but specifically designed for those who are new to these continuing education sessions for vocation and formation directors. This session will explore six basic concepts that are the foundation of the course. These concepts can also be adapted for use in your own vocation and formation programs.
24 June 2025 - Graced Companionship: A Near Occasion of Grace
Graced companionship, a way of accompanying those discerning religious life, is strongly relational. It offers to those we accompany support, encouragement, as well as invitation and courage as they discern their readiness and capacity for religious life. This session will explore topics such as relational learning, reflective practice, and the role of “passionate commitment” in the life and ministry of vocation and formation directors.
22 July 2025 - Navigating Individual and Communal Grief with New Members
Image yourself entering religious life today! In some congregations, your desire and enthusiasm would soon be tested as you engaged in community conversations regarding the closure of ministries, withdrawing from parishes, and attending funeral services for yet another beloved member of the congregation. This session will explore the importance of including the topic of grief (individual and communal) within the formative process.
26 August 2025 - Exploring Personality Styles and Disorders and the Formative Process
Personalities, we all have one! This session will explore an understanding of personality – those enduring characteristics and behaviours, developed over a lifetime, which influence how a person experiences daily life. Topics will include personality styles and disorders, as well as the influence of personality on the development of a prayer life, community living, and ministerial service to God’s people.
23 September 2025 - Our Sexuality: Ever Ancient, Ever New
Ronald Rolheiser, OMI writes that “sexuality is inside us to help lure us back to God, bring us into a community of life with each other, and let us take part in God’s generativity.” This session will explore ways of accompanying those in initial formation as they explore their sexuality during each stage of the formative process.
21 October 2025 - Expressive Writing & Feed-Forward, Not Feed-Back
Writing, for many, is an act of discovery! For others, a deeper understanding of God, self, others, and the world is obtained through music, art, dance, etc. This session will explore how expressive writing is one tool that may enhance an individual’s discernment. The topic of feed-forward rather than feed-back will explore how directors may hone their own skills of accompaniment.

Fee:
$380 for the series (6 sessions)

RSVP:
Friday 30 May 2025

Enquiries: Natalia López Plata Ph: 02 9557 2695

E: secretariat@catholicreligious.org.au

www.catholicreligious.org.au/events

Cancellation Policy:
For details on our cancellation and refund policy, please visit our website: Cancellation Policy.

Contact the host of Graced Companionship - Continuing Education for Vocations and Formation Directors