The theme of this years eCourse is Words of Wisdom, Words of Grace. Our own experience attests to the power of words. Words of wisdom, words of grace spoken to us long ago may have lodged deep within, becoming a font of courage and inspiration in our own lives. In our current ministry as vocation and formation ministers, we desire that the words we speak offer wisdom and grace to those discerning a felt-call to religious life.

Words of Wisdom, Words of Grace is an opportunity to explore topics relevant to vocation and formation ministry alongside ministers from a variety of congregations. Sessions will be held on ZOOM and will include input, conversation, and small group discussion.

Our sessions will be held on ZOOM and will include input, conversation, and small group discussion.

Times:
9:30 am QLD/NSW/VIC/TAS
9.00am SA
7:30am WA

Sessions 1 & 2: 25 June & 16 July
Topic: Home Is Where We Start From: Family Dynamics & the Formative Process (2 sessions)
Description: Home is truly where we start from! These two sessions will explore how family experience (e.g., parenting styles; rules, roles, and rituals; sibling relationships, etc.) shapes a person throughout their life. The more aware discerners and those in initial formation are of these early family experiences, the more readily they may notice their influence as they explore their felt-call to religious life.

Session 3:13 August
Topic: Intergenerational Living: From Generation to Generation
Religious Life has always been intergenerational, yet the generations were more equally distributed across membership. Today, in light of the “longevity revolution” of the 20th century a large segment of those living religious life are over 60, while many in initial formation are much younger. Religious life is uniquely poised to intentionally embrace intergenerational living, making it a defining characteristic of its way of being in the world; choosing to make intergenerational relationships integral to its mission from “generation to generation.” In this session we will explore topics such as – fostering a culture of intergenerational living; intergenerational living as “relational learning”; and intergenerational solidarity – blessings and challenges.

Session 4: 17 September
Topic: Strengthening Skills for Accompaniment
One-on-one accompaniment of those discerning religious life is essential. Strengthening skills for this type of work is ongoing. This session will explore skills valuable to vocation and formation ministers, such as identifying and using accurate empathy, recognizing signs of acculturation stress, and working with silence. Each of these skills sharpens the minister’s capacity to better discern, along with the individual, their felt-call to religious life.