Formation Meeting – summaries of Day 1-10 –
Day 1
The formation meeting began with a morning prayer and words of welcome by Sr Carmel Swords and Sr Veronica Fuhrmann, the two leaders of our Institutes. They welcomed the formators from all parts of the world: “This is a global gathering, a real feast of mind and heart.” And they underlined the special setting of the common formation meeting of the two Institutes who are becoming one: “This will be a lived experience of merger – the first taste of the proposed new congregation for some of you. Let us embrace it with trust and open heart. Let us turn up with our best self every day and an attitude of unconditional positive regard for all that will unfold.”
With the help of Anjet, the facilitator of the meeting, the participants got to know each other better and discovered not only where they come from and where they are missioned. They also discovered who are those who have built the ways on which women have been able to join the congregations in the past and who will be the women to continue this valuable work in the future.
The participants discovered the sacred space of the Sanctuario de Loyola and connected with it in a spiritual way during a rite led by Sr Estela asking the places to suuport the work and the discernemtn that will happen here during the following days.
In an exchange in small groups, the formators spoke of their hopes and fears for the future and for this meeting and expressed their gratitude to be able to walk this path together.
The afternoon was characterised by time for personal reflection in the Conversation Chapel, sharing of the personal vocation stories in small groups as well as reflecting about the experience in the plenary. The memory of the unique “love story” of each of the sisters with God and the expression of the hope that God will keep on calling humans to follow him and create new love stories ended the first work sessions. A mass celebration in the Conversation Chapel was the crowning finale of the day.
Day 2:
The second day of our meeting was characterized by a focus on the various forms of formation within the two branches of Mary Ward’s Institute.
After opening with prayer and faith sharing, the participants first discussed separately for CJ and IBVM what is precious to them in their religious formation, what questions they have and what makes them curious about the formation of the respective other branch. In an intensive exchange, it became clear how diverse the current programs are – adapted to the cultural backgrounds of the young women who are interested in religious life. An honest reporting and listening on essential questions and topics arose very quickly.
In the afternoon, our facilitator Anjet gave an impulse on the topic of adaptive leadership. She explained what characterizes this style of leadership and presented methods that allow leaders to deal with complex situations, changing contexts and as yet unknown challenges.
In silent reflection and during an Emmaus walk, the formators allowed the new information and what they had heard from each other to sink in. At the end of the day, they realized that it is important for the tasks ahead to get to know as many perspectives as possible and to take a step back again and again in order to recognize what God’s call is for the formators, the superiors and the women interested in our religious life – in order to bring the various calls and vocations together well.
All these subjects were brought to the mass in the Basilica of the Loyola Sanctuary.
Recap day 3: Safeguarding workshop
After faith shring, we entered in a three day workshop with Tina Campbell on Safeguarding. The formators reflected on where they are in their personal journey of safeguarding. During the day, input was provided – definitions, different forms of abuse, … There was time for questions, exchange in the plenary as well as in small groups; there were moments for personal reflection as well as for sharing and listening in the plenary.
The day concluded with Eucharist and a small celebration of foundation day – as the 4 November 1822 was the day when Theresa Ball came back from the Bar Convent and founded the IBVM.
Day 4:
After faith sharing, we entered in day 2 of our workshop on safeguarding with Tina Campbell. Throughout the day, our formators received input and had time for reflection on safeguarding issues. They treaded concerns, allegations and red flags, sexual abuse behaviours, responsibilities of leaders and formators.
There was also room for personal reflection and exchange in small groups on how to integrate the lessons learned. The workshop part of the day ended with the review of scenarios and case studies followed by eucharist in the Basilica of the Loyola Sanctuary.
Day 5:
After faith sharing in the morning, we started the third and last day of our safeguarding workshop with Tina Campbell. Following some time for reflection and collective processing of yesterday’s material, Tina led the participants through a series of safeguarding topics: the reality and possible causes of abuse in the Church, explanation of cognitive distortions, the reality of abuse in religious life and in formation. The formators absorbed and processed the information received and exchanged about their reality.
In the afternoon, the question of who to accompany and care for victim survivors of abuse including the creation of care and action plans as well as the use of codes of conduct in community life and ministry were source for discussion and exchange.
These content-rich and intensive days concluded with Eucharist.
Day 6:
A day off: Participants were free to discover the surroundings of the Sanctuary, climb the mountains, take off to the city of San Sebastián and the sea side. Others decided to relax and simply spend time together, and one even passed an exam (successfully).
Here are some impressions of this day:
Day 7:
Today, our formators listened to the experiences of the youngest participants, recently finally professed. These young women told us about their experiences in formation, what was enriching on their way to religious life, what was challenging and what they experienced as unsuitable for their growth within the congregation.
Individually, in small and larger groups we reflected on the experiences we had heard and our own experiences. At the end of the day, we gathered what was emerging from our reflections and what aspects will need continued work and attention.
A Eucharist in the chapel of the Spiritual Centre concluded a dense and fruitful day.
Day 8:
Today, we used the mothod of “World Cafés” to work more intensily on the 8 main topics that have emerged during the last days:
- Creating clarity around safeguarding meeting confidentiality and reporting
- Co-creating spaces for healing
- Nurturing and caring for formators
- Developing communities of loving kindness and compassionate living
- Enabling ongoing formation in safeguarding
- Enabling encouraging and supporting self care
- Empowering formee centered learning
- Widening the space so that formation is life giving
In a “World Café”, the participants can choose a topic and gather around a table to work with others interested in this topic. They write their thoughts and results on a paper. In a second round, the can change the table. A host stays at each table and gives an overview of what the first group has contributed. The new group can then build upon that and develop the topic further. In a third round, a third set of participants worked on the topics. In the fourth an final round, the groups condensed the subjects and presented them to the plenary in various creative ways.
This was a very enriching day with many deep conversations and exchange. The discussions were honest and respectful and the presentations were received with a moving silence and great consideration.
We ended the day with a Eucharist in the Loyola Basilica.
Day 9:
The day began with prayer and faith sharing in groups. We then exchanged in the plenary about our experiences of yesterday. Many formators expressed a deep gratitude for the work on the eight important topics. They feel that they have developed new, life-giving persepctives for formation and ways to integrate the formation in different cultural contexts.
They particularly appreciated the new ideas around self-care and self-authorisation and the new structures and paths that can grow from them.
The experience of unity between CJ and IBVM sisters was also particularly important to the participants. During these days, they experienced how they can work, live and grow together. The honesty and depth of the exchange as well as the unity in the solutions to open questions provides confidence and trust.
Everyone is aware that it will take time and energy to implement the new insights in their own provinces and regions and make them fruitful. However, many voices said that the past few days have strengthened them for this change and made them feel ready for new paths.
The two General Leaders also expressed their views. They encouraged the formators to continue working together and to exchange ideas and support each other across provincial and regional borders and regardless of hierarchical levels. They are ready to support the change – as the ELM held in September showed. Just as Mary Ward sought and prepared new ways that were suitable for her time, it is also important today to find ways in which the Spirit of God can work and inspire people.
The formators then exchanged in groups highlighting the needs of different stages of formation: Vocation – candidates/postulat – noviciate – tertianship/school of the heart – ongoing formation
Day 10 – closing day
The last day of our meeting started with one more round of faith sharing and prayer. We harvested all the movements and life-giving developments that have been created during these days. We talked about how to bring our results to our communities, Provinces and Regions and how we can continue to support each other in the role of formation and in change management.
All participants express how grateful they are for these special days in Loyola. Special thanks went to Anjet, our facilitator, and to Lucretia, Isabél, Jana and Hyacintha, our translators to English, Spanish, Korean and Slovak. Esther was thanked for fulfilling the tasks of communications and enabling those who could not be in Loyola to get an impression of the meeting.
After an afternoon spent at important places for Saint Ignatius, we shared the joy about our lives experience of merger, of honesty, trust and confidence and much laughter and dancing during a social event before closing this first joint Formation Meeting with an enriching and strengthening Eucharist.
