Image from InFormation 2018 Number 4, Winter

InFormation 2018 No. 4 : Book Review, The Trusted Advisor, by Kathryn Clauss, IHM

InFormation Bulletins - InFormation 2018 No.4 Winter

"The information was clearly focused on trust building and relationship sustaining work in the world of business and consulting professions. As I listened, it quickly became clear that this text was timely and relevant for those in Church-based ministries across the board, and in particular, for those in vocation and formation ministries. Trustworthiness is essential to the manner in which we co-create and foster a culture of trust, offer counsel and process discernment with those we serve, and nurture relationships that facilitate openness, integrity, and growth."


Click here to access the full article.
Members must be logged in to view this content

Author: 
Clauss, Kathryn, IHM
Image from InFormation 2019 Number 1, Spring

InFormation 2019 No. 1 : Lifelong Formation for Franciscan Men in the U.S. : Musings from the Margins, by Michael A. Perry, OFM

InFormation Bulletins - InFormation 2019 No.1 Spring

"This same idea of spiritual accompaniment finds echo in the spiritual vision of St. Francis of Assisi. Francis models this concept of spiritual accompaniment through his regular visits to special places where he could step back from missionary engagement, and step into an intense experience of listening to the voice of God in the Sacred Scriptures, and in the events of his life and that of his brothers and of his ‘times’. Curiously, Francis never goes into the ‘silence’ of the mountain caves or other places alone; he is always accompanied by several of the friars."


Click here to access the full article.
Members must be logged in to view this content

Author: 
Perry, Michael A., OFM

WEBINAR | SAYING "YES" TO THE CALL OF AGING

Often older religious comment “No one taught me how to do this time of life.” Called in Baptism to share in the mission of Christ, the spiral of call moves through all the different phases of discipleship. This webinar is designed to offer older religious a spiritual model of aging and support them in their desire to

  • Re-vision/ re-vitalize their call into the second half of life
  • Find meaning and purpose on their journey into radical discipleship
  • Become a spiritually transcendent elder

Sr. Ann Billard, OLM, Ph.D. is a Sister of Charity of Our Lady of Mercy with many years of pastoral ministry experience. She is a certified grief recovery specialist and has graduate degrees in pastoral counseling from Loyola University in Maryland. Currently coordinating Transformative Aging programs, she provides spiritual direction, lectures, workshops, and retreats on grief recovery and the spirituality of aging. She has presented at national conferences and to groups of older adults both nationally and internationally.

Click here

WEBINAR | PRAYER IN TIMES OF SUFFERING

Every person encounters the mystery of suffering in his or her life and in the lives of loved ones. Those of us who minister in the Church come face to face with this mystery often, as we are called to be present to those who suffer in different ways. Vowed religious are affected by the reality of suffering within religious community. This webinar will address the challenges of talking about God and talking to God in times of suffering. We will draw upon four dimensions from the Judeo-Christian tradition that can serve as resources for us in grappling with the mystery of suffering.

Robin Ryan, CP, PhD is a Passionist priest and theologian who serves as Associate Professor of Systematic Theology and Director of the Master of Arts in Theology Program at Catholic Theological Union. He received his Ph.D. in systematic theology from The Catholic University of America. He is the author of numerous articles and recordings on theological and spiritual topics. He edited and contributed to the book Catholics on Call: Discerning a Life of Service in the Church (Liturgical Press, 2010). He is the author of God and the Mystery of Human Suffering: A Theological Conversation Across the Ages (Paulist Press, 2011). He recorded a series of CDs on the topic of God and the Mystery of Human Suffering for Now You Know Media. He is the author of the forthcoming book Jesus and Salvation (Liturgical Press, April 2015). He is also a contributor to and English-language editor of the forthcoming Diccionario de la Pasión (Madrid, San Pablo).

Click here

WEBINAR | THE HIDDEN COST OF BEING CONNECTED: COMPANIONSHIP, CREATIVITY, AND CONTEMPLATION

We live in an increasingly wireless world connected by screens: smart phones, tablets, laptops, TVs, to name a few. There is a potential to be connected to someone at every moment of the day on almost every place on earth. This webinar will address some of the "hidden costs" of connected living, in particular: healthy companionship, creativity and contemplation. This reality, sooner or later, surfaces for us personally and in ministry, but particularly in initial and lifelong formation settings. We will explore ways to navigate and manage the blessing of this technology, as well as what can become an affliction and a hindrance to what and who we hope to be.

Sister Sue Pontz is a member of the Sisters of Saints Cyril and Methodius. Currently, she is a member of the Congregational Leadership Team and a Co-Vocation Director. She ministers at Oblate School of Theology in San Antonio, Texas as the Director of Instructional Technology. Sister Sue has an Ed.D. in Instructional Technology, an MA in Theology and has recently completed her training to be a spiritual director.

Click here

WEBINAR | RETIREMENT: AN INVITATION TO TRANSFORMATION

For members of religious communities retirement is often seen as a signal to be ‘recycled.”  How do we respond to the too frequently asked question, “What do you do?” when ‘doing’ no longer fills our days?  What is the invitation embedded in this life event we call retirement?  We will consider some of the attitudes that impact our response, the ordinary phases that are to be expected, some suggestions on how to move through them and the potential of new life that lies beyond.

Paula Cooney is a member of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary of Monroe, Michigan.  Using her background in gerontology, spiritual direction and leadership in her own congregation, she has developed programs and retreats for seniors on a variety of topics that impact the journey of aging.  Since the mid 90’s the core of her ministries have been with Elders, most recently as the director of a retirement center for a community of women religious.  Paula has been an eldercare consultant with NRRO for the past 12 years.

Click here

WEBINAR | THE TRANSFORMATION OF RELIGIOUS LIFE: REFLECTIONS FROM “YOUNGER” MEMBERS

This webinar will present the findings from a recent survey of sisters under 50 years of age who were invited to share their reflections on the transformation of religious life. The results of their reflections will be offered in this webinar in order to elucidate and amplify the voices of younger members, sharing what they see emerging on the horizon and enriching our collective understanding of the ongoing transformation of religious life.

Dr. Ted Dunn is a licensed clinical psychologist with over thirty years of experience providing consultation, training and facilitation services to religious communities and other faith-based organizations throughout the United States and internationally. He regularly writes, presents, and works with vocation/formation groups, leadership teams and congregations at all levels. The context for this webinar is work he is currently doing accompanying communities who are discerning God’s call to new life through a Journey of Transformation.

Click here

WEBINAR | RELIGIOUS FORMATION: NAMING THE PRESENT MOMENT

As we enter a new year, what is our present moment in terms of the issues we face within religious formation? What are our underlying assumptions about our world and our church? Where does our hope lie? In 2021 and beyond, what should be our agenda moving forward? This webinar is an an exercise in naming and explores our response as believers in Christ’s Good News. 

Webinar with Ronald Rohlheiser, OMI

Click here