Orientation to Formation

Updated 11/20/2025

The changing and hope-filled realities of religious life today raise challenging questions regarding the present and future life of the global Church. These questions are especially relevant to leaders and formators involved in the sacred ministry of initial formation. 

The critical question most often raised by leaders and formation directors alike is how best to accompany new members as they discern their call to religious life?

Overview

Orientation to Formation (OTF) is specifically designed for newly appointed formators, mentors and leadership liaisons to formation. OTF provides an overview of the opportunities, as well as the gifts and challenges embedded in the ministry. This program will provide a range of resources for formation ministers. It will also offer opportunities for formation ministers and leadership to connect and share best practices with presenters, RFC staff and other participants.

This year OTF will be offered as a 4-week online experience via Zoom. Participants will meet from 11 AM to 2 PM (CT) each of the four Tuesdays in September/early October 2025 (September 9, 16, 23, October 7). Preparatory materials will be sent in advance of each session. The online time together will consist of input, focused conversation in small groups, and large group sharing.

All participants are encouraged to establish ongoing individual and peer group supervision. Formators are encouraged to contact their RFC Member Area coordinator (see InFormation magazine) for more information about individual and peer group supervision. An optional fifth week (October 14, 2025) is designed specifically for elected leaders who have participated in the previous four sessions of OTF.

• Week I: Formation Ministry Today
• Week II: The Art of Accompaniment
• Week III: Relationship/Community: Locus of the Formative Journey
• Week IV: Religious Life: Ever Ancient, Ever New
• Week V (optional): The Role of Elected Leaders in the Formation Process (This day is for elected leaders. Elected leaders are strongly encouraged to attend all sessions). 

The deadline to register for this program is Friday, August 22.

Online registration will be available in February 2025

Facilitators

Mary Pat Garvin, RSM, PhD is a member of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas. She holds a doctorate in psychology from the Gregorian University where she was on the faculty from 1994-2001. Since 2001, Mary Pat has taught for Seton Hall University and worked with national and international conferences of Religious, as well as Religious congregations throughout North and South America, Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia. In 2017 she received the Mary Emil Penet, IHM Award from the RFC in recognition of her contribution to the ministry of initial and ongoing formation for women and men Religious in North American and internationally. Mary Pat is a Fellow in Human Formation with Saint Luke Institute in Silver Spring, Maryland. Her research interest is the interplay of spirituality and psychology in the promotion of a healthy and holy living of Religious Life.

Paul Michalenko, ST, PhD is a religious Brother with the Missionary Servants of the Most Holy Trinity. He has served as Novice director and coordinator of his congregation’s international vocation and formation programs while serving on the general council. He taught at the Institute of Religious Formation for 17 years and was director of that program for six years. Paul has served as a facilitator and organizational consultant to many church and nonprofit groups over the past thirty-five years. He has worked with women’s and men’s religious congregations, facilitating reconfiguration processes, assemblies, chapters, pastoral planning and other transition processes.

Tuition

Four-day package
Member rate: $400
Non-member rate: $500

Optional fifth day for leaders (This day is for elected leaders. Elected leaders are strongly encouraged to attend all four preceding sessions). 
$175 for members
$250 non-members

Five Day Package
Member rate: $450
Non-member rate $550