This formation is about supporting leaders to grow in self-awareness, as well as relational awareness within a group, experiencing being accompanied within the community and so, in turn, accompanying others entrusted to them.
Awareness
The growth that God invites us to
is not so much by way of acquisition, nor is it by achievement or even by our abilities, but by embarking on a journey of self-discovery through awareness and understanding who we are. To grow, we need to become more awake and to experience life as it is, not how we think it ought to be.
Only together as a communion of pilgrims
may we mutually inspire and challenge each other to grow in perception and wisdom to see and live the truth as it is – “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them” (Mt18:20)
In this process of awareness in group development
participants become more self-aware of how they are endowed as a child of God in the community they are to live out their baptismal commitment. The skills that are developed will help leaders to more effectively and authentically build up small Catholic communities.
Accompaniment
It is a “walking with”
It is a pilgrimage with Christ to the Father.. it must lead others ever closer to God, in whom we attain true freedom – Evangelii Gaudium (EG) n. 170.
It is “compassionate listening”
This accompaniment must be steady and reassuring, reflecting our closeness and our compassionate gaze which also heals, liberates and encourages growth in the Christian life (EG n. 169).
It is at the “service to the mission of evangelisation”
Genuine spiritual accompaniment always begins and flourishes in the context of service to the mission of evangelisation (EG n. 173).
Only through respectful and compassionate listening can we enter on the paths of true growth and awaken a yearning for the the Christian ideal: the desire to respond fully to God’s love and to bring to fruition what he has sown into our lives.
Evangelii Gaudium n. 171
Here is a previous participant’s testimony after attending this training module:
To find out more or to enquire about customised training, please send an email to rofina.tham@catholic.org.sg.