Missionaries of Africa
- Ongoing Formation -

Places

" The apostles returned to Jesus, and told him all that they had done and taught. And he said to them, 'Come away by yourselves to a lonely place, and rest a while.' For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. And they went away in the boat to a lonely place by themselves" (Mark 6:30-32)

We are on common ground and the Gospel scene is familiar. Jesus invites us to slow down and to come to our senses. What is stopping us from doing it now?

We have probably all come to a reasonable modus vivendi where moments of relaxation are incorporated into our lives. We have adopted a certain rhythm of daily prayer, monthly recollections, and yearly retreats, as well as of regular holidays, reading a book, watching a film, playing tennis or golf, going for a walk or busy with computer games, etc. In a holistic approach to life all these means are there, helping us to come to a more balanced missionary life.

We may however have more difficulty in setting apart a longer period for updating and renewal, in taking time off for a Sabbatical. Yet this is not a luxury, and those of us who have never felt the need for "going away and resting a while" in view of a longer time of updating or renewal, should perhaps ask ourselves whether we are sufficiently concerned about our personal adaptation to a fast-changing world. Our Capitular Acts are clear about this, "Encourage confreres to take responsibility for their own ongoing formation, because education should be a life-long process". (CA 1998, 5.3)

Here are some elements that can help us in our reflection.

1. Reasons to take a Sabbatical:

· Health reasons (serious illness, need to recover, burn out, break down, normal ageing);
· New responsibility (asked by the Society, the Diocese or another Institution);
· New period in life (change of country, new step in our life, etc.)

We may be in need of a real sabbatical, which is of a period of time away, usually four months to a year, from active ministry. Sabbaticals are far from being a waste of valuable time. They are an opportunity for renewed commitment to what we recognize as our true vocation in life. They are a time for refreshment, deepening and enrichment.

2. Areas of interest during a Sabbatical:

· Academic formation in a specific field (updating ourselves in one specific area; it gives us above all information, new knowledge and skills);
· Personal Renewal (the main objective is the quality of our missionary life and work; this experience is for transformation of our inner being.)

We encourage personal renewal sessions. The areas where transformation is desirable are many. The Directory of Renewal Programmes of the Mill Hill Society (June 2000) gives the following summary:

· An ongoing evaluation of one's attitudes and life-style in the light of the Gospel.
· An ability to minister to oneself and to seek support from others for doing so.
· Sensitivity to one's needs as a human person in the midst of a busy ministry.
· An awareness of the various tensions affecting one's growth and ministry.
· A concern to develop and foster satisfying human relationships and friendships with others, including members of our Society and co-workers, men and women.
· Bodily well-being: health, exercise, eating, drinking and sleeping habits, suitable forms of leisure and relaxation.
· Psychological well-being: positive ways of passing through the growth processes of one's personal development, and the satisfactory resolution of inevitable internal and external tensions.

Being busy with these areas of life is doing inner work. Teilhard de Chardin describes Inner Work in this way:
"And so, for the first time in my life perhaps (although I am supposed to meditate every day!), I took the lamp and, leaving the zone of everyday occupations and relationships where everything seems clear, I went down into my inmost self, to the deep abyss whence I feel dimly that my power of action emanates. But as I moved further and further away from the conventional certainties by which social life is superficially illuminated, I became aware that I was losing contact with myself. At each step of the descent a new person was disclosed within me of whose name I was no longer sure, and who no longer obeyed me. And when I had to stop my exploration because the path faded from beneath my steps, I found a bottomless abyss at my feet, and out of it came - arising I know not from where - the current which I dare to call my life." (Le Milieu Divin, Fontana Books, p. 76-77)

3. Two models in view of taking a Sabbatical:

· Individually planned experience (you design your own programme with your supportive Spiritual Counsellor);
· Programmed experience (you enrol in an existing programme offered by a specialised institution).

4. What kind of Renewal Do you Need?

The choice for one of these different formats depends on your needs. Ask yourself the following question: What do you need, what is good for you now, at this moment of your life journey, for the particular person you are, in the missionary commitment you have taken?

5. The Sabbaticals organised by our Society of Missionaries of Africa:

· The Biblical Session and 30 Day's Retreat (S/R), from September to December in Jerusalem is proposed to confrères after 10 to 15 years of Missionary Oath (and to those who never had the experience of the Exercises of Saint Ignatius);
(See www.steanne.org)

· The Missionary Discipleship Today Session (MDT), from March to June in Jerusalem, for confrères who want to deepen their missionary commitment in the light of the orientations of our previous Chapters;

· The Session of Transition to the Third Age, from April to May in Rome, for confrères 60 and over. One of its goals is to help people to readapt in their own Province of origin;
· Another Session is organised every year in September, in Rome, for elderly confrères (70 and over).

. There are other Sessions for younger confrères organised by African Provinces (confrères in their first term) or by the Secretariat for Ongoing Formation : confrères in their 2nd term.

6. How Can one Prepare for a Sabbatical?

A proper preparation is important and even necessary. Arrangements will have to be made at the local level for your replacement in pastoral work. Moreover you will need time to gather the necessary information and to make an application. Also, the Society needs to budget for the cost of your sabbatical. Some programmes are very costly, and here also, some discernment is required.

Here are some of the questions that are part of a sound discernment:

· When you review your experience of missionary life and work, what have been the strengths and weaknesses in your missionary dedication?
· Are there areas you enjoy and find truly fruitful which you would want to enhance?
· How are things going with you physically, emotionally, intellectually, and spiritually?
· How have you dealt with change and transition? With openness, readiness to be of service or with anger?
· What are your plans for the future? What would you like to deepen in view of a more apt and effective service?
· How do you hope to relate your sabbatical to the needs of the Diocese or the Society, as well as to your own needs?

It is for the Superior of the Circumscription in which you work to give the go-ahead for your sabbatical. Information can be acquired from the Secretary for Ongoing Formation, according the type of Renewal you want to do. In this Website, you can find a list of different programmes we recommend, with their Websites.

7. A Word of Conclusion (A. De Mello):

"Calamities and Crises can bring Growth and Enlightenment," said the Master. And he explained it thus, "Each day a bird would shelter in the withered branches of a tree that stood in the middle of a vast deserted plain. One day a whirlwind uprooted the tree, forcing the poor bird to fly a hundred miles in search of shelter - till it finally came to a forest of fruit-laden trees."
And he concluded, "If the withered tree had survived, nothing would have induced the bird to give up its security and fly".

From the article of Luc Lefief
published in the Petit Echo no 924 (2001/8), pages 389-399

- Renewal Programmes recommended by the Society -

Belgium : Bruxelles : Lumen Vitae
(An International Institute of Catechetics and Pastoral Studies)
Internet : http://www.catho.be/lumen
- in French : Two year programme : diplôme d'études spécialisées
One year programme (September-June) : diplôme de catéchèse et pastorale
in 3 months (September-December): attestation de fréquentation
- in English : One year (September-June): Master's Degree in Religious Studies
3 months (September-December): attendance certificate.

- Institut d'études théologiques (Collège st Michel-Bruxelles) : http://www.iet.be
- Université de la paix : Namur (résolution des conflits) http://www.universitedepaix.org

Burkina Faso :
- Centre Mater Christi : Bobo-Dioulasso

Canada : Montréal : IFHIM (Institut de Formation Humaine Intégrale de Montréal)
Internet : www.ifhim.ca
- in French : September - May : Formation Programme
One-year programme

Canada Université de Montréal
Université de Montréal Faculté de Théologie et de Sciences des Religions

Canada : Guelph : Guelph Centre of Spirituality
- In English: 40 days (January-February; May-June; October-November): 30
days Retreat + 10 days reflection on the Retreat

Canada : Ottawa : Université St Paul
Internet : www.ustpaul.ca
- In French and in English: choice of Courses (9 months)

Canada : Pierrefonds : Ermitage Sainte-Croix
- in French : April - June : stage de ressourcement pour les prêtres

Canada : Québec : Villa Manrèse (Centre de spiritualité chrétienne)
- In French : 9 months

France : Francheville : Le Châtelard
Internet : www.chatelard-sj.org
- in French : January - June : formation à l'animation spirituelle

France : Paris : Institut Catholique de Paris
Internet : http://www.icp.fr/icp/index.php
- In French : année de formation aux ministères (9 mois)

France : Paris : Centre Sèvres (Institut Supérieur de Théologie et Philosophie)
Internet :http://www.centresevres.com
- In French : choice of Courses (9 months)

France : Toulouse : Faculté de Théologie
Internet : http://www.ict-toulouse.asso.fr
- In French : année de formation pour prêtres et religieux (septembre-juin)

France
- Institut Catholique de Lille : Initiation à la médecine tropicale
- Institut Européen de formation à l'approche et la transformation constructive des conflits, Millau : http://www.decennie.org/article.php?sid=114
- Manrèse Centre Spirituel : Clamart : http://www.manrese.com
- MBTI : www.ecpa.fr
- Université Catholique de Lyon : Institut des Droits de l'Homme : http://www.univ-catholyon.fr/fr/droit/idhl.htm

Great Britain : Shrewsbury : Hawkstone Hall
- In English : 3 months (January-April; April-July and September-December)
Spiritual Renewal Programme http://www.hawkstone-hall.com

Great Britain : Cliftonville : Institute of St. Anselm
Internet : www.st.anselm.org.uk
- In English : Course in Counselling (various possibilities from 7 weeks to 9 months)

Great Britain : Denbighshire : St Beuno's Ignatian Spirituality Centre
Internet : http://members.aol.com/St.Beunos
- In English : 3 months (Februay-May and September-December) : Apostolic Spirituality
10 weeks (June-August) : Spiritual Direction and Retreat Animation

Great Britain
- Loyola Hall : Prescot : Training in Ignatian Spirituality
- Selly Oak College : Birmingham
- SOAS : London: ATR, Islam, Anthropology, Economics…
- University of Birmingham : Islamic studies

India :
- Christ College : Bangalore http://www.christcollege.edu
- National Vocation Service Centre : Pune (India) mathiasjoesj@hotmail.com

Diploma in Pastoral Counselling and Religious Formation
Self-awareness for personal Growth
Transformation leadership for Superiors
Psycho-spiritual approach to formation today
Skills in Counselling and SD for formators

Ireland : Dalgan Park : Mission Institute of the IMU (Irish Missionary Union)
- In English : 3 months (January-March and September-December) : Programme Faith and Mission
http://www.imu.ie

Ireland : Dublin : Marianella Pastoral Centre
- In English : different possibilities in Bible, Theology and Pastoral Studies http://www.marianella.ie

Ireland : Rathgar : Loreto House (Irish Missionary Union)
Internet : www.loretohouse.com
- In English : 9 months (September-June) : programme of Religious Formation

Ireland
- ACPE : Dublin : Clinical Pastoral Formation
- APSO : Dublin : Training for Development personnel
- Development Studies Centre : Dublin
- Irish Institute of pastoral Liturgy
- Irish Schools of Ecumenics : Dublin : Ecumenism - Peace studies http://www.tcd.ie/ise
- Jesuit Center of Spirituality : Dublin : Course on Spiritual Direction
- KAIROS Communications Institute
- Milltown Institute : Theology, philosophy and spirituality http://www.milltown-institute.ie

Italy : Rome : PISAI (Institut Pontifical d'Etudes Arabes et Islamiques)
Internet : www.pisai.it
- In Italian : 9 months (September-June) : Initiation to Islam

Italy
- Università Pontifica Salesiana : Corso di formazione Permanente per Missionari

Italy
- Dei Verbum : Rome : Biblical Pastoral Center

Kenya : Nairobi : Tangaza College (cf. Maryknoll Institute of African Studies)

Kenya : Nairobi : Mwangaza (Jesuit Spiritual Centre)
- In English : 14 week-ends in 2 years : Formation for Spiritual Direction

Kenya : Nairobi : Maryknoll Institute of African Studies (of Saint Mary's Univers.)
Internet : www.mias.edu
- In English : 9 weeks (June - August) : various courses on African Topics

Kenya : Nairobi : Peace-building and Reconciliation Short Course

Kenya : Nairobi: Christian Institute of the Study of Human Sexuality

Philippines : Manilla : East Asian Pastoral Institute (Ateneo de Manila University)
http://eapi.admu.edu.ph

République Démocratique du Congo
Centre Spirituel Missionnaire (Scheutistes)
Théophile Verbiste
MBUDI
B P 1800 Kinshasa
RDC
Tel 00243 : (0) 999920228
Email ctvmbudi@yahoo.fr

1. Formation de Formateurs. ( 6 semaines)
2. Période Sabbatique
3. Session : Milieu de vie...

U.S.A.
- Duquesne University : Conflict resolution and Peace studies, Institute of Formative Spirituality : http://www.duq.edu
- Formation Consultation Services, Inc : http://www.fcs-bilotta.com/pages/cfPrivacy.cfm
- Institute for Spiritual Leadership : Chicago : http://www.spiritleader.org
- Loyola University : Chicago http://www.luc.edu
- Maryknoll Mission Institute : http://www.maryknoll.org/mmi.htm
- Servants of the Paraclete, St Michaels Institute : Specialized treatment
- Washington Theological Union: http://www.wtu.edu

South Africa : Johannesburg : Lumko Institute (Southern African Pastoral Institute)
- In English : 7 weeks (October-November) Formation in Catechetics and Pastoral Ministry

Suisse : Fribourg : Ecole de la foi et des ministères
Internet :
- in French : 2 years : Studies on the Word of God in Scriptures and History
9 months : Experience of the Word of God read in Community

Suisse
- Ecumenical Institute Bossey : Genève http://www.oikoumene.org/?id=2782