Facilitator Training Ministry Formation for Everyone in the Community Welcome!

Welcome to Into the Fields! Thank you for being here We value the role you are about to play The Church depends on you This is hard work! But the rewards are enormous We will do everything we can to support you fully.

Meet the Authors!

Into the Fields Spirituality - by Dan Schutte With Diana Dudoit Raiche Tools and skills – by Alison Berger With Sr. Edith Prendergast Content of the Faith – by Bill Huebsch With Sr. Maureen Shaughnessy On-going formation – by RTJ With Nick Wagner

Part One Spiritual Exercises for Teachers & Catechists Dan Schutte Diana Dudoit Raiche

Spiritual Exercises 30 powerful exercises Following the way of St. Ignatius Loyola Grow in the faith that you will share with others Become a closer friend to Jesus and learn to talk as friends

Part Two Tools for Teaching Alison Berger Sr. Edith Prendergast

Skills & Strategies More than 24 skills Strategies that work in every ministry setting! Interaction with other folks working in parish ministries Learn with the same method that you will use in your ministry setting

Part Three Knowing the Content of Our Faith Bill Huebsch Sr. Maureen Shaughnessy

Growing Faith The entire Catechism Presented in plain English Y también en español común With an Imprimatur A complete facilitator’s guide ALL the content of the faith In Pastoral Language!

RTJ: On-going formation! Religion Teacher’s Journal The first periodical after Vatican II designed for actual catechists and teachers More accessible and available On-going formation Which they will actually READ!

Y también Nosotros tenemos estos recursos en español: Creciendo en la Fe Se llama Profundizando y Madurado Nuestra Fe Hablamos español a 23 rd ! Venga! Hablaríamos! Nosotros tenemos otros cosas también!

And now… The full scope and sequence of Into the Fields

Let’s take a look at the pedagogy Into the Fields pedagogy

Quiet Listening Music Others when they speak Reading aloud Growing Faith And other material Listen to yourself as a Facilitator And teach participants to do the same!

Small group discussions In a variety of sizes Often with a task to do beyond the discussion itself, Usually with flip chart paper and markers Encourage participants to be Open, honest, loving, & kind These four rules!

General discussions Usually following small group work An important aspect of pedagogy Because it pulls together the fragments of small group work Or of individual thinking The challenge: To keep some from speaking too much and some from not speaking at all

Preparing Flip Charts For some, this is a key way to learn For others, it is bothersome But we do it because it’s a way to prepare for large group discussion And because we have many kinds of learners This forces learners to focus their learning and state it briefly

Quiet writing Avoid too much “quiet time” It tends to deaden the process But after the opening sharing, and a little group work Turn to quiet time for writing the colloquy as part of the Spiritual Exercises Or at other points in the process

Reading aloud This is a rather counter-cultural thing We rarely allow others to read to us But it’s a great way to learn We do it as Mass every week! Used here mainly in Growing Faith But invite learners to follow in their own booklets

Mystagogy This comes from the Catechumenate It’s a way to pause, and reflect together about what has happened In order to consolidate our gains And become aware of what we have actually heard Powerful tool for pedagogy And works in classrooms, too! Continued…

Mystagogy, continued Used here three ways: In the opening – what’s been happening in your life? After the break – what did you hear in the first session? At the very end – what are you taking away from this whole experience Leading up to the personal growth plan

Facilitator Presentations Used from time to time As a way of allowing the Facilitator to personalize the material But always very BRIEF Must be well prepared beforehand In every session: Used to present the goals for this session

Resource recommendations Both the Text and the Manual are full of them! Help the participants build their personal libraries Also recommend your own favorite resources and share your own best sources!

Summing Up The process here in very intentional Six steps: 1. A bit of mystagogy 2. Replay the song 3. Share the colloquy prayers 4. End prayer with Our Father 5. Lead them to the session evaluation 6. Direct work on the Personal Growth Plan

Personal Growth Planning This is a vital step It helps participants take home with them a specific goal It brings all the work into a single focus Leave enough time for this in each session Probably 5-8 minutes But test it and see what works

Getting ready for the year some simple suggestions

Getting started Make a firm decision as a parish Review the whole year Consider who you want to invite to be part of this process Actually list them by name Start inviting and enrolling Use the forms provided Find the spaces you need

Getting started And find helpers if you need them someone to manage hospitality someone to work as your sub if needed someone to help for moral support Communicate extensively with the pastor and staff Set the final schedule and send it out

Preparing for each session: follow these simple steps

Step One: Read all the material for this session Consider the flow: How do the various elements and segments connect? What are the key points? Pause to let the deep realities sink in: Open yourself to divine power “Listen” as God speaks in your heart

Step Two: Prepare Spiritual Exercises Review the flow for this exercise Listen to the music Consider what symbols might enhance this experience such as enthroning Scripture, using liturgical symbols, and others Write your own colloquy Work the exercises

Step Three: Prepare the Growing Faith segment Read the booklet or booklets carefully and fully Work through the exercises and reflections Review the teaching path set down in the Manual Prepare any further input you feel is needed But avoid overstating special “issues”

Step Four: Prepare for Refreshments This is a key way to show hospitality Believe it or not, folks get hungry when they’re working like this You might want to ask someone to help you depending on numbers Or you could share the responsibility for bringing snacks and beverages

Step Five: Prepare the Tools for Teaching Review and prepare the mystagogy opening It is very strong to have this list ready The text provides an almost-complete list Review the goal and how you will present it to the group

Step Five continued Look through the suggested resources Add your own favorites! Let the leaners add theirs as well. Check out each internet link Decide how to break your group for small group discussions Prepare any presentations you must give

Step Five continued Review all the Manual notes Adjust and change to meet your own personal style Make sure you understand the flow of the session Prepare the closing activities The flow of this is very important

Skills training for group facilitation

Model by participating yourself Dig into the work yourself! Embrace the material and make it your own! Your own enthusiasm for the work will create enthusiasm in the group If you have questions as you prepare, call write to Make an appointment to talk with Bill #1

What is your own experience of being in groups where the leader actually took part as against “standing on the sidelines?”

Prepare brief presentations Prepare every presentation beforehand Keep them all brief Stick to the topic and text Use PowerPoint if you are able Share your own experience and faith Witness is a great teacher Did I mention: keep it brief!? #2

What is your own experience of preparing presentations for a group? Is this your strength or weakness?

Monitor both process and content Keep the flow of the session moving along But also make sure enough time is spent on those things which pique the interest of the group If you have to, postpone certain items to allow a good discussion to proceed. #4

What is your own experience of knowing how to start and stop discussions? What tools can you use to get them rolling?

Dealing with disruptive people Allow those who disagree or disrupt to express their views But do not allow them to take over the agenda or schedule It may be best to speak to such folks outside the group And sometimes you may have to ask someone to quit their enrollment #5

What is your own experience of dealing with disruptive people? How do you confront them?

Facilitate means just that! You are the facilitator Which means you must encourage and make possible general discussions Monitor who talks too much And who talks too little Make your “discussion starters” effective by honing them beforehand #6

What is your own experience of facilitating group discussions? What do you do when no one speaks?

Show your gratitude! Thank each person who contributes but do so without seeming silly or patronizing. Be aware always that your participants are working hard – and often on their own time. Doing continuing ed is generous on their part. #7

What is your own experience of thanking people for their contributions? What are some ways to do that well?

Know how to divide a group Be aware of the group dynamic at play in your group: Cliques Close friends who attend together Pre-divide the group Vary the small group divisions often Use a variety of small group sizes #8

What is your own experience of working with small groups? What are strengths of small groups? Weaknesses?

Be a listener, first & foremost! Watch and listen closely to each person who speaks or offers anything Repeat (in summary) what they say Do “intent listening” Use eye contact while listening Nod your head, follow along If they challenge you or the text, do not become defensive #9

What is your own experience of listening while you facilitate? What do you listen for?

Lead the group to evaluate Some people do not like to do evaluations But they really help us do better work! Don’t rush the process Use the forms provided You will run into moments when time runs out! What then? #10

What is your own experience of doing evaluation processes with a group? What are some methods for doing evaluation?

Keep good records As Facilitator, your opinion matters to the church We do need to keep records And to write down our observations It helps us guide learners If you have a troublesome person, talk that over with your pastor, catechetical leader, or principal If someone is absent, use or phone calls to find out why #11