Religious Formation Ministry Programme
More Detail on the RFM Programme
The Aim of the Programme
The RFM Programme followed the September to June academic year and welcomed Sisters, Brothers and Priests from Congregations, Societies and Dioceses. Its aim was to provide a robust experience of human and spiritual development in the context of a Church and world which are experiencing major social and global changes.
Acknowledging the impact of these challenges and struggling to understand them while respecting the diversity of views, cultures and lived experiences in the group, enabled participants to journey more effectively and confidently with others in their search for God in life and ministry.
The RFM Programme incorporated the best available contemporary insights in spirituality, theology, cosmology, psychology, social justice and group dynamics to give participants a vision of formation and leadership which energised, renewed and affirmed them as they returned to take up their roles at the end of the year.
Typical Input Sessions on Various Topics
- Typical Happenings
- transformation
Training for Transformation Week creatively presented by Eamonn Fitzgibbon.
- transformation -group1_1
Training for Transformation 1
- transformation -group2_1
Training for Transformation 1
- transformation -group2_1
Training for Transformation 2
- transformation2
Training for Transformation
- jennifer-pillars
This was the end product of a creative reflective session on PILLARS OF FORMATION INTEGRATION. Jennifer Burke led the participants through this integration. At the end of the two sessions, the participants were able to recognise how the different modules they have covered over the past ten weeks fit under the four pillars of HUMAN, SPIRITUAL, INTELLECTUAL & PASTORAL.
- donal-sexuality
After two full days on Sexuality led by Donal Kirk. The participants were amazed at the depth of the sessions. They resonated with the fact that the human person seeks for connection and this is because we are sexual people.
- garrett-society
Patricia Allen Garrett took the participants on Listening Skills over a period of 5 Weeks. This happened every Monday for the five weeks. November 25th was the conclusion of the module on Listening Skills. The participants found the module very helpful, interactive and grounding for them.
- mcdermott-safeguarding
Both Lyn McDermott and Aidan Gordon are members of the National Safeguarding Board of Ireland. They treated Safeguarding and the Seven Standards. Their approach resonated with the participants very much and listening to them share many practical examples helped to allay the fears of the participants as they continue to engage with the Loreto House Programme.
- bassett-social
Maureen Bassett engaged the participants for a full day on WHAT SHAPES SOCIETY. They were introduced to Social analysis, learning how to tackle social issues considering the implications of social analysis.
- concannon-walk
At the end of our Desert Day of recollection. We were praying with clay, inspired by the passage in Jeremiah 18:16.
- mcverry-margins
With Peter McVerry at the end of a day's enriching sessions on Ministry at the Margins
- brennan-universe
Niamh Brennan on the Spirituality of the Universe Story
- caulfield-women
Anne Caulfield on Violence Against Women
- treanor-family
Maureen Treanor on Family of Origin
- Therese Ryan - Enneagram
Therese Ryan on the Enneagram
- Donal Dorr - Spirituality for Today
Donal Dorr on Spirituality for Today
- anne harte barry - focusing
Anne Harte Barry on Focusing
- Gabrielle Farrell - Self Esteem
Gabrielle Farrell on Self-Esteem
- David Gibson - Transactional Analysis
David Gibson on Transactional Analysis
- Gerry O'Hanlon - Church in Ireland
Gerry O'Hanlon on the Church in Ireland
The Context of the RFM Programme
Participants awere given space and time for reflection, study and worship in which they could appropriate and communicate the values of the Gospel. In doing this they experienced the challenge of intercultural living so as to engage meaningfully with issues of race, diversity, gender, authority, ecology, and other global concerns related to ministry in Church and society. The process of personal integration was enhanced by:
- Facilitated group reflection and dialogue
- Individual mentoring
- Counselling and spiritual direction
- An 8 day directed retreat
- Pastoral Placement
- Liturgy, prayer, sharing, relaxation and fun times which were integral to the life of the group
