Workshops

New Orleans

OCDS Council Workshop
[Flos Carmeli newsletter, p 11]

More than 30 OCDS council members from about 16 communities and study groups gathered for a workshop June 23-26, 2005, in New Orleans to learn more about new legislation now governing or under consideration for Carmelite Seculars in the Central Province.

Three members of the Provincial Council led five discussion sessions over three days on the proposed statutes governing formation, responsibilities of the local councils and community apostolates. The sessions were intended to provide information and prompt discussion of issues commonly faced by OCDS communities.

New formation guidelines for the province were unveiled for the first time and predictably prompted many questions and much discussion. The statutes mandate five goals in each of the three stages of initial formation --prayer, community, apostolate, study and the promise. Subsequent sections of the statutes expound on the minimum expectations to be realized for each of these goals at the various levels of formation. Continuing formation for definitively professed members should also emphasize the OCDS goals of prayer, community, apostolate and study. A list of primary and secondary sources were provided to aid in the achievement of these goals as well as a supplementary list of sources that directors of formation, in particular, may find useful. The guidelines appear as Section XXI of the provincial statutes and are the only portion of the statutes that await final approval. Serious consideration is being given to a Provincial Council web site on which some of the formation resources would be posted.

Workshop participants also were oriented in the various responsibilities of the local councils. These responsibilities include:

• Formation. While the formation director has the specific job of formation for the community, the council oversees the program and is responsible for its content.

• Develop leadership. While the council is the governing authority of the community, it is important to groom other members of the community to assume future leadership roles.

• Oversee attendance. Individual councils may develop their own attendance policies, but every community should have one.

• Evaluate candidates for formation. This involves discernment. Care must be taken to distinguish between a devotion to Carmel and a vocation to Carmel (goodwill is not enough). Consideration should be given to the quality of the daily commitment on the part of a candidate and how well the candidate fits into the community. Council members should get to know each person in formation. Isolate status should not be an easy out for those who don't belong in community. Council members must accept their responsibilities and have the courage to make good decisions. Related to the issue of evaluating candidates in formation is the issue of appropriately handling transfers of people from other communities and provinces.

• An assortment of other duties including conducting elections, keeping records and assigning jobs in the community.

Regarding the apostolate, every community should have one (Section VHI of the statutes). The key test in determining an appropriate apostolate is the answer to the question: How does this work share Carmelite spirituality?

Members of the Provincial Council attending the New Orleans session who introduced material and led discussions were Elizabeth Korves, Amelia Wilken and Pascal Alfano. Father John Michael Payne, provincial delegate to the Secular Order, also attended each session and celebrated daily masses. The sessions were held at St Mary's Dominican Conference Center located two blocks off historic St. Charles Avenue.

--report prepared by Paul Sandau, President, Baton Rouge Community

[Flos Carmeli newsletter, p 11-12]

Council Workshop
Mt. Carmel Center, Dallas, Texas
July 7-10, 2005

The workshop opened with a brief orientation and introductions. Representatives from Austin, Dallas, Georgetown, Houston (San Juan de la Cruz), Killeen, New Caney, San Antonio, Vidalia, and Waco were present. Provincial Council members presenting information were Elizabeth Korves, Nancy Thompson, and Gerald Alford.
The following are some "take home" concepts offered in the adult learning presentation:

• Formation is not school.

• Formation is building our relationship with God.

• We use both our heads and our hearts.

• We all learn from each other.

• The more involved we all are the more we will all learn.

• Some formation goals:
What is love? What is the Carmelite take on love? How do I love like a Carmelite? Remember St. Therese's comment: "I want to be love."

• Formation is for transformation.

• Create an inter-relationship where all talk; we don't memorize; constantly invite participation and build self esteem; search for challenging, open ended questions.

• Use everyday examples and search for insights.

• The Formator is not a teacher; let the students do the teaching.

• This learning is not linear; we read, read, and reread.

• Avoid overload and frustration; explain why the class moves so fast; it will be repeated time and again.

We TEND toward evangelical perfection. This is an ongoing process vs training. During the formation period the individual must decide --"is this the way for me to fulfill my Baptismal commitment? Am I willing to make a commitment to Community?" It is a process, a journey, a matter of developing self knowledge, and the Holy Spirit works through all of us during this journey. The goal is to discover God's will. It is a discernment between both the individual and the Council. The conclusion of this discernment is not up to the individual alone. The person must ask from day one, "How am I integrating this into my daily life: meditation, prayer, Mass, meetings, my Marian mission? Am I growing closer to God?" Here is a sign of a vocation: IT SHOULD BRING YOU PEACE.

The Local Council: The Council is for service to the truth and is the immediate authority of the community. As the council goes, so goes the community. The President presides but does not rule or dictate. Everyone on the council must be free to speak his mind so there is collaboration and co-responsibility. The root meaning of obedience is to listen attentively. The council must be discreet and confidentiality must be respected. For discernment to happen, there must be a safe place to speak one's mind. The council will meet frequently and when necessary. When two members cannot attend, the meeting should be rescheduled.

The Spiritual Assistant: is not the head of the Community. He is a person to go to for consultation in matters of Canon Law and usually is a Friar of the order. Due to the small number of friars this is not a realistic goal. When selecting a spiritual assistant be sure they understand their role. Allow a six month trial period to see if the relationship is feasible. When making a selection make sure the individual has a sense of the role of the laity in the church today. Select a wise person who knows how to be supportive in community dynamics and one who can answer cannon law questions.

The Provincial Council: One of their goals is making pastoral visits to chapters. Prior to each visit the visiting council member should be provided with six months worth of material attendance material, and a formation syllabus. During the visitation, the councilor will meet individually with council members and chapter members. A written report will follow.

Community Apostolate: The Carmelite apostolate is to share Carmelite spirituality. God initiates and we respond with our willingness to serve. The Church has called us to communicate our teachings on prayer. Let our Diocese's know we are here. You want OCDS to be known in the community as a "living flame of love." Be and become a practical support for our Church. We need support in vocations and the training of priests.

--submitted by: Betty Turicchi, Director of Formation, Dallas