Table+6

November 10-12, 2011
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 * Notes from 11/11 morning discussion**
 * made introductions and explained how FTM works at our schools- striking differences between how each operates
 * formation of employees is key- we can't be like the religious, but we are challenged in grounding the faculty and staff
 * Challenging! trying to develop common language,
 * Focus on Phillippine and Sophie, do we risk losing "the heart of Jesus"?
 * spirituality seems to be divorced from organized religion so dealing with more diversity of thought/belief
 * not Catholic enough or too Catholic? is this why it is more comfortable to talk about Sophie and Philippine
 * not everyone comes from the SH tradtion, so learning common language is important but sometimes they become the only focus
 * Mater, Philippine, and Sophie fall during the school year, but we're out for Christmas and Easter
 * is Philippine big in the West while Sophie is bigger in the east?
 * Do we shy away from Goal I with the faculty and staff?
 * because some people aren't comfortable with this
 * MIssion on Tap: after school for an hour or so with snacks and drinks,DISCUSS: how did you come to SH? What keeps you here? What is your spiritual journey?
 * there was a collective sigh of relief that there could be honest discussion about where different people are in their spiritual journey
 * to be aware of different traditions one school sends a survey at beginning of year about what faith traditions are celebrated at home so that each classroom in early childhood area can be responsive, kids are exposed to several different traditions and cultures; Peace education
 * how is the catholic tradition honored? is there fear of saying we're Catholic because we won't get the enrollment we need?
 * as a SH educator, is there a minimum of what you commit to?
 * levels of educators spirituality differ,
 * do you want to be formed? are you open to being formed? respecting traditions while also embracing SH traditions and Catholic tradition
 * FTM knows the role is to form adults, but it always comes back to the kids
 * cannot expect the adults to give what they don't have
 * facilitating retreats? are you willing? are you comfortable? matching faculty/staff appropriately so faculty/staff aren't in uncomfortable situations
 * learning about SH spirituality, a teacher leads prayer once a week/students on other days
 * giving faculty/staff a chance to participate
 * opportunity must be there
 * Busy Person's Retreat
 * need spiritual advisers, RSCJs from other locations
 * teachers are very busy, don't have time- so how do we get them to embrace the time, word often spreads positively
 * how do we make formation to mission intentional?
 * What is FTM? is it personal journey? Is it communicating the RSCJs mission and educational philiosophy?
 * Both personal and as a community
 * some schools use Mentoring/New employee to begin this
 * one school says to new employees- "you must be open to your own spiritual journey and you may not denigrate other people's journey"
 * we are a SH school and we have our exisitence because of the RSCJs in the Catholic tradition, but we are inclusive
 * the practicing catholic has to justify being a practicing catholic
 * how do you engage people on a personal level and lead them into discussing communal spritituality?
 * Keepers of the Flame- RSCJs won't be around in each school forever, so we must keep it alive
 * in hiring process- there must be a discussion about our mission and what are nonnegotiables; does this happen everywhere? So new hires aren't surprised when they join the community?
 * orientation/mentoring- is about FTM in some schools and is about teaching 101 in other schools, or is a combination in others
 * Catholicism is an essential component of our mission, inclusive Catholicism
 * invitational reading groups
 * strongly suggest that employees attend Roots that Give us Wings
 * maybe the focus has to be on the new employees and hiring- that it is done with intention and that new employees are aware that openness to grow in our mission is necessary
 * so many different perceptions of what it means to be Catholic, or a practicing Catholic, easy to become passive because you're doing what is rote/expected. Are you engaged in the personal relationship with God? Is it intentional?
 * the Sacred Heart of Jesus is about coming from your heart, living from goodness and being Christian grows from that
 * people need to be engaged on their level, you need a tiered system
 * recognizing that some people are much more willing/able to share from a spiritual perspective
 * narrowing down the plan to manageable things to accomplish, for example starting every meeting with espacio to ground people, letting silence deepen
 * offering opportunities for Roots that Give us Wings to faculty and staff...

Summative Thoughts:
 * passive v. active engagement with mission, we must continue to question and discuss where you are on your spriritual journey
 * hiring- part of the Formation is clarifying the nonnegotiables when people are hired
 * tiering the approach to faculty and staff, grounding new hires in their first four years in a commitment to the spriritual dimension- the piece we are trying to capture from the RSCJs
 * examining what is the mission? what are we trying to pass on? mission v. education philosophy
 * organization of FTM is very different at each school, while we cannot dictate one model for all, could we offer more specific models to be adapted at different schools, an org chart
 * deepening conversations beyond the traditions, and get to the spirituality

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