Spiritual and theological formation for mission

What is spiritual and theological formation for mission

At Brisbane Catholic Education, we give priority to providing spiritual and theological formation for our staff through

• programs
• support provided
• school and office strategic planning.

This gives focus to our four dimensions of Catholic Identity:

Mission, Formation, Culture and Curriculum.

It strives to meet the need for a contemporary response that honours both the rich tradition and ecclesial responsibilities, as well as the individual’s need in the contemporary context for authentic meaning making.

Spirituality is sustained by personal and communal prayer (Jesus), lived in relationship with a Christian community (Communion) and expressed through working for God’s way of doing things in the world (Mission).

As a community in the Catholic tradition we are compelled by the message, life and love of Jesus Christ. As Catholic educators, our Mission is to form and energise young people to live lives of love and justice inspired by the vision of Jesus so that they can shape and enrich our world for all.

Spiritual formation

Spiritual formation nourishes the personal narrative of teachers, support staff and leaders, growing dispositions and behaviours that reflect our deepest identity and underpin our service to others.

Theological formation

Theological formation gives us a lens to understand our own spiritual experience; the big questions of life, of meaning and of God; and to dialogue with other wisdom traditions. This helps us live and work for God’s way of doing things in the world (Mission).

Formation

Brisbane Catholic Education’s strategic approach strives to meet this need for a contemporary response that honours both the rich tradition and ecclesial responsibilities, as well as the individual’s need in the contemporary context for authentic meaning making.

Transformative encounters

In the work we do and in who we are, formation is about growing the transformative vocation of the Catholic educator and leader.

Our vision is centred around staff formation that “includes steps that together effect a transformational impact both individually and communally. A mature spiritual personality that is expressed in a profound Christian life” (from Congregation for Catholic Education, 1982, n. 60).

Such formation includes steps that together effect a transformational impact both individually and communally. These steps constitute the Head, Heart and Hands approach to formation.

Head, heart and hands formation approach

Head - knowledge

• understanding experience through learning a theological and spiritual lens

Heart - experience

• direct engagement and reflective praxis with personal experience/story or stories of others who model particular ways of being

Hands - practice

• refining skills, practices and disciplines... ...until it fits you!
• successful integration of those skills, practices, disciplines and learnings to everyday life.

See Head heart hands formation approach for more information.

School based spiritual formation planning

Spiritual Formation Planning is an essential part of building and nurturing an authentic Catholic Christian community.

Formation should be an ongoing process providing staff with regular times throughout the year to stop, reflect and understand their own faith journey and the wisdom and mystery of the Catholic Christian Tradition.

Whole days

• These formation experiences provide the time and the space for staff to really ‘retreat’ and develop their personal and professional identity

Twilights

• These formation experiences are an opportunity to ‘touch base’ with key strategies or themes that are the focus throughout the year.

Contact: fes@bne.catholic.edu.au