Staff Formation

Framework

Enlivening all staff through formation as lifelong adult learners who nurture

education for transformation (Catholic Education, Archdiocese of Brisbane)

CONTACT USFor further information contact: Brisbane Catholic Education Office

243 Gladstone Road, Dutton Park QLD 4102 GPO Box 1201, Brisbane QLD 4001 Australia

Phone: (07) 3033 7000 Fax: (07) 3844 5101

www.bne.catholic.edu.au

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For direct contact please phone: Identity, Mission and Religious Education Brisbane Catholic Education (07) 3033 7771

Since the laity share in their own way in the mission of the Church,

their apostolic formation is specially characterised by the distinctively secular and

particular quality of the lay state and by its own form of the spiritual life. (Decree on the Apostolate of the Laity, 29)

DOING FORMATION! PRINCIPLES OF IMPLEMENTATIONIn a school, staff formation is individual and communal. It is about culture change and is integrated into the strategic planning, everyday life and energy of the community. Best practice in implementing staff formation in Catholic schools has the following characteristics:

i. A Culture of Participation: Formation is fostered through a sustained invitational approach that develops a culture of participation.

ii. Connection to Vocational Context: Formation is most effective and sustained when it is connected in the everyday personal and professional vocational reality of the Catholic educator and leader.

iii. A Holistic Design: Person-centred, purposeful and inclusive of different engagement pathways, formation is powerfully facilitated by a ‘head, heart and hands’ experiential and holistic approach, predicated on a positive anthropology of the human person.

iv. Time: Formation requires inclusion of chronological time away from the school/office/work environment, facilitating a unique qualitative experience of time. This ‘kairos’ experience is fundamental to growth and sustainability.

v. Connected with Tradition: The re-contextualisation of key elements of traditional Catholic formation creates a powerful conduit for connection and meaning-making. These ways of connecting ought be multi-targeted, multi-layered and multi-modal.

vi. Companioning: Formation has greater sustainable influence when individual confidence and capacity is supported by a core group sharing vision and praxis. This involves companioning - of self and others, reflective of best practice in spiritual direction, adult learning and change facilitation.

vii. Modelling in Community: Authentic modelling of individual learnings and shared experience in formation is a transparent and powerful catalyst within community.

viii. Strategic Alignment: Spiritual formation has sustained influence when it is connected to the language, structures, and processes of mission and vision, annual goal setting and strategic renewal.

ix. Engagement of School Leadership: School leadership that reflects an authentic engagement in faith formation is critical for the effective embedding of formation, and the growing of spiritual capital and mission integrity in the school culture.

x. Theological Underpinning: Formation that is anchored in a clear theological foundation reflecting a sound re-contextualist and Post-Vatican II stance captures a strong alignment in communal meaning-making.

OUR COMMITMENT TO FORMATIONAt BCE, formation is a shared responsibility that occurs both within and beyond our educational communities.

The first and most important task

for Catholic schools is to maintain

and continually strengthen their

Catholic Identity. (Executive Director, Pam Betts, 2015)

From the perspective of the

individual, shared responsibility is

realised by:

- Responding to the invitation to

include formation goal-setting

in annual goals and monitoring

progress throughout the year.

- Embracing faith formation

opportunities including

individual, school-based and

system-based options.

Formation Policy, Procedure and Guidelines

In recognising the importance of formation

opportunities offered in schools and offices a

suite of Policies, Procedures and Guidelines

have been developed to assist in planning

for, and implementing best practice, staff and

student formation opportunities.

These include:

• Staff and Students Formation Policy

• Staff Formation Procedures

• Student Formation Procedures

• Retreat and Reflection Day Guidelines

• Service-Learning Guidelines

• Immersion Guidelines

From the perspective of the leader

or Principal, shared responsibility is

realised by:

- Modelling a commitment to

one’s personal spiritual and faith

formation.

- Encouraging staff in their individual

spiritual and faith formation goal

setting.

- Enabling opportunities for staff

formation aligned with school goal

setting and planning priorities.

From the perspective of Brisbane

Catholic Education, shared

responsibility is realised by:

- Setting system goals and

expectations for staff formation.

- Organising system-wide events

and opportunities for spiritual and

theological formation.

- Providing support, resources and

personnel to enrich staff formation.

CatholicIdentityCatholicIdentity

Strong Catholic Identity

THEOLOGICAL GROUND: JESUS, COMMUNION & MISSION The BCE Formation Framework is theologically grounded in three dimensions of the Christian life:

i. Embracing the person and vision of Jesus.

ii. Building communion among God’s people.

iii. Participating in the mission of God in the world.

For each person, authentic formation is centred in Christ, with the knowledge that we go the journey to God in company, while always taking us out of ourselves into the world to make a difference.

WHAT IS FORMATION? Catholic educators need a “formation of the heart”: they need to be led to that encounter with God in Christ which awakens their love and opens their spirits to others, so that their educational commitment becomes a consequence deriving from their faith, a faith which becomes active through love.

Educating Together in Catholic Schools, 25, cf Deus Caritas Est, 31.

Formation in the Catholic Christian tradition is a dynamic process of growth in following the way of Jesus in becoming one with God. From the Latin ‘formare’, meaning ‘to shape’, formation is an intentional process that is ongoing, developmental, reflective and active. It focusses on the growth of individuals and communities through their lived experience in spiritual awareness, theological understanding, vocational motivation and capabilities for mission and service in the Church and the world.

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

FORMATION FRAMEWORK

THE NINE CAPACITIES – HALLMARKS OF CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY An essential dimension of the BCE Formation Framework are core capacities that are fostered by engagement in formation. These particular qualities or capacities are recognised as common hallmarks of the Christian community from the earliest days of the followers of Jesus to our own time and place.

- Presence reflects an incarnational understanding of the world – that God is among us, in the world and in the moment.

- Prayer reflects a personal prayer life, the plank upon which is built the day to day witness to God’s presence.

- Principle is centred on walking the talk of Jesus’ vision living the values of the Gospel.

- Welcome reflects the inclusiveness and hospitality of Jesus that we extend to all.

- Ritual reflects a sacramental understanding of life and a reverence for all creation. It also points to the rich liturgical tradition of the Church.

- Journey reflects that as Church we are the people of God journeying together.

- Purpose reflects a deep understanding of vocation and a clear sense of what the work of Catholic education is about.

- Commitment reflects a passion for making a difference through one’s vocation and witness.

- Fidelity reflects a faithful stewardship of the best of the Catholic, Christian education tradition and gratitude for those with whom the journey is shared.

MY STORY, OUR STORY, THE STORY - A MODEL OF TRANSFORMING ENCOUNTERSEvery person and community has a story. By sharing story, we encounter the other and form relationships that create a space for transformation. In this way, we make meaning of our lives. The BCE Formation Framework is a theologically-based, person-centred model that focuses on the personal story of the individual in relationship to the broader story of Catholic education and the ‘God narrative’.

Through the My Story dimension, this framework recognises that all come to formation with a personal story, experienced as journey and shaped by life experiences. This personal story is integral to one’s spirituality. By beginning the process of formation from the place where the individual is at, it affirms the importance of self-engagement, where the individual can commit to a journey that deepens understanding and knowledge of their own story.

The Our Story dimension of the framework emphasises mutual engagement. Here, participants are formed to recognise the importance of the communal story, whether it be the broader school and Church community, or the founding tradition to which they belong, knowing that they influence and shape this story just as it shapes them.

The Story dimension of the framework, (known as the transformative engagement phase), initiates participants into the meta story of God. Little by little, new ways of seeing and being are nurtured into a living theology. Through a process that is dynamic and ongoing, the ‘lifelong learner’ comes to experience a reciprocity of love with God, the ‘lifelong creator’.

FORMAL STUDYThis includes an extensive range of possible courses, some are listed below:• Master of RE (ACU)• Master of Theology/Theol & RE/Theol & Leadership (Taite-BBI)• Master of Ed. Leadership (Christian Leadership) (ACU)• Post Grad. Cert in RE/Catholic Identity/Theology/Ed

Leadership (ACU;TAITE-BBI)• Cert.IV in Christian Ministry and Theology (IFE) • REAP Religious Education Accreditation Program (BCE)• THCT 605 and 606 in Catholic Identity (ACU)

SPIRITUAL FORMATION PROGRAMSCatching Fire is a whole community approach to staff formation in schools.These programs include:• Keepers of the Flame• Spirit Fire• Guiding Lights• Catching Fire Reunion Retreat• Firelight Program• Staff with Spirit

POP UP OPS – CATHOLIC STUFF 101A number of opportunities will be offered through-out the year that provide a practical introduction to all things Catholic! Example topics include:

• A Wing and a Prayer! Making your way around Catholic prayer and ritual

• Popes, Prelates and People! How does ‘the Church’ work?

• Bells, Smells and Singing! Making your way through a Catholic liturgy

CATHOLIC IDENTITY

PLACES & SPACES FOR GROWTH• Santa Teresa Spirituality Centre• TAITE/BBI Online Program• Spirituality and Practice Online Short courses• Mt Archer Spirituality Centre• Faber Centre• ACU Short courses in Theology

Through your joyful

witness and service,

help to build a

civilization of love.

Show, by your life,

that it is worth giving

your time and talents

in order to attain high

ideals, it is worth

recognizing the

dignity of each human

person, and it is worth

taking risks for Christ

and His Gospel. (Pope Francis, July 28, 2013)

HEAD HEART HANDSThe Catholic school is “a path that leads to the three languages that a mature person needs to know: the language of the mind, the language of the heart, and the language of the hands.” Pope Francis: Church for Schools Day, 2014.

This framework reflects a holistic approach to formation – a head heart and hands approach. Knowledge (The ‘Head’) is a vital component of formation. Formation must also include a strong experiential dimension (The ‘Heart’) that allows for deep and reflective learning. A genuinely Christian approach must also see anapplication of knowledge, skills and practices (The ‘Hands’) for the individual and the community to be adifference in the world.

The head heart and hands design also recognises that each of us has a different gateway to the formation journey that is as unique as we are. Thus, while one person may be nurtured most easily through focused reading, another may find God more easily in their relational connections with people. Others yet may be drawn to service activities such as street work. Many people find the Eucharist and formal worship their deepest nurturing pathway; still others connect with God most easily in nature, immersed in the beauty of creation.

This process of formation allows for diverse ways of encounter that acknowledge different entry points and modes of learning. Knowledge, experience and the discipline of practice and application in everyday life leads the

individual deeper in this process, allowing for the inner journey to be outwardly expressed through prayer and worship, contemplation, acts of service and justice, and love for those on the margins.

Presence Prayer Principle Welcome Ritual Journey Purpose Commitment

Fide

lity

Grounded in Jesus, Communion, Mission,

With Head, Heart and Hands formation,We undertake our mission to teach, challenge and transform.

At the heart of everything that we do in our schools... is teach the art of being human. Fully human and fully alive! (Archbishop Mark Coleridge, July 30 2014)

INTRODUCTIONThe flourishing of our Catholic Christian identity into the future builds upon the good work already in evidence across our BCE community through our existing formation programs and in the religious life of schools. Our vision for the future is centred around further enriching authentic staff formation that fosters ‘a mature spiritual personality that is expressed in a profound Christian life.’ Such formation is transformational both individually and communally, and this is the focus we set as our horizon!

Our BCE framework (2009) has a direct line of sight with both the QCEC Guidelines in developing a framework for Staff Formation 2012 and the NCEC Formation Framework 2017.

MISSION FORMATION AND LEADERSHIPFormation from induction to leadership is central to shaping a real and compelling Catholic Identity in our time. Thus the formation of staff across BCE is incorporated into a broad strategy which contributes to the requirements for professional and vocational development of all staff in our Catholic Schools and Office.

TARGETED RENEWAL OPPORTUNITIESSpecific renewal opportunities are offered by BCE at various times. This includes pilgrimages, sabbatical leave for senior leaders and immersion experiences:• Los Angeles R.E. Congress• Holy Land Pilgrimage• Leuven Theological Program• PALMS Volunteering Program• Catholic Mission Immersion

Programs• Caritas Australia Aid Campaign

COMMON LANGUAGE

SHARED UNDERSTANDING

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