Helping lay professionals work most effectively
with women and men in religious life
April 4-8, 2011
March 26-30, 2012

This workshop/retreat is designed for lay professionals who serve religious congregations as Development Directors, Human Resource Directors, Communication Directors, Finance Directors, and Motherhouse Administrators.  The men and women who serve in these positions bring important professional skills and expertise to the religious congregations that hire them, but they may be unprepared for the culture of religious life and uninformed about the history and spirituality that forms the core of a congregation’s life and mission.   And for religious congregations, this may be the first time they have lay professionals in these leadership positions—so these employees may find themselves influencing the changing culture within the congregation.

It is an opportunity to explore the culture of religious life, to engage its challenges and to discover ways to contribute to the shifting horizon of religious life. This workshop/retreat is grounded in the belief that religious congregations and the lay professionals who become their co-workers are together engaged in expanding the gift of religious life for our time.
 
Topics to be explored include:

•  History of religious life and the long tradition of change
•  The shifting ground in religious congregations
•  Gift and purpose of a congregation—Who belongs to it?
•  The culture of religious life
•  Catholic social teaching and the gospel of justice
•  Leadership—How to be a leader when you are not in charge
•  The spirit of your life and work—Why work for a religious congregation?

Speakers: Mary Jo Nelson, OLVM, Janet Lander, CSJ, Carolyn Teter, CSJ

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