Transition to Ministry
Introduction
Studies from the Union of Superiors General in Rome have shown that a very
high proportion of those men who make the
decision to leave religious life, do so in
the first five years after initial formation.
This shows how critical is the importance
of a transition to ministry program for those
in the first five years.
On the other hand, the experience of General Visitations is that the stage
of Transition to Ministry is most often neglected
in the Units of the Congregation, or it receives
too little direct attention.
The Ratio Formationis C.Ss.R. 2003
identifies Transition to Ministry as the
first stage of ongoing formation. “The purpose
of this program… is to accompany the confrere
and help him to consolidate his sense of community
and co-responsibility in a new setting. It
should be a formal structured program, which
includes all the dimensions of our apostolic
life, and is under the direction of a well-balanced
confrere as mentor. It may be advisable for
certain Units to develop as least some parts
of this program in inter-regional collaboration.”
(RF
104)
Because of the critical importance of this stage
of formation in the lives of our younger confreres,
it is essential that each Unit carefully plan
and carry out the requirements of a healthy
Transition to Ministry program.
The Transition to Ministry Program
The program for Transition to Ministry must be designed on five different
levels:
1.
The individual confrere in his transition from an
initial formation community and program to
an active apostolic community and ministry;
2.
The Mentor – his role and responsibilities;
3.
The local community which receives the confrere;
4.
The (V) Provincial Community;
5.
Inter-Provincial Collaboration.
Each of these four levels must be addressed in distinct
but complementary ways.
The Individual Confrere
Transition from the end of initial formation, and the structured environment
of a formation community and program, to a
differently structured active apostolic community
and ministry can be very difficult for the
individual confrere.
This very real move can be experienced as an ‘uprooting’ of the younger
confrere. His environment will often be very
different. His daily structure will need to
be more flexible and adapted to local circumstances.
Often, he will leave peers and friendships
which have been very supportive – along with
formators whom he has come to know and trust.
This transition will affect him at each of the five dimensions identified
in our Ratio: human, spiritual, community,
academic/professional, pastoral. While it
is the primary responsibility of the confrere
himself to continue his process of human and
spiritual growth, to deepen his experience
of apostolic community and his commitment
to it, to continue his academic, professional
and pastoral learning, he cannot be left alone
in this pursuit.
Accompaniment in this process is essential. For this reason, the appointment
of a well-balanced confrere as Mentor is presumed
by the Ratio Formationis C.Ss.R. 2003.
The Mentor
The role and responsibility of the mentor needs to be carefully described
in the Transition to Ministry program for
each Unit. However, it must include at least
the following points:
·
It is suggested that the Mentor be chosen by the
Superior of the Unit.
·
His role must be clearly specified both to him and
to the local superior. (In some cases, this
might be the same person.)
·
The role of the Mentor is to offer personal encouragement,
caution, and support.
·
He is to observe if there is a balance in the life
of the confrere making the transition into
ministry. He must be vigilant for signs of
overwork, isolation, over-involvement with
emotional situations, and other areas which
might render the confrere vulnerable in these
early years of ministry.
·
He is also to ensure that the confrere has sufficient
physical and emotional ‘space’, as well as
healthy escape routes.
·
Regular meetings between the Mentor and the confrere
are to be scheduled.
·
Regular reports are to be sent to the Superior of
the Unit.
The Local Community
The local Community which receives a confrere during the first five years
of his ministry has a serious responsibility
to ensure that it provides an opportunity
for healthy transition as he moves more fully
into the active apostolic and community life
of the (V) Province.
It is important that every community to which a confrere in this stage of
formation is appointed ensures:
1.
that it has a Plan for Community Life, as mandated
by the XXII General Chapter 1997;
2.
that it provides the essential structures which support
and encourage growth in each of the five dimensions
of healthy formation: human, spiritual, community,
academic/professional, pastoral;
3.
that it is prepared to integrate a younger confrere
as an active participant in its life and ministry
as part of a team.
It is the responsibility of every member of the local
community to support and encourage the ongoing
formation of the confrere in the Transition
to Ministry stage. However, it is the responsibility
of the local superior to ensure that the necessary
community life and structures actually exist.
The (Vice-)Provincial Community
The healthy integration of confreres into the active apostolic life of the
(V) Province at the end of Initial Formation
is vital to the life of the whole Unit.
It is the responsibility of the Superior of the Unit, with his Council,
to ensure that the local Communities to which
these confreres are appointed can provide
the essential conditions for their ongoing
integration and formation.
More than this, it is the experience of many Units that the Transition to
Ministry Program must also structure regular
events which bring together all the confreres
of the units in the first five years after
the end of Initial Formation. These events
can include: workshops, study days, retreats,
opportunities for personal sharing, etc. Under
the direction of the Formation Secretariat,
a designated confrere should coordinate these
events. These events should take place at
least once a year.
The Transition to Ministry program must outline the
expectations and responsibilities involved
in this level of formation.
Inter-Provincial Collaboration
As the Ratio Formationis C.Ss.R 2003
points out, many of the programs and events
suggested above might be better served by
collaboration between units in a particular
Region.
As the Congregation moves towards restructuring and greater inter-provincial
collaboration, this is one area in which much
progress can be made. Such collaboration will
strengthen and develop:
·
bonds which might have been initiated at previous
stages of formation;
·
possibilities for inter-provincial collaboration
in mission and formation;
·
greater collaboration on all levels between Units.
Conclusion
The Transition to Ministry program for each Unit ought to address:
·
the needs of the individual confrere, especially
for accompaniment in his process of transition;
·
the role and responsibility of the Mentor appointed
to accompany the confrere in this transition
stage;
·
the local community to which the confrere is appointed;
·
the (V) Provincial responsibility to develop and
organize events and programs to assist in
the first five years;
·
opportunities
for Inter-Provincial Collaboration in this
critical area of Redemptorist formation.
