We have several talks from the Sixth National Giving Voice Gathering available as podcasts on our new Giving Voice podcast channel. Listen to them online or dowload them to your MP3 player!
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
In Conversation with Sandra Schneiders, IHM
Sandra Schneiders--a leading authority on Catholic Women's Religious Life--was with us in conversation throughout the Sixth National Giving Voice Conference. Click on the green arrows below to listen to podcasts of some of her talks.
Thursday Evening - Challenge to the Gathering
Friday Morning - U.S. Reality of Religious Life
Friday Afternoon - Witness Talk
Sunday Morning - Extended Harvest and Questions & Answers
Thursday Evening - Challenge to the Gathering
Friday Morning - U.S. Reality of Religious Life
Friday Afternoon - Witness Talk
Sunday Morning - Extended Harvest and Questions & Answers
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Witness Reflections
Throughout the conference we had the opportunity to hear various witness reflections.
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Patrice Colletti, SDS (Friday afternoon)
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Patrice Colletti, SDS (Friday afternoon)
- Click here to read a PDF of her witness reflection
- Click on the green arrow below to listen to a podcast of her witness reflection
Sarah Kohles, OSF (Saturday afternoon)
Monday, July 25, 2011
Open Space
Click here to read a PDF with the Open Space Harvests posted either on chart paper at the conference and/or the blog to date.
Open Space Hosts: Use the comment box on this post the harvests from your Open Space conversations. Please include the Question as well as the fruits of your conversation or a "60-second commercial". Click here to post your open space harvest!
Open Space Hosts: Use the comment box on this post the harvests from your Open Space conversations. Please include the Question as well as the fruits of your conversation or a "60-second commercial". Click here to post your open space harvest!
If you need help entering your comment, ask a tech friendly Sister!
Pictures
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| Intergenerational Circle of Conversation during Open Space |
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| Walking to our Leadership Exercise on the patio |
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| Sisters on the Bridge between the old and new system |
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| Pioneers in the new system share their experience |
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| Sandra Schneiders, IHM |
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| Checking out the harvest wall |
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| The centers of our circles with the sacred objects brought by participants |
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Postcards: Religious Life in the US and Internationality
On Friday morning, Teresa Maya, ccvi shared her thoughts, images and some "postcards" on Religious Life in the US and Internationality. Click here to download a PDF with the outline of her answers to these questions:
How do we get beyond “It’s a small world”?
What does internationality mean? What does it look like?
How do we go beyond statistics and politically correct phrases
Click the green arrow below to listen to a podcast of her talk:
How do we get beyond “It’s a small world”?
What does internationality mean? What does it look like?
How do we go beyond statistics and politically correct phrases
Click the green arrow below to listen to a podcast of her talk:
The Questions from 35
We played a game called 35 on our opening night to raise up the burning questions and conversations we'd most like to be in. Click on this link for a PDF document containing the questions, sliced two ways. The first half is organized by Decade/Generation. The second half contains the same questions, but organized by the number of points they received in the 35 process.
Friday, July 22, 2011
Where is the Life ... a meditation
On Friday morning, we spent time in this guided meditation led by Susan Francois, CSJP inviting us to look with the eyes of our heart for the life in our religious life:
Where is the life in religious life?
I invite us to look with the eyes of our heart and wander through our lives together.
I will guide us as we look closely at different parts of our religious life.
Pay attention to the faces, to the moments.
Be very specific.
Who do you see?
What's happening?
Think of it as a movie, like a highlight reel of our lives now and in the past, and a preview of our future.
[Close your eyes]
Look with the eyes of your heart into your ministry, the people you minister with, the people you minister for. Pay attention to the faces, to the moments. Who do you see? What's happening?
Look with the eyes of your heart into your local community, your daily living. Pay attention to the faces, to the moments. Who do you see? What's happening?
Shift your focus to your larger community gatherings--community meetings, assemblies, Chapters. Pay attention to ...
Now look with the eyes of your heart at the unscripted fun times. Pay attention to ...
Look at the moments where you stand with the marginalized, your action for peace and justice, preaching the Gospel. Pay attention to ...
Shift your focus to your prayer and contemplation. Who is there then? Pay attention to ...
Lastly, shift your eyes to any other places in your religious life where you see life. Who do you see? What's happening?
When you are ready, open your eyes and return to this space.
Where is the life in religious life?
I invite us to look with the eyes of our heart and wander through our lives together.
I will guide us as we look closely at different parts of our religious life.
Pay attention to the faces, to the moments.
Be very specific.
Who do you see?
What's happening?
Think of it as a movie, like a highlight reel of our lives now and in the past, and a preview of our future.
[Close your eyes]
Look with the eyes of your heart into your ministry, the people you minister with, the people you minister for. Pay attention to the faces, to the moments. Who do you see? What's happening?
Look with the eyes of your heart into your local community, your daily living. Pay attention to the faces, to the moments. Who do you see? What's happening?
Shift your focus to your larger community gatherings--community meetings, assemblies, Chapters. Pay attention to ...
Now look with the eyes of your heart at the unscripted fun times. Pay attention to ...
Look at the moments where you stand with the marginalized, your action for peace and justice, preaching the Gospel. Pay attention to ...
Shift your focus to your prayer and contemplation. Who is there then? Pay attention to ...
Lastly, shift your eyes to any other places in your religious life where you see life. Who do you see? What's happening?
When you are ready, open your eyes and return to this space.
Living the Questions - A Poem
On Friday morning, Susan Francois, CSJP shared the following poem which she crafted inspired by the Wordle created from the questions raised in our game of 35.
religious community
future life
life now
women
living
contemplative
called Church
God, wisdom, heart
young
younger, older
balance
move
life-giving past
become
look
foster
mission
today
Game of 35 Wordle
On the opening night we played a game called "35" to raise up our burning questions. The image below is a "wordel" made from the words of each person's questions.
Challenge from Jessi Beck, PBVM
Click here to download the PDF and read Jessi Beck PBVM's Challenge to the 6th National Giving Voice Conference
Or Click the green arrow below to listen to the podcast of her talk.
Or Click the green arrow below to listen to the podcast of her talk.
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Online Harvesting Wall
What are we learning?
What themes are surfacing that excite us?
What gifts have we received from this experience?
Click here to read what was written on the Harvest Wall in McCormick Lounge and to add your own observations/reflection.
Click here to read what was written on the Harvest Wall in McCormick Lounge and to add your own observations/reflection.
Call a Circle: Circle Process
The circle, or council, is an ancient form of meeting that has gathered human beings into respectful conversation for thousands of years. The circle process will guide our time together at the July conference as we engage the emergence of Religious Life in the 21st Century.
The Circle Process we are using is outlined in detail in The Circle Way, A Leader in Every Chair by Christina Baldwin and Ann Linnea. You may also download a simple yet detailed guide, Basic Guidelines for Calling a Circle, at www.peerspirit.com.
How does a Giving Voice Circle Work?
Intention: Intention shapes the circle and determines who will come, how long the circle will meet, and what kinds of outcomes are to be expected. Our Giving Voice circles will be a time to share with your age peers in religious life (an intergenerationally) in the conversations you most long for and need.
Center: The center of a circle is like the hub of a wheel—all energies pass through it, and it holds the rim
together. To help us remember how the hub helps the group, we invite you to bring a meaningful object such as a cloth, candle or icon that represents the intention of our circle.
Roles: The circle process invites an equality of presence, contribution, and responsibility that is shared out among all members of the circle. Rotating positions of leadership enhances everyone’s experience.
We will be using this blog as a way to gather the harvests of our conversations at the 6th National Giving Voice Gathering.
The Circle Process we are using is outlined in detail in The Circle Way, A Leader in Every Chair by Christina Baldwin and Ann Linnea. You may also download a simple yet detailed guide, Basic Guidelines for Calling a Circle, at www.peerspirit.com.
How does a Giving Voice Circle Work?
Intention: Intention shapes the circle and determines who will come, how long the circle will meet, and what kinds of outcomes are to be expected. Our Giving Voice circles will be a time to share with your age peers in religious life (an intergenerationally) in the conversations you most long for and need.
Center: The center of a circle is like the hub of a wheel—all energies pass through it, and it holds the rim
together. To help us remember how the hub helps the group, we invite you to bring a meaningful object such as a cloth, candle or icon that represents the intention of our circle.
Roles: The circle process invites an equality of presence, contribution, and responsibility that is shared out among all members of the circle. Rotating positions of leadership enhances everyone’s experience.
- Host: A circle host is like the host of a dinner party. The host joins the group process while maintaining and observing the pattern of the circle. The host and guardian work together.
- Guardian: One circle member at a time volunteers to watch and safeguard group energy. The guardian employs a bell or chime that signals everyone to stop, take a breath, and rest in a space of silence. The guardian makes this signal again and speaks to why she called the pause. Any member may call for a pause.
- Harvester: The person serving as harvester serves as record keeper or historian in circle process and may be the first one to articulate emergent wisdom, decisions, or completion.
- Talking piece is often used as part of check-in, check-out, and whenever there is a desire to slow down the conversation, collect all voices and contributions, and be able to speak without interruption.
- Conversation council is often used when reaction, interaction, and an interjection of new deas, thoughts and opinions are needed.
- Reflection, or Silent council gives each member time and space to reflect on what is occurring, or needs to occur, in the course of a meeting.
We will be using this blog as a way to gather the harvests of our conversations at the 6th National Giving Voice Gathering.
Sunday, July 10, 2011
The Invitation
YOU ARE INVITED TO BRING YOUR UNFOLDING DREAMS AS WE TAP THE LIFE AND ENERGY OF GOD’S INVITATION TO ENGAGE THE EMERGENCE OF RELIGIOUS LIFE IN THE 21ST CENTURY
Religious life is in the midst of a paradigm shift. This summer Giving Voice invites you to engage the new that is emerging.
What signs of the new emerging do you see?
In what ways are you already
living into the new?
Whatever we give our energy to grows.
Join Sandra Schneiders, IHM and women across all the generations in religious life as we engage in circles of conversation, prayer, and presence. May God’s emerging dream for religious life continue to unfold in real and tangible ways.
This gathering is an intergenerational event. Sisters from all generations in religious life, both over 50 and under 50, who want to engage in these conversations are invited to participate.
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