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EDUCATION FOR LEADERSHIP
Continuing education is an important activity for everyone. The world today is a rapidly changing place. New ideas emerge on a daily basis. This is true not only in the secular world of politics, business, science, and technology, but also in the field of religious life. We can never stop learning. The Augustinian Recollect friar is committed to growing not just in the spiritual life, but in the various fields in which he has been called to serve the Church, such as education and teaching, care for the sick and the dying, youth ministry, or missionary work. We can never stop growing in knowledge and understanding of what we are called to be and do in imitation of our Savior, Jesus Christ, who was a "man for others". The Augustinian Recollects have a special way to promote continuing education, especially for the leadership of the community, known as the Priors' Workshop. This gathering of the province administrators and the local priors is mandated by our Provincial Directory and takes place once every three years. It is especially designed for those who are new to leadership roles in order to orient them to their particular duties. This year's workshop was dedicated to the changing roles of religious leadership in the Church and religious communities today, and to the particular topic of care for the elder and sick religious in our midst. Presenters for the topic of religious leadership were Fr. Jim Clarke and Mr. Mike Norman. Fr. Jim has worked as Director of Adult Education for the Archdiocese of Los Angles and is currently spiritual director for the seminarians at St. John's Seminary in Camarillo, Ca. Mike is a Director of Youth Ministry, also for the Los Angles Archdiocese. These two men work together in helping religious leaders to discover their style of leadership and how to exercise it most effectively--a critical topic for the Church as it goes through changes in a time of crisis, both within the Church and in the world at large. Mr. Ray Mattes, who is Executive Director of the Collaborative Project on Aging Religious, spoke about how religious communities can best care for their elder and infirm members. He will be working with the community on an ongoing basis as the friars plan for assisted living and nursing care for the elder and infirm religious, who form a vital part of our Augustinian Recollect family and have given their lives in its service. Eleven of our religious superiors were present for the workshop. A spirit of comradery and active participation prevailed at the meetings. The presentations were inter-active, with those present working together on problem-solving in the areas of leadership and elder care. The workshop participants also interacted with the local community of St. Augustine Priory in Oxnard, California, where the workshop was held from May 11-13. The Priory is our house of "initial formation" where candidates are first introduced to the theory and practice of religious life, and make their first decision about whether or not they have been called by God to be an Augustinian Recollect. What is learned at the workshop must be implimented in our local communities. The participants are challenged to share their experiences with their brothers, and to help each community to benefit from what has been learned. for other stories, visit our news archive
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