Deacon Personnel Board,
Well, spring is almost over. This is a good time to review what I have done during the past year in on-going formation and continuing education and set some direction for next year. I will look at the Dimensions of on-going formation in turn.
During the past year I approached my formation in these ways:
HUMAN: I attended the Deacon Convocation with its focus on Social Justice and the diaconate in the Diocese for the past 25 years.
SPIRITUAL: I was able to improve my rate of praying my daily office (morning and evening) up to 80% of the time.
INTELLECTUAL: I audited a half course at St. Bernard's, "Story and Symbol: Liturgy and Conversion in Literature and Film". Also, I recently took a full day training in Excel.
PASTORAL: Just for refreshing myself, I pulled out one of my books from a preaching course that I took many years ago and reread it.
I can see that I did the minimal 20 hours of formal Continual Education for this year through the SBSTM and the Convocation. I did other work on my own and have continued to review other books on preaching beyond that one book.
During this year (2008-09) my formation goals are:
HUMAN: I will attend a course on Social Justice through SBSTM either at the Rochester campus or through distance learning centers.
SPIRITUAL: I will establish a new Spiritual Director relationship and meet with that Director a minimum of every other month.
INTELLECTUAL: I will participate in a Spiritual reading book club at my parish.
PASTORAL: I will participate in at least one Diocesan workshop offered in Tribunal work or Marriage Preparation (FOCUS).
I hope that this summer is peaceful and productive. I pray that we all may continue to grow in wisdom and in stature, and in favor with God and all people.
Peace,
