This manual contains guidelines for those who facilitate this formation program.
Why do we call these materials an “invitation” instead of a course of study? Why do we use the word “facilitator” instead of teacher or instructor or moderator?
Let’s consider “invitation” first. The Invitation is designed to assist people in a discernment process about a most important question: Is God calling me to become a lay Marist? Persons who respond to this Invitation need information and time in which to ponder this question.
This Invitation includes prayers, readings and activities that offer opportunities to “try on” the Marist spirituality in manageable bits and pieces. Participants are invited to begin to think, judge, feel and act as Mary. This Invitation is not a course of study in the sense that it has no deadlines and no tests. No demands will be made on participants. Their participation is voluntary.
To “facilitate” means to make an experience or situation easy for others. The facilitators of this Invitation work for the Holy Spirit and Mary. We graciously extend the Invitation, and then we get out of the way of the action of the Holy Spirit. We adopt a “learning with” posture, rather than a “teaching to” posture.
Those who respond to this Invitation are on a journey. They will begin at different places; they will travel at different speeds. This journey is about developing relationships; it’s about change. Some who begin this journey may not finish it. The facilitator who truly turns this process over to God will accept the differences among the participants and the decisions of participants.
A team of people may facilitate this Invitation—one person does not have to do it all. But every person who facilitates this Invitation must be well prepared.
We pray regularly about our roles as facilitators and for those who respond to this Invitation. There is a prayer for facilitators at the end of this manual.
Preliminary Work
The most important preliminary work is reading this manual for facilitators. It is vitally important that facilitators are totally familiar with the program before inviting others to participate.
Recruiting
Invitations can be issued in many ways, but personal invitations are always the best way. Announcements in parish bulletins, posters and handouts give people information about what is being offered—the what, when and where. We use these tools to get inquiries; the personal contact that happens next is the most important part of the invitation.
Brochures and small booklets designed for initiating interest in the lay Marist movement are available and can be used during the recruitment process. Information for ordering these materials as well as samples of bulletin inserts and a poster can be found at the end of this manual.
Commitment
This program is about conversion and formation. These are processes that take time and happen best in community. Therefore, each participant contributes to the formation of others, and commitment from every participant is critical to the success or failure of the program.
During the recruitment process, it is appropriate to mention the importance of attending the meetings. Do not be afraid to ask for a commitment to attend all the sessions or to speak about the program as being part of a discernment process. This program is about a call to become a member of Mary’s family. The response to this call deserves the best effort we can give it.
If a person knows he or she cannot attend all or most of the meetings but still expresses interest, the facilitator may discuss the matter and determine if there is a way for that person to study the materials. It should be emphasized, however, that it is far better for a person to work through these materials with at least one other person.
Scheduling
Schedule the meeting dates for the entire program in advance. Do not fall into the trap of gathering a group of interested people and asking them when they can meet. This will result in many difficulties, and nearly always someone will end up feeling left out and alienated.
Instead, people should be informed of the meeting schedule at the time they are recruited. Give them a copy of all the meeting dates. There is a form at the end of this manual that may help. Once a group is organized and meeting, it can, of course, change the schedule if everyone agrees.
If people call and say they cannot attend because of the schedule, politely tell them something like this: “I’m sorry about that. Perhaps you can attend the next time we offer this program. Would you like me to call you when I have that information?”
Size of group and setting
The Invitation is designed with small numbers in mind. As general guidelines, groups of more than 12 develop difficulty bonding, and groups of less than six tend to fall apart. Large groups should be separated into smaller groups for discussion. More than six at a table makes discussion difficult and leads to less participation by some.
The setting is important only in the sense that it should be reasonably comfortable and free of anything that will be a distraction. Meeting in a private home may be ideal.
A Marist group nearby
If the existing group is nearby and has no other special business to attend to, that group may decide to use the Invitation for its regular meetings. Those who already consider themselves to be lay Marists may also benefit from this material.
Or, if there is a very active Marist group nearby and those members have already completed the formation program, the meetings of participants in formation may be held separately.
If those participating in the Invitation are not near an existing Marist lay group, then they will develop their own traditions and projects together.
Community building
By the time participants have finished Chapter 9, they should have bonded and formed a small Marist community. Facilitators should include activities that help build community, such as announcing important events and sending greeting cards to mark events that are important to members. Praying for those with special needs or intentions is very important. Social events can be planned, but keep them simple. Members may wish to provide beverages and snacks at gatherings.
The Practical Part
Materials
This binder titled Doing the Work of Mary: An Invitation to the Marist Way contains everything that is needed to facilitate the program. The program includes these guidelines for facilitators, nine chapters of formation materials, promotional materials, evaluation forms, guidelines for a commitment ceremony and a sample ceremony booklet.
Numerous readings in the Invitation are taken from two important books: A Certain Way, by Craig Larkin, S.M., and Like a Bridge, by Laurence Duffy, S.M. and Charles Girard, S.M. Many lay Marists already have these books. The books can be loaned to new members or ordered for them. However, master copies of all the readings from these two books also are included in the last section of this binder. These readings can be photocopied for those who do not have access to the books.
The facilitator has a master copy of the Invitation. It is necessary to photocopy the pages of each chapter for the participants. Please provide good-quality copies and punch the pages for insertion into three-ring binders.
It is recommended that the chapters be photocopied one at a time as they are needed for the next meeting. This procedure allows costs to be spread over time and eliminates possible wasted copies, as some participants may not complete the program. Also, it is a good idea to give participants only the chapter they need during the current meeting, so that they do not read ahead of the group.
Costs
The costs of providing the materials for the program should be determined before recruiting people.
If there is an existing Marist group that wishes to provide materials for participants, that is fine. If it is necessary to ask participants to cover the costs for their own materials, that must be made known to them at the time the invitation is issued. Do not let it happen that people come for the first meeting and are surprised with an announcement that they must pay for the costs of their materials. The structure
The Invitation has three major sections with three chapters in each section. The structure follows the experiences common to all disciples of Jesus: Choice, Formation and Testing, and Mission.
Section I, “Choice,” considers these concepts: vocation, spirituality, church, laity and the relationship Marists have with Mary.
Section II, “Formation and Testing,” covers the Marist way of doing things. Chapters titled “Thinking, Judging, Feeling and Acting as Mary” and “Hidden and Unknown in this World,” cover major characteristics of the Marist spirituality. The chapter titled “Hidden and Unknown in this World ” considers characteristics of the world in which Marists do the work of Mary.
Section III, “Mission,” includes discussions of mercy, ministry and evangelization, and going forward as lay Marists.
The appendix contains guidelines for reflection, prayers suitable for group prayer, the sources from which the Invitation was written, the text of a commitment ceremony and a sample booklet that is used during the ceremony.
Chapter guidelines
Each chapter begins with a page of guidelines for facilitators. This page is not to be copied for participants.
Start at the beginning
It is important that the materials be presented in the order in which they appear in the binder. The topics are arranged according to the conversion process. Please do not allow people to “start” in the middle of the Invitation. Also, please do not shorten or rearrange the Invitation or combine chapters.
Presentation of chapters
It’s essential that the facilitator be as familiar as possible with the materials. Achieving the necessary familiarity may require reading each chapter several times. During the presentation of each chapter, the facilitator should participate in every prayer, reading and activity suggested in the text. The facilitator should be prepared to start discussion on the various topics if that helps. Once discussion begins, participants in the group are given preference, with the facilitator mainly watching for misunderstandings or discussion that has strayed from the topic. The facilitator may need to bring the discussion back to the topic.
No matter how many times we may facilitate this Invitation, we are still responding to the invitation from the Holy Spirit and Mary to be a lay Marist. It is always possible to learn more, to go deeper into the spirituality, and to receive more gifts from the Holy Spirit.
Praying together
Every chapter begins and ends with short prayers. These prayers should be said together. If there are participants who know a language other than English, they can be asked to say the prayers in that language also. Respectfully listening to prayers in the languages of all the participants is a practice that can help a small group of people bond. It is an inclusive gesture that demonstrates respect for other cultures.
The texts of a number of well-known prayers are also in the appendix. It may happen that participants will request prayer for various intentions. If the group wishes to pray more than the prayers that open and close each chapter, it is recommended that the prayers be chosen from the list in the appendix. Try to stay away from devotions that are highly individualistic, as some participants will not be familiar with them. Short spontaneous prayers are perfectly all right.
Participation
No one should be put on the spot by being asked to read or share. Allow the more timid participants to become comfortable with the group. The facilitator does not assign a reading to anyone unless the facilitator knows for certain that the person is willing and able to read.
Once participants are comfortable enough to take turns reading, the different voices and speech patterns provide variety and make the meeting more interesting. Based on the facilitator’s familiarity with the participants, he or she will have to make some judgment calls on how to encourage the participants to read and share.
Seeing stars
Participants may comment or discuss at any time, of course, but the five stars that appear at intervals in the chapters indicate appropriate times for discussion. The stars also indicate that a new topic will be introduced after discussion.
Pacing
Each meeting should last about one-and-a-half to two hours. The length of time people talk during discussions will affect the length of time the meeting lasts. The facilitator will be sensitive to how long the session is lasting, and how the group is moving through the materials to be covered. If participants wish to talk longer, and they have not strayed from the topic under discussion, they should be given that chance. The facilitator can make comments such as, “We are running a little over the normal time for this topic. Is that all right with everyone?”
There is no requirement that a chapter be finished in one meeting. That would be ideal, but if it doesn’t happen the facilitator can decide to continue a chapter at another meeting. Scheduling should not become more important than covering the material adequately.
It is entirely permissible for a group to take a break—such as skipping a month during extreme weather. It is also entirely permissible to take a break in order to attend a function of an existing Marist lay group or another event such as a retreat or even a social time together such as a holiday party.
Quiet Times
Near the end of each chapter, a “Quiet Time” is observed. Quiet Time is a retreat-type experience for the participants; it’s the time when the facilitator gets out of the way and gives the participants time alone with the Holy Spirit and Mary. No one should interrupt Quiet Time. After Quiet Time, participants may share their experiences, but sharing is not required.
The facilitator begins Quiet Time by providing each participant with The Pondering Page for that chapter and introducing the topic that appears at the top of The Pondering Page. Quiet Time may last about 10-15 minutes after the topic is introduced.
The facilitator can adjust the length of time by observing the participants. Participants will put down pencils, look up, and in other ways signal that they are finished. If some people are finished and some are not, it’s all right to give those not finished a few more minutes. Then call an end to Quiet Time.
If it is possible to have some appropriate instrumental music playing in the background, the experience may be greatly enhanced. The music should be low to start with, but turning it even lower can be a signal that Quiet Time is coming to an end, and turning off the music can be a signal that Quiet Time is over. All of this signaling can be done without saying a word.
It is the choice of participants whether or not they write on The Pondering Page during Quiet Time and whether or not they share what they may have written.
The facilitator may spend his or her Quiet Time pondering on the topic in question or praying for the participants.
Off the Wall
Facilitators may experience what we will call “off-the-wall” situations. These are questions or comments that no one could possibly have anticipated.
In order to handle off-the-wall situations, facilitators need to have a rehearsed answer ready. For example, a facilitator may say, “I really don’t know the answer to that, but I have someone I can call, and I’ll get the answer and get back to you.” Then the facilitator tries to get the group back on agenda.
Later, if the facilitator feels a need for help, he or she can contact another Marist in the area or call the help line (see below) and discuss the matter. It is important to respond in a timely manner to the person who asked the question.
There may also be disagreement among participants during discussion.These exchanges can be helpful. The facilitator need not interfere unless the discussion strays from the agenda or gets disrespectful. Also, the facilitator need not try to resolve the disagreement, even if someone expresses an idea that seems totally inappropriate or un-Christian. Conversion and formation take time. Simply affirm everyone involved (there’s a difference between affirming a person and agreeing with an idea) and continue the chapter.
No matter how strange the question or comment may be, don’t be surprised if it gets answered during the course of the meeting. Often one participant or another will speak up and solve the problem. Lay Marists who have coordinated various kinds of meetings have had this happen. Remember, the Holy Spirit is at work.
Special needs
Please be sensitive to people with special needs; such as, sight, hearing, physical or literacy limitations. Accommodating these needs may require reading some parts of the Invitation aloud instead of silently and slowing the pace of the readings and the meeting. It may also mean paying attention to lighting and acoustics.
Records
The facilitator will keep records of names, addresses and phone numbers of participants and will coordinate the group’s schedule and communications.
As part of the last chapter, the facilitator will invite participants to complete an evaluation form. There is also an evaluation form for the facilitator. Please gather these and send them to the Marist Laity Center.
Planning for a ceremony is discussed in the last chapter of this Invitation. If a commitment ceremony is held, the facilitator is asked to inform the Marist Laity Center of the event using the form in the appendix. With this information, we can welcome new members and update mailing lists.
Talk it over:
Facilitators are encouraged to provide feedback or to ask for help on topics related to facilitating this material.
Facilitator’s Prayer
Holy Spirit, The spirituality of the Marists is your gift to the Church and to me. As I extend this invitation to others, fill me with your gifts and help me think, judge, feel and act as Mary toward those I am guiding.
Holy Spirit, who created and formed Mary, bestow upon all of us the spirit of Mary and make us one with you.
Holy Mary, Mother of Mercy, pray for me, that I may graciously extend this invitation as you would, and pray for us, as we pray and study.
(Audio Available)
