The Congregation of St. Joseph has been a member of the Charis partner program since January 2011. Since becoming a partner, they have hosted a Seekers Retreat in Mobile, AL in October, 2011 and a Choosing to be Catholic Retreat in Lake Charles, LA in November, 2011. Below is a reflection on their team formation process that led to the completion of two successful retreats!

Written by Sr. Ily Fernandez and Emery Desonier

“As Christians, we believe that we bear the image and likeness of God inside of us and that this is our deepest reality. We are made in God's image. However we tend to picture this in a naive, romantic, and pious way. We imagine that somewhere inside us there is a beautiful icon of God stamped into our souls. That may well be, yet God, as scripture assures us, is more than an icon. God is fire - wild, infinite, ineffable, non-containable.” ~Fr. Ron Rolheiser, OMI

Last fall, we coordinated two Charis retreats, each in a small city of the south; one in Mobile, Alabama, and the other in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Both retreats were a real grace to those on the team as well as for the retreatants. We think that it was due to the time and effort we took on team formation.

We followed the directives from Charis on how to plan the team meetings, use the retreat prayers, facilitate faith sharing, etc., and built on them.  One significant aide was the Ignatian – “the more”.  All the Charis guidance on team formation helped us to get ready and present a great experience for all.

Our Charis journey with retreat formation began by recruiting a very diverse team of local Young Adults, through the connections we each had in those southern cities.  Then, as all good things evolve, they each recruited another Young Adult in their own network, to the point that in Mobile, fourteen were on the team.

Through our venture, we noticed how the Charis team formation was quite special from other retreat team formations because it allowed an opportunity for those in their 20s and 30s (with a variety of ministry, social, and professional backgrounds) who ordinarily would not have met/worked with each other, to meet in the same room and discover among themselves their commonality... the heart of a servant to reach their own peers. This kinship that developed among the team was produced during their sharing of faith and life’s experiences as we did the activities that all would be doing on the retreat.  This not only provided the team’s bond, but also a familiarity with the items of the retreat so that when the actual day arrived, we were not only well prepared, but had a greater empathy for the retreatants as they experienced their own discovery/revelations.  Additionally, it helped to uncover the talents that each one brought to the table allowing a much easier discernment on how each team member would be able to serve their peers on the actual day of the retreat by giving either a peer talk, leading small groups, running A/V, music ministry, emcee, timekeeper, food/drinks, or logistics. 

It took lots of time, and hard work… but again God’s grace flowed and it affirmed and validated the ministry of Charis.  Both Emery and I had to travel quite a long distance for every meeting, but it was all worth the sacrifice of energy and time.

Each team member had a part and we allowed them to be creative, use their gifts and talents in such a way that,  “God‘s presence was fire - wild, infinite, ineffable, non-containable”.

Our experience proves that God’s grace (Charis) shines when we simply open our “doors and windows”, allowing God’s fire to enter in and spread to all that come to the retreat.