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Quik-Click Guide
What Is
'Companions on the Journey'?
How Does 'Companions' Work?
What Is 'Spiritual Discernment'?
What Should You Expect?
What Does 'Companions' Require?
Who Should Participate?
Find Out More
The Catholic Parishes in Waterloo Announce
“Companions on
the Journey”
An
Opportunity for Spiritual Discernment
in a Small Group Environment
•
• •
What is “Companions on the Journey”?
Companions on the
Journey is an adult formation opportunity sponsored by the
Catholic Parishes in Waterloo.
Companions on the
Journey provides an opportunity for continuing spiritual
discernment in the context of a small faith-sharing group, and
is designed especially for individuals who are unable or who are
not ready to participate in private spiritual direction.
How
Does “Companions” Work?
A small group of
spiritual “companions” meets regularly under the direction of a
professional spiritual director or guide. The atmosphere is
prayerful, respectful and confidential. The format includes a
combination of prayer, reflection, personal sharing, reflective
listening and mutual support.
Each participant has
an opportunity to share a recent experience and to comment on
what they think may be the spiritual significance of that
experience. The spiritual director or guide and other
participants then have an opportunity to share their own
impressions about the spiritual significance of the person’s
experience.
It is not the purpose
of the group or the spiritual director to criticize, judge or
interpret a person’s experience or its spiritual significance.
Comments are offered in a spirit of respectful affirmation,
based on the premise that God often speaks to us through other
people and a community of faithful companions.
What Is “Spiritual Discernment”?
Spiritual Discernment
(sometimes called “Spiritual Direction” or “Spiritual Guidance”
) is an ancient spiritual practice in many religious
traditions, including Christianity. It describes the process by
which an individual or group of individuals meet regularly with
a spiritual guide to examine their lives, to recognize God’s
presence and to discern God’s will.
Spiritual discernment
provides more support and encouragement than direction
or guidance. It is not the role of the spiritual director or
guide to provide answers, or to tell participants what they
should do. Spiritual discernment works on the premise that God
speaks to each of us in our hearts; our challenge is to become
attentive enough, and discerning enough, to understand what God
is saying. The role of the director or guide is to help
participants discern, with God’s grace, what God desires for
their spiritual wellbeing.
This is what
distinguishes Spiritual Discernment from typical faith-sharing
groups; the focus is not on what a person believes, but on
identifying what God is saying or doing in the person’s life.
The purpose is not to create new personal friendships, but to
establish a bond of trust and care which will enable
participants to identify and understand God’s word in their
lives.
What Should You Expect in “Companions”?
If you choose to
participate in Companions on the Journey you should
expect to grow in your personal spiritual life, your awareness
of God’s presence in your life, your understand-ing of God’s
will for you, and your ability to respond to God’s presence.
You should also
expect:
• to grow in your appreciation for God’s presence in the people
and world around
you.
• to be treated with respect and understanding at all times;
• to be guided, encouraged and supported in your personal
spiritual journey and
discernment;
• to have your opinions, insights, convictions and experiences
treated with
reverence and confidentiality;
• to never be forced to say or do anything which would be
uncomfortable,
dishonest or embarrassing;
• to have your spiritual growth and continued participation in
the group prayerfully
evaluated by the spiritual director or guide.
• to participate on a regular basis in a prayerful evaluation of
the spiritual director
or guide and the group as a whole.
It is the mutual
responsibility of the spiritual director or guide and the
individual participant to assess an individual’s continued
participation. It is the responsibility of the director or
guide to determine, if necessary, when a participant’s continued
participation is no longer beneficial for the individual or the
group.
What Does “Companions” Require?
Participation in
Companions on the Journey requires that each person has a
desire to know God more deeply, is willing to enter into a
process of inten-tional spiritual discernment, and is willing to
share their spiritual journey with others.
• Participants should
have an awareness and reverence for the Spirit of God in
themselves, in others, and in the world around them.
• Participants must be
willing and able to be discrete, to respect confidentiality,
and
to accept a diversity of spiritual convictions, styles and
expressions.
• Participants are
expected to attend regularly, listen attentively, and
participate
respectfully.
Who Should Participate in “Companions”?
Most adult persons
who have been catechized in a religious tradition and actively
participate in a religious community will benefit from
participation in a process of spiritual discernment such as
Companions on the Journey; however, this experience may not
be beneficial for every individual.
Spiritual discernment
is not a substitute for personal counseling or professional
therapy. Some individuals may find private spiritual direction
more helpful; many participants will gradually grow into a
readiness for private spiritual direction.
Find Out More
New Companions
groups will be formed when a sufficient number of persons are
interested. If you are interested in private spiritual
direction or participation in Companions on the Journey,
contact the Director of Religious Education in your parish or
contact:
Director of
Adult Faith Formation
320 Mulberry St., Waterloo IA 50701
Phone: 319.234.9912
email: DBQ208s3@arch.pvt.k12.ia.us.
___________
Disclaimer: The Catholic
Parishes in Waterloo, the Archdiocese of Dubuque,
their
employees
and volunteers, individual spiritual directors and
guides
do not assume legal
or civil liability of any kind by
providing and
facilitating this opportunity
for spiritual
discernment.
___________
Created 11.06
• Last Update:
02.12.08 |