Religious Orders & Associations – Facilitation, Training & Strategic Planning
With the evident and continuing decline in religious vocations, many Religious Orders face an uncertain future. Bearers of a unique spiritual charism, they are now presented with issues of continuance, both of their own communities and their original founding vision.
Many such groups would like to see their particular gift to humanity carried into the future by the lay people who have become associated with them. However, how this could or should take place, and what processes of on-going formation such lay ‘associates’ would need to receive in order to remain faithful to the founding vision, is often unclear.
Having worked with a number of Religious Orders over the last fifteen years, our principal consultant, Mark Davis, has developed a particular interest and expertise in responding to these kinds of issues. He has gained practical experience in each of the following areas:
Facilitation for Chapter Meetings and other gatherings designed to foster on-going reflection and decision-making particularly around these issues (He is currently on the list of facilitators for the Conference of Religious in England and Wales).
Consultation with Leadership Teams around issues of lay association.
The design and delivery of processes of training and formation for lay associates.
Recent Work
The Discalced Carmelite Friars (Anglo-Irish Province) – Mark Davis was honoured to be invited to facilitate the 2002 Provincial Chapter– the first lay person in their long history. From September 2002 he was then employed by the Province to deliver a number of Chapter Resolutions concerned with lay collaboration; to facilitate community and regional meetings; to offer advice about the development of Carmelite houses and their missionary activities. At recent Chapters he has presented the fruit of some of his work including: a model for the training of lay spiritual guides in the Carmelite tradition; a resource collection and illustrated book introducing 14 important themes from Carmelite Spirituality; training for friars and lay associates to facilitate conversational faith-sharing groups for use in retreat centres and parishes.
The Discalced Carmelite Friars (Australian Region) – During the early part of 2010, Mark Davis was invited to work with the Discalced Carmelite Friars in Australia in delivering ‘Carmelite Conversations’ – a process designed to introduce Carmelite Spirituality into parishes. He trained 24 individuals and this group, having undertaken several pilots, will be offering the fruits of this initiative widely in 2011.
Franciscans OFM (Ireland) – In 2008, Mark Davis was invited to facilitate the Provincial Chapter of the Friars Minor in Ireland. He has recently been engaged to facilitate their next Provincial Chapter in 2011.
Franciscans OFM (Great Britain) – The British Province have also asked Mark to facilitate their own Provincial Chapter in 2011 after having experienced his work for them at a recent ‘Chapter of Mats’.
Capuchin Franciscans (Ireland) – In the last few years Mark Davis has facilitated a number of regional meetings as well as the 2007 Provincial Chapter.
Capuchin Franciscans (Great Britain) – The consultancy has contributed to the life of the British Province by facilitating a number of regional meetings as well as the 2008 Provincial Chapter. We have also assisted in the putting together a 10 year development plan.
‘Missionaries of the Sacred Heart’ (English Region) – Mark Davis facilitated the 2010 Annual Assembly of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart.
Cabrini Health, Melbourne, Australia – Working in partnership with ‘ARPOS’ – a management consultancy based in Sydney – on a project designed to explore how the charism of the sponsoring Religious Order can continue to be expressed within the organisation it founded.