Post-Ordination Training
Post-ordination training in the Diocese of Montreal is a three-year program designed to build a community of practitioners for those in their early years of ordained ministry.
The program
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Is collegial in nature
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Provides learning opportunities as they apply to the work in ministry of the participants; strengthening effective ordained leadership.
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Encourages a network of support for the newly ordained.
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Creates a community of practice for those in transition.
Participants
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Are committed to their involvement to the program in that their participation is mandatory
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In year one and two (September to June) participants will attend five daytime sessions and one overnight weekend event.
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In year three the participants will meet four times developing their own personal goals.
Pastoral Identity in Community (a weekend event)
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Looks into the various roles of Priest in a faith community and how that is lived out on a day to day basis.
Time Management
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Planning your day, week, pastoral visiting – parish ministry, diocesan ministry (i.e. committees), involvement in the larger community (boards, local government bodies, volunteer associations)
Sabbath, Self Care, Social Life
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Introduces participants to issues of wellness, stress and burnout and offers strategies for self care, balance and support.
Community Building
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Building Volunteer Teams- Introduces ways of recruiting, training and supporting volunteers
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Facilitating Meetings “that Work” – Effective facilitation of meetings in a way that promotes and encourages interest for participants.
Congregations (Weekend Event)
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Identity – Introduces notions of the congregations as systems – Family Systems Theory
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Life Cycles – reinforces ministry in these moments of birth, marriage and death (pastoral responses)
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Diversity – Insight and direction around issue in multicultural and diverse church and society
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Church Size Theory
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Congregation as Teacher – Learning from those we serve
Celebrating the Eucharist
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With integrity and authenticity.
Continuing Education
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Priest as a Life Long Learner – a deliberate approach to learning and development are essential to the life of the pastoral leader of the community.
The Priest as Team Member/Leader
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Communication Skills -Working with Organist, Administrative Assistant, Verger, Sexton, Lay Pastoral Visitors. How to work with staff in a way that invites a spirit of cooperation and shared ministry.
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Looking at team ministry in non-parochial settings.
Training for Liturgy
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Servers, Chalice Administrators, Readers, Prayers of People
Priest in Interfaith, Multicultural, Multilingual Setting
Planning and Facilitating Adult Learning
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Introduces Learning Style Theory and offers methods for designing and delivering education programs and events.
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Advent Bible Study, Lenten Study/Lenten Speaker Series, Eastertide Study.
Facilitating Outreach/Social Action and Advocacy
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PWRDF, Partners in Mission, Refugee Action, Community Organizations
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How to encourage and incorporate ways to “look beyond Self as Community.”
Spiritual Practice
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How do we nourish and replenish ‘life giving spirit’ within us. We will look at a variety of paths to spiritual wholeness. (Retreats, spiritual direction, quiet days, and other resources). Looks at the difference between pastoral counseling, pastoral care and spiritual direction.
Growing through Conflict
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Conflict as teacher.
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Negotiating Skills
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Introduces ways of viewing conflict, judging the seriousness of the conflict and responding appropriately.
Pastoral Ministry
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Preparing for and conducting weddings, funerals and baptisms (documentation, home visits, marriage preparation, pastoral care for the grieving)
An Introduction to Buildings, Finance and Administration
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Being “good stewards” of the resources in our care.
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Duties of wardens, treasurer, accountant, envelope secret
Seekers
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Looks at the motivations and reasons that cause people to seek out the church and offers appropriate ways and of serving those needs.
Children in Our Midst
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How do we understand ministry to children in church communities? What is our role and call to this ministry?
Boundaries Behaviour and Self-Discipline
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Explores issues of power and vulnerability in pastoral relationships and the need to set limits that allow for a safe interaction and connection within the parish community.
Preaching Workshop: (a day event)
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Advanced teaching seminar for preachers.