Hello, dear colleagues. I would love your feedback on the design of two retreats for part of the pastoral planning process for a large diocese here in California.
The dates and times are already set. There will be two separate retreats, one in September and one in November. The same people will come to both. The idea is to identify strategies for program development, inclusion and other issues involved in the following three areas of importance: Youth inclusion Lay leadership Social teachings The consultants working with these people feel that the three topics should not be separated (for example, one topic per retreat), as the issues intermingle and overlap, as do the services and approaches. And these are people who are used to working independently (so it's best to have them weave into each other for mutual understanding and success) and the consultants feel that each of these issue areas and passions can cross pollinate in a productive way, much like our bumblebees. So let us pretend that our theme is something like coming up with strategies for success in these three areas. This is s fact and idea gathering process which will become a report -- the different leaders of Catholic hospitals, universities, high schools, cemeteries, parishes and programs will be given these strategies at the beginning of next year and will be expected to develop or adjust their own programs accordingly. The group is rich in diversity -- in addition to representatives from the programs and institutions above, there will be youth participants, people who are Catholic and people who are not, community members and others speaking three languages (English, Spanish and Vietnamese). Plus different factions, politically, who are sometimes at odds with each other. Some people who feel excited about this, some who wonder why cohesive planning has to happen at all (don't worry -- it is still by invitation only -- no one is required to come to the event). Overall, a perfect setting for OS. The timing is thus: Thursday -- 6:00 dinner and ... I do not have the exact hours yet -- let us say work together until 9, maybe 10:00 in the evening. Friday -- Let us say 9:00 in the morning until 5:00 in the evening. Perhaps we will also have an evening session, too, if we want it. I do not know yet. Saturday -- Let us say 9:00 to 3:00 in the afternoon. Remember, we have two separate retreats to work on all of the above, although there is a month or two in-between the retreats. What are some of your recommendations for the schedule, themes and convergence process, given that there is a short evening to start and a major gap of time in-between the two retreats? Thanks for your nutritious ideas, Lisa Heft Berkeley, California, USA * * ========================================================== osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu ------------------------------ To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu, Visit: http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html
