Guidelines for Formation For

Guidelines for Formation for

Universal Mission

Part III – Book 13

Table of Contents

I – First Official Sending & Receiving3

A – Before Final Profession3

B – After Final Profession3

Preparation for Sending & Practical Details

C – Sending Ritual5

D – Receiving - in a different province5

Practical Steps5

Study6

Preparation for Cultural Transition6

II – Particular Situations12

A – Sisters temporarily in another Province12

B – Temporary Sending for a Specific Need13

C – Sending to Province of Origin14

Appendix – Visa16

I – First Official Sending and Receiving

The General Chapter 2002 confirmed that the first official sending takes place at the time of perpetual vows. cf. Const. art. 43

Before Final Profession: Discernment and Preparation during the time of Temporary Profession – prepared by the General Council – see Part III

After Final Profession: Preparation for sending and practical details – to be done in Sending Province

Preparation for sending is part of the whole process of initial formation, which is ensured by the provinces and requires an accompaniment. Initial formation is preparation for Universal Mission. Sisters sent within their province of origin and those sent to another province are both sent in Universal Mission. The following guidelines concern both.

Preparation for First Sending should be accompanied by an experienced, professed FMM. This time of preparation should include:

time to consider patterns in one’s life and challenges these propose for community and ministry

time to reflect upon transition in its different aspects (cultural, ministerial, personal…) – both the impacts and the means of coping

time to reflect upon the meaning of solitude, which is inherent to consecrated life in general, and in missionary life in particular

session on cultural transition (see pages 6-9)

study of the province and the people to whom one is

being sent

Suggestions for further reading:

Christiane Mégarbané, fmm. “Widen the Space of your Tent”, Extraordinary General Chapter OFM, September 19, 2006.

FMM. For the Mission and Its Risks. read about the origins of FMM presence in the country for which one is preparing.

If the country is new in the life of the Institute, then there may be articles in The Meeting Space.

Read about the life of FMM in the province The Meeting Space

Current material about the country to which one is sent from the perspective of:

the People – Culture,(s)
History
Geography
Political situation
Religious Profile
Church
FMM Province

the internet can be a helpful source as well as The Meeting Space

and other FMM materials that refer to the

province to which one is sent..

Material concerning ‘culture shock’, ‘cultural transitions’, for example Honourably Wounded: Stress Among ChristianWorkers by Margery Foyle. Mill Hill, London: Monarch Books, 2001.

At the conclusion of each section , b – e , spend some time in prayer, reflection and conversation with the Sister who is accompanying. b, c, d will also form

part of the specific preparation concerning

“Culture Shock:” and cultural transitions.

Sending Ritual to the Community and People within

the Province or to a new Province and People – this should be done at the conclusion of the preparation.

Receiving - into a different province

Purpose: to welcome the one sent with openness; develop a readiness to grow with her in the community and ministry for our FMM Mission in the Local Church.

Preliminary steps

Both provincials (sending and receiving) are in contact with one another
The sending is announced in both provinces at the same time – to be decided upon by the two provincials
The receiving provincial writes, phones or emails a welcome to the Sister when the time is appropriate, and begins a communication with her, sending her the Province Journal, some information about the country, the Church, people, the province, etc.

2. Visa – see Appendix – page 16

3. Study

language study begun in the province of origin and to

be continued in the new province, or in a province of transition – adapted to specific needs

continuation of study about cultural transition with

specific focus on the country to which one is sent – to begin in the province of origin and to continue in the

new province

4. Preparation for Cultural Transition

stages of cultural transition[1]

contact phase of excitement and euphoria
disintegration accompanied by confusion
autonomy indicating gradual understanding of the new culture
independence which cherishes cultural differences while displaying increasingly trusting and creative behaviour

aspects of culture shock

strain due to the effort required to make the necessary psychological adaptations
a sense of loss and feelings of deprivation in regard to friends, status, profession and possessions
being rejected by and/or rejecting members of the new culture
confusion in role, role expectations, values, feelings and self-identity
surprise, anxiety, even disgust and indignation after becoming aware of cultural differences
feelings of impotence due to not being able to cope with the new environment

practical suggestions for coping with culture shock[2]

Recognize your symptoms for what they are. Fatigue and loss of energy in the adjustment stage are an indication

of culture shock, not of breakdown…

Be kind to yourself as you settle down – do something familiar – read a book, listen to music from your culture…
When things calm down, gradually become more involved in the new situation…
Concentrate on finding good things in the new country,

and look for a local interest as fast as you can

Reduce other tensions in your life…
Drop anything you can to reduce overload during a

period of culture shock…

Never decide to return to your place of origin during a period of culture shock…
Lean hard on comforting verses of Scripture, on friends…. you may not be able to pray much if you are stressed,

but that makes no difference to God’s care of you.

Suggested ‘workshop’ for cultural transition – to be done in sending province and in receiving province – can be done with a community (this also can be done in addition using our fmm ‘culture’)[3]

Aim: to explore our cultures together with the similarities

and the differences in order to understand each other better

History: what are the major events that have shaped the story of my culture as I have experienced it ; what are the stories that you use to tell who you are? why things ae the way they are?

Heroines and Heroes: who are the heroines and heroes

you celebrate ? Who best embodies the values of your culture?

Myths: what are the myths that shape the collective conscience in your culture? What is sacred to you?

what is the core idea that gives meaning and cohesiveness

to all parts of your culture?

Rituals: What are the rituals that surround celebrations, deaths, etc. which create a shared experience in which differences disappear and everyone is at home?

God image: what is the imagery that most powerfully puts you in a personal communion with the Sacred, with the Ultimate?

Relationships: what is the system of relationships in your culture – to yourself? your self image? female to male? person to person? older to younger? younger to older? to nature? to earth? to the cosmos?

Language: what are the words, maxims, sayings in our culture that tell about the perceptions and values around things such as love, work,, time, success, life, death, etc.

Taboos: what are some of the taboos in your culture?

As a group what do you see as similarities and what do you see as differences?

5. Receiving in the new province

The receiving /welcoming provincial – if possible – meets the Sister when she arrives – or at least if she cannot be present, to phone the Sister to welcome her into the Province. She should meet with her within a few days of her arrival, and then, on a regular basis for the first few months. Beforehand the provincial should meet with the receiving community to work with them to plan the immediate welcome of the Sister, including a welcome in the name of the province as soon as possible after her arrival symbolized by a rite which commits the sister and the province to:

develop a deep sense of welcome
sustain an ambiance of openness
a readiness to learn from one another respecting each other’s uniqueness

A sister should be appointed by the provincial to walk

with the new Sister to help her to acclimate to her new country – province…This has to be done locally…and

then gradually expanded. The welcome is also personalized for each Sister according to her needs,

etc. The opportunity is given to get to know the plan of

the Church, the culture, the plan of the country, with a view to completing her preparation for her new province.

After the Provincial meets with the Sister, decisions are made for the immediate future:

her community – if not the same as the welcoming community
introduction by the local bursar of the financial arrangements in the province
visits to nearby local fmm communities, especially to begin to know the Sisters
language study if necessary
some ministry with a view to begin to familiarize herself with ministries in the province
a program of study with conversations about the country, culture: differences, similarities, challenges
health care: information about local health services / preventive care works well – important to take recommended injections and pills as needed for particular locations, stress importance of following local advice about water, milk, fresh vegetables, etc.[4]
self care: stress importance of each one finding her spiritual nourishment in God and in the context of her new province – this will take time and the community also needs to be aware of this need for spiritual nourishment and seek the means together to do so in the context of our fmm spirituality, always read to widen the space of their tents.[5]
give sufficient importance to rest and relaxation and communication

Include here participation together with her community in the exercises for cultural transition given in this booklet – While these have been done in the sending province, it is important to do them again in the receiving province in order to create a deeper awareness on the part of all.

The opportunity in the welcoming community for the Sister to speak about where she is coming from, her province of origin, etc. This should not be done immediately upon arrival, but within the first couple of weeks
The Provincial keeps in touch with the Sister from time

to time showing interest in her preparation or she may assign a Sister to do this

The Sister will also be helped to obtain the equivalency for her studies (this is a formal process according to

each country)

If the Sister needs to continue professional studies to

transfer her diploma, (nursing, teaching, etc.),

arrangements are made at this time

When the time is appropriate, the Provincial invites a Sister into a more lasting ministry, perhaps a change in

community and continues the dialogue with her

about her service in the province.

Generally it takes about one year for a Sister to make the adaptation necessary. The Sisters living with the

newcomer, need to be encouraged and reminded to help

her to feel welcome.

II - Particular situations

Sisters temporarily in another Province

In the following situations:

A sister going to another Province for a specific need such as studies and health etc and then returning to her own province.

A sister en route to her new province and spending time in another province for a specific need such as language study.

It is the Superior General who, after discernment with the

Provincials, makes the choice of the Province to which the

sister is to be sent. This is done after dialogue, the sending and receiving provincials together with the sister in order to

decide on an appropriate program. A written project will be drawn up which includes the following:

Clear objective and length of stay
Program of study and its duration.
Integration in the community and the Province which

includes accountability.

Provision for evaluation and needed adjustment

Throughout this period, a continuous dialogue and exchange of information will be maintained between the sister and the provincials concerned.

The sending and receiving provincials see to the clarity of the required documents that the sister needs to bring with her. (Passport, visa, diplomas, etc.)

Assure accompaniment so as to help the sister to assume the exigencies of herexperience that it may be enriching. The provincial will name a sister to be her reference person.

When a sister is en route to a new province, the provincials concerned and the sister continue the dialogue assessing her personal circumstances, progress and readiness for departure.

In certain circumstances, a temporary change of province could be made, in dialogue with the Superior General, the two Provincials and the sister concerned.

B) Temporary sending for a specific need.

Professed sisters of perpetual vows may be sent

temporarily for a specific need which will be clearly defined:

Specific and urgent missionary response.
Formation of a sister in view of a future responsibility.
Service of the Institute.

This sending requires clarity in the dialogue at the different levels between the sister, the provincials and the General level, determining the aim and the duration of the sending.

C) Sending to the province of origin.

When the sister is requested to return to her Province of origin:the provincial makes the request to the Superior General specifying her motivations.

When the sister herself requests to return to her

province of origin:

Help her reflect on her motivations.
She writes to the Superior general telling her desire

and her motivation.

In both situations: The dialogue is done between the sister,

the two provincials concerned and the Superior General, so

that the final decision taken will enable the sister to live this

stage as a newSending:

Give the necessary time to do a serious discernment.
Offer an accompaniment to the sister according to her needs.
In the case of a decision to return to the province of

origin, give the help needed to facilitate the

sister’s reintegration.

give sufficient time to say good-bye to the province she is leaving
provide opportunities for debriefing which includes both positive and negative experiences
offer the possibility of an integration session after some months in the province of origin; this session could be with other Sisters in the province for the first time or sent to the province of origin. The session should include:

study/reflection on the country (ies) in which the province is located

the Church in the country
types of ministries
the history and present life of the province

offer personal assistance for reintegration as needed – a sister could be named for this accompaniment if necessary

A model of God’s missionary care can be found

in the story of Elijah. The story begins in 1 Kings 17 and continues through to 2 Kings 2.

Appendix - Visa

The sending provincial requests a letter of invitation from the receiving provincial, giving her the information that is needed

to write the letter of invitation according to the directives of immigration in the receiving country: for example – name as

it appears in the Sister’s Passport, date of birth, date of entry

into the Institute, reason for sending (pastoral work, etc.).

It is important the correct type of visa be obtained before leaving the sending province – since a visitors visa is not accepted in many countries for long term residency.

[1] delineated in P.S.Adler. “The transitional experience, an alternative view of culture shock”Journal of Humanistic Psychology. 15, 13-23 as quoted by Margery Foylein Honourably Wounded: Stress among Christian Workers Mill Hill, London: Monarch Books, 2007. 69-70

[2] Margery Foyle. Honourably Wounded. 80-81adapted

[3] This model is adapted from models used by Christine Anderston, fcj and also by Marlene Hixon, fmm

[4] see Margery Foyle. Honourably Wounded. op.cit. 266 ff.

[5] Ibid. 270 -273; the sources we have as FMM for our nourishment and growth in FMM spirituality