With a view to making the leaders of the Congregation competent and effective in their animation and administration, Sr Rose Celine our Superior General organized an animation programme for the General, Provincial and Delegation Superiors along with their teams of South India at Bethany Convent, Bendur from 11th to 14th September 2023. The programme was ably and proficiently animated by Rev Fr (Dr) Gregory Pinto SVD a renowned Counsellor and Spiritual Director, currently serving as the Programme Coordinator at AtmaDarshan, Mumbai. Its dynamics were adeptly coordinated by Sr Shanthi Priya the Asst Superior General.
Focussing on communion among the team members, Fr Gregory delved on topics like effective team functioning, conflict resolution, stress management (Burn-out) and discernment. He convinced us that working together as a team with a bonding of the heart bringsdesired results and satisfying experiences. He underlined that in the process of building a team, aleader needs to know oneself with all potentials and liabilities, know other memberswith reference to their needs and expectations, pick up needed attitudes, skills and techniques for building up and evaluate the functioning on regular basis. Repeatedly he affirmed that aleader is called upon to anchor on the Word of God and adopt the leadership style of Jesus the Leader par excellence. His oft-repeated phrases like self-awareness, potential and liabilities, nonviolent communication, empathetic listening, maximise inflow energy and minimize the leakage, personal power wields greater influence over positional power created ripples within us. Combining wit with wisdom was his unique style in driving home the intended message.
The entire programme was from a psycho-spiritual perspective based on day-to-today experiences and challenges. Working out theory through practical sessions in the classroom boosted our confidence to handle issues in real situations. Wisdom pearls like, ‘speak from your soul and every heart will understand. The real art of communication is not only to say the right thing at the right time but also to leave the wrong thing unsaid at the most tempting moment. It is not the load we carry that breaks us down but the way we carry. It is not important who you are but is important whose you are…created an ambience for reflection and introspection.
The 32 participants benefitted much from the sessions and soul searching questions. Sharing of reflections, insights and personal plan in their respective teamsfacilitated further bonding and freedom in the group. The non-threatening approach coupled with humane, flexible and friendly atmosphere created by Fr Gregory and his special reflections during the daily Eucharist added to the effectiveness of the team animation programme.
We are grateful to Sr Rose Celine our Superior for this great opportunity aimed at building oneself with integrity and credibility and building respective teams on pillars of trust and confidentiality; however, everything was geared towards the common good of the members of the Congregation.
News By:Sr Mariette BS,General Councillor