Ignatian Leadership Course at Frascati 15-17 May

The second in-person weekend module of the EUM Province’s Ignatian Leadership course opened up an invitation to a sense of union, learning, personal prayer, formation and depth at the beautiful Capuchin Friary in Frascati.
On Friday, Italian, Maltese and Albanian participants were assisted by Alison in discovering how to orient the fundamentally important daily examen to specifically nurture Ignatian aspects of leadership.

On Friday, Italian, Maltese and Albanian participants were assisted by Alison in discovering how to orient the fundamentally important daily examen to specifically nurture Ignatian aspects of leadership.

Saturday morning’s first session facilitated by Fr Carlo Casalone SJ looked at Acts 6: 1-11 for insights about how acknowledging crisis, discontent and unprecedented situations can be dealt with using discernment, good delegation and openness to change, all of which can lead to transformation of the spirit and ultimately growth and newness.

Fr Carlo also delivered a second session which extracted some very pertinent dynamics in communal discernment used in the deliberations of the first Fathers.

A further two sessions delivered by Fr Giacomo Costa SJ over the weekend helped participants to understand the approach, environment and attitudes needed, as well as practical methodology for communal discernment in different settings and what distinguishes it from simple planning exercises.

Alessia Fontana also joined online to share the processes used for a recent communal discernment of the EUM Province’s Foundation for Jesuit Education’s 10-year review, and the specific dispositions, factors and method which distinguished this process as Ignatian.

Participants had several opportunities for personal and group reflection and prayer where they could practice the examen, and spiritual conversation.
Sessions were concrete and of depth, provoking curiosity and enthusiasm in the participants to challenge themselves and their teams and put what they learnt into practice. Both Italian and English were used, making everybody feel that they could understand and participate fully.

Sessions were concrete and of depth, provoking curiosity and enthusiasm in the participants to challenge themselves and their teams and put what they learnt into practice. Both Italian and English were used, making everybody feel that they could understand and participate fully.

The course is now in its evaluation phase, and was organised by a team consisting of Fr Michael Bugeja SJ (coordinator), Fr Carlo Casalone SJ, Fr Giacomo Costa SJ, Daniele Cultrone, Christine Rossi and Alison Vella