The Chevalier Institute Team facilitates a range of programmes, courses and formation experiences for adults in Spirituality of the Heart. Some of these experiences are offered specifically to adults involved in or connected to MSC ministries and others are open to all. These formation experiences are offered at either the local level or some centralised location. GeneralSpirituality of the Heart – accredited academic unit offered as an intensive This course is run at The Chevalier Resource Centre , Kensington NSW in August. Residential facilities are available. (See section on Spirituality of the Heart Course)
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The following range of formation experiences are offered: |
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Whole-staff retreats (usually 1 day). |
A retreat is about taking ‘time out’ to be nourished in our hearts and our spirits. It is about being ‘still’, deliberately stepping aside from the rush of life, to listen deeply to our own heart – perhaps enabled by solitude and silence, perhaps enabled by some interactions with others, perhaps enabled by particular activities. Through this ‘stillness’, this stepping aside, this deep listening, we open ourselves to encountering the mystery we call ‘heart’, and the Mystery, that in the Christian tradition, we call God. The nature and development of whole staff retreats is negotiated with the school and is planned in a collaborative way. |  Staff Retreats | 
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Small group reflection days |
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Small group reflection days (approx 6 participants) on a variety of themes: Pedagogy of the heart (a spirituality of education) Pastoral care as a spirituality of the heart Heart centred leadership (leading with heart!)
Leadership team development (cf. collaborative processes) "Heartwork" (finding heart in your work) Myers-Briggs Type Indicator Praying with Heart Nurturing the Heart
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Pedagogy of the heart: a spirituality for learning and teaching |
Pedagogy of the heart is a day of reflection exploring heart spirituality as a spirituality that supports and nourishes learning and teaching. The day is run off-site, and offers a mix of conversation and quiet reflection. It is a restful and energizing mini-retreat experience, usually with 5-7 participants. The day runs from 9:00am – 3:00pm |  Pedagogy of the heart | 
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Douglas Park Staff Retreat |
 St Mary?s Towers Retreat Centre Dates 2011: Monday 6th June - Friday 10th June and Monday 12th - Friday 16th September Each course will run from the Monday afternoon until lunch time on the Friday. The aim of this course is to offer formation for people who are in some form of a leadership role. Those who lead, motivate, inspire other staff members as part of a team whether this is on a 'project basis' or within a specific role. As the focus of the course will be 'heart centred leadership', people who are interested in coming along will need to be open and willing to reflect upon their own leadership in light of spirituality of the heart. A significant dimension of the programme will be about taking the 'journey in'....... about discernment, personal reflection on relationships with self, others & God. Some dimensions of leadership will be explored on a practical level as well. Academic credit for participation in this course and subsequent assignments may be sought through the Australian Catholic University.
This brochure will provide you with further information. If you work in an MSC College: to enrol please fill in this form for June or this form for September. If you work in another school, college or organisation: to enrol please fill in this form for June or this form for September |
Programmes and formation experiences offered in parishes are on an invitational basis. Some of our general courses are open to members of Parish communities eg the Spirituality of the Heart Course. In addition, the following programmes have been offered in recent years: Lenten reflection sessions
e.g. Spirituality of the Heart and daily life
‘To be on earth the heart of God: a mini retreat for those in parish ministries’ (½ day)
A variety of ‘sessions’ at various times ….
e.g. Men’s spirituality, liturgical music workshop
Meeting with parish pastoral councils to plan a strategic approach to adult faith formation in the parish
Sessions at the bi-annual MSC Parishes Conference We are in the process of exploring ways of promoting and facilitating adult formation in spirituality of the heart in consultation with a committee and MSC involved in Parish Ministry. | 
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Programmes 
