BSWR
DESCRIPTION
The Benedictine Spirituality Workshop and Retreat (BSWR), sponsored by the Federation of St. Scholastica, began in 1982. With the inauguration of the American Benedictine Formation Conference (ABFC) in 1991, BSWR came under its direction. Participation, staff and host sites are open to all federations/congregations of American Benedictines.
BSWR is designed for monastics in temporary commitment/first profession who are considering or preparing for perpetual profession. This workshop/retreat is best experienced 5-16 (9-10 2009 brochure) months prior to making perpetual profession.
BSWR Dates:
June 22, 2010 - July 13, 2010 at Annuciation Monastery, Bismarck, ND Director: Sr. Agatha Muggli June 21-July 12, 2011 at Sacred Heart Monastery, Cullman, AL. Director: Sr. Magdalena Craig 2012 will be held at Our Lady of Grace Monastery, Beech Grove, IN Date to be announced Director: Sr. Jenifer Mechtilde HornerClick here for information on 2010 BSWR (not available)
Download Registration Form (not currently available)
PROGRAM
The Benedictine Spirituality Workshop and Retreat is a 21-day program, held in June and July, consisting of a workshop component and a six-day silent, directed retreat.
The workshop component includes the following monastic topics/values:
-Benedictine charism -the three-fold monastic commitment of obedience, stability and fidelity to the monastic way of life -lectio and contemplation -monastic prayer -discernment -cenobitic community -celibacy, sexuality and personal wholeness -gospel ministry: reverence, stewardship and hospitality -peace and justice -humilityThe six-day directed retreat provides the atmosphere for prayerful reflection on the call and commitment to monastic life with the assistance of one-on-one direction. The silence of these days allows for a deeper awareness of God’s activity within the life of the participant.
The monastic rhythm of this program integrates presentations, personal reflection, sharing one’s lived experience, some manual labor and leisure. Various rituals and integration experiences enhance the program. A break day, prior to the retreat, offers options for participants to experience the local area.
GOALS of the PROGRAM
The experience of BSWR is planned and structured to
-Assist scholastics/sisters in first profession as they discern perpetual commitment to monastic life. -Review essential elements of monastic life. -Provide a forum in which participants can reflect on their own lived experience of monastic life. -Provide peer support and interaction across federation/congregation lines among women discerning perpetual monastic profession. -Experience a staff/team that models the monastic values they present.PROCESS of the PROGRAM
Essential to this program is a rhythm of contemplative and reflective space interspersed with presentations, activities and interactions.
The program consists of three segments:
-Presentations and reflection on monastic values followed by an integration process. [See director's notebook] -Presentation and reflection on the three-fold monastic commitment followed by an integration process, and break day/outing. [See director's notebook] -Six-day directed retreat, followed by integration and evaluation. [See director's notebook]The program begins with the sharing of vocation stories in the context of prayer. The staff models this sharing.
Opportunities are provided for bonding by members of the group.
Interspersed throughout the days are outings, picnics, visits to other monasteries. Staff members need to be sensitive and adapt the schedule to the unfolding needs of the particular group.
LITURGY
Liturgical prayer and ritual highlight this program. A collection of resources for rituals is handed on from director to director.
-Participants usually join the host community for Liturgy of the Hours and Eucharist. Once during the course of the workshop each participant provides materials and leadership for the BSWR group to pray Liturgy of the Hours in their own community’s style. The staff prepares a calendar on which participants volunteer to lead the prayer they have brought. -Participants may serve in ministerial roles as is feasible in each setting.STAFF
Annually, at the fall meeting, the ABFC Core Team names the coming year’s BSWR staff: a director and a co-director. The director is usually from the host community; the co-director usually serves as director for the following year and is from that year’s host community
-Each staff member has experience in formation and training in spiritual direction/directed retreats. -Staff members work together to decide the areas of presentation and enlist, as needed, the help of presenters from the host community or from ABFC membership to offer input on the topics included in the program. -Staff members gather three days prior to BSWR to prepare and stay an additional day to complete evaluations and reports.FINANCES
The ABFC Core Team annually, at the fall meeting, sets fees for the coming year’s BSWR participants, stipends for director and co-director and other presenters. Stipends for 2010 BSWR are as follows: the director a $1500; the co-director, a $1000 stipend, and travel; non-staff presenters, $100 per hour stipend, travel and a small personal gift. (Core Team Meeting, September 21, 2009)
-Participant fee covers room and board, staff stipends and travel, presenters’ stipends and travel and other program fees. -Fees for transportation to and from airports, buses are not included in the participant fee. -ABFC, through the treasurer, provides the director with funds sufficient to cover initial programming costs. -Partial scholarships may be provided by ABFC for participants. Requests for financial assistance should be directed to the ABFC treasurer. -ABFC subsidizes BSWR when income does not meet expenses.PROCEDURES
The electronic fact sheet for BSWR, which includes the ABFC logo, is prepared by the director and sent to ABFC vice-chair for review. She forwards it to the website contact for inclusion in the January posting.
The fact sheet
-Describes the BSWR program and its theme and lists dates, deadlines and fees. -Includes a registration form and requests travel information (flight, bus, car) and participant’s special needs. -Lists arrangements for transportation to and from airports, bus as well as fees for this serviceThe director confirms in writing or via email each participant’s registration providing helpful information
-Items to bring: clothing, liturgy materials, Bible, RB, journal. -Map for participants who drive -Announcement of required seven-minute presentation of her vocation story. -Request to collect soil from a sacred place on her monastery grounds for the opening ritual. She is encouraged to place this soil in her prayer space and hold the other participants in prayer for one month prior to the opening of BSWR.The staff prepares a folder for each participant including
-Name tag with a calendar and schedule. -Participant list with name, address, birthday, phone, email. -Information about host community and its locale -The evaluation form to be used in the final integration process and retained by staff for their report to ABFCEach participant is asked to write her community a letter sharing what the experience of BSWR has meant to her
Staff members write a personal letter to each participant’s prioress summarizing the program and its participants, their appreciation for the opportunity to work with the sister and comments about her participation.
Staff members prepare and send, within a month after the close of BSWR, a written report to the chair of the ABFC Core Team and the liaison to the Conference of American Prioress including
-Data on participants -List of presenters and topic -Summary of participants’ evaluation -Staff evaluation and recommendations -Financial report -Calendar and schedulePrepared by ABFC Core Team
May 1998; September 2009
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