Adult Faith Formation

Focused on Faith

“We are called to give our hearts to the world, but in order to do so we must first be in possession of our own hearts.” (Thomas Merton)

Each staff member has chosen a career with our Board and they have been called to live out their vocation and contribute to faith-filled learning for all of our students.
 
Together we are called to ensure we are a “faith-filled Catholic learning community dedicated to excellence.” In order to develop our faith-based approach to learning, we must first make our own personal commitment to engage our soul and embrace our Catholic faith. That is why our Board creates ongoing opportunities for all staff to celebrate and form their faith. The following shows some of the ways in which we rejoice in our Catholicism:

  • Liturgical celebrations
  • Eucharistic celebrations
  • Retreats
  • Board and school community days of reflection
  • Courage to Serve formation program
  • Professional development that is integrated with and delivered through a Gospel perspective
  • Social justice initiatives
  • Parish involvement
  • ShareLife
  • Membership and participation in professional Catholic organizations

Courage to Serve – Canada Spiritual Formation Program

What is Courage to Serve?

This spiritual formation program is essentially a retreat process for educators in publicly funded schools. This retreat process uses a ‘formation approach’ to personal and professional development as a means to invite educators to reflect about their vocation. What we mean by a 'formation approach' is that personal and professional development begins not with the task, but with the person doing the work.

Karen Connolly from our Board and Mike Saver from the Toronto Catholic District School Board were the first Canadians, and the first educators from a Catholic school context, to be trained as facilitators in this process and to carry on this work in Canada.  

As this spiritual formation program has grown in Ontario, it was recognized that it isn’t just teachers or those in leadership who need “Courage”  and that is why we offer retreat experiences for all staff in education.

If you would like more information about this program, please visit the FirstClass Courage to Serve Folder or contact Joan Gallagher-Main at (705) 722-3555 ext. 349.