The Formation Commission of Latin America and the Caribbean sponsored a four-day retreat outside Lima, Peru, on February 16-19, 2012.
Led by Sister Mary Pat Garvin (Americas), 12 sisters from CCASA Community (Americas), Newfoundland and Ireland explored ways to strengthen their ministry in vocation promotion and the many phases of the formative journey.
Beginning with Catherine McAuley’s Suscipe as a means of enkindling and sustaining their own gift of self to God and others, they moved to “Centered in Mercy” and the process of formation. Their topics included the use of autobiography in discernment, indicators of human maturity across cultures, accompaniment in initial formation and developmental growth plans that build on the strengths of women discerning a life in Mercy. “I recognized once again,” observed Sister Mary Anto (CCASA/Peru), “that it is my own growth and development that helps me help others.” Sister Liz Brennan (Newfoundland) said, “Our days together reaffirmed my commitment to this ministry and opened new ways of understanding the formative process.”
