A total of 37 participants found themselves at the Good Shepherd Spirituality Center for the very first offering of the second WISL (Workshop on Ignatian School Leadership), entitled “Workshop on Communal Discernment and Ignatian Decision Making.” The participants represented schools from four countries in Asia Pacific: Australia, Indonesia, Japan, and the Philippines.
Ms. Eva Galvey of the Emmaus Center for Psycho-Spiritual Formation, longtime formator of Jesuits in the Philippine Province, collaborated with Fr. Johnny Go SJ, JCAP Education secretary, to design and offer an experience of communal apostolic discernment for the participants. The goal was to draw from this experience to find a way to add a dimension of communal discernment to the way we make decisions in our schools.
It’s a timely workshop since the recently concluded 36th General Congregation called for “discerning communities with open horizons.” The delegates wrote: “In our individualistic and competitive age, we should remember that the community plays a very special role since it is a privileged place of apostolic discernment” (#8-12).
As in all of our international workshops, much of the learning came from the sharing among the participants with their diverse experiences and accumulated wisdom of practice. The school administrators who joined this workshop had a wide range of experiences and held very different positions, bringing with them a rich diversity of perspectives.
Here are some of the highlights of the workshop:
For many of us, it was the very first time we learned about and actually experienced the communal listening required by common discernment.
We had interesting and deep discussions especially about real-world issues and examples.
The participants formed small groups for even more personal sharing of experiences, always a great source of learning during these workshops.
Studying actual cases of common apostolic discernment was a big help and inspiration!
Participants also role played to learn the skills of active and compassionate listening.
It wasn’t as easy as we had expected!
We also experienced using technology to get quick feedback from the group! Love those iClickers!
And of course each day we gathered around the Lord’s table for the Eucharist, here presided by Fr. Mario Lagaor SJ (Indonesia).
Here Fr. Johnny Go SJ (Philippines) connects the Gospel reading to the insights of the day.
Just as valuable as learning about communal discernment was getting to know one another.
It wasn’t all work for us participants! Here we went on a pilgrimage to the National Shrine of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage, just 15 minutes away.
We enjoyed the socials every night–building network with newly met colleagues in Asia Pacific.
Of course we needed some parlor games to break the ice.
Here’s the group from Ateneo de Cebu, headed by Mariz (extreme left) who was an incredible game master. Fr. Manny, they all deserve a raise!
We even had a surprise improv night led by the awesome Gabe Mercado.
The improv exercises eliminated whatever inhibition remained.
Nothing like sharing a good laugh! Language is no barrier.
The best part about Gabe is that he has been a longtime CLC member, so he talked about the parallelisms between improv and–hold your breath!–Ignatian spirituality, what he calls the “two loves of his life.”
A lot of friendships were formed during the workshop, which we hope will be a source of greater collaboration among our schools in the future.
On our last evening, we were packed into a Philippine jeepney to get an experience of urban life in Metro Manila.
We celebrated the end of the workshop with a sumptuous dinner at the Crescent Moon, with a special menu prepared just for the participants.
Here are some of the reactions of the participants:
From Mr. Paul Isaka of Rokko Junior/Senior High School in Kobe (Japan):
At the extreme right is Paul Isaka from Rokko High School (Japan) posing with delegates from Indonesia at the national shrine of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage in Antipolo during a pre-workshop tour.
“I experienced being actively listened to and understood by the co-participants. This experience made me realize that I myself need to listen more attentively to my own students and colleagues, as well as to the voice of the Lord, Christ. As an administrator, I’d like to keep thinking how I can nurture/foster this attitude among the co-teachers.”
From Mr. Bong Galvan of Ateneo de Cebu/Sacred Heart School – Jesuit (Philippines):
Bong Galvan from Ateneo de Cebu (Philippines) in an engaging small group discussion about leadership and discernment
“WISL helped me to nurture an enlightened and selfless decision-making and response especially as a school leader. I found spiritual nourishment to joyfully grow as a school leader in the company of our Lord with fellow companions in the Lord to better serve others and the mission. “To cast the net and be fishers of men”, becomes more concrete for me as a school leader missioned to help create a community in consolation. Becoming an effective Ignatian school leader is challenging in this 21st century landscape like “fishing all night without a catch” but it is graced with the wisdom that the catch will be abundant if we cast the nets in the Lord’s command and desire. The joyfully discerned life and mission of St. Ignatius through the ages that now continues in us manifest this truth for me.”
From Ms. Arlene Choo of Xavier School Nuvali (Philippines):
Arlene Choo of Xavier School Nuvali (Philippines) reports on how their group discussion went.
“My biggest take-away from WISL2-Communal Discernment is the realization that discernment is not just about decision making, it is an attitude and a way of life. One must gain sufficient understanding of one’s self to be able to exercise active listening and create meaningful dialogue. The conversations with fellow educators were very helpful in reflecting on how we can overcome challenges that we regularly encounter and how our disposition to prayer directs us to achieve mutual respect and trust. Thank you to Eva Galvey, an excellent facilitator who guided us through the process and to Fr. Johnny, a very engaging speaker, who made the experience meaningful and responsive to the needs of the participants. Looking forward to collaborative online interaction with the Batch 1 participants of WISL2!”
From Ms. Annie Abucay of Ateneo de Cebu-Sacred Heart School – Jesuit (Philippines):
Annie Abucay of Ateneo de Cebu enjoys a good laugh during an improv exercise.
“WISL 2 was simply awesome! God’s amazing graces in abundance! My biggest take away is on how to be more conscious of making choices which better lead to God’s deepening His life in me!”
From Mr. Peter Ryan of Xavier College, Melbourne (Australia):
Peter Ryan of Xavier College (Australia) joins a fascinating improv exercise run by special guest Gabe Mercado
“I had a most rewarding time and personally the timing was perfect and I was able to reflect on the past year and be so grateful for how far we as a family have come; I don’t know that I would be as peacefully settled in the turmoil of week 1 at school.”
From Mr. Herman Lagon of Ateneo de Iloilo-Sta. Maria Catholic School, Iloilo (Philippines):
Herman Lagon of Ateneo de Iloilo receives his certificate of completion at the end of the workshop.
“My excitement in WISL2 led me to do advanced reading about communal discernment, Ignatian decision-making, collaboration, and non-violent communication. What happened was better than I expected. I got disturbed, shaken, recharged, enlightened, and challenged in a way no book or online manuscript can offer.
The free beers and cashew nuts helped in our friendly evening business meeting-cum-socials. The workshops (especially on individual discernment, active listening and NVC) have transported me into a “painful” yet more discerning level of conversation. The participants from different schools and countries made the whole affair (including the sharing, workshops, reflections, self assessment, presentations, group dynamics, dialogues, mini field trips, chitchats, snacks and meals, prayer sessions, and masses) truly a communal activity charged with the common Jesuit mission of “saving souls” through a life-giving ministry we call education.
Suffice it to say that the organizers—especially Fr. Johnny Go, SJ—have designed and facilitated the whole workshop as if it wasn’t the first one. As a relatively young administrator, the whole experience was really a grace-filled five days.”
Here are the wonderful participants of WISL 2 (first batch!) in their mixed small groups after our delicious dinner at Crescent Moon in Antipolo:
Finally, the facilitators!
Eva Galvey, Vivian Go, and Fr Johnny Go SJ
Thanks to Ditas Yacaba from the office of the Ateneo de Manila University VP for Basic Education for the pictures.
The Workshop on Communal Discernment and Ignatian Decision Making is the second of three modules for the Workshop on Ignatian School Leadership (WISL) offered by the Ignatian Initiative for Teacher Excellence (IGNITE) of the Jesuit Conference for Asia Pacific.
