Mentors

After each six-week course, students meet in groups of seven or eight with experienced guides to process the learning of the past weeks, and faith share on the next Sunday's scripture readings.

Mentor Meeting Process

1. Mentor begins meeting on time (7:00 PM) and selects a time keeper.

2. Check-In Exercise ( 10 minutes )

This is a brief (about 2 minutes per person max) time for group members to tune into each other' s lives and try to bridge the time spent apart. Sharing metaphors or comparing your life experience to something is an interesting and quick way to share.

Examples:
•  The weather (sunny, cloudy, rainy, etc.)
• Nature (brook, tree, flower, sky)
• Select a number from 1 to 10. (10 being the highest)
• An animal
• Actual life experiences (high points, low points)

3. Opening Prayer (5 minutes) Someone volunteers and prepares to lead Opening Prayer

Light a candle and continue with a simple prayer to gather and place yourselves in God' s presence.

Examples:
• A song
• A spontaneous or prepared gathering prayer
• A psalm and response

4. Theological Reflection (45 minutes)

Theological reflection is a communal way of searching for God's will in all the events of life. It is making connections between faith and life in an effort to understand more broadly and deeply, the shared experiences in the light of the scriptures and church documents. This reflection will naturally lead to action. For the purposes of the Church Ministry Institute, mentors and mentorees will reflect on the course the students have just taken and process it.

•  Of the six weeks, which week did you like best? Why?
•  Name two insights gained from the course just completed
•  How have you been transformed by this course?
•  In what ways can you apply what you have learned to your life/your ministry?
•  Have you been able to share the course material with others? Give an example.

5. Break (10-15 minutes) Someone volunteers to bring snacks

6. Final Remarks and details for next meeting (5 minutes)

Assignments and reminders for next meeting

Examples:
•  Reminder of date for next meeting
•  Who will bring snacks?
•  Who will lead Opening Prayer?
•  Any other housekeeping details

7. Faith Sharing on next Sunday Readings using At Home With the Word (30 minutes)

In Faith Sharing we need to:
Listen to each other realizing what is shared is a gift
Receive without judgement what the other shares
Be comfortable with silence
Be attentive to God' s presence in the group
Nurture a spirit of faith that God is intimately involved in my life and wants to reveal to me

Examples:
•  Reflection Questions provided in At Home With the Word
•  Read the Gospel once and just listen

Read the Gospel a second time and each gives a word or phrase that spoke to him/her

Read the Gospel a third time and each person says more about what spoke to him/her

8. Closing Prayer (5 minutes)

Adjourn with a brief prayer

Examples:

• After a moment of silence, share a word or phrase that captures the meaning of
the evening for you
• Ask each person to mention that for which they are grateful today
• Ask each person to lift up someone in prayer
• Prayer from Called and Gifted for the Third Millennium