Faith Formation Team Training
Forming the Faculty, Building the Culture in Catholic Schools
Keeping
Catholic schools strong depends on keeping our Catholic identity strong. Those
who work in Catholic schools must have ongoing formation in the faith of the
Church. This vital task is something that the principal cannot do alone. It is
important that schools have shared leadership to promote growth in faith, so
that members of the school staff may most effectively carry out the mission of
Catholic education.
The Faith
Formation Team Training (FFTT) program is a program designed for those
ministering in Catholic elementary or secondary schools in the Archdiocese of
Milwaukee. Previously known as the STAFF program, this program delivers formation and training to assist K-12 Catholic
school teams who wish to grow in faith and understanding of their ministry and
calling to “teach as Jesus did.”
Participants
learn how to effectively develop a yearlong plan of adult formation for their
school community. Teams are trained and formed to work with the spiritual needs
of adult colleagues and the ongoing need of Catholic schools to foster healthy
and informed Christian communities of educators. Participants may elect to earn
graduate credit from Cardinal Stritch University.
Since
2009, the FFTT program has served 208 Catholic school teachers, administrators,
and staff from 41 Catholic elementary and secondary schools in the Archdiocese
of Milwaukee. The program is delivered on the main campus of Cardinal Stritch
University from January through May each year. It is recommended that each
school register an adult formation team comprised of 3-7 representatives from
faculty, administration, and staff.
The FFTT Program Partnership
The FFTT
program has been developed through a dynamic collaboration between five local
institutions of Catholic higher learning (Alverno College, Cardinal Stritch
University, Marian University, Marquette University and Mount Mary College) and
the Archdiocesan Office of Schools.
It is
coordinated by the Saint Clare Center for Catholic Life at Cardinal Stritch
University.
Program Structure
This
adult formation program involves three key components.
COMPONENT
A: Initial Retreat, January 2013
Thursday, Jan. 10, 5 p.m. to Friday, Jan. 11, 3 p.m. (overnight stay)
Green Lake Conference Center, Green Lake, Wis.
Through presentations, dialogue, and reflection, participants will learn a
pastoral context for adult formation as it applies to Catholic school personnel
while also developing a sense of school team.
COMPONENT
B: Core Program, February - April 2013
4-7:30 p.m, Feb. 7, Feb. 21, Mar. 7, Mar. 21, Apr. 18
Sister Camille Kliebhan Conference Center, Bonaventure
Hall, Cardinal Stritch University
Topics include Principles of Adult Formation, Building Community in Catholic Schools,
and Principles of Faith Sharing.
COMPONENT
C: Presentation and Synthesis Day, May 2013
Individual school plans are presented and receive feedback
Thursday, May 9, 4:00 – 7:30 p.m., Cardinal Stritch University
This day will ensure that teams have the tools for a successful first-year
adult faith formation program.
Credits
Cardinal
Stritch University has approved credit for this program in the following
manner:
- January
Conference (1 graduate credit)
- Thursday Sessions (2
graduate credits)
Students
may choose any combination of these options (from 1 to 3 credits). This is an
optional aspect of the program.
Costs
Participant
schools are charged $105 for each employee that they enroll in the FFTT program
(i.e. a school team of four will cost a school $420).
An
additional charge of $170 per credit will be billed to individual participants
who elect to earn graduate credit for the FFTT program. (This represents a 75%
discount from the normal graduate school course fees.)