As part of the Settling into Priesthood
Program, the Institute for Priests and Presbyterates provides a
trained Transition Facilitator to meet with
the recently ordained priest, his pastor, and a member of the
parish staff. Through questionnaires and face-to-face
meetings, the Transition Facilitator helps the
new priest identify potential transition issues and concerns
before they become serious problems.
What it is, what it isn't
Transition facilitaton is not evaluation.
Rather, transition facilitation serves to ease the
newly ordained's entry into ministry: affirming the
good, encouraging him in self-reflection, and motivating
him to continue his growth in holiness, happiness and
effectiveness in ministry.
The purpose
The Transition Facilitator helps name areas of needed
growth the new priest will address at the Settling
into Priesthood workshop held in the spring after ordination.
Here at the workshop, with a written report from the Transition
Facilitator in hand, the recently ordained priest creates a
personal growth plan to articulate his specific goals and map
out his process for achieving them.
The process
When registering, workshop participants need to indicate their
first three choices of Transition Facilitators. The Institute will
assign a facilitator from the choices indicated. Workshop
participants, their pastors, and a selected member of their parish
staff then need to complete the transition questionnaires
and send them to their assigned Transition Facilitator. After
receiving the completed questionnaires, the Transition Facilitator
will coordinate the parish visit or telephone meetings to work
through the process.
