National CRI’s Facilitation Training Programme Equips Religious for Collaborative Leadership

In an effort to prepare future leaders capable of guiding chapters, seminars, workshops, meetings, and community processes with greater participation and discernment, the Conference of Religious India launched its Facilitation Training Programme under the leadership of the National Executive. Conceived as a long-term investment in collaborative and participatory leadership, the initiative seeks to address the growing need for skilled facilitators within religious congregations and institutions across India.

The programme was spearheaded by Sr. Elsa Muttathu PBVM, then Secretary of National CRI, who undertook the challenging task of organising the initiative amid various uncertainties. She coordinated trainers, participants, logistics, resources, and overall execution to ensure the smooth functioning of the programme.

Following the success of the first batch, many Major Superiors expressed interest in sending another group of Religious for similar formation. Consequently, the Facilitation Training Programme for Cohort II was conducted from January 7–12, 2026, at the Fatima Sisters’ Generalate in Pune. The team of trainers included Bro. Michael Burke, a Christian Brother from South Africa, Sr. Sreeja SND, Sr. Sangeeta SCN, and Sr. Elsa Muttathu PBVM. The cohort comprised sixteen Religious Sisters, one Religious Brother, and one diocesan priest representing various congregations and ministries.

The initial residential programme was followed by four weeks of online sessions and tutorials. The formation culminated in a second residential training held from April 12–17, 2026, at Carmel Heights, Pune. During this phase, participants received hands-on experience in facilitation while being closely mentored by the trainers through observation, accompaniment, and constructive feedback.

A central focus of the programme was helping participants understand the distinction between facilitation and merely conducting seminars or moderating workshops. Trainers emphasised that a facilitator is not simply a speaker or instructor, but a catalyst who enables a group to move towards its purpose through participatory processes and collective engagement. Facilitation was presented as an art requiring careful study of context, attentive listening, dialogue, generative questioning, sensitivity to group dynamics, and discernment. Trainers compared the facilitator’s role to that of a midwife helping a group bring forth its own wisdom and decisions.

The training also devoted considerable attention to building trust within groups and framing meaningful questions. Participants explored how trust develops through welcoming environments, respectful body language, attentive listening, sincere appreciation, personal connection, and openness. The sessions highlighted that safe and inclusive spaces encourage honest participation, leading to deeper dialogue, clearer thinking, and more reflective questioning.

During the first phase of the residential training, participants were introduced to various facilitation models and approaches, including the Berger Process, Shared Praxis, Spiritual Conversation, Team Building, Corporate Listening, Strategic Planning, and Conflict Transformation. Trainers stressed the importance of clarity of purpose, careful preparation, effective structuring of sessions, and managing group energy throughout facilitation processes.

Another significant aspect of the programme focused on engaging imagination in facilitation. Through pictures, metaphors, stories, diagrams, colours, symbols, and music, participants learned creative methods to stimulate reflection and participation. Tutorial sessions allowed participants to demonstrate these techniques while explaining their relevance and facilitating exercises using imaginative approaches.

The programme also examined the role of small-group processes in fostering participation, reflection, and collaborative learning. Sessions addressed clear instructions, group structures, brainstorming methods, concise feedback processes, creative responses, and action planning. The online phase concentrated on skills such as summarising, harvesting, and “x-raying” discussions to identify key insights and emerging directions. Participants also learned how to translate discussions into recommendations, resolutions, and concrete action plans.

Online tutorials provided opportunities for participants to conduct facilitation sessions in smaller groups while receiving detailed feedback from trainers and peers. According to organisers, this process significantly strengthened participants’ confidence and practical facilitation abilities.

During the concluding residential programme, trainers demonstrated model facilitation sessions drawn from real-life contexts. Participants initially worked individually before facilitating sessions in pairs and later in groups of three or four. Daily simulation exercises allowed them to practise various facilitation segments and receive constructive evaluation from fellow participants and trainers. The final facilitation exercises were conducted by small teams before the entire group, integrating the skills and learnings acquired throughout the programme.

The valedictory function was held on April 17, 2026. Sr. Nirmalini AC, President of the Women’s Section of CRI and Vice President of National CRI, attended as chief guest and distributed certificates to participants who successfully completed the programme.

Beyond methodologies and technical skills, many participants described the programme as a profound journey of inner transformation. The training encouraged deeper listening, openness to the Spirit, and the integration of rational thinking with intuitive wisdom. Participants said the experience fostered reverence for the dignity of each individual and encouraged collaborative discernment within communities.

The participants expressed gratitude to the National CRI Executive, particularly Sr. Elsa Muttathu PBVM, for initiating the programme and making the formation experience possible. They also thanked the facilitation team for their patient accompaniment, encouragement, and mentoring throughout the training journey. Participants appreciated the collaborative spirit among the trainers, noting that their diverse strengths and insights enriched the learning environment.

There was also a strong appeal for National CRI to continue organising similar facilitation programmes for Religious across India and to create opportunities for trained facilitators to practise and deepen their ministry. Participants additionally emphasised the importance of follow-up programmes and continuing formation for those who have completed the training.

The success of Cohort II, participants observed, stands as a testimony to the growing importance of collaborative leadership, reflective dialogue, and Spirit-led facilitation in contemporary religious and ecclesial contexts.

(Sr. Ishpriya FSMA is a member of the Franciscans of St. Mary of the Angels. Over the years, she has served as a social activist, teacher, principal, formator, Provincial Superior etc. Currently, she serves as the General Councillor for the Education Ministry.)