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Course 4: Revision 2011 Sharing the Journey MCCW: Journey of Faith Online Sharing the Journey

[Note: This online delivery of MCCW: Journey of Faith is designed to give MCCW leaders/emerging leaders access to the resources that will help them accomplish the mission of MCCW which is:

The Military Council of Catholic Women (MCCW) reflects a visible presence of Christ in military communities by fostering and nourishing women in spirituality, leadership and service. Inspired by the Holy Spirit, MCCW serves as a vital enhancement of the religious support mission of military chapels.

The 2nd Vice-president of MCCW coordinates all Journey of Faith efforts, including the development, formatting and presentation of programs. Feel free to utilize her for guidance and support in using these materials.] Introduction: Anyone who has traveled with several young children would probably say that it is easier to travel alone. And in some cases, thatʼs true. But in our faith journey we are called to be community, and MCCW has always promoted journeying together. “Companions On A Journey” , “Share the Journey” are just a couple of our past conference/project themes that reflect this idea. In this course, we will discuss ideas for making sure all women in our Catholic communities are invited to participate, share and grow in MCCW. Looking at Our MCCW Groups: Whoʼs Getting Our Invitation When you look at the women of your Catholic community, no doubt you see a very diverse group. They are diverse in culture, economics, marital status, education, vocation, rank/time in service, faith journey, and age. But they also have much in common (gender, Catholic faith, military lifestyle) and all should be invited to and welcomed at MCCW! Now, we’ll look at the impact generational differences can have on our MCCW group.

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The Many Faces of MCCW Generational Attributes: a. Silent Generation (Born prior to 1926; over 85 years old)

Made transition from agricultural (farming) society to industrial

Farm ethics (hard physical work, directness, practicality)

Limited worldview: Influenced by family, church, literature characters

Established authority b. Builders (Born between 1927 and 1945; about 66-84 years)

Accepts word of authority and follows Upheld previous generations' ethics World was made larger by radio, movies, war Submitted to authority

c. Boomers (Born between 1946 and 1964; about 47-65 years old)

•Questions authority •Takes matters into own hands •World made larger by television •First single parent families became more common d. Generation X (Born between 1965 and 1983; about 27-45 years old)

Ignores authority; skeptical of effectiveness; tend to take care of selves (retirement 401k's for example)

Raised by Dr. Spock (free to be me, etc) If not a part of authority, then do not participate Many "latchkey" kids (independent)

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Witnessed downsizing of parents who were loyal to single employer for many years; likely to have multiple careers/employers

e. Millennials; (Born after 1983; under 28 years old)

World further expanded by internet (can pursue interests with people around the world from the comfort of their homes).

Biggest motivation to join organizations like MCCW; what's in it for me? Answer: relationships.

Work alone, play alone. Worship alone? Experiences mini-generational gaps with those only

a few years younger, due to rapid developments in technology/methods of communication.

Very dedicated to making the world a better place (service).

Applying what we know about generational differences to MCCW: a. Regarding leadership/membership-

Longevity in an organization is not valued by younger generations (10 year pin, etc.).

Relationships are key! Younger members are more apt to change

leadership positions more often (secretary one year, outreach coordinator the next, etc)

Millennials expect immediate response to communications, are very capable of multi-tasking

b. Regarding worship/faith sharing-

Exploring/questioning the Church's teachings. Need to have a resource for solid, reliable explanations, definitions, etc. Keep the catechism handy, for example.

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c. Regarding service/outreach-

May have to explain the purpose and goals of outreach, even though it may seem obvious to some members.

How does outreach fit into our faith life as Catholic Christians.

Answers to the "what's-in-it-for-me?" question. d. Regarding hospitality/fellowship-

Relationships that more than superficial take time and effort.

Face to face interaction; what you can't get online/chat rooms.

Members looking out and supporting one another. Action! Prayer!

A simple survey (sample included at the end of this module) of the women in your community is a great way to not only collect the true demographics of your MCCW, but also get an idea of the programs and topics that will make your invitation more attractive to more people. The Life Cycle of Groups Another aspect of assessing our openness to new membership is understanding where in the life cycle of a group our local MCCW is. Ever heard it said of a child, “She’s just going through a stage?” Or, would you say you’re looking forward to the next stage in your life? Perhaps that will be the childbearing stage. Perhaps it will be mid- life. We have a lot of information that our MCCW chapel groups, like all volunteer organizations, also go through normal stages. These are described in this graph called “Life Cycle of an Organization.”

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This is a good time to think about an MCCW chapel group with which you are familiar. What words would you use to describe that group? Could you identify which stage this group is in? Perhaps the chart on the following page with its descriptors will help you. Let’s take a look.

• In INFANCY the group is small in numbers but full of ideals and energy.

• In ADOLESCENCE, the group is increasing in numbers and has identified a larger number of roles that are filled.

• In PRIME the group is cohesive and active, the spirituality is high as is morale.

• In MATURE the group has long range plans and is still seeking new members.

• In ELITIST the group is becoming complacent, satisfied with what has been accomplished, and spirituality is waning in this more rigid environment.

• In STALLED the group is spending what little energy it has reflecting on past successes and there is no growth. Spirituality is stalled.

• In DEATH the group has just a few remaining members, there is apathy and may be widespread infighting.

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Does this help you find the stage or stages of the group you have in mind? As you review the graph you may be relieved to know that solutions are offered following a look at the risks and challenges groups are likely to encounter at each stage. QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION

1. Is there one particular stage that seems “ideal”? 2. Do you believe a group can be rushed to reach this stage? 3. Are there actions which you believe might hold a group at this

ideal stage, keeping it from “aging”? 4. What corrective actions do you find most intriguing? 5. How will this knowledge assist you?

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The Phrasing Of Our Invitation As was mentioned in “Celebrating the Journey”, the use of a survey (sample survey is provided at the end of this module) of the women in your community would be very helpful to identify whoʼs sitting in the pews and what their spiritual needs and interests are. Then the invitation can be made with those things in mind.

We invite all women in the community to our functions by: • making meetings accessible (day/time/location/childcare) • presenting a variety of programs that answer

needs/interests • giving our invitation the widest and most personal

distribution possible • involving many women in the planning of our

programs/activities/service projects Letʼs touch on each one of those aspects of invitation. Accessibility. Not every person may get to every meeting. That said, we should try to plan our meetings so everyone can attend at least a couple. If daytime meetings are traditional in your community, why not try one or two evening/weekend meetings each quarter, so that women who work outside the home have an opportunity to attend. Providing childcare at meetings enables young mothers to attend. Usually, childcare is only necessary for daytime meetings, however it may be appropriate at evening meetings as well, especially if the installation has units that deploy frequently. If funds are not available for childcare, members could form a co-op with neighborhood groups or Protestant Women of the Chapel. Meeting in a public place, such as the chapel community room or classrooms makes our activities easier to find and does not give the appearance of a closed group. It is easier for a newcomer to attend something at a chapel than at a personal residence. This is a general observation, not a concrete requirement. If the opportunity arises to

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meet in someoneʼs home, by all means enjoy the hospitality. Just make sure everyone knows the location, day and time of the event. Variety of Programs. By basing the programs on the results of a survey (sample survey on pages following this module), many interests and needs that women have indicated will be addressed. Varying the format of programs, prayer, and service also makes our gatherings more inviting. Key elements to appeal to when planning programs are love of God, desire to grow in faith and desire to serve. Wide distribution and personal invitations. Expanding our invitation list to include other groups of women within our Catholic community (RCIA, Religious Education, liturgical ministries, the daily Mass “regulars”, the various ethnic groups within our Catholic communities, the various service groups within our Catholic communities) and our military community (wives clubs, single service member organizations for example), gives our invitation the best chance of being accepted. Best of all is a personal invitation (phoning newcomers, offering to drive to MCCW program; inviting Catholic women from your other organizations to come to MCCW). Involvement in MCCW. Asking for help with MCCW responsibilities is an excellent way to invite someone to deeper participation. Make sure you are specific in the help you ask for and that it is feasible task for the person you are asking. Work together on the task through to its completion. What To Do When our Invitation Is Accepted When someone makes the effort to attend an MCCW meeting or event, and shows an interest in the group, it is very important to follow up with her. One phone call after the event to each newcomer from the hospitality coordinator would be very thoughtful.

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Mentoring by our ladies with long involvement in MCCW is another way to follow through with newcomers. Mentoring is often done very informally, although much has been written about it. Mentoring a younger, less experienced MCCW member is a great way for our older ladies to help in our celebration of the Journey. Mentoring is defined as a long-term, two-way relationship that benefits both parties. The benefits of mentoring are many on both the personal and organizational level:

• organizational learning • personal growth • role modeling • coaching, counseling • exposure to established traditions and new ideas • acceptance

A study by the U.S. Military Academyʼs Behavorial Sciences Department found that more than half of mentoring relationships they studied were initiated by the protégé, and that it is as important to teach young people how to seek mentors, as it is to teach elders to become mentors. Younger members of MCCW should be encouraged to bring ideas, issues, questions and concerns to the attention of experienced members, especially those in leadership positions. The leader who gives “subordinates” the chance to take on responsibility and a chance to make decisions encourages a mentoring relationship. The relationship is long-term, and the longer, the more beneficial. Communication is key. Frequent communication early on in the relationship is important, although it may be less frequent with time as the two people establish a relationship. At first, the mentor may want

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to establish a regular meeting time (for instance, lunch together once a month or plan to walk together or share volunteer work). The mentor should introduce her protégé to other women in the community whom she can talk to and learn from. This is one way to encourage and support the mentee. The mentor should be a good listener but should recognize her limitations as well; she cannot and does not need to meet all the younger personʼs needs. Remember, too, that this relationship is one of trust and confidentiality. The mentor should acknowledge the protégéʼs contributions to the organization and of course, the protégé should be thankful for the help received. The mentor, by her actions, sets a good example for others on how to be a mentor. Conclusion Throughout this module, we have discussed the many different generations of women in our local MCCW, the life cycle of our local MCCW, ways in which we extend an invitation to other women, and lastly mentoring (or taking someone younger or older under your wing to promote their leadership development.) We might not always realize when we are mentoring, since it sometimes can simply mask itself as friendship. Still, all these methods and aspects can have a powerful impact on us increasing our active participation in MCCW and continuing to further enhance and establish Godʼs kingdom on Earth and in Heaven. [Note: On the following pages is a sample survey referred to in this module. It is formatted to be four-on-a-page, front and back. This small format is user friendly and could be distributed/collected before, during or after Mass, with permission from moderator. Feel free to adapt the content to your own needs.]

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Military Council of Catholic Women Here in Our Chapel

MCCW is recognized and endorsed by the Archdiocese for the Military Services. Please take a moment to answer a few questions, so that our local group can better serve its members. Thank you! Demographics Please check those that apply to you: __Active duty service member __ Wife of active-duty __ Wife of retiree __Wife of DA Civilian/Contractor __Married __Single __Widowed __Other ________________ __School-age Children __College-age Children __Adult Children __Life-long Catholic __Convert/RCIA Candidate __English is first language __Involved in Catholic community ministry __Attend daily mass (occasionally, frequently) __Have participated in MCCW before

(please continue on reverse)










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Interests & Formats: Which of the following program ideas and formats would be most attractive to you and suit your needs? Check as many as apply. __Daytime gatherings __Monthly gatherings __Evening gatherings __Weekly gatherings __Weekend gatherings __Quarterly gatherings __Childcare needed __Prayer Chain/Partners __Vocations __Liturgy __Outreach Projects __Scripture Study __Christianity in Art __Faith in the Workplace __Catholic Book Club __Lives of the Saints __Right to Life __Sacraments __Medical/Ethical Issues __Deployment Spirituality __Domestic Church __Elderly Parents Care __Evangelization __Stewardship __Prayer __Catholic Parenting __Interfaith Education __Marriage __MCCW Conferences __Days of Reflection/Retreat __Wellness of Mind, Body, and Soul __Liturgical Seasons & Traditions __Keeping a Prayer Journal __Hospice: Dignity at End of Life __Field trips to local shrines, churches __Catholic Schools & Catholic Homeschooling __Other ideas:________________________________

Thank you for your time!


Thank you for your time! Interests & Formats:

Which of the following program ideas and formats would be most attractive to you and suit your needs? Check as many as apply. __Daytime gatherings __Monthly gatherings __Evening gatherings __Weekly gatherings __Weekend gatherings __Quarterly gatherings __Childcare needed __Prayer Chain/Partners __Vocations __Liturgy __Outreach Projects __Scripture Study __Christianity in Art __Faith in the Workplace __Catholic Book Club __Lives of the Saints __Right to Life __Sacraments __Medical/Ethical Issues __Deployment Spirituality __Domestic Church __Elderly Parents Care __Evangelization __Stewardship __Prayer __Catholic Parenting __Interfaith Education __Marriage __MCCW Conferences __Days of Reflection/Retreat __Wellness of Mind, Body, and Soul __Liturgical Seasons & Traditions __Keeping a Prayer Journal __Hospice: Dignity at End of Life __Field trips to local shrines, churches __Catholic Schools & Catholic Homeschooling __Other ideas:________________________________




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