Bengaluru: Taking forward the congregational initiative of training the members in Discerning Leadership, ASCLA West Conference hosted its second workshop of Claretian Discerning Leadership at Claret Nivas Carmelaram from 17 to 23 July 2023.

This is the continuation of the joint workshop held by ASCLA East and ASCLA West in February 2023 at Karukutty, Kerala, the Curia of St. Thomas Province.

32 members, the council members and a few local superiors, from the five major organisms of India participated in this workshop held at Carmelaram, Bengaluru. Three of the members from the conference who had earlier undergone the training turned facilitators for this workshop, Fr. Anthony Bhyju (Major Superior of Kolkata Delegation), Fr. Siby Njavallikunnel (Major Superior of St. Thomas Province) and Fr. Regi Pymattathil (from Province of Bangalore); Fr. Paulson Veliyannoor also assisted in animating one of the modules. In spite of his busy schedule, Fr. General too made himself available to address the participants virtually and inspire them during one of the sessions.

The workshop consisted of various modules of different aspects of leadership and discernment; such as contextual understanding, Jesus’ way, Claretian key, personality dynamics, synodality, conflict transformation, polarity management, etc. The participants were assisted through input sessions, personal and group reflections as well as activities, some assessment tests and exercises. On the whole the workshop helped in understanding and building up effective leadership in the context of the Congregation and the Church.

ASCLA West will continue further with such workshops at different places to animate all the members of the conference. Frs. Gonzalo Fernandez, CMF and Paulson Veliyannoor, CMF were the first guides who facilitated the workshop at Karukuty and provided the necessary impetus for training in Discerning Leadership at the conference level.