Leadership Formation Institute (LFI)

A three-week intensive course near the very heart of the Church in Rome

“What we have heard and known, what our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from their children; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, his power, and the wonders he has done.” Ps 78:3-4

Nature

ICCRS offers a Leadership Formation Institute programme. It is a three-week intensive course near the very heart of the Church in Rome, Italy.

Classes include studies in Scripture, Ecclesiology, Pneumatology, Mariology, Kerygma, CCR, Leadership and Ministry. Students will be offered practical teaching and workshops on various aspects of ministry within the CCR. In addition, the students go on several field trips to Christian sites, and Dicastries of the Roman Curia.

The ICCRS Leadership Formation Institute began in response to John Paul II’s invitation to foster “ecclesial maturity” among leaders in CCR.

People of all ages delegates from charismatic organizations worldwide are invited to have a growth experience in leadership within the CCR. The programme is held primarily in English, but other languages are made available depending on the number of requests.

There is an urgent need to proclaim with strength as well as to have a solid and deep Christian formation. How much need there is today for mature Christian leaders, who are aware of their own vocation and mission in the Church and in the world!

Pope St. John Paul II

Mission

The goal of the LFI is to train leaders and potential leaders in serving the Church in the Power of the Holy Spirit. We provide this program exclusively in Rome in order to expose the students to a truly ecclesial experience. We are happy to bring students to various offices of the Vatican in order for the students to see a much fuller picture of the life of the Church.

Give people a theological and ecclesial foundation for service.
Give people practical and helpful information, about serving the Church deepening the charismatic dimension.
Give people an opportunity to experience the transforming power of God’s love.
Create a network for people to share experience, support, and resources.

Vision

Our vision is to have capable leaders, located all over the world, using the charisms for service to the Church. We see a worldwide network of men and women who have a common experience and understanding of leadership formation and service, who serve the Church and the world with their gifts, and the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

Curriculum

We will offer the following:

Catholic Charismatic Renewal

CCR 01: History of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal
- Link to Pentecost * Century of the Holy Spirit * Protestant role * Duquesne Weekend * CCR * ICCRS * Meetings with Popes
CCR 02: Current Situation in the Catholic Charismatic Renewal
- Ecumenism * Interacting with other ecclesial realities * The “new communities” * Vatican relations * “ecclesial maturity”
CCR 03: Strengths and challenges of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal
- A survey of strengths, weakness, contributions, and challenges within CCR

Ecclesiology

ECL 01: History of the Church from the time of Jesus to 500 A.D.
- Peter and the 12 * Pentecost * Early Missionary activity * Persecution * Legalization of Christianity * Struggles * Heresies
ECL 02: History of the Church from 500 A.D. to 1500 A.D.
- The Church grows in power * Split between East and West * Crusades * Secularization creeps into Church * Protestantism
ECL 03: History of the Church from 1500 A.D. to the Second Vatican Council
- The age of enlightenment * Missionary activity * Church/secular tensions
ECL 04: The Second Vatican Council (Part 1)
- Brief history of the council * Brief history of the two conciliar Popes * Key documents of the Council
ECL 05: The Second Vatican Council (Part 2)
- The fruit of the council * How the council has impacted the Church
ECL 06: The Post-Conciliar Church
- The Church today * Responding to Vatican II * The Church and the world * Struggles within the Church
ECL 07: The activity of the Holy Spirit throughout Church history (part 1)
- Highlights of the Spirit’s activity in the life and struggles of the Church
ECL 08: The activity of the Holy Spirit throughout Church history (part 2)
- Highlights of the Spirit’s activity in the life and struggles of the Church (continued from above)
ECL 09: Men of the Spirit
- A survey of male saints or key church figures who were devoted to the Spirit or used charisms
ECL 10: Women of the Spirit
- A survey of female saints or key Church figures who were devoted to the Spirit or used charisms

Leadership and Ministry

LDR 01: Leading a prayer meeting
- Managing the key elements of a successful prayer meeting
LDR 02: Dealing with conflict
- Dealing with conflict between individuals as well as groups * Conflict resolution * How to speak truth * How to disagree * Reconciliation * Negotiation
LDR 03: Discerning Spiritual Phenomena
- Criteria to discern vision, apparitions, prophecies, spiritual experiences, etc
LDR 04: Offering one-on-one ministry
- How to pastor, pray and care for individuals * Dealing with needy people
LDR 05: Giving a Teaching
- How to discern topic * How to prepare teaching * How to deliver teaching
LDR 06: Leading Dynamic Praise and Worship
- The value of praise and worship * Scriptural models * Techniques to foster praise and worship in a group setting
LDR 07: Dealing with Evil
- Recognizing and discerning the presence and influence of evil * How to deal with evil forces * Church teaching * Clerical/Lay role
LDR 08: Leadership Styles
- A survey of various leadership styles, personalities and how to work within different models of leadership
LDR 09: Models of Structures
- A survey of various models and structures within the Renewal (community, prayer group, etc) strengths and weaknesses
LDR 10: Group Dynamics
- Key elements of the dynamics of working with both small and large groups
LDR 11: Life of a Leader (Part 1)
- Vision of a what a godly leader is * Dangers in the life of a leader * Living a “balanced” life
LDR 12: Life of a Leader (Part 2)
- What a leader needs to do to stay healthy * Safeguards for leaders * The disciplines necessary for a leader

Kerygma

KRG 01: The Basic Message of Salvation
- The basic message of man’s need for salvation * the role of the Redeemer * What Christ accomplished * Need to apply
KRG 02: Proclaiming the Basic Message of Salvation
- How to convey the basic message to others in a simple format * techniques of basic evangelization

Mariology

MRY 01: Mary and The Holy Spirit
- Mary’s relationship to the Holy Spirit * Mary’s place in story of salvation * proper devotion to Mary
MRY 02: Mary – disciple of Jesus
- Various scenarios of Mary in scripture and applicable lessons for our lives

Pneumatology

PNU 01: Old Testament Survey (Part 1)
- An overview of references to and experiences of the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament
PNU 02: Old Testament Survey (Part 2)
- Continuation of the above
PNU 03: New Testament Survey (Part 1)
- An overview of references to and experiences of the Holy Spirit in the New Testament focus on Gospels and Acts
PNU 04: New Testament Survey (Part 2)
- An overview of references to and experiences of the Holy Spirit in the New Testament focus on Epistles
PNU 05: Patristic Reflections (Part 1)
- A survey of the teachings, reflections and experiences by the Church Fathers (and Mothers) on the Holy Spirit
PNU 06: Patristic Reflections (Part 2)
- A survey of the teachings, reflections and experiences by the Church Fathers (and Mothers) on the Holy Spirit (continued from above)
PNU 07: Ecclesial Understanding of the Holy Spirit (part 1)
- The Holy Spirit in the Church’s creed, teaching, liturgy, and theology today
PNU 08: Ecclesial Understanding of the Holy Spirit (part 2)
- The Holy Spirit in the Church’s creed, teaching, liturgy, and theology today (continued from above)
PNU 09: The Holy Spirit in the Sacraments
- The Holy Spirit’s activity through the sacraments
PNU 10: Baptism in the Holy Spirit (Part 1)
- Description and various understandings of what Baptism in the Holy Spirit is.
PNU 11: Baptism in the Holy Spirit (Part 2)
- (Continuation of above) What happens to people in Baptism of Holy Spirit
PNU 12: Baptism in the Holy Spirit (Part 3)
- (Continuation of above) What are the effects of Baptism of Holy Spirit? * Fruit of Spirit * Conversion
PNU 13: Manifestations of the Spirit (Part 1)
- An understanding of the concept of charism * Listing and explanation of some of the more common charisms.
PNU 14: Manifestations of the Spirit (Part 2)
- What the Church teaches about charisms * What the popes say about charisms * How to discern the authenticity of charism
PNU 15: Manifestations of the Spirit (Part 3)
- Relationship between charism and the individual who manifests charism

Scripture

SCR 01: The History and Structure of the Bible
- Where we got the Bible from * Scripture and Tradition * Inspiration of Biblical writers * Catholic understanding of Bible
SCR 02: Overview of the Old Testament
- Basic structure, survey of key themes, basic timeline
SCR 03: Overview of the New Testament
- Basic structure, survey of key themes, basic timeline

Requirements for Participation

In order to participate, you should be a leader (or a future leader) of a prayer group or a community in Catholic Charismatic Renewal willing to further grow in leadership. Obtain a recommendation letter from the NSC of your country or from the leaders of your community as well as a letter from your parish priest or spiritual director. In summary, submit the following:

One passport photo.
Brief curriculum vitae with evidence of a leadership background.
Letter of recommendation from your National Service Committee or leaders of your Community.
Letter of recommendation from your parish priest or spiritual director.