Waitlist Small Group Leaders’ Resources

INSTRUCTIONS AND TIPS FOR WAITLIST SMALL GROUP CO-LEADERS (All the Content Below in One Document)

ZOOM TRAINING SESSION FOR WAITLIST SMALL GROUP CO-LEADERS

IMPORTANT NOTE: School of Faith will not be automatically sending videos to women in the small groups. The women will access all the videos and handouts from the webpage you can access by clicking HERE. If someone in your small group requested a Spiritual Mentor on May 6, 2024, or later, they started receiving the videos right away due to a new plan we’re offering to those on the waitlist to help them better prepare to receive spiritual mentoring. However, accessing this webpage will allow the women in the small group to watch the video that will correspond to the topic of their small group meeting. The email templates provided below include the link to the webpage.

• Teaching the women how to pray using the 3 R’s
• Helping them acquire the habit of daily prayer as they wait for a spiritual mentor
• Pairing participants in groups of 2’s or 3’s for ongoing accountability
• Setting a foundation from which they can build and continue their own small group of Spiritual Friendship
• When sending email communication, please Blind Copy everyone
• Get agreement from everyone before setting up a big texting group, e.g. WhatsApp, Signal, just on your phone, etc.
• If you have a full group, consider “splitting up” the women between the 2 of you to be more aware of their reactions/participation in the session; contact between sessions only if needed.
o You may want to keep track of their engagement, especially if on Zoom.
• Specific to Zoom:
o Be set up in a place without distractions and noise.
o Be familiar with running a Zoom meeting. You may find this “Getting started guide for new users” helpful.
o Be sure participants can see your beautiful face well.
·         It's recommended that the co-leaders send out reminder emails 1 week before, possibly the day before, and definitely the day of the small group meeting. (Remember to Blind Copy everyone!)
·         One of the co-leaders will need to send out the email for accountability partners after you meet with your group for the first time. Download the email template by clicking HERE.
·         Optional but builds a connection: you can send out an email after each meeting. You can see a sample template by clicking HERE.
·         School of Faith will provide all the meditations and videos on the Spiritual Guidance Small Groups webpage. The small group women need to access that webpage.
·       An example of how we want the videos viewed is the following:
- Formation Video 1 viewed about a week before the small group meeting
- Hold the small group meeting
- Meditation Video 1 viewed about 2 weeks after the small group meeting
Yes! Please download these to your computer FIRST and then edit to fit your small group.
Template_Lesson I Introduction_Holiness_3 R’s
Template_Lesson II and beyond
Template_Meditation I Holiness
Template_Meditation II and beyond
• Emphasize the importance of maintaining confidentiality
• Respect the starting and ending times
• Facilitate the sharing
o Give space for each person to talk and be mindful to not interrupt
o Have parameters of how the group will run: be mindful to give everyone a chance to speak considering the time constraints
• The co-leaders can say “Thank you” after each person shares to acknowledge her contribution and give permission for the next person to share.
o It's important for the co-leaders to stay consistent in their responses to each participant
• IF someone is getting emotional:
o Affirm the emotion with a suggestion that we can talk later
o Acknowledge and ask permission if the person wants us to move on and come back to her
o You can reach out to her later one-on-one
o Offering to pray may help de-escalate the emotion
• Be comfortable with silence
• Open in prayer
• 1st meeting: Introductions and setting Expectations and Guidelines (see next section below)
o Introductions
 Name, where you’re from, what drew you to request a spiritual mentor
o Setting expectations and Guidelines (see Agenda link below)
o Briefly review the highlights from the formation video (see Highlights of Lessons below)
 We can’t assume they watched it.
o Key question to answer in the sharing: What struck you as you were watching the video/listening to the highlights?
o Sharing their experiences with prayer/video content/what they’re learning, what they have been reflecting on, praying about...
o “What has God been saying to you?”
• Q&A period
• Homework related to the formation: can be individual OR group based on your observations
• Lead them through a meditation using the 3 R’s, preferably with the Gospel of the day or the Rosary podcast transcript.
• Housekeeping (see Agendas below)
• Closing Prayer
·         Confidentiality: When people share, we all need to keep that information confidential.
·         Sharing vs. Discussing: In a sharing group, we want to listen. We don’t need to comment, affirm, or discuss what each person shares. We want to share our experiences vs. advising each other.
·         Time Constraints/Commitment:
o   Let’s make sure each person who wants to share gets a turn.
o   Respect starting and ending times of the scheduled session by showing up on time and staying through the end.
o   Let us know if there’s a challenge with that.
·         Silence: Be comfortable with silence. The Holy Spirit often works in those silent spaces.
·         We’re all on a journey: St. Teresa of Avila says that God does not lead us all by the same road. Whether you’re familiar with what we’re sharing or brand new, it doesn’t matter. We all come to the table with something valuable to share.
·         Specific to Zoom
o   Camera on because we want to connect with each other
o   Everyone muted expect speaker
You'll receive an email from CSMfemalematching@schooloffaith.com with the name, email, and phone number of all those who have signed up for the time of your small group.
· Work out with your co-leader who will be leading which part of the meeting. We want the women to see BOTH co-leaders as leaders.
· Since the small groups are a “test,” follow up with Stephanie on how the meeting went, any suggestions, any things that worked well, etc. You can email CSMfemalematching@schooloffaith.com or call 913-342-8422.