Journey Groups: Big Questions - Small Groups

Tell Your Life Story and Be Heard!

Many of us have a yearning to share our experiences of life with a community of people.  We look for people who are grounded, and willing to listen and recognize the nudging of the Spirit in our midst. It is with this intention that Journey Groups (Group Spiritual Companioning for students) were formed. The goal of these groups is not to solve each other's problems, but rather help each other to name and come to understand more deeply our experiences so that we can live more fully the day to day graces of life.

Journey Groups help us to slow down, to be open to others and the voice of God, to dig deeper and wider into our pressing questions and life experiences.  Journey Groups give us the opportunity to tell our life story and be heard with empathy and compassion, free from judgement or criticism.

Each Journey Group is comprised of four to five students grouped by class year along with a team of co-facilitators which include a combination of alumnae, sisters, faculty, staff, or female friends of the college of varying ages. Facilitators will be full participants in the group activities. Students who have participated in our Journey Program have often been inspired by and remarked about the inter-generational benefits "Wow! She is 70 (or 30, or 40, or 50) and she is still asking these important and on-going questions!"  This is an important aspect of the groups as the Facilitators help serve as witness to life as a constant on-going journey and increasing vocational awareness.  Facilitators help model that reality through their personal self dis-closure and interaction with the group members. 

Journey groups will meet for two hours on a monthly basis, beginning with a shared meal. One important facet of community building is the opportunity to share a meal. We believe by experiencing a common table prior to the companioning session will increase participants' focus on the companioning encounter.

Groups are formed at the beginning of the academic school year. We occasionally will open groups at the start of the spring semester if there is enough interest among students.

Follow these links for more information on Group Spiritual Companioning.

Philosophy of spiritual companioning

Themes for Journey groups

Journey Group Materials:

• Covenant of Commitment

• The EXAMEN of Consciousness

• Map of process

• Session outline