Ingredients of Sa-Fa vocation animation 9

Teamwork with other Brothers in the vocation field

Teamwork is a wealth in any activity because each member can contribute with new, different and unique ideas. Therefore in vocational animation we are practically obliged to work as a team, listening to each other, supporting each other and sharing experiences.

Working as a team requires putting at the service of everybody, personal gifts and at the same time being enriched by the contributions of the companions on the way, it is like a synodal work space. It is very important to keep in mind that it requires humility, attentive listening, capacity for dialogue, reflection, respect, openness of mind and heart and also to consider that vocational animation is a cordial and fraternal service between brothers and lay people.

It is also fundamental the synergy created in the teams, one of the things that can impede this synergy is the ego. Sometimes in the pastoral and vocational work feelings of belonging or exclusivity are created that do not promote growth and fruits.

To make possible the vocational promotion results, it is necessary to work in teams of people who support and nourish each other. It is extremely beneficial too to share with the Brothers the spirituality and mission, and to learn how to carry out the tasks of animators.

It is very positive to be a heterogeneous group, made up of different generations, coming from different areas of the Sa-Fa Family, different geographical and cultural realities. It is also important to be in tune with the work group, promoting an effective dialogue between different areas of knowledge.

The topics and proposals should be discussed and planned in the meetings, where the initiatives or activities are proposed, analyzed and approved. Many times creativity is more important than resources. What should never be lacking is the testimony of love, fraternity and respect among all.

The people in charge and those who are going to collaborate or participate are designated with possibilities of growth, periodic evaluations to make sure that everybody is in the same dynamic. The vocation animator is the person who unites everyone to work as a team and to ensure that the mutual communication between each other and the composition of the projects is effective and fruitful.

WHERE…? WHO…? HOW…?

Team work is a methodology that has always been carried out in all the areas of the Sa-Fa Family; such as in schools, directors, pastoral agents, teaching groups, as well as in the case of the Nazarene Fraternities, formation and study teams of the SaFa charism, in groups of solidarity activities, organization of missions, etc…

All of them:

- share activities and programs as a team,

- make plans, prepare work and activity guides,

- always based on the charism, with theological foundation,

- taking into account the reality of each place, with social commitment,

- learning different strategies to carry out the mission,

- sharing in these teams’ ideas, criteria, thoughts,

- respecting the differences to reach agreements and commitments.  

Teamwork in the field of vocational animation always needs the help of other people. The other person is an essential element for the activity and the work is carried out in a cooperative, supportive and positive way.

Brothers and lay people, listening to each other, supporting each other and sharing experiences, with dedication and enthusiasm can work together, united, in communion, to obtain better results and to obtain greater fruits.