Registration is now open for the fall Orientation to Formation (OTF) program. Whether you are newly invited into a formation role, discerning this ministry, or supporting others in formation, OTF offers a foundational overview of the formator’s identity, responsibilities, and essential skills. This annual, virtual program is designed as a starting point—a guided introduction into the ministry of formation in religious life. It also offers opportunities for formation ministers and elected leaders to connect and share best practices with presenters, RFC staff, and other participants.
In 2026, OTF will be offered as a five-week online experience via Zoom. Participants will meet from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. (Central) on Tuesdays in September and October (September 29; October 6, 13, 20, and 27). Preparatory materials will be sent in advance of each session. The online time together will consist of input, focused conversation in small groups, and large group sharing.
Presenters are Sister Mary Pat Garvin, RSM, PhD and Brother Paul Michalenko, ST, PhD. Topics include Formation Ministry Today, The Art of Accompaniment, Relationship/Community: Locus of the Formative Journey, Religious Life: Ever Ancient, Ever New; and Formation Personnel and Leaders: Working in Partnership.
The deadline to register for OTF is Friday, August 28. For more information, visit relforcon.org/OTF.
