Formation Course for Formators (UISG) – Rome 2026

13/07/2026

The Formation Course for Formators was organised by the International Union of Superiors General (UISG) and took place in Rome from 12 January to 3 July 2026. The course brought together 46 participants, all religious sisters, from 22 countries and 42 different religious congregations, with a strong representation from Africa and Asia. Europe was represented by two sisters from Slovakia and two sisters from Poland. Among the Ursulines, the participants were Sr Agnieszka (Polish Province) and Sr Jana Pavla (Slovak Province).

The main goal of the course was: to be transformed in order to help others in their own process of transformation.

The course was intensive, with sessions every weekday from 8:15 to 15:30. During the programme, different speakers introduced a variety of topics, including community building, prayer and spiritual life, religious vows from different perspectives, canon law, women's spirituality, self-knowledge, sexuality, and self-care. There was also time for sharing and learning from one another, including presentations on the participants' countries and the charisms of their religious congregations.

A key part of the course was an eight-day retreat in Nemi, where, in silence, the participants had the opportunity to encounter God in their hearts and deepen their spiritual experience.

During the course, many questions and reflections emerged, and gradually an inner process of transformation began in each participant. This process involved letting go, which sometimes brought pain, and growing in openness to God's action within us. It was both a process of renouncing certain things and of opening ourselves more deeply to God's transforming presence. However, by the end of the course, there was a profound experience of new life and joy.

After a demanding journey, the final day arrived, and the participants received their certificates. With joyful hearts, they sang the Magnificat and praised God for all He had done during the course. This moment of joy was also shared with Sr Sue and Sr Benigna, who came to support the final ceremony.

We are grateful to God and to our Institute for the opportunity to take part in this formation course. It helped us to discover new life within ourselves, as also expressed in the spirituality of St Angela.

Sr Jana Pavla Grachová OSU