Being Men and Women for and with Others

Date

On December 2-5, 2024, as many as 23 prospective members of the Le Cocq d’Armandville College Presidium participated in the LKI activity at the Abdi Kristus Sisters Monastery, Wanggar District, Nabire, Central Papua. The LKI, or Ignatian Leadership Training, aims to prepare prospective new Presidium members to become qualified leaders based on Ignatian values.

 

Being Men and Women for and with Others ” is the theme of LKI this time. Through this theme, prospective Presidium members are expected to be able to become leaders who care, are responsible, and are involved in the lives of school residents and the surrounding community. This life is not just for oneself alone but also to serve others, especially those less fortunate, marginalized, and neglected.

 

On December 2, 2024, at 07.30 WIT, the prospective Presidium members and their companions were escorted to Wanggar using a truck. The journey, which took about an hour, was accompanied by Mrs. Ester Yanti and Father Yakobus Toto Yulianto, SJ

 

Upon arrival in Wanggar, Fr. Engelbertus Viktor Daki, SJ led the LKI Opening Service. In his brief reflection, Fr. Egi invited the prospective Presidium members to follow the dynamics of LKI with an open and joyful heart.

 

Knowing Yourself

The LKI participants received several interesting materials. On the first day, Mrs. Theresia Kegiye gave Self-Introduction material. The participants were invited to truly recognize themselves as individuals who are loved by God, have talents and abilities that are useful for many people and are willing to become leaders who truly want to serve.

 

Ms. Magda, one of the Sanata Dharma University students undergoing a Teaching Assistance program at Le Cocq College, also provided material on the Qualities of a Leader. Ms. Magda emphasized the importance of having several qualified personal qualities as a leader to inspire and drive the organization. Ms. Magda also invited the participants to reflect more deeply and learn what kind of leader they are and who inspires them.

 

In addition to being invited to get to know themselves and review the qualities of leaders, Ms. Mutiara Kausar, a Sanata Dharma student in the Teaching Assistance program, also provided material on Leadership Skills. Participants were invited to learn about a number of basic skills that a leader needs to have, in accordance with the Ignatian spirit, such as discretionary skills and acting based on a magical spirit.

 

Value-Based Leadership

On the second day, Fr. Engelbertus Viktor Daki, SJ, invited the participants to learn to become leaders with integrity and walk with God. They were invited to see the actions of Jesus, the true Teacher, in serving and accompanying the disciples.

 

In his presentation, Fr. Egi explained that in leadership dynamics later, they will always be on a “battlefield” from time to time. The war will occur between the leadership values that they uphold and various temptations, conflicts, fragility, and self-weakness. They are invited to know themselves so that if temptations come later, they know what to do so that the values they uphold, namely honesty, humility, magic, and sincerity, are maintained.

 

Ultimately, they are invited to become leaders with the harmony of mind, heart, and action. This harmony is expected to grow them and help them become leaders who think, speak, and act based on noble values rather than self-tendencies, ego, etc.

 

Power Relations

Leadership is always related to power. When appointed a leader, he has the power to move others. Father Rikhardus Sani Wibowo, SJ, as a speaker, invited the participants to observe the leader’s role and the guidelines that must be followed to truly become a quality leader. One is choosing the path of exemplary behavior and not using threats or gifts when leading. Awareness of the role, power, and guidelines that need to be observed is expected to prevent participants from abusing power.

 

Mrs. Ester Yanti presented material on “Building Teams and Collaboration.” In her presentation, Mrs. Ester invited the participants to work together. By becoming members of the Presidium, they all become leaders who work as a team. No one works alone. Each person has advantages that need to be shared to make this Presidium team work solidly. Every person and every division in the Presidium needs to be able to collaborate.

 

Facing the Giants

Prospective Presidium members were invited to watch a film, Facing the Giants. This film teaches how to be a good leader and always carry the name of God in good times and bad. The atmosphere that night was so exciting. In fact, in an extraordinary part of the film, the Presidium members also felt the happiness felt by the characters in the movie.

 

Outdoor Dynamics

On the third day, participants were invited to become leaders who care about the environment and are moved to help others. After waking up in the morning, starting from in front of the Monastery, participants were invited to pick up trash scattered on the sides of the highway to the Wanggar Chapel and Wanggar Market. The conditions around the cleaned points were initially dirty and unpleasant, but they became clean and pleasant after that.

 

After the environmental cleaning activity, the participants offered to help the mothers sell their goods in the market. They were initially shy, but after trying and daring, they finally got involved in selling the goods sold by the mothers in the market. The hope is that the participants are sensitive to environmental cleanliness and also have the courage to do good things.

 

In addition to the materials, the members of the Presidium are invited to routinely conduct examen conscientiae or inner examination. This examen aims to train our sensitivity to good spirits and evil spirits. With the examen, prospective members of the Presidium are expected to be able to know the urges of good spirits, always follow them, learn the urges of evil spirits, and always stay away from them. The examen is carried out during the day before lunch and night before bed.

 

Building Familiarity Through Mini Games

During the LKI activities, a number of mini-games were conducted to increase cohesiveness and solidarity. Through games, prospective Presidium members were taught to work together to achieve a common goal. One of the mini-games involved removing ping-pong balls using water from a pipe that had been given several holes.

 

Through this mini-game, participants must work together to find a solution so that the water filled into the leaking pipe does not come out, and the ping pong ball inside can come out. Some cover the pipe hole with their fingers, cheeks, and mouths. Participants are expected to realize that in solving problems, there are various solutions, and it is essential to learn to listen to the opinions of each individual in a group.

 

There is another mini-game that teaches to trust the team. The game is to move a friend from one point to another using hands while lying on the floor. In the mini-game, one person will be transferred; then the person will say, ” I trust myself to my friends,” and the person will lie in the hands of his team and then slowly move to another point. In this mini-game, trust in the team’s potential is taught, and we are learning to dare to accept the consequences of what we do.

 

Designing a Plan

Participants were invited to create a work program for the next year on the last day. With the right plan and direction, friends will be able to steer the Presidium ship well for the following year. Without a proper plan, they will be confused and not know where to go. The LKI series was closed with a mass led by Father Rikhardus Sani Wibowo, SJ, which ended with the act of blessing and praying for each other.

 

Becoming Magical

Through a series of LKI activities, participants are taught to become leaders who care about others and the universe and who are willing to serve others without discrimination, especially those who are less fortunate. They are also trained to become leaders who are willing to listen to opinions from various parties and who are brave in making decisions and their consequences.

 

Ultimately, being a leader is a person’s willingness to learn from their weaknesses and mistakes, rise above them, and fight to be better for themselves and others.

 

Contributors: Farel Falen Gomis and Julia Yannike Ngantung – Le Cocq d’Armandville College

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