Continuing our series of testimonies from participants in the Programme for the Preparation of Formators, we share the experience of Sr. Mary Emmanuel Espera, a member of the Missionary Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing.

In this interview, she reflects on how the programme transformed her attitude toward formation ministry, helping her move from fear and uncertainty to greater confidence, self-awareness, and a renewed commitment to accompany others in their journey of growth and discipleship.

How has your understanding of formation evolved over the past few months?

I feel that it was my attitude and disposition toward formation ministry that significantly changed over the past few months. I came to UISG carrying with me fears, anxieties, and insecurities to the new ministry waiting for me when I returned back to my home priory, that is to be a novice directoress. It's as if I'm going to a jungle and I don't know the path, it's only tangled in thick shrubs and vines.

But going through here for the past months, listening to lecturers and sharings from our various speakers who actually are very experts in their own respective fields, our sharing of experiences among us participants from across cultures, our retreat, our personality assessment and mentoring sessions in a way helped me as if navigate this jungle.

Now I can see that there are pathways in this jungle and I feel that I now have the courage, the confidence, and assurance that formation ministry is not at all that scary. Of course, I still feel afraid at the moment but it's like a sense of sacred fear that I am feeling now because of the work that I am going to do, a noble task of accompanying these women in their journey of self-discovery, self-knowledge, self-acceptance, and self-giving.

What is the most important lesson you have taken from this period?

It's like deepening my commitment and love to Christ and to God's people. I think there is the flame in me but these past months it's as if the flame is being fanned anew, so the flame is getting more intense because I could not forget what one of the speakers said and that lesson was so significant to me that the question still lingers at the moment.

When she asked us who is my center, who is this God that I want to serve and bring to the people, is this a God of power in a sense how the world understands power or a God who is on the cross, a God who is with the suffering people, the God who is at the edges of society.

I think this one is very significant because I felt this is what I'm going to share with the women I'm journeying with, this is what I'm going to teach them, but more so this is what I'm going to witness to them.

Which experience has inspired you to live your vocation with renewed commitment?

Well, I think it's the experience here at UISG of knowing myself deeper, that mentoring sessions and personality assessment, aside from the different sharings that we had here, that helped me go deeper into myself, of giving myself really to the new ministry that is waiting for me at the moment. I'm going back to the first, that it's really my attitude and disposition that significantly changed in these past months of being here at the UISG Formators Program.

Programme for the Preparation of Formators runs from January 11 to July 2, 2027.

For more information and registration

• It is in English and takes place on-site at the UISG seat in Rome.
• The programme offers various ways to help the participant integrate the content of the programme including personal reflection, group work and interaction, and mentoring.
• Each participant assumes the responsibility for her own human and spiritual growth and commits herself to active and engaged participation.
• We already accept application for next year’s edition