Launching Anew 2009: Participants Responses to the Programme

Posted on 07. Aug, 2009

NEW HEART NEW SPIRIT

Launching Anew 2009

New Heart New Spirit regularly seeks feedback from participants with a view to adapting the programme the better to meet their learning needs as adults. At the end of the recent two-year run in the Íontas Centre in Castleblayney, here (unedited) is what participants wrote in response to the question:

What has the experience been like for you? How did it go?

It has been most enriching, it opened my heart to all kinds of ways to pray, to meditate, to see God in all things and all people, to appreciate myself and family and all others, to love more and trust more in our loving God.

I enjoyed the friendship among the facilitators and the group. Everyone felt completely at ease and discussed issues without any inhibitions
I felt it was good to discuss with others about the Faith (in the groups). The talks were very informative – and we also met a lot of people and made new friends. It makes you more aware of how you can help people generally.
It has been very enriching. It was great to be in contact with people of like mind. I found that people whom I shared with were very understanding, in particular Theological Reflection.
I feel my prayer life has improved. That was due to the lovely evenings we had with Maeve Campbell on praying with scripture.
For the first time in my life I realised that the Bible is, in fact, a Story Book. I now look at the Scripture quite a bit differently. I found the theological Reflection a very pleasant experience.
It has been a spiritual journey, where I made a lot of new friends in the groups. I didn’t enjoy the groups at the start. I felt I didn’t know enough about the different topics, but as time went on I got more confidence and I learned from others’ experiences.
It was a truly wonderful, challenging and enriching experience. The variety of speakers and topics were always interesting and it broadened my perspective. A wonderful trusting and comfortable space evolved.
The whole 2 years has been a rollercoaster of emotions, a learning journey in which I fully participated in and although wary in the beginning I wanted to go every week and hated missing any night and often didn’t want a night to end. Some classes need more nights.
It has far exceeded my expectations. I have really enjoyed it. It has been thought-provoking and made me think and reflect more about my faith.
V enriching in personal and social development as well as of course spiritual and understanding of the scriptures -
Generally it went very well with one or two exceptions
On a scale of 1-10 I would say 6. About 30% was over my head.
I enjoyed – liked the talks. They were very good.
It has been a very enlightening experience. At first I was somewhat disappointed in how it was going and I thought I wasn’t getting a lot from the course, but I hung in there and it all fell into place the second year.
Went well, Enjoyed coming to New Heart New Spirit. Made me think deeper on what it is to be “Christian”.
It has been a very rewarding and nourishing soul-searching journey. It gave me more self-confidence and I learned to be more open in sharing.
It was very interesting with lots of great speakers
Very good. Learned a lot about a loving God. Made good friends.
I have enjoyed the friendships I have made, and now know everyone has dreadful things happen at some time. It put my experiences into context.
Have found the time on New Heart New Spirit enriching and rewarding, also challenging – Never had an evening that I didn’t want to come, and always left feeling positive. Very much enjoyed the interaction within the groups.
“FANTASTIC”. I can say it made me more aware of my faith and that I am very much part of the Church.
Brilliant – It went great. I’ve gained confidence and am more happy in myself. I’ve a bit of self-worth.
A bit shaky at the beginning, but relaxed into it as time went on. I now look forward to each and every Thursday night.
The experience has been re-invigorating for me in that I have gained an insight into various areas and still feel that I want to continue on this journey of learning.
The course was a wonderful experience. I was surprised to discover the amount of new ideas put forward.
Very enlightening and sometimes a challenge.
I found it very fulfilling, relaxing and interesting. I looked forward to each week. As I got to know people in my sharing group I deeply valued uniqueness, difference, acceptance, trust and the value of each person’s contribution – Facilitation was excellent.
Very warm – a great feeling of joy to meet, and share with others. Something I would like to do again in a couple of years.
It has been beyond my wildest dreams. It has led me to places and introduced me to people who have opened my eyes and my heart and who have helped me to face challenges I could never have imagined.
I have enjoyed the experience at many levels. Some input I found dead for me but I had many moments of experience of God alive and well. Also moments where my heart was smiling.
I now know that the Holy Spirit is working within me and that it is me who ignores him. I am more content in my faith and have grown my faith through learning.
A most enjoyable experience. The sharing experience for me was a wonderful openness of heart and mind that has stayed with me.
It has been a really wonderful experience, thoroughly enjoyed most of the speakers. Some – maybe one night – went a little over my head. But the friendship & trust in groups was just so wonderful.
Every week I look forward to Thursday night. The tremendous learning from the speakers. The very meaningful sharing and learnings from group reflection. A very enriching experience for me.
It has been a great experience – really enjoyed most of what we did.
Truly worthwhile!! I have enjoyed and treasured every part of the Course. It has deepened and nourished my relationship with God. I will try to use it as a stepping-stone to meeting God more deeply in my daily life.
Good experience. It went well & was very interesting.
It has been a rollercoaster! Hitting very great heights (joy) and depths (reflection). It’s nearly too early to evaluate the effect. Met great people – became very close – shared troubles and found a lot of support and peace.
First Year – OK. 2^nd Year was fulfilling.
Very good – a desire to deepen my understanding. How did it go – too quickly
Enjoyed the experience & found it a worthwhile exercise
Very interesting and challenging, helped to see new slants on modern living.