Participants of the Marital First Responder Training Course held Jun 9-10
By AFLC
Jun 16 2023
KOTA KINABALU – The Archdiocesan Family Life Commission of Kota Kinabalu (AFLC) held a two-day training course on Marital First Responder (MFR), from Jun 9-10, located at Room F8, Sacred Heart Cathedral Parish Center.
A Jesuit priest from Singapore, Fr Charles Sim, SJ, also a PhD holder, facilitated the training program. Fr Sim is currently with the Singapore University of Social Science (SUSS), a qualified master trainer for the MFR and “Person-of-the-Therapist” POTT training courses, an associate member cum consultant at SUSS, a clinical member of the Association of Marital and Family Therapy (Singapore), and a fellow at the Asian Academy of Family Therapy (Hong Kong).
The MFR Training Course aimed to train people who are involved in couples and marital pastoral works, also those who are inspired to provide better personal help to friends and family members in emotional distress.
Fr Charles Sim SJ facilitates the training course
A total of 40 people which consisted of priests, lay leaders and others representatives few Parishes in Archdiocesan Kota Kinabalu namely: St Simon Likas, St Paul Dontozidon, Stella Maris Tg Aru, Holy Family Telipok, St Michael Penampang, Blessed Sacrament Labuan, St John Tuaran, Holy Rosary Limbahau, St Peter Claver Ranau, Sacred Heart Inobong, the Neo-Catechumenal, St Thomas Kepayan, Christian Life Community (Ignatian Spirituality) and five members from the AFLC, participated in the program. Fr Rhobby Mojolou was one of the participants.
Fr Michael Modoit, Spiritual Advisor of AFLC, opened the program by welcoming all participants and expressed his gratitude to Fr Sim for his time and great experiences to be shared with all. “Family is the most important institution, every little aspect begins from home, having the privilege to participate in this training course will prepare each one of us to be more sure of our role as ‘someone to talk to’ when we were approached in unexpected moment. Being a good listener means to listen more and talk less,” he said.
Often when we were suddenly approached by our friends or relatives regarding their family crisis, the first thing that comes to our mind was “how am I going to respond to her or him?” What words can I offer to ease her emotion on that particular moment, am I doing the right thing or should I decline even before she or he expresses the anxiety or perhaps to be the decision and solution maker?
Fr Michael Modoit and Fr Rhobby Mojolou were present
Besides inputs by Fr Sim, ample time was given for practical session on developing the seven skills of LEAP and CAR. LEAP as in to Listen, Empathize, Affirm and offer Perspective whereas CAR represents Challenge, Advice and suggest Resources for an advance skill.
In this workshop, participants were not trained to be a counsellor but rather to be a good listener, a good friend that is able to respond immediately to someone who needs instant comfort or consolation in regards to their marital issues.
Participants had the opportunity to share their experiences throughout the course. Some of the feedbacks were the course was an affirmation to them, which strengthen their confidence when encountering such situation, some said it was an eye opener that a good listener can be a good friend whom is empathizing and guiding them to discover the cause of the crisis, and direct them to seek a professional counselling help.
Certificate of completion as well as E-learning certificate (online course) were awarded to each participant.
