Echoes of Miss.sess eng finalsaintefamillebordeaux.org/media/files/echoes_of_miss... · 2013. 11....

MARTILLAC

05 – 13 December 2011

Santa Famiglia di Bordeaux – Via dei Casali Santovetti, 58 - 00165 ROMA - ITALIA

2 Compassion is a way of standing before God and other, empty, vulnerable and helpless

Left to right – Jacqueline IBUNGU (Rwanda), Alicia SANCHEZ

(Network-Latin America), Kumudini DASSANAYAKE (General

Councillor - Rome), Aline MUMBONGO (Cameroon), Ana Maria

ALCALDE (General Councillor - Rome), Jeya Mary AROKIAM

(India), Rani AMALRAJ (India), Urszula MYSZAK (Network-Latin

America), Subashini RAJ (Sri Lanka), Nasreen NAZIR (Pakistan),

Marie-Pierre OTIBA (Secretariat - Rome), Vinnarasi AROKIAM

(India)

Missing in the photo - Micheline KENDA (General Councillor – Rome)

Maristella SOOSAIPILLAI (Information Service)

3Compassion is a way of standing before God and other, empty, vulnerable and helpless

Opening of the Session The session was opened with the following words of welcome: “Welcome everyone to this session which is the continuation of the time of reflection which you have already experienced here in the preceding three weeks. We will be together for nine days during which time we hope TO DEEPEN OUR UNDERSTANDING OF HOLY FAMILY MISSIONARY LIFE. The Church has always been a missionary Church. Through countless men and women, messengers of Christ, who left their own countries in order to announce the Good News in foreign lands, the Church spread all over the globe becoming a universal Church – a FAMILY where people of every language, culture, nation, and ethnic group could gather together in the love of the same Creator God. Jesus said: ‘As the Father has sent me, so I also send you’ (John 20: 22). ‘Go into the whole world and make disciples of all people’ John 28, 19). ‘That all may be one’ (John 17, 21) This is also the dream of our Founder: a dream of communion in diversity, communion in all things. This dream takes on a complete new meaning for us when, attentive to the signs of the times, we can be open to an even greater reality – the universe in evolution. 150 years after the death of our Founder, we can see with great joy that our Charism is a response, a source of strength for our lives in the world today. Through our reflections in the days that follow, we hope to renew our love, rekindle the flame within us so that we can give ourselves more and more to God alone. The process we will follow is symbolised by the image of fire wood which we will add each day in order to feed the fire. The flame that burns is the vital energy that is linked to the creative energy that was present at the birth of the universe. May it create in us more life – new life that will help us to be in deeper communion with our brothers and sisters and with all that exists around us. This is what the world needs from us today.” At the centre of the hall was a symbol of a flame with fire wood and the purpose for the day – “Connecting ourselves as Missionaries” was placed there. The prayer began with the lighting of a candle symbolizing the fire (burning flame) within us for Mission.

Once again Martillac was buzzing with activity as the international community here said goodbye to some of the sisters who had participated in the session for those who are within 15 to 25 years in religious life in the Holy Family and welcomed the General Councillors who had come to animate the Missionary Session. Nine sisters from six different countries participated in this session. All of them had participated in the previous session and so were quite at home in this place which is so special to us. Five of them are already missionaries and others are in the process of discerning their call.


Prayer: FLAME MEDITATION “All things came into being …” Jn 1:3 The Sisters were invited to focus their attention on the light, the flame. Music was played to help create an atmosphere of prayer. In the silence, they were invited to become aware of their breathing - breathing in, the fresh air and breathing out any negativity- becoming aware of the whole processes of receiving and letting go.

In the beginning of the session, the sisters were encouraged to connect with another sister and tell what she knew and discovered about her after having been together for three weeks during the previous session.

After the tea break, two questions were given for reflection and sharing in the language groups: In the evening assembly participants presented their reflection with charts. Some of the points that were shared:

The theme of the session - Where have you come from and where are you going? was meaningful: We are from the earth, on a journey towards God and fulfilling the purpose of our lives.

Personal story - there is no life without story; no identity without story - each story is sacred - We have listened to the stories of our lives - the story of the planet earth, the Founder and the big story of the universe. The stories varied: joyful, sad, touching and each has a meaning. The story of the universe that reveals the sacredness of all life, is waiting to be born in us. We need to grow in an attitude of reverence and have right relationships.

From our history we were able to discover God’s dream for us and how God closely accompanies us.

In spite of the difficulties in community life reconciliation with sisters through deep listening and deep dialogue makes the living of communion possible.

Life is a journey and we need to renew our commitment everyday and discover our common mission.

Let the flame with its heat evoke within us the memory of the primordial creation event some billions of years ago; when out of fertile nothingness a great fire billowed out in all directions. Our Universe was born then. God’s word was spoken there. The divine Artist was at work there. YOU AND I WERE BEING LOVED THERE.

DAY ONE – 05 December

What stays with you from the last session – what has touched you most- what is most significant for you?

What stays with you in relation to our common mission?


Able to renew our love relationship with our Mother Earth - as humanity we have a big responsibility to take care of our earth.

Discovered our energy and our shadows through exploring the chakras - received an invitation to be healed of our wounds and accept ourselves and others

New Universe story shows how Interconnected and Interrelated everything is Clear understanding of Mission, Ministry and communion – Communion must be lived in

our communities. We are sent from the community to build communion to share God’s love through our lives and make a difference.

Christ is our centre Need to work on the quality of our relationships – accept and transform ourselves through

dialogue. Always have a positive view of others The image of a table to illustrate community life was very effective: Who sits at the table?

Who is excluded, who excludes herself and why? Our community is a table with four legs – Mercy, Love, Compassion and Justice.

The symbol of the seed was also meaningful – the seed which grows, blooms, gives fruits and dies in order to give new life. So too in our religious commitment there is dying and rising, and receiving and giving.

Micheline, Kumudini and Anna Maria expressed their appreciation for the rich sharing from the different groups. Then the Sisters were asked to reflect on their missionary call using the following questions:

What first awakened your call? What has nourished your call?

What kind of preparation did you have or are you having? What are you learning about being a missionary?

The day ended with a time for journaling. The sisters took some time in silence to reflect over the day and to write down what inspired them during the day. Then with gratitude, each one placed a flower at the centre, near fire. Finally, the congress prayer was recited in the three languages.


The theme for the day was placed in the centre - Connecting as Holy Family women of faith. Prayer- The Spirit wants to lead us to an ever-increasing depth of the experience of God, in the light of the God-experience of Jesus. We allow the Spirit to move in us constantly purifying our false images of God.

God enfolds us God holds us in existence God is the deepest dimension of everything that exists.

We come to God, by deepening the mystery of our own life, and the life of all that exists. Believing in God is not separate from “living”. “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those you have given me so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become completely one”. Jn. 17:20-23 Jesus experienced and expressed, as no-one before or since, the closeness of God to everyone and everything.

After the prayer, participants were asked to share on their image of God.

1. What images of God have sustained you during your life? 2. Is your image of God changing and developing as our world view changes from

pyramidal to circular? 3. In what way do you think and speak of God today that is different from how you grew

up thinking and speaking of God? 4. What are some of the areas in life that would be different if people’s images of God

changed?

DAY TWO: 06 December

A summary of the sharing:

God is present; God is near and close to us. God seeks us out as the Good Shepherd and is compassionate to all. God knows us through and through and always accepts us as the Prodigal Father in the Gospel.

In childhood - God as judge, a punishing God, an all-powerful God and Supreme

Being. This image has changed and has given way to an image of God as a God of love and forgiveness, a God who accompanies us and who gives energy; a God of communion.

Today the new cosmic vision interprets the Trinitarian God as a God of

relationship. We experience God within us and we see God revealed in the whole Universe family.


The participants were then given a reflection paper: ‘Love is self-gift’ in order to help them deepen their image of God. Then a reflection on Mandala was introduced. A mandala is a circular design containing concentric geometric forms, and symbolizing the universe, totality, or wholeness. It can be used as a way of exploring one’s inner world. Sisters were then given some time to design their own mandalas. Later when they returned to the main hall, each one brought her mandala. Each shared how the new cosmic vision helped them to experience God as the creative energy, and to feel interconnected to one another and to the whole of creation. God’s energy is present in the whole of creation. Thus, the entire universe is sacred.

God is the centre of all life and we receive the energy from God that nourishes us. In the afternoon, another theme was placed in the centre: Connecting as Holy Family women of different cultures. The sisters were called to explore the experience of being in a different culture. And they were requested to prepare a five minutes presentation on the country in which they are living as missionaries and for the new missionaries, to imagine a country to which they are attracted to, where Holy Family is present. Five of the participants are already missionaries and four are future missionaries. The presentations were to be based on what they know about the country, its people, culture, food, religions, customs, condition of life and values. The presentations took place at 5 pm. Each one listened attentively, taking notes throughout for later comment and clarification. Part 1 – Sharing from the Missionary Sisters who are in Rwanda, Peru, Cameroon.

- These sisters gave an account of their countries including the geography, political situation, food, religions, culture and the living conditions of the people.

Part 2 – sharing from the future missionaries.

- These sisters spoke about countries such as Paraguay, Philippines, Pakistan and in General Latin America.

The day ended with a time of internalisation and journaling.


An invitation from the Universe: “You are cordially invited to attend a banquet. Bring only the fullness of who you are. Come ready to celebrate, to eat, and to be food for others.” Prayer: The Cosmic Banquet All the sisters were invited to come to the back of the hall and to take a plate and the cutlery. All the participants then returned to their places. It was said that the challenge for us today is to know how to enter into this celebratory dimension of the Universe. Primordial people apparently knew how to do it. Present day indigenous peoples clearly know how to do it. Why is it so hard for us?

We are invited to take what we need from the galaxies, the Sun, the rocks, and all the life forms including the humans. Everything and everyone at the celebration is food for us, is gift and grace for us. We are also invited to become food so that others may live through us. To respond to this invitation of the Universe, we will become fully present at the celebration and we say ‘yes’ to the Ultimate Mystery. Prayer continued with personal reflection. Then the following questions were posed: What touched you most in this celebration? What did you bring to the banquet? Some points that emerged in the sharing:

The banquet is a gift and grace for us because we become food for others. Allow myself to be in God’s hand, to acknowledge my shadow and be healed.

Sitting with others at table gives me joy and it makes me aware of my responsibility

I admire the openness and communion existing among the Sisters from Latin America when they share maté.

Banquet means to me happiness and flexibility. Like the sun flower which turns towards the sun to obtain energy so I am moved to say ‘yes’ to love and ‘yes’ to life.

DAY THREE – 07 December

In order to celebrate on this level, at least two things are required. 1. We need to see what is actually there before us at the banquet. It is a matter of

perception. We need to sense the beauty and the terror as well as the interconnectedness within the Universe.

2. What is required of us to join this banquet is to bring the fullness of who we are as humans to the celebration.

The symbols that were brought to the banquet were: water, salt and sugar, a knitted hat, image of two hand, sweets

and an empty vessel.


I would like to be salt and sugar at table so as to give flavour to the lives of others. When these two are mixed with food they disappear but others receive the benefit.

I place myself at the table to collaborate with others. I take part at this table so I need to be very attentive and listen to others’ needs.

The sisters were invited to open themselves to other cultures. Two trays of seeds and flowers were passed to the participants who were invited to have a close look. Each sister held it for a minute and then all shared their observation. “Have you ever seen two identical beings among humans, trees, birds or stars? The truth is that nothing in the universe repeats itself and the more intimately we get to know something, the clearer it manifests its own identity.” The story of universe as we know now, from the first flaring forth of 13.7 billion years ago, right down to this present moment and onwards into every future expression of life, is one of interdependent dynamic energy that move through every aspect of life, in everything, at any time. The universe expresses itself at all levels of reality in three basic patterns – differentiation (Diversity), Interiority (Subjectivity) and Communion. The following words were placed near the flame- Diversity, Subjectivity, Communion. Diversity: It is the process through which the universe sustains life. Each of us is different from the other, is a unique manifestation of the Divine; of course, having our own specific gifts. To be is to be differentiated. The expansion of the universe is into diversity. The cosmic principle of differentiation offers a wonderful invitation of surrender... to surrender to the overwhelming expression of diversity, to the abundance; allowing the ‘other’ to stretch and expand our narrowness into the spaciousness of God. Subjectivity: We have each received the capacity to experience mystery and to give expression to this mystery through the voice within. This is the cosmic principle of subjectivity (interiority,

Reflection – The Three ways the Universe expresses itself


inner depths). We are not copies of one another but rather creative expressions of the Divine, of mystery, of life itself. The true sense of WHO I AM! Communion: Together we are all bonded into a pattern of relationship. This is the third principle – communion (community or interconnectedness). Relationship is the essence of existence. To be is to be in Communion, to be in relationship. We belong together; our desire for intimacy, for relationship, is at the heart of the universe. We are a part of not apart from. This pattern in the universe was seen in relation to the Holy Family Charism, the Founder’s dream, which was an outflow, an expression of the Trinitarian love of God in relationship. Personal Reflection: Be in touch with what resonates within you at this moment. Does anything speak to you particularly as a Holy Family missionary?

Work in language groups: In the evening, the participants introduced four countries where the Holy Family is not yet present: two countries in Asia – Indonesia and Cambodia, one in Africa - Madagascar and Australia. There followed a discussion on the similarities and differences between the presentations of these countries and those from which the participants had come. It was an enriching and fruitful day.

The sisters were then asked to prepare a cultural celebration on ‘Communion in diversity’ for

the prayer for the following day.

Work for the evening: The participants were asked to go beyond boundaries and choose a country where the Holy Family is not present. The presentations were to be based on what they know about the country, its people, culture, food, religions, customs, condition of life and values.

Founder’ Dream…

“In my dream, the Holy Family appeared to me like a great tree, a kind of oak with verdant branches: in it was seen flowers and fruits of

all seasons; there were birds of every colour, from every country…

Each species had its own song… But every now and then they

formed one single voice and in perfect harmony they seemed to say, ‘glory to God, alone, and all

through Mary”.


Prayer: Cultural Celebration Today’s morning prayer was organized by the participants - a celebration of their different cultures. …..called to live diversity and communion’ - symbolised by different colours in the centre. This expressed our interconnectedness with and inter-dependence on Mother Earth and the call to build communion. Then the sisters entered the hall accompanied by music and dance which was a symbol of surrendering to God. They carried a globe, light, water, flowers, leaves and a pot with sand which were placed in the centre. Each one made a prayer of thanksgiving. Lord, thank you for this wonderful celebration of different cultures that expressed unity in diversity. We are in communion with all the creation of which we are a part and we thank You for the energy within and among us. We remember all those who need peace and communion which we wish to promote by our lives. Amen.

After the prayers a reflection text was given on the Theme - Missionary Spirituality – written by Tresa Clements D.M.J. Here are some extracts from her text:

DAY FOUR - 08 December

“The willingness to remain open to others; to remain among them or to move on when called to do so, marks and gives character to the spirituality of the missionary. The missionary vocation is to abandonment; here lies its asceticism and its demand and unless this is understood the missionary can feel rootless, helpless or alone. The Missionaries are GUESTS both of the local Church and of the host country. The people to whom faith in Christ is proclaimed become witnesses in their turn to Christ’s love for the mission. The essence of discipleship and therefore of missionary spirituality, is to be ‘at home’ with Christ – it is a faith experience”.


Some questions given for reflection: What touches you most; what surprises you? Encourages you? What dangers\risks do you find in the text; what alerts you?

Some points that reiterated in the sharing :

To be open – to learn, to listen to self, God and others; to BE than act Being ‘Guest’ – a presence, ready to accept differences, letting go pre-judgments;

allowing to be taught We are being sent to others and others are being sent to us. We are called to offer support and compassion and use all means humanly possible to

ease the suffering of others. We are called to collaborate with men and women of other religions. Discovering new dimensions to life through friendship with all people. The cross is an essential part of our lives. Missionary life is going beyond all boundaries, country, cultures, and people. Total abandonment and hope in the new community.

The time of questioning and clarifications emphasized the fact that it takes time to ‘feel at home’ and feel part of the reality that surrounds us. In missionary life, ‘being’ is important. We need to look at how we discern and how we respond to this call. The free afternoon that followed was more than a welcome “Guest”!

Prayer: The Earth community as our context We gathered to praise God for the gift of the Earth. Participants were asked to become more aware of their surrounding – to be aware of their feet on the ground and of the air they breathed; of the nourishment received from the sun and of the fact that we are part of a greater whole. Human beings appeared on earth around four million years ago, long after other forms of life. The Earth does not belong to the human but the human belongs to the Earth. We asked ourselves,

How aware are we of belonging to a community that is not only human but extends to everything that exists?

How aware are we of Earth as our “Home”?

We live in harmony when we respect all creation, and listen to and understand the music of the earth.

DAY FIVE - 09 December

A hymn helped us to entre in to the mood -

Earth, Our Home

Humanity is part of a vast evolving

universe.

Earth, our home, is alive with a

unique community of life.

The forces of nature make

existence a demanding and

uncertain adventure,

but Earth has provided the

conditions essential

to life’s evolution. (Earth Charter)


The focus of the day was “Broadening our understanding of Missiology. A text on Missiology was given for personal and group reflection, focusing on the three main concepts:

1. Missio Ad- Gentes:

- The missionaries preach, teach, lead and the gentes listen, learn and follow - one gives and the other receives – it is a one way process where the missionary is

at the centre - there is superiority and dominance over the gentes by the missionary

2. Missio Inter Gentes: - A radically changed relationship of equality - There is co- operation, interdependence and interrelationship between missionaries

and people; - Recognizing and celebrating the good news and holiness of people outside of

one’s religious tradition and culture. - Mission is not done by one group, to and for another, but rather carried by both

groups to and for each other. - Being bridge builders.

3. Missio cum gentibus: - Mission is a collaborative work carried out by Christians and non-Christians

together for a common cause. - To be and collaborate with one another for the common good.

The participants reflected on the challenges of this new understanding of missiology. Some echoes from the group:

Today, there is a new way of seeing mission in the Church - as inter-relational and interconnected.

We are called to be bridges that connect and bring about communion in society. Listening and preaching is a challenge. I need to be open and learn from others and to be ready to see the richness in the other person. A mutual process of evangelizing and being evangelized.

It is a challenge to be with the people and build the Kingdom of God together. We must be open to see the truth anywhere and everywhere. We all need to grow in unity and communion

After the tea break the work was summed up. In the light of all the reflections and sharing done in the previous two days, the participants worked on creating a description of “a missionary today.” Having reflected personally, they worked in language groups and the result of their work was presented on charts. Each of the four groups presented five essential aspects and listening to all they found many common elements.

1. Ad-Gentes 2. Inter-Gentes

3. Missio cum-gentibus


A missionary today –

Closing the day- Participants remained in silence before God and one another. All gave thanks for the insights of the day and prayers were offered especially for Jacqueline Dormehl who was very ill. Conchita’s brother who has passed away on that day was also remembered.

Today the general assembly started after the Sunday Mass at 10.30 am. All the participants were welcomed with new strength and energy after having a free day on Saturday. And the day began with this new light with the desire to learn, to be open and to give space for life. Then the purpose of the day was explained - Missionary of the Holy Family - apostolic Holy Family presence in intercultural community. The reflection of the day was based on the document of the Enlarged General Council on Mission Inter Gentes, in the light of what was learnt during the previous session in relation to Common mission, Corporate commitment and Vowed life for mission.

rooted in Christ a community person being sent and supported by the community open and available; able to leave behind; take risks with a universal heart – beyond

boundaries capable of collaborating and cooperating for building communion - being “bridge-

builders” capable of knowing and valuing self and accepting one’s vulnerability and of others having a clear vision and motivation a joyful person, honest, to accept her reality with regard to the call who appreciates and values the differences of cultures - being a “guest”

A person

Day six - 10 December was a free day. The participants visited Bordeaux and other interesting places.

DAY SEVEN – 11 December


The sisters were asked to read on: 1. Mission Inter – Gentes 2. ‘The profile of a missionary today’ - the points brought out in the reflection of the

previous day. ( cf. day 5).

Points for Personal reflection:

The four groups were invited to the sharing. Many common aspects were mentioned. Clarification and dialogued followed for better understanding, specially clarifying the following words:

Sense of belonging to the family Missionary being a ‘guest’ Mission Inter Genets

Expanding on a phrase from the article - Mission Inter Genets - ‘Being missionary means being deeply involved in the good news of God’s love incarnated in the witness of a community for the sake of the world’ the importance of understanding “family” / “world” in the light of the new universe story was underlined – that it needs to go beyond the PBN family, the larger human family to include the cosmic family. Being Guest - a sense of total dependence on the kindness and generosity of the host, total surrender and abandonment; to let go control allowing the host to direct (us). It is not the superior attitude in the understanding of the missionary “ad-gentes” but the guest and the host having equal relationship. Everything is received as gift with respect and reverence for the ground we stand on is sacred. The participants expressed the need for more time to go deeper in understanding the above expressions as they were new to them. Key points from the four groups sharing – A Holy Family Missionary is a Person:

Deeply rooted in Christ – a person of faith, who is able to enter into a new way of relating to God, humanity and creation

Of community – sent and supported by community and capable of living in an inter-cultural community witnessing to communion in diversity

Who has a sense of belonging to the big family of P.B Noailles and live inter-relatedness with cosmic family

Open and available, capable of ‘leaving behind’, discern the new challenges and ready to risk in responding to them

One with a universal heart, with no boundaries; ready to learn new languages, skills needed for the particular context

Capable of collaborating and cooperating to build communion and be “bridge-builders”

• What do you want to emphasise about Holy Family missionary life? • What are your questions, feelings?


Being “guest” – let go one’s old mentality to embrace the new and live equal relationships – mutually giving and receiving

One who knows herself, her worth and of others, capable of accepting her vulnerability, reality and accept the limitations of others

Who has a clear vision and motivation Joyous, honest and interiorly free to respond to one’s missionary call as one is With solid physical, psychological and spiritual health Ready to be accompanied

There was brief discussion on accompaniment: All the participant agreed that accompaniment is very important in the life of a missionary. Some question that emerged from the participants.

1. Can I really live this missionary call fully?

2. How are missionaries accompanied today?

3. Am I accepted in the place where I am going to be?

4. Will I have patience? 5. Why not send the sisters to

the country they have an attraction to?

In the evening the focus was on Community life. A document from the Enlarged General Council on Community life for mission was given for reflection guided by two questions. The participants met in mixed language groups to share on this theme to have an Inter cultural community experience.

What richness do you experience in inter-cultural living? What are some of the challenges? How to respond to those challenges?

The result of this work was then shared in the Assembly. After each group sharing there were questions and clarifications. The day ended with time for journaling.

The feelings were seen as challenges:

Fear Anxiety – regarding ability to surrender

and corporate in the new culture. Sad - leaving own country and facing new

Joy and willingness Courage to take the initiative and risk Awareness of motivation and reality Encouraged by what’s being lived here


Relaxing music at the beginning of the day helped all to enter into prayer. The Word of God from Luke 10: 1-9 was read: The sisters expressed their feelings as prayer -

- Lord, you sent your disciple to the people and trusted them. Today you trust us and send us to your sheep to be nourished and also us to be enriched. Fill us with your wisdom that makes our mission clear so that we may be builders of communion wherever we are.

The purpose of the day was to continue deepening the theme of the previous day– Holy Family Presence in Inter-cultural community. The reflection was based on an article on ‘Living cross-culturally’ (by Brother Tom Kearney CFC) .

In the sharing that followed certain aspects were emphasised:

Openness and simplicity in discerning the missionary call; open discussion and dialogue in the community.

Openness to receive with respect the richness of the other culture Accompaniment is extremely important to live and to grow. A person able to build quality relationship with self, God and others; ‘Feel at home’ – with the culture in which one is placed; Cross cultural living is a gift – giving life to others and receiving life from others

What is valued in Cross-cultural living:

o Rooted in and nourished by Christ o One who takes initiative to learn, to be a member of a team o Sharing personal stories o Discern together – in relation to ministry and daily realities o Living Communion in Diversity o Welcome various cultures and being open to other religions o One with a spirituality – able to see the presence of God in all

After the tea break there was discussion on accompaniment for a missionary. Here sharing her own experience as a missionary Ana Maria enriched the dialogue. In the afternoon the participants watched a film – ‘Of Gods and Men’ and the dialogue that followed was interesting, enriching and challenging.

DAY EIGHT – 12 December

“Jesus sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place

where he himself was about to come…”

What areas speak strongly to you personally? What do you value in cross-cultural living – name a few? What are your fears?


The day ended recalling the demands, challenges, moments of joy, and the inner peace in being for mission. The participants were invited to journal the aspects they wish to work on personally to grow in their missionary call. Being aware of the privilege to be trusted with a loving mission, the prayer ended with the song “Circle of Compassion”.

They were impressed by: A community rooted in Christ – bring to prayer their own lived realities and

those of the people. Prayer made meaningful to the situation; helping, challenging and taking care of one another; together in moments of joy and difficulty; equal relationships in community

Clear of their mission as being brothers to all A discerning community – the process of discernment – respecting the view of

each one, freedom of expression, taking time for prayer before arriving at a decision

Accompaniment of each one by the leader, giving space to each one With and among the people, mutually relating to one another though from

different religious backgrounds – appreciating and studying other religious scriptures; committed to people, self-giving, paschal journey

Relating to all groups of people - religious, government, military and even terrorists.

Meaning of martyrdom – out of love, of fidelity Being a reconciling agent

Since the following day was a day of integration the participants were invited to take the morning in silence to recall the experience of past eight days in the light of all the reflections done and read the Preface to the General Rules.

What has been your experience? What touched you/has given you energy to move forward in living your

missionary call?


The sisters were welcomed to the main hall for the closing of the session. They were invited to bring the fruits they had gathered. The sharing was done in a prayerful atmosphere connecting their journey to the symbol of the flame and the prayer of the first day. After the sharing each one placed a lighted candle in the centre, around the flame and a refrain was sung in French.

I will bless the Lord always and everywhere. Je bénirai le Seigneur toujours et partout.

What emerged in their sharing as fruits :

DAY NINE – 13 December

Towards newness

o New understanding of being missionary - inter-gentes, cum gentibus

o Be with and among people o conscious of living inter cultural life, o being a guest, being bridge-builders o called to the banquet

Accepting own vulnerability

o able to dialogue and let go o forgiving o respect o knowing and accepting vulnerability of

oneself and of others

Bridge builders

o Women able to live and build communion in diversity

o Feeling energetic and urged to be creative, to connect with people – to be a bridge


A women of Community

o Open, joyful, flexible, listening person o collaborating and cooperating with every one, o being is important than doing o discern as a community o positive way of thinking o willingness to learn o being sent and supported by the community o appreciate the diversity and the reality of day

to day life o giving and receiving o sense of belonging to a Family

o Deep gratitude for the blessings received during this time

o Assurance of God’s accompanying presence o Conscious of image of God – new way of relating to

God o Grace, power, strength, love, compassion, light and

the rich experience o The rich experience of living with one another o life experience of missionary sisters

Confirmation of the missionary

call

o Renewal and reconfirmation of the call o Rooted in Christ o Clear motivation and vision o Thirst for Word of God o Guided experience – accompaniment o Prepare oneself and move forward to respond to

the call

Openness

o Knowing oneself - willingness to grow o take initiative to build relationships o release energies of love in the service of

life


At the end of the sharing the preface to the General rules was read in the three languages and all the sisters including the animators stood around the flame in the centre placing their right hand on the other one’s shoulder made a commitment to live the qualities of ‘A MISSIONARY OF THE HOLY FAMILY’ - which they themselves had worked on.

The session came to the end with singing Magnificat together, thanking and praising the Goodness and Love of God.

Inspired by the life of our Founder

o encouraged and moved by the life and the encouraging words of our founder

Echoes of Miss.sess eng finalsaintefamillebordeaux.org/media/files/echoes_of_miss... · 2013. 11....

Documents

Transcript of Echoes of Miss.sess eng finalsaintefamillebordeaux.org/media/files/echoes_of_miss... · 2013. 11....