By Dorothy Fernandes
Patna, June 8, 2023: The theme of our congregational gathering is Embracing Vulnerability as Possibility. This theme reflects the vulnerability that we are experiencing within self, province/congregation, religious life and within the world.
As we ponder our lives through the lens of vulnerability taking time for contemplation, reflection, and conversation we trust that the journey towards inner transformation will be deepened and will lead us to find the possibilities inherent in our experience of vulnerability.
The Congregational Gathering of the Union of Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary will be held March 3-23, 2024.
The preparatory phase one began in November 2022 following the Convocation of the Congregational Gathering on November 21 that year, the Feast of the Presentation of Mary in the Temple, the titular feast of our congregation.
The preparatory phase opens up an opportunity for every member of the congregation to actively engage in the process. Special emphasis is given to important days for every Presentation Sister – Our foundation Day on December 24 is a day when Nano Nagle spent her time feeding and caring for the hungry and sick.
True to this tradition, we continue to keep alive this very significant practice; April 26, the anniversary of the death of Nano Nagle is another significant day for the whole Presentation Family as it is on her death bed that Nano left us her guiding inspiration:
“Love one another as you have hitherto done. Spend yourselves for those kept poor.”
To enable the process to happen across the congregation each Unit appoints a Unit Process group to facilitate the reflections and conversations that take place in every community at Unit level. We practice contemplative Dialogue and Generative listening as each member of the community shares her reflection…these are then journalled and shared and an opportunity provided to name what would be helpful for the Congregation as a whole to hear as we explore the theme Embracing Vulnerability as Possibility.
The conversations in the first phase focused the reflection on: vulnerability within self; vulnerability within community, unit or congregation; vulnerability within Religious Life; Vulnerability within the World. After these conversations the fruits were harvested and sent to the Process Group of each Unit.
Another unique feature of this process was the opportunity provided for each sister to engage with the wider congregation across the globe on zoom in further small group conversation and reflection on the theme.
It was an overwhelming experience as we mingled beyond boundaries of inter- unit, intergenerational, interethnic groups where we listened with great attentiveness to what each shared. This was important as we felt that the Congregational Gathering is not only for the elected delegates but for each of us to actively engage in preparation for this great event.
Reflecting on vulnerability at different levels has stirred us to renew our commitment, to ask ourselves what have we to let go of for the new to emerge? Where is God calling us at this time? How is Religious Life shaping the future? The first phase continues on till August.
The second phase begins in September when further reflection will take place. Part of this phase is the selection of delegates from each Province, naming proposals to the Congregational Gathering.
The changes taking place in our world today are inviting us to explore new expressions of Religious Life. While we face our vulnerability, we are being called to reframe Religious Life to be the conscience of the Church and society. In our search for the Essence of Apostolic Religious Life, we have to walk new horizons, we have to be daring to walk the unchartered path like Mary and Nano. To respond to the glaring needs of our planet, our common home. In the words of Nano, we have to go one pace beyond believing that the Almighty is sufficient.
We stand on the shoulders of those daring women gone ahead of us, our ancestors. We carry a huge legacy to pass on to future generations as we keep the flame of Lantern of Love, Joy, Hope and justice ablaze…