 |
|
|
World Congress |
|
|
|
On November 20 I found myself on a non-stop flight from Chicago to Rome where I would join more than 800 persons for the 2004 World Congress on Consecrated Life. Considerable work had taken place to prepare for such an event. For example, months before this November meeting each of us received a 28-page working paper that gleaned the experience of religious life from around the globe. Furthermore, a common website provided a channel for participants to share their reactions to the working paper. In spite of the opportunity to prepare, I carried with me a certain apprehension as I approached Rome. The stated purpose of this Congress was, “to discern together, with global awareness, what the Spirit of God is bringing about among us, where the Spirit is leading us, and how we can respond to the challenges of our times, thus building the Reign of God for the common good.” Implied in this goal I sensed an expectation to write the future of religious life. That task felt both burdensome and quite impossible. Regardless of a perceived outcome, I did look forward to the process of the gathering. By joining religious leaders from every continent, with a variety of charisms, I knew a privileged opportunity for learning awaited me. Upon registering on Monday, I quickly sat down to find the names of the other participants with whom I would share an English-speaking discussion table. The list revealed the following companions for the week: Irene from the Philippines, Joyce from Zambia, Breege from Ireland, Godfrey from Ghana, Jacinta from Uganda, Jerome from India, Geraldine from Canada, and Gary, Donna and myself from the United States. I couldn’t wait to meet them in person.
Tuesday morning arrived and the meeting formally began. After introducing ourselves to one another at the table, we were invited to name that for which we thirsted as leaders of religious congregations. From those seated with me I heard: “to be a presence of peace in a country torn with war,” “to be a sign of life while surrounded by the AIDS pandemic,” “to cultivate an inner life.” The depth of sharing and the commonality I felt convinced me that the next five days would be truly marvelous. And so it was. The subsequent days unfolded through a blend of prayer, keynote speakers, responders, table discussion and plenary sharing. All of this exchange was made possible by simultaneous translation in four languages—Spanish, French, Italian and English. Global Networking Having attended international meetings of religious women, I have previously experienced the enriching global reality of religious life today. However, through this meeting I came to appreciate that the very structure of religious life provides a conduit for global consciousness that has tremendous power to shape our church and world. Most of the religious congregations present at this meeting were international congregations. So by their membership they exist with a flow of life that truly circles the globe in a web of relationships. For example, Jerome from India is a member of the Patrician Brothers, an Irish congregation with members serving in Europe, India, Kenya and Papua New Guinea. In his very person as a religious leader, continents and cultures talk to one another, learn and are shaped by each other. I met many “Jerome’s” throughout this meeting. Mutual Learning The second factor that contributes toward the vitality of religious life that I experienced in those days flows from the very structure and process of the gathering in Rome. Thirty years ago the Sacred Congregation for Religious life, a Vatican Office, called a Synod on Religious Life; the impetus to convene this 2004 Congress came from the leadership of the religious congregations. The structure of the meeting consistently made visible the gifts of both women and men from every continent. This abundance of gifts was evident in the four keynote speakers, the responders to the presentations, the symbols of prayer and ritual and the exchange at our tables and plenary sharing. Even the style of learning was mutual and circular. We learned through our lived experience as well as the analysis and reflection of professional theologians and sociologists. Furthermore, silence, listening and speaking all created the atmosphere to learn. Transformative Power On the last evening of the conference, as I looked over this meeting room still filled with participants, I knew I had touched the transformative power that is created and released when a body gathers with global consciousness and compassion to learn from one another. And through this gathering the prophetic gift of religious life had been freed to build the reign of God. Having participated in this Congress I now carry the following glimpses of God’s reign:
About the author: Joellen McCarthy, BVM is president of the BVM congregation. She was one of 850 leaders of religious congregations, theologians and young religious invited to this Congress. Return
to Table of Contents |
