The meeting of the sisters in temporary vows
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania 2014
We have just
experienced a time of grace from 29th June to
15th July 2014. We, 24 sisters in temporary vows had an
extraordinary encounter with two sisters of the General Council, Maamalifar
Poreku and Maria Carmen Ocón. With them, one sister from each province
accompanied the participants: Sr. Fernande Patry (CUM), Sr. Diana Hess (Europe)
and Sr. Angela Kapitingana (Africa). Sr. Carmen Sammut also joined them and
then animated our retreat.
During this encounter,
we felt supported. The proof is that each of us received a letter of
encouragement from our older sisters in CUM, reassuring us of their prayers
during and after the session. It was a joyful reunion.
Our Sisters
of the General Council translated this joy for us by their presence and the spiritual
guidance offered to each one during the retreat based on our “Purpose
Statement”.
We were very
touched by this gesture of the Congregation to gather the younger sisters in
order to share their life and their missionary experiences. Through various sharing
of our sister-animators, we were convinced that the time was worth it: a “KAIROS”,
a favourable moment. As members of our family, we feel that we are facing an
urgent appeal in view of the future; we are invited to review and revisit our missionary
motivations in the here and now. We hear an echo in our heart in face of what
the entire creation is living today. In order to be a better catalyst in this
world that is being torn apart, we received tools. And each one has been able
to see her part and the contribution required of her.
Each day
focused on a specific theme such as: Our
personal identity; Our identity as MSOLA; The three vows: obedience, poverty
and chastity; The apostolic community; Mission. We had the opportunity to
work in small groups, which allowed us to know one another better, to know how
to listen, to learn to accept our different ways of thinking and to draw a
conclusion.
Every day
was very well animated, beginning with prayer in both languages. We were able
to work on several texts which are important for us such as Pope Francis'
message “Communication at the service of an
authentic culture of encounter.” or “The
social dimension of evangelization” or “A
process of See, Judge and Act” which helped us reflect on our life experiences.
An Ignatian
retreat based on our “Purpose Statement” was a special time during this encounter.
Carmen suggested that we ask for a grace at the beginning of the retreat and then
let the Lord work. At the end of the retreat, we could write a poem, a creed, bring
a symbol that expressed what each of us has lived and how the Lord was at work.
Some of us
began the retreat feeling burdened but we ended feeling relieved. We realized
that the Lord took everything on himself, leaving us free. At the end of the
retreat, a desire came up in each one while listening to the Lord and to the
“Purpose Statement”. Each sister presented this desire to Carmen, who confirmed
it as a mission to be lived out. In joy, we met one another and in joy we
separated, hoping to meet one another again soon!
Thank you to
the General Council for the opportunity to have met, to have expressed
ourselves and to have been listened to! Thank you for our MSOLA family: we felt
united and we can LOVE there where we are sent!
Sisters in temporary vows, Dar-Es-Salaam, Tanzania
Today you want something new
beneath your feet ...
You almost made me feel as if I was there with you as I read your experience. I also took time to rekindle my own past experiences. Keep it up and know that the future of our family is in your hands. So ...
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