At a certain
point you say
to the woods, to the sea,
to the mountains,
the world,
Now I am ready.
Now I will stop and be wholly attentive.
You empty yourself and wait,
listening...
Annie Dillard
From the Vocation Ministry Committee
Betty McMahon, from the Australia/New Zealand Province, sends the following report:
The Vocation Ministry Committee meeting took place in Boston from May 25-27, 2007.
Personally I found this meeting a profound and moving experience. We had come from four different directions, Canada, France, USA and Australia/ New Zealand, yet it was impossible to detect a seam in the honest and heart-felt discussion. I was aware of the openness of the group, the respect for different countries and situations and the good will and commitment to our ministry that enabled us to share at a deep level our hopes and concerns for this work in our provinces. I felt immediately at home with a strong sense of Cor Unum, Although a small part of the great international family, for me, it was a new experience of CANZUS (Canada, Australia/New Zealand and the United States) and gave a sense of bonding among these countries. Two characteristics of the meeting have stayed with me: mutual concern and affection for one another and freedom to speak, knowing one would be respected.
Those present were Sisters Lisa Buscher, Anne Byrne, Ellen Collesano, Ann-Marie Conn, (Canada), Nancy Koke, Sara Kay Thompson, Florence de la Villeon (France), Diana Hayes and myself from Australia /New Zealand. We began by sharing our ministry projects and what we felt had worked for us and how these projects had evolved and were received in the Province. What was remarkable was that our efforts were similar as were the difficulties we faced: lack of women interested in a long term commitment, the opportunities offered to young women for service and community structures which were not conducive to welcoming new members. We listened to the response of each country to these difficulties and their hopes for creative planning.
In the afternoon we had an open discussion on future initiatives, both provincial and international. We began by naming some of our assumptions:
- Young women want to know
and share our lives.
- Our internationality is a gift and hope for the future.
- Compassion, adaptation and openness are essential to our growth in community.
- Young people want us to share “who we are” and not just our home.
- We are challenged to live a simple life at all levels.
Future initiatives suggested were:
- Developing and linking of youth web sites: France and Spain already have youth web sites which are separate from their main RSCJ site. Lisa Buscher and Diana Hayes will develop sites for their countries and a meeting will take place in France to discuss how more collaboration can take place.
- Connecting with other RSCJ groups attending World Youth Day in Australia.
Australian RSCJ are working with the Jesuits to offer youth programs leading up to the event. They will inform us about ways to connect with other RSCJ bringing groups to this event.
- Offering more international projects: The gift of our internationality helps us cross boundaries, learn from and respect other cultures and be counter-cultural in our own country. We hope to develop more international projects which would involve RSCJ and young adults.
Personally I experienced a source of mutual support and encouragement during this meeting and hope there can be similar ones in the future. They are a way of sharing alike new challenges and new visions and are a means of creating bonds which will enable us to respond to the hopes and desire of young women wishing to join the Society of the Sacred Heart.