What was the experience of the participants during this final phase of the session? In what direction was the group moving?
After days of deep reflection and mutual listening, the participants prepared to live through the final stage of the session which had two main objectives:
THE FINAL STAGE OF THE SESSION
What was the experience of the participants during this final phase of the session? In what direction was the group moving?
After days of deep reflection and mutual listening, the participants prepared to live through the final stage of the session which had two main objectives:
1. Develop common thinking around Holy Family Formation today.
2. Decide on ways forward.
With the title of the session: “Formation for Communion” in mind and after a number of days of personal reflection and group work, the participants began to outline a common policy.
The first step was to name five clear, well-defined points which the participants viewed as calls and which would lead to change in Holy Family Formation. Each group worked on one of the following points:
- New calls relating to our way of living our vows for mission
- New calls relating to Pastoral work for vocations and the pre-novitiate stage
- Some changes are already taking place. Which of these do we wish to affirm?
- New calls relating to formation communities and the stage of temporary vows
- New calls relating to our Formation Teams and the Novitiate period.
After coming to a common view around formation and agreeing to the decisions that are to be taken, the participants went to work on the contents of a document which sets out the decisions taken and the way forward.
One step more is needed and this is:
The adaptation to the different contexts of the decisions taken.
Given their particular situation, Canada, France, Spain, Britain and Ireland, Poland and South Africa see the need to concentrate their energies on the Pastoral Care of Vocations. In order to respond to this need, it was decided that an international team be set up. The General Council approved this decision and Margaret sent out a letter of information to the leadership teams in the different units about this initiative and naming the sisters who would form part of this team. They are:
Maria CROWLEY Great Britain and Ireland
Rosa GARCIA REBOLLO Spain
Lorette LAFFARGUE European Network
Adela VANACLOCHA Noailles Centre, Martillac
The team set to work immediately to outline an immediate programme.
The full assembly summarised the fruits of the session in a document approved by all the participants. The document was given to a small team for final editing.
Margaret’s closing words reminded the participants that their task is ongoing:
“We send you back to your respective units to transmit the decisions made at this session, first to the leadership teams and then to the formation teams. I ask you to do so in ways that will help others to understand the experience here and will encourage them to collaborate in the implementation of the changes that are needed...”
The final prayer which was rich in meaning closed a session that is so full of promise for Holy Family Formation.