THURSDAY 26
During the course of the day, through the reports presented from the different Units, the assembly was enabled to become more aware of the reality of each Unit. Then in reflection and dialogue the participants as a group took on the responsibility of the Institute as a WHOLE. Therefore the calls that were heard throughout the day were calls from the Institute, for the Institute.
The day ended with a prayer of thanksgiving for the lights received and the reading of a text from Xavier QUINZA indicating ways forward for the group.
At this time the situation of religious congregations is much compromised. We are faced with the challenge of institutional restructuring which is necessary and inevitable. And in facing this challenge we need to take a lucid and generous stance which will move the process forward with courage and discernment because there are no short – term solutions. We ought not to fix on immediate solutions; the journey is long term.
With this conviction preparing the future involves concentrating on two goals: one long term and the other short term. But we need to choose between managing present hardship and preparing the future. The two things cannot be done at the same time. The future is always new, unforeseen and comes from God. That future is the long term goal. But there is also the short term goal towards which we have to aim each day because it is important to think of and imagine what is new in order to be able to fit that which we are now into it.
