As we are preparing for the meeting of the 7th Regional Convention of the Lay Associates of Asia in Sri Lanka, September 2th 6th part of which will be the revision of the Statutes of the Lay Associates which were formerly given to them throughout the Family in 1992. Some of our sisters met in Okara to reflect on the articles given by Regina Ramalingam, the Inter-national Asian leader of the Lay Associates. Each country in Asia had been assigned different chapters of the Statutes. We re-read each article on the chapters assigned, gave our suggestions for up-dating, especially in the light of the new emerging world view.
In the Church: Articles: 18-30
Our life of Faith: Articles: 31-45
Formation and Commitment: Articles: 75 -96
We first met on Laster Monday, and then 3 weeks later met again to co-relate what the sisters in Sindh and Kohat had written. This was a daunting task but thanks to the co-operation and generosity of those who gave their time and talents to complete this work, we were able to send our suggestions to Regina by the middle of May. Still there is more work to be done as we have to go through the suggestions made by India and the Philippines and finalize this before the end of June.
This work gave each one of us an insight into the depth of spirituality within the Statutes and made us realize how we need to get our associates to understand them and live them out in their day to day life. We need to encourage our Sisters and Lay Associates to become familiar with them so that our mission becomes more meaningful. In this meeting we also decided to animate our sisters often about these Statutes so that they may come to know them, understand them well and live and find j oy in imparting them to the groups they are animating.
I also take this opportunity to thank each and every sister in the Delegation who supported us by their prayers as we under took this task of sharing and reflection in order to prepare for the 7th Regional Convention of the Lay Associates.
Sr. Sumble, Pakistan