Nine sisters from six different countries participated in this session. All of them had participated in the previous session and so were quite at home in this place which is so special to us. Five of them are already missionaries and others are in the process of discerning their call.
The Missionary Session
MARTILLAC
05 – 14 December 2011
Nine sisters from six different countries participated in this session. All of them had participated in the previous session and so were quite at home in this place which is so special to us. Five of them are already missionaries and others are in the process of discerning their call.
Opening of the Session
The session was opened with the following words of welcome:
“Welcome everyone to this session which is the continuation of the time of reflection which you have already experienced here in the preceding three weeks.
We will be together for nine days during which time we hope TO DEEPEN OUR UNDERSTANDING OF HOLY FAMILY MISSIONARY LIFE.
The Church has always been a missionary Church. Through countless men and women, messengers of Christ, who left their own countries in order to announce the Good News in foreign lands, the Church spread all over the globe becoming a universal Church – a FAMILY where people of every language, culture, nation, and ethnic group could gather together in the love of the same Creator God. Jesus said:
‘As the Father has sent me, so I also send you’ (John 20: 22).
‘Go into the whole world and make disciples of all people’ John 28, 19).
‘That all may be one’ (John 17, 21)
This is also the dream of our Founder: a dream of communion in diversity, communion in all things. This dream takes on a complete new meaning for us when, attentive to the signs of the times, we can be open to an even greater reality – the universe in evolution. 150 years after the death of our Founder, we can see with great joy that our Charism is a response, a source of strength for our lives in the world today.
Through our reflections in the days that follow, we hope to renew our love, rekindle the flame within us so that we can give ourselves more and more to God alone. The process we will follow is symbolised by the image of fire wood which we will add each day in order to feed the fire. The flame that burns is the vital energy that is linked to the creative energy that was present at the birth of the universe. May it create in us more life – new life that will help us be in deeper communion with our brothers and sisters and with all that exists around us. This is what the world needs from us today.”
At the centre of the hall was a symbol of a flame with fire wood and the purpose for the day – “Connecting ourselves as Missionaries” was placed there. The prayer began with the lighting of a candle symbolizing the fire (burning flame) within us for
“All things came into being …” Jn 1:3
Let the flame with its heat evoke within us the memory of the primordial creation event some billions of years ago; when out of fertile nothingness a great fire billowed out in all directions. Our Universe was born then. God’s word was spoken there. The divine Artist was at work there. YOU AND I WERE BEING LOVED THERE. |
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