Reflection on Religious Life
today….
By Sr. Mary Jean
Korejwo, SND
|
Click image above to view a video of
this reflection on the Diocesan Website. |
It is my privilege,
on behalf of the jubilarians and the women religious of our diocese
to share with you my reflection on the life of active women
religious in our day. Abraham Hechel said: “Just to BE is a
blessing”! I have chosen to center my reflection today on “who we
are called to BE” as women religious.
As the
Jubilarians entered today, they each carried a copy of the
Constitutions of their congregation. For a women religious, our
Constitutions is second only to scripture as a “sacred book”. Our
vow formula used at our profession contains a phrase like …“to live
as a sister of N.N.”… Or “according to the Constitutions of the
sisters of N.N.” Our Constitutions outlines for us the pattern of
life we are called to live. Who are we called to be by our
Constitutions? I believe, they call us to be… women of prayer….women
in community…and women on mission.
Called to BE Women
of prayer ….
From the day
of entrance into formation for religious life we are invited into a
deeper life of prayer. Our “prayer” is both individual and communal!
Liturgical and non-liturgical! The Eucharist is at the heart of our
life and commitment. Daily meditation and spiritual reading help us
to grow in our spiritual life. We gather in community to celebrate
Eucharist, the Liturgy of the Hours, faith sharing, and ritual
celebrations which often include a renewal of our vows. On-going
formation invites us to experience new forms of prayer…including the
ways in which we can share the prayer traditions of members of our
religious communities who are in countries other than our own. The
day, for a women religious, is lived in the context of prayer. No
gathering of women religious is ever without “prayer together”. Yes
we are called to be “women of prayer”. It is our prayer life that
enables us to maintain an intimate personal relationship with God
and with Jesus, to whom we are espoused by our vow of chastity.
Called to BE Women
in community …
From the moment
we stepped into our “house of formation” we learned what it meant
to “live in community”. We quickly realized that our vow of poverty
calls us to live as if “ALL IS OURS” and “NOTHING IS MINE”. We have
whatever we need, but it is not OURS.
Community
life is a “value for us”; one which resonates deep within us.
Community life for a women religious ministering in NC has a unique
challenge! Why? Because all of us are at least several hundred miles
from our Motherhouse, Provincial House, Center or whatever we name
as our “community center”.
That fact has
two implications in our lives. First, it means that we will choose
to “form community and share in the blessings” of women religious
living near us who may or may not be members of our congregation.
Thus, we can live …in community … here in North Carolina.
The second
implication is that you will find us, “slipping away” to our center
… …wherever that center might be ….to see “our sisters”. Why?
Because it is there that we experience the sense of belonging and
acceptance that flows directly from our membership in a religious
community.
-There we are
able to sit down with the wisdom women who reside in our retirement
centers and health care centers, who help to focus or refocus on our
call;
-It is there
…That we can gain renewed strength by spending time with the sisters
who are part of our vow group;
-There we are
able to be re-energized by those women who are in formation in our
communities.
Community is
the place where we share the faith that is the focus of our lives,
and we know that “in community” we can live and grow.
Called to BE Women
on mission ….Each year we are missioned … sent from our Center, in
keeping with our vow of obedience, to serve in a given area. If you
look on the surface, you might conclude that our mission is to be
teacher, spiritual director, lawyer, nurse, catechist … or the many
other works we do. But I believe that our mission is NOT what we do!
Then, what is it??? Our mission is to live, in creative fidelity… to
the charism of our congregation! What is a charism? “Charism is a
word ONLY USED when talking about congregations of consecrated life.
The charism of a religious congregation refers to the distinct
spirit that animates a religious community and gives it a particular
character. A charism is a gift given to the foundress/founder of a
religious congregation. It is a part of the permanent heritage of a
community. It is a gift that keeps on giving, ever changing, ever
evolving. The charism of a community is such, that if all written
records were destroyed, it could be re-created through the living
testimony of the members of the congregation. Msgr. Jerry referred
to the “Charisms” of the communities of the Jubilarians in his
introduction of the Jubilarians ….”radiate the love of the Heart of
Jesus” …proclaim the Good News of God’s unconditional love for
all”... Proclaim the goodness and provident care of our God” …
“animated by love, creative hope, and fidelity”. The charism of a
congregation is the GIFT that, like a magnet, attracts women to a
particular congregation … it is the Gift we resonate with and choose
to live our life sharing, with creative fidelity. This enables us to
be open to the “needs of the time and place” to determine our
ministry…the work we do. We can DO whatever is needed as long as it
allows us to be about our mission.
Yes! As women
religious we are called to be …. Women of prayer, women in
community, and women on mission! And that is the CALL we invite
other women to consider as they discern whether to follow the path
of consecrated life.
Yes!…”Just to BE a
women religious is a blessing”.
There are two words
that are guaranteed to send your “spellcheck program” into high
alert mode! Those two words are “Jubilarians” and “Charism”. But I
can assure you that both of them are alive and well today.
Thank you. |
