Overview of the UISG Plenary
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Overview of the UISG Plenary
6-10 May 2007
Rome, Italy
Challenged to Weave a New Spirituality which Generates Hope and Life for All was the theme of this Plenary. Weaving was the prominent image throughout these days. During the opening ritual, table companions spent time weaving together the yarn, ribbons, fabric and cords each brought to this gathering. These weavings remained on our tables during our time together. Facilitators for this meeting were Barbara Valuckas, SSND, and Giselle Gomez, STJ.
Tables were assigned according to language groups. My table included English-speaking major superiors from generalates in India, Africa, France, Germany, Indonesia, USA, Rome and Australia. This diversity provides rich sharing and expands understanding of different cultures. Instant translation was given in seven languages: French, German, Spanish, English, Italian, Japanese and Korean. A few language groups brought their own interpreters; e.g. Portuguese. Eight hundred and fifty major superiors from five continents and 85 countries were in attendance.
Rituals, liturgies and environment were exceptionally well prepared, related to the day and meaningful in content. The 52 Constellations of the UISG each brought a symbol to reflect their area of the world. Our Constellation had a banner reflecting Women Arising.
On Monday, we had a private audience with Pope Benedict in the Hall of Blessings. He was most gracious and spoke to us in Italian. As soon as I receive the English translation, I will share it with you. In general, it was described as a pastoral greeting.
The keynote address "Called to weave a new spirituality that generates hope and life for all humanity" was given by Fr. Thomas Hughes, SVD. It was followed by reflection, table dialogue and conversation with the presenter. The next two days addressed the previously identified "threads", namely, women, the earth, inter-religious dialogue, immigrants and displaced persons, and the laity. Presenters for each of these topics spoke for 15 minutes, followed by reflection and sharing. After all the presentations were made, there was table conversation to connect the "threads" we heard to the elements identified in the keynote address.
Prior to our arrival, each participant identified her "thread" of interest and gathered in that group. I chose immigration and displaced persons. In my group were English-speaking Koreans and Germans, along with those of us whose first language was English. I served as secretary for this group and reported the highlights of our conversation to the assembly.
The writing committee listened carefully to all that was said, and worked diligently to integrate it into a declaration of outcomes and commitments. After discussing and refining the first draft, we received and accepted the revised declaration.
Cardinal Franc Rode, Prefect of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life (CICLSAL), dialogued with us and celebrated Eucharist. Initially he responded to several prepared questions, and then took a couple from the floor. The prepared questions were: How could we help you know the joy and dynamism of sisters? How can we help you with knowing the gifts we bring? How does the dicastery (a dicastery is similar to a department) see feminine religious life and its future? How does the dicastery see consecrated life in our suffering world?
He assured us that CICLSAL does not have a negative opinion of women religious. He did say, however, that most often it is problems or personal tragedies that come to their office. They are well aware that the reality in some countries is not very "lovely" and that the diminishment in numbers is like no other time in history. There are times when the situations presented to CICLSAL need to be improved, and it is necessary to make corrections. He acknowledged that if there was a strike of women religious, the world would be paralyzed in its care for people who are poor, social services, education, health care and a host of other services.
What we do now, he says, places us into the future of service to suffering humanity. It is a role that is never finished and calls for a huge maternal presence. He reminded us that the grace given to religious congregations is permanent and foundational to the congregational charism. This reality persists even if situations change. Both new and old religious congregations impress him in their attention to persons who are poor, suffering, abandoned, marginalized, excluded and alone. These persons, he says, are our inheritance, our lot, our destiny. In closing, he thanked us for our presence and that of our members in the good work we do for God's people.
The closing day we heard reports from the commissions: Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation; Health HIV/AIDS; Project on the Trafficking of Women; and The Sudan Project.
These days were enriching in so many ways, and I am most grateful for the privilege to have been present. Titles of the written presentations are listed below. They are available by contacting Amelia O. Halili at 314-768-1827 or aohalili@fsmonline.org. I encourage you to read them all and especially recommend the Declaration of Women Religious Leaders. This declaration is the result of our time and work together, and reflects an international view of religious life in the world today.
Sr. Jacqueline Motzel
UISG Presentations
Available by contacting Amelia O. Halili at
314-768-1827 or aohalili@fsmonline.org
Challenged To Weave A New Spirituality Which Generates Hope And Life For All - Fr. Thomas Hughes, SVD
The Woman With Full And Calloused Hands - Sr. Marie-Angele Kitewo, SNDdeN
The Earth And Its Sacredness - Donna Geernaert, S.C.
Inter-Religious Dialogue As A Spiritual Way - Dr. Adnane Mokrani
Immigrants And Displaced Persons - Christiane Lorcy, F.J.
The Laity Strand - Sister Katrina Brill, RSJ
Declaration of Women Religious Leaders - Statement Created by Participants