From 2 to 5 January 2022 the Animators of the communities of the newly born Province of Italy / Albania / Mozambique gathered in Ariccia at the Casa Divin Maestro, to listen and share the reflections on the theme "We live the Prophecy of Pastoral Motherhood";
theme that takes on its strength when looking at the icon of Isaiah 43: 18-19: "(...) Behold, I am doing something new: right now it sprouts, don't you notice? (…) ”And thus, accompany the journey of the Province, its consolidation and its care.
From 2 to 5 January 2022 the Animators of the communities of the newly born Province of Italy / Albania / Mozambique gathered in Ariccia at the Casa Divin Maestro, to listen and share the reflections on the theme "We live the Prophecy of Pastoral Motherhood";
a theme that takes on its strength when looking at the icon of Isaiah 43: 18-19: "(...) Behold, I am doing something new: right now it is sprouting, do you not realize it? (...) "and thus, accompany the journey of the Province, its consolidation and its care. The topic, already explored in the 8th Interchapter in September 2021, has now offered each one the opportunity to resume the contents experiencing mutual communion, renewing the missionary impulse, in solidarity with suffering humanity. All this through the various moments marked out in the days.
Sister Cesarina Pisanelli, Provincial Superior, introduced the meeting by urging us to stand before all our realities around the world, to walk in a synodal way, reaching forward, with the courage to speak and listen.
On the second day, the listening focused on the report that Sister Cristina Lee (K) said: "Mary, the courageous woman on a journey". The basic question was: 'why is it so tiring to live spiritual motherhood for me and for us?' And again she invited us to reflect on how 'Mary's virginity is the foundation of our spiritual motherhood, which challenges us about the world suffering today '. The Word of God to which Sr Cristina referred was Lk 1: 26-38.
The assembly work continued in the afternoon with the listening of Sr. Rita Ndoci who introduced us to the area of the Ministry of Pastoral Care. Sr. Rita referred to Pope Francis' Laudato sii considering how global problems must be given a global response. But how can we fit into this vortex of global expectations? Even through small gestures that mark our days. Furthermore, living the pastoral spirit, an aspect already outlined by Blessed Don Giacomo Alberione even before the Second Vatican Council.
This was followed by the presentation of the Sequela area - Life in Christ the Shepherd by Sr. Emanuela Ciccomartino. She states that "being rooted in Christ is exactly the way to follow the Lord and that we have a mission to prophesy hope."
Furthermore, she urged us to "get on the train of history" even if it is on the run and embrace the future with hope, in the certainty that it is God who sustains us. "Perhaps - she says - we have built a lot but rooted little, so here is the importance of taking root in Jesus the Good Shepherd.
We then listened to Sr. Aminta Sarmiento Puentes, Superior General. She too recalled the value of hope and in particular that “the future is called hope, therefore interculturality, intercongegationality, internationality. Nourish and ask the Lord for a mature faith that becomes generative. Everything we live must become a better life opportunity.
In the late afternoon, the young Sisters Sara Buccarella and Sisters Zita Nacomo, a Mozambican junior, were with us, who with simple and engaging words told us about their experience, lived online, at the 8th Interchapter.
After dinner we connected with Mozambique, where Sr. Franca Bottin and Sr. Raquel Mariano De Souza were there, for a joyful exchange of greetings and news.
On 4 January we focused on the area of Vocation and Formation Pastoral Care, a theme presented by Sr. Irene Tollini. You stressed that training must be continuous in order for communities to become places of growth. Our different ages are also capable of generating and in this perspective you have confirmed how important the dialogue between the different generations is.
The area of the Authority's Evangelical Service was presented by Sr. Cesarina Pisanelli: she confirmed how important it is to "continue to consolidate" referring above all to the projects of choices and processes to reach forward. You then spoke of the Course for the Sisters of the first 10 years of perpetual profession and of the single novitiate ad experimentum.
Each topic dealt with by the Councilors was then taken up again in the study groups and shared in the assembly.
We then left, happy to have been able to see each other again after a particular period due to the pandemic, in the certainty that the "new thing" read in Is 43:19 is everything made new by the Lord who has prepared for us and for the entire Province .
Sr. Rita Nardon, sjbp
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