Day 17 september: Listening to the voice of the Family
It is 9 o’clock in the morning; the assembly hall is full of new life; gradually silence falls.
Margaret Muldoon’s opening words invite the Family to reflection and a great openness to the reality of who we are.
María Dolores Pérez Plé, General Leader of the Holy Family Secular Institute shares the hopes and desires of the Consecrated Seculars.
There is a short period of reflection followed by a presentation of the aim of our meeting.
What are we here to do? How will we use this time offered to us as gift? Then Colleen Moore explains the process of the Congress. There will be different stages to the process as follows:
Listening to the voice of the Family coming from the different contexts is the first stage and the work of this day.
As you can imagine an attitude of deep listening and discernment is essential in this process
After this overview of the Congress, the assembly divides into intervocational groups – 7 in all. These groups are to reflect on the following question:
From what you have heard during the first phase of the Congress in the different realities, what are the three most important points that your group wishes to present to the Family?
Some common important points were shared:
- As a Family to rediscover the Word and the Eucharist as strength for our life and mission
- Listen to Jesus in his humanity, who shows us the way to approach the reality of the world today and to listen to the groans of creation
- Accept our identity as an interdependent and egalitarian Family of five vocations, different cultures and a common mission; to journey together being interconnected and interdependent so that we can be gift to the world.
To look for new ways forward and new responses in the living of our mission of communion in a divided world. To build communion with our differences
A contemplative approach, rooted in the Spirit of God Alone, who opens us up to the whole of Creation with its lights and shades, its goodness and struggle.
Rediscover the values of our original cultures in harmony with the Creator and all creation
These and other elements that were shared, expressed the newness of our Charism and our mission in a changing world.
Tomorrow we will continue to explore more deeply all that we have heard.
Al haber estado todo un año viviendo en profundidad la primera fase del Congreso, realmente sentimos que es nuestra voz, la de todas las vocaciones, en todo el mundo, la que se escucha hoy en Martillac.
Que el Espíritu os ilumine para encontrar los verdaderos puntos de fuerza, las convergencias, los sentimientos profundos y la llamada que Dios nos hace a toda la Familia.
¡Adelante!
Escuchar al Espiritu que clama.
Escuchar el grito de los pueblos
Escuchar a los pobres de la tierra
Escuchar a Dios que habla a traves de la humanidad dividida.
Escucharnos a nosotras mismas.
Escuchar a la Madre Tierra.