The newspaper of the Holy See, «L’Osservatore Romano», has published a final report on the five-day Plenary Assembly of the International Union of Superiors General (UISG), held in Rome from May 2-6, 2022 on the theme: «Embracing Vulnerability on a Synodal Journey».
The Assembly concluded on the evening of May 6 in Rome. More than 700 women religious, heads of congregations from all over the world, gathered on the above-mentioned dates, giving life to a rich debate of which we have tried to give an account in the articles published in this newspaper during the week.
Embracing Vulnerability on a Synodal Journey
For the first time, the assembly was held in a mixed set-up: five hundred sisters in person and another two hundred online. Each day, a prayerful meditation opened the proceedings. Mary, Elisabeth and Ruth, icons of vulnerability and synodality, did not only accompany the sisters each day, but above all, they reminded that: «Through our vulnerability and synodality, God can work wonders».
Sister Jolanta Maria Kafka, President of the UISG, opened the assembly by expressing the hope that «in the light of Christ, our hope, our work can reach the greater assembly that is the Church.
Many speakers offered reflections on vulnerability and synodality. According to Ted Dunn, an expert in psychology, «embracing our vulnerability is part of an inner interpersonal transformation.» Although today «religious life faces tortuous crossroads, in grace it will rise again,» he stressed. Three religious shared their personal experience of dealing with vulnerable situations in the course of their vocation.
Sister Carmen Mora Sena (who spoke on «being a leader in times of pandemic») said she was convinced that «the model of leadership in communities that we need today must be nurtured by an awareness of vulnerability».
Sister Anne Falola («as a missionary») shared her discovery of being a minority in the place of her mission: «Living the kenosis of Christ places religious women in a situation of objective vulnerability».
And Sister Siham Zgheib («in conflict situations») recounted her experience of life in the Syrian civil war, specifically that of «living in permanent danger of being kidnapped, tortured, raped, forced to wear the hijab, but above all with the fear of being forced to deny our faith.» She resisted, thanks to the thought of the cross, the Eucharist and the words of the foundress of her congregation, the Franciscan Missionary Sisters of Mary: «In the time of darkness, decisions made in the time of light cannot be changed».
During the plenary assembly there was also space for reflection on religious life in the time of the pandemic, «a time among the worst but also among the best,» as defined by Sister Patricia Murray, Secretary of the International Union of Superior Generals, since the online report favored the establishment of new contacts among the different congregations, across different cultures and geographical borders.
Jessie Rogers, dean of Saint Patrick’s College, Maynooth, Ireland, recalled how the sisters can always make visible «the footprints of God», on the one hand by remembering the past and, on the other, by forgetting «just enough to open a space for the newness of God». This is possible through the wonder of contemplation, compassionate attention to others, a robust hope and an intimate conviction that: «The foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom».
Sister Nathalie Becquart, Undersecretary of the Synod of Bishops, and Jesuit Father David McCallum, for their part, insisted on the contribution that religious women can make to the synodal process and also on how it can radically change religious life.
After the emotional meeting with Pope Francis on Thursday 5, the work concluded with the participation of the Superior Generals in working groups organized in continental groups. Sister Gemma Simmonds and Sister Maria Cimperman presented to the participants a summary of the indications that the various congregations have already communicated to the Synod Secretariat.
Before the closing Eucharist, presided over by Fr. Arturo Sosa Abascal, Superior General of the Society of Jesus, the President of the International Union of Superiors General, Sr. Jolanta Kafka, declared, «We conclude this assembly enlightened and strengthened: for this I thank all those who have contributed to its development.»
Source: L’Osservatore Romano