In the morning homily, Fr. Martin introduced us to the topic of holiness. The end of the liturgical year focuses our eyes on Christ’s second coming in glory. Each of us – as the Solemnity of All Saints reminded us – is called to holiness, which takes its shape in our daily life. Fr. Martin also recalled the words of Pope Francis about the saint next door. Today’s meeting was devoted to the structures of the Congregation.
During the morning session we listened to Sr. Carmen Sammut, Superior General of the “White Sisters” (MSOLA). She shared her rich experience of the structural reorganization of her own Congregation. In a symbolic story, as well as in a number of diagrams and lists of important points from the process of the White Sisters, she presented to us a method which might inspire and support us in our work. What is the heritage that we look back to gratefully and want to preserve? What does God want us to do in our present world now? What do we see as our tasks in future? Sr. Carmen underlined that structures serve to help us in our vocation and charism and to organize our work in a way to bring much fruit; they are no means in themselves. In our reactions, we shared our thoughts and opinions, as well as questions, which led to a lively discussion.
At noon, we prayed before the Blessed Sacrament.
In the afternoon session Sr. Isabella presented the statistics of the Congregation in a PowerPoint presentation. After the presentation we continued – both in groups and in the plenary – to discuss Sr. Carmen’s contribution and our current situation. Fr Martin closed the afternoon session with vespers.
