All that remains is for me to say a few words to bring our Seminar to a close. We will formally end with the thanksgiving mass which we will celebrate together before lunch. First, I wish to share some brief reflections on these days we have spent together as we prepare to move on.
We have had the opportunity to evaluate our experience in groups and to discuss the theme here. We have also listened to the Steering Committee, members of the SEDOS Executive, who evaluated the reflections very well.
So, I shall try to be brief.
The theme of this Residential Seminar was very inspired and we have been richly blessed by the various inputs and sharing we have been privileged to experience.
Doubtless, the key call of our time is for universal communion — communion among peoples and communion with all of God’s Creation…. There is an awakening consciousness to this call to communion… even though our world seems more fractured than ever… even though the abuse of God’s Creation is having detrimental effects on the livelihood of so many people in our world…. Many of our Speakers spoke of this call to communion and interconnectedness… of the choice to be connectors or dividers…. Pier Luigi Maccalli spoke of the difficulties of solitude — and how human connection is so important for life and well-being.…
As we journeyed through this Seminar we were invited to reflect on the theme from various aspects: with a particular focus on the dimension of mission in conflict zones and on healing….
I should like to highlight three simple points that I shall take with me: namely, the components of this call to be prophets who can further universal communion:
(i) The relationship with God that underpins all our actions
Relationship with God… the JRS inputs added value to the Christian Message in the search for universal communion, stressing that in our relationship with, and our faith in, God.… we hear the call therefore to be open to the grace the Lord will pour upon us….
A key saying of our Founder was, Know and love God so you can make God known and loved… a message this week has reinforced for me… besides the non-negotiable dimension of being a prophet, of living as prophetic witnesses. Universal Communion is the personal encounter with God, my personal experience of God, because if I am rooted in a personal experience of God, if Jesus/God made human is my model, then my actions will flow from that relationship as well as the desire to work for universal communion. My way will be nonviolent and will advocate universal communion.
Eric reminded us of the saying: Act as if everything depends on you and pray as if everything depends on God; and that the Practice of Reconciliation is a journey that begins with oneself and extends to others….
Guy’s ‘breaking open’ the Word of God showed us that we should be diligent in seeking to understand the Jesus of the Gospel, whom we follow, better; and thus take the nonviolent way but not in a passive or humiliating way – but by non-violent subversive acts that restore dignity to all ….
We were all deeply touched by the experience Sheila invited us to engage in: sharing our experience and image of God… and from that sharing flowed healing and love….
All our endeavours for Universal Communion flow from our relationship with God:
(ii) The second dimension that stays with me is the importance of relating to each person – of taking a person-centred approach to all we do…. Such an approach brings life, respects the dignity of each person… whether it be the dignity of those who are suffering most because of conflict or the dignity of those causing the suffering.… Cardinal Nzapalainga, in his Keynote Address, gave us a powerful example of this call to see and relate to each person.… Luigi, in uniting his prayer with that of Jesus on the Cross, highlighted two words: Father forgive them…. The conviction Luigi shared from his experience was that mission can be promoted ‘simply’ by humanizing relationships.…
(iii) The third dimension that stays with me as I leave is The Importance of Truth. We heard about the work for restorative justice that acknowledges the truth of the situation in the quest for justice. We heard about many situations of exploitation that cause migration and displacement and the call for greater engagement in Advocacy, networking with other groups to reveal and speak the truth to those in power….
All we have shared here resounds with Pope Francis’ words about the immense “need the Church has of men and women who are capable not only of bearing prophetic witness to the truth… but who are also examples”: for us to be prophets in our day.
He says: The Church needs true prophets who not only speak the truth fearlessly, but also empathise with the suffering of their people. A prophet must always be a person who is not only “capable of weeping for his people, but also capable of taking risks to speak the truth.”
“Truth”, Pope Francis said, is always “uncomfortable” and when a prophet speaks the truth, hearts may either open or “become more like a rock, unleashing anger, persecution.”
“This is the test,” the Pope said. “A true prophet is he who is capable of weeping for his people” and speaks out strongly when he must speak (the truth). He is not lukewarm, he is always like that – direct.
As we leave this place, I can confidently say that our hearts are full of gratitude for what we have received and shared here during these very profound days…. On behalf of the SEDOS Executive Committee I should like to take this opportunity to say a word of thanks to all those who have participated in making this a very special Residential Seminar: —
to those who prepared our Morning Prayer texts for the Lectio Divina and Sharing as well as this Morning’s Prayer (André and Anna who are both members of the SEDOS Executive Committee),
to all who prepared the beautiful Eucharistic Liturgy each day: the different language groups and the presiders, homilists,
to all our Speakers – for the care with which they prepared and delivered their talks, inviting us to an ever-deeper level of understanding and engagement as prophets who witness to Universal Communion,
to the Staff of this Centre which hosted us and made us feel very much at home…. I have heard it said that when Pope Francis comes on retreat here he says, sì mangia bene qui… I think we can all attest to that – the variety of food was very good and beautifully cooked…
to those without whose expertise we would not have been able to communicate effectively with each other – our three gracious translators…. Thank you not only for the work you have done this week but for your very presence among us, your sharing.
A special word also goes to our technician! To Fr. Roy Thomas, SVD, who stepped in, in the absence of Sr. Christy who usually helps out with the technical side….
We are grateful to our photographer, Bro. Carlos Ferrada, SVD, who very discreetly captured photographic memories of this week ….
Thanks to our Director of entertainment: Sr. Anna Damas, SSpS, who coordinated all the various get-togethers from the opening introduction to our cultural evening and the film last night.
To all who moderated the different sessions: Sr. Oyidu Okwori, SHCJ, Bro. Rene Stockman, FC, Fr. Marcio Flavio Martins, CICM, and Fr. Alain Mayama, CSSp, all of whom are members of the SEDOS Executive Committee.
Gratitude to each and every one of you, participants. We are a smaller group than usual but perhaps this allowed us to go more deeply into our discussions and sharing. Thank you for coming, your participation has made this quite a special week for everyone.
Finally, a word of thanks goes to the staff who worked behind the scenes to organize and run this Seminar: —
to Sr Celine Kokkat, CJMJ, who always has a very quiet and discreet presence while efficiently organising and planning all the details to ensure we have the necessary materials and communications for each day of the Seminar;
to Fr. John Paul Herman, SVD, the current Executive Director of SEDOS, – thank you for all you have done to make sure this Seminar ran smoothly. It is a great task of organization that demands months of preparation. We are most grateful to you for all your efforts to bring this Seminar to fruition.
And so, as we bring this Seminar to a close, we express our gratitude to our God of Peace, Love and Communion. Let us go to the Chapel to celebrate our final Eucharist together.
