Congregation Leaders meet in Rome
Drinking 'from the fountain that springs forth and flows....although it is night' (St John of the Cross)
This is the theme nearly 1,000 women religious from 75 countries will be reflecting on as they gather in Rome from 7th to 11th May 2010 for the Assembly of the International Union of Superiors General (UISG). It has been inspired by St John of the Cross' poem 'Canticle of the soul that rejoices in knowing God through faith'. It invites the participants to the core of their mission as consecrated women of 'searching for God's face' and drawing forth from their inner source to respond prophetically to the yearning for spirituality that comes from the heart of the world.
Maureen Cusick NDS (Congregation of Notre Dame de Sion) President of UISG writes:
Religious life finds itself today in a situation of deep searching, of creativity and pruning. The Spirit, who dwells in us, continually quenches our thirst with water from the Fountain that is always replenished. We are drawn and inspired by a love, which calls us to fill situations of darkness with prophetic life and to dwell courageously in new horizons. The future of religious life lies in living fully our mystical yearning with our traditional calling to prophecy.
At a presentation of the Assembly theme she pointed out: '...these are dark times. We hear it said that darkness is covering the earth. Earthquakes destroy thousands of lives and homes, volcanic ash darkens the skies, oil contaminates the seas.'
'We must address the symbols of the negative,' she said.
Sister Maureen affirmed that women religious do not want to fail in their prophetic role in history, to 'proclaim a vision of the world based on the Gospel, in a message of mercy and compassion.'
'We take seriously our prophetic role in the Church as consecrated women,' she assured, 'to take the Word of God to those who are on the margins of society and also on the margins of the Church.'
Let us pray with them during these wonderful days of Pentecost that the gifts of the Spirit in our various charisms may guide these days and bear fruit that will last.
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