Section C: Human and Spiritual Development
GUIDELINES FOR THE INITIATION OF NEW MEMBERS
We seek to advance the human and spiritual development of all, creating an enabling environment to discern God’s call…..
C1. Formation is an unfolding dynamic process through which we are transformed by the Word
of God in the depths of our being. Enlightened by the life of Jesus and moved by the Spirit we gradually integrate the spiritual, intellectual, social and emotional aspects of our being and grow in the wisdom of love. Our formation begins in our family and culture, and continues through our education and relationships. We gradually assume responsibility for our own growth. We learn from life, growing through struggle, failure, mistakes, difficulties, illness and times of darkness as well as through achievement, enjoyment, delight and success in our work and relationships.
C2. Each person who is called by God to the Infant Jesus Sisters is attracted from the
beginning by some aspect of our spirit or way of life. Each one comes with her own life story and her own uniqueness. The Institute offers to accompany her on her journey as she seeks to enter more deeply into a knowledge and integration of the Infant Jesus Sisters’ spirit and mission. While God’s call remains a mystery, we believe that it is present and active in the world today. This challenges us to enable people to discover the different ways in which God may be calling them, including whether or not their call is to our Institute. Knowing that there is no call without struggle, this will require creativity, flexibility and risk taking, We learn to call on God to be with us in our struggle so that it may lead to greater freedom and commitment.
C3. We respect the uniqueness of people who may come to us and are happy to accompany
them in discovering their path. They are following a call from within their own heart and our role is to support them on their journey. They are encouraged to develop their capacity to see God at work in other people, in their own lives and in everyday events. Learning to be open to the mystery of God and helping each one to develop a personal knowledge and love of Jesus Christ is at the core of formation. This is supported through developing a faith attitude to life, deepening the contemplative spirit, integrating a solid spirituality based on the Word of God and our IJ spiritual inheritance. We learn to respect the rhythm of each person, their history, previous experience and faith development. A mature response to the call of God requires continuous integrated growth, where the spiritual, emotional and intellectual aspects of our life develop in harmony. Each one hears the call to a unique relationship with God that could lead to a life commitment within the Institute.
C4. Maturing and growing as a whole person requires growth in self awareness and self esteem,
while keeping a clear focus on our call to be with Christ in His mission to the world. It
involves an appreciation and integration of one’s sexuality, learning to love without fear, giving and sharing oneself in appropriate relationships, healing of past hurts and growing in freedom. It entails having the courage to speak the truth as we perceive it and the humility to know that we do not have all of the truth. Through this self awareness we develop the capacity to respect our own dignity and the dignity of others.
C5. A person’s sense of belonging begins when she commits herself to Christ within the
Institute. It grows as her understanding and assimilation of the spirit of the Institute deepens. These develop through relationships with the Infant Jesus Sisters, through being actively involved in ministry and in the life of the Infant Jesus community. Participation in IJ sessions at national, continental or international level widens the sense of belonging. Where possible time will be spent in different communities and different countries so as to deepen the spirit of unity and belonging, and broaden the experience of ministry. This sense of belonging takes priority over membership of other groups. It is strengthened by familiarity with:
- the story of our Institute, its origins and its initial development in other countries,
- the spirit of our foundational documents,
- the ongoing story of the Institute as lived in different parts of the world today
- on going developments as set out in orientations from General Chapters and Assemblies
C6. At this decisive moment in history, we are challenged to take the risk of listening to the
movement of the Holy Spirit, of allowing the living water of God's Spirit to "spring up in our encounters and flow over and around any obstacles in its way" (International Collegial Assembly 2001). We cannot tell where the Spirit may come from or where the Spirit may lead us. Creating our own quiet space and taking time to reflect on the experiences of each day is one of the ways which can help us notice and feel the action of the Spirit. We listen to the murmur of the Spirit’s voice in the signs of our times and seek to discern its meaning with a shared and prayerful faith. The Spirit of God can walk through our closed doors of fear and lead us where we may not otherwise dare to go.
C7. Learning to make discernment a way of life is essential to our formation. At the basis of
discernment is a desire to be truly sensitive to the action of God in our lives. It calls for deep faith and confidence in God’s love and God’s call to love. It invites us to listen to the movements of our hearts, where we learn how to recognise the gentle promptings of the Spirit of God. When a decision has to be made, discernment involves a readiness to remain open to all possible options that may be presented. This calls for growth in inner freedom, giving time and space for silence and prayer, allowing oneself to be nurtured by the Word of God and becoming aware of the blocks that may exist and where they come from. A readiness to listen to others is an important element of discernment since we cannot discern on our own.
C8. Accompaniment is a free adult to adult relationship of faith in which a person is not afraid to
share her own story and experience, ask questions and express honestly what she thinks and feels. Life flourishes in an atmosphere of openness, transparency, deep listening, dialogue and mutual respect. This climate gives people the confidence to be themselves and to enter more freely into a discernment process. The process of growth is greatly aided by the companionship of another who accompanies us on our journey and helps us to discern the movements of the Spirit. In situations where there is more than one new member, the same person does not necessarily accompany all.
C9. To accompany others we need to be persons who listen deeply to the Spirit in our own lives
who receive appropriate preparation and have the capacity to reflect regularly with others. A spirit of detachment will help us to avoid any form of possessiveness and allow the other person space and freedom. Accompanying another includes encouraging her to grow and mature, assisting her to make free choices, enabling her to discover and respond to her call. If someone feels called to be an Infant Jesus Sister, accompaniment will foster gradual insertion into the spirit, community life and mission of the Institute, and will lead to a growing sense of belonging and co-responsibility.
C10. When someone feels ready to join the Institute or to move from one stage to the next
within the formation process, the decision is taken in dialogue with the appropriate members of the Institute. As she continues her journey, her desire and ability to commit herself is marked and celebrated in different ways. Regular evaluation along the way confirms that the Lord may be calling her to make a life commitment through which she consecrates herself freely and irrevocably to God within the Institute. Making a life commitment through the public profession of vows accepted by the Church marks a decisive moment in one’s journey. It offers an alternative life form lived as members of an apostolic community, within the Church and for the world.
C11. Formation takes place in the context of a community involved in ministry. The new member
will participate fully in the life of the community and the Province, and will develop her sense of commitment towards the group as a whole. She will grow in her spirit of accountability to the group, which will deepen her sense of belonging. Each one, including the new member, accepts responsibility for her own formation, keeping in touch with the orientations and movement of the Institute. Each one develops the “skills” of dialogue, open and constructive criticism, reflection, discussion and faith sharing. Formation also prepares us for various ways of living community that foster a sense of belonging, commitment, co-responsibility and accountability. We look on community as a body to which we belong rather than a space where we live. We are individuals who belong to the IJ international community within the context of the community of God's people, a discerning community which views reality with the eyes of faith.
C12. Central to our lives is our relationship with God, who loves each and every one
unconditionally. We need to ensure that we take time and space in our everyday lives for silence, prayer, reflection… time to allow wonder to surprise us. We foster a way of life that lets us rest sometimes, rest with God and also rest with ourselves. We take Sabbath times to ‘be still and know that I am God’, at regular intervals. We spend time in retreat, where we discover the power of silence and learn how to recognise the movements of the Spirit in our lives. We deepen our sense of peace and confidence in our response to God’s on-going call, which can often be quite challenging.
C13. Simplicity, confidence and a sense of freedom help us to be available for others. Our way
of being with people is reflected in our ease of manner, our humanity, our natural way of approaching people. True simplicity is lived through a quiet confidence in who we are, as we reach out to others with acceptance and respect. Our trust in God’s powerful and transformative presence in our lives and in global society renews our energy and joyful hope in God's call to proclaim the new life of Resurrection in our lives and ministries.
C14. Freedom has been a characteristic of the Institute from the beginning and continues to be
part of its tradition. It is understood in the sense of freedom from structures that would inhibit us to reach out in mission. A spirit of courage and daring ensures that we continue to be open to and actively explore new ways, new forms of commitment and new ministries, according to the needs of the day. In a spirit of availability we are open to respond to greater needs as they arise. Formation will enable and encourage us to share our giftedness with confidence and creativity, expressing a new song of hope in today’s world.
C15. A key aspect of our approach to mission is that it is person-centred where the uniqueness
and human dignity of each one is respected and the development of each one’s potential is promoted. Dignity in its universal sense is unconditional: independent of any limiting condition, by the person’s status, gender, race or rank, efforts or virtue. It expresses the inherent good of the human being. We value the dignity of each and everyone and grow in our understanding of the global human condition, upholding our own dignity and that of the other, especially where it may not be recognised.
C16. Understanding the vows of consecrated celibacy, poverty and obedience, through which
we commit our lives to Christ and the spirit in which we IJ Sisters live them is fostered by prayer, study, reflection on daily life. Participating in formation programmes with members of other Institutes is to be encouraged where possible. Emphasis is on a positive understanding of the vows - freedom to love unconditionally, act justly, listen deeply. Gradually integrating all three vows into a life form that frees us from attachments, we will be enabled to dedicate ourselves joyfully and fully to the following of Christ. The integration of the spirit of poverty, consecrated celibacy and obedience in our personal life comes with growth and maturity. All three are an expression of the sense of purpose, direction and orientation of a way of life based on Gospel values. Each expresses detachment from prestige, power, wealth, persons, opinions and privilege. All three call for self emptying. They free us for genuine, authentic relationships in every aspect of our life and ministry. Together they witness to our desire for the Beyond that carries us into the future. They offer an integrated way of life, which influences our daily choices.
C17. We are called to commit ourselves to authentic love and to consecrated celibacy which,
when freely chosen in answer to God’s call, sets us free to love universally with warmth and compassion. The spirit of poverty frees us to be alongside others, while encouraging initiative and responsibility. We make an option for the collective possession of goods and pooling of resources, as a way of contributing to the common good in a world of consumerism and poverty. The spirit of obedience calls for deep listening, participation, involvement, consultation, dialogue, co-responsibility and subsidiarity. We listen to the people to whom we are sent and those with whom we collaborate, believing that together we can enter more fully into God’s desires for all.
C18. Formation includes study of theology and scripture, professional training for mission,
personal development courses… availing of resources both from within and outside the Institute. We need to familiarise ourselves with the dynamics at work in our society, the universal declaration of human rights and the Church’s thinking on social issues. Training in cultural relations, dialogue, communication skills, dealing with conflict and the use of mass media equips us for community life and mission. We listen to the different interpretations of reality in a multicultural society, with our hearts open to that reality, while at the same time avoiding the temptation to blend uncritically with the society in which we live. Suitable intellectual formation in our Christian faith, our foundational documents, the classics of Christian spirituality and other spiritual writers, will form a solid foundation for spirituality. We will enrich our spirituality by drawing on our ancestral wisdom and the rich traditions of other faiths and cultures. Appreciation of the arts, including music, dance, art, literature, poetry and theatre greatly enhance the balance of one’s life. This communication of beauty will give birth to joy and life in the midst of violence and death.
C19. Belonging to an international Institute is part of our identity and has a growing significance
in today’s pluralist society. This is a time when the Spirit is opening new possibilities. We are more and more enriched as people from other nations join us. We belong to one human community with many nationalities, cultures and identities. As the face of the Institute changes, we appreciate and value the many possibilities for dialogue and communication, while also being aware of the inevitable difficulties and struggles of difference. Learning another language facilitates participation and better communication at international gatherings and strengthens the sense of belonging.
“This meeting of our different cultures and sharing of our different experiences of life are for all of us a source of great richness and conversion.” (Book of the Institute 11)
C20. We dare to commit ourselves to an unknown future since we believe in the presence and
power of the Risen Lord, who calls us beyond all that we might ever imagine. We are ready to entrust ourselves into the hands of the loving God of mystery. Our Institute has been evolving and responding to the changing needs of the times, since its beginning. Our values of courage and daring ensure that we will not hesitate to explore new ways and new forms of membership. We cannot determine how this happens and we cannot be responsible for the response of each individual. However, as part of our call as IJ Sisters, we are all responsible for the way we invite, offer information and experiences that may enable others to discover the call of God for them.
“You are inviting us….. to discover your dream for us and for others”. (Collegial Assembly 2001)