Reflections on the 2024 international congregational gathering in Ireland
By Presentations Sisters from England:
1) What stays with me from the Congregational Gathering is that we are growing in our sense of being one congregation and the implications of this in all aspects of our lives. It was an experience of deepening our communion while respecting the great diversity among us. A deeper awareness of belonging to a greater whole, of being rooted in God and of our evolving story. There was great energy, engagement, and a desire to serve the whole as we grappled with the questions and the matters surfaced from the various reports and conversations from across the congregation as part of the preparatory process. Using the contemplative dialogue practice, we worked in table groups of five, and I found the sharing and honesty in these different groups both challenging and inspiring.
I was surprised by how tired I often felt at the end of each day, maybe due in part, to the deep listening required. It was an intense time, but also lots of fun. We had beautiful rituals, prayer experiences, as well as song and dancing, which of course I loved. It was a rich, grace-filled and transforming experience for me personally and I hope that this will flow to all our sisters and all who are associated with us.
As I reflect on the Congregational Gathering my overall feeling is one of gratitude for the many rich and varied experiences and encounters that made up each day. As we gathered from across the world, I enjoyed meeting sisters from different cultures and learning about their lives and ministries. I enjoyed the creative rituals as we sang and made music together. The times of stillness and reflection and the conversations using contemplative dialogue process all helped us to reflect and discern the way forward together. It was a graced time when I experienced both the diversity and the oneness of the Congregation.
The Delegates who went from England:
l to r: Srs Bernadette Healy, Janette Brown, Mary Deane, Eleanor O’Gorman
2) CG24 was a wonderful experience meeting sisters from Units around the world and participating in the process with varied conversations and challenges.
Opening ritual
I was moved by the opening ceremony which recalled our Sacred Story. As the ritual unfolded delegates from each Unit laid chakra-coloured cloths, a light and card with birthing dates of each Unit. Our Sacred Story woven together with a tapestry of beauty and colour was grown into a large spiral which was our Sacred Space throughout CG 24.
Easing into the gathering was very gentle with two reflective days. Day one was a wilderness walk a time to gently be in touch with nature, smell, touch, birth new life in the buds and spring flowers. A time to be in touch with death and new growth in the dead leaves, bare trees and evergreen surrounding us.
The second day was a Eucharistic day when we shared some of our own personal stories and broke bread together in sharing what we each hoped to gain or experience from the event?
Each day we sat around circular tables of five and changed regularly which was an opportunity to get to know sisters from different Units and have conversations with different groups. Our focus around the table was the whole Union. We each had equal sharing and used Contemplative Dialogue with Generative Listening in our conversations.
Reports from the CLT members were very enriching, informative and challenging. After each report we had Contemplative Dialogue conversations at tables with thought provoking questions inviting us at all times to be in touch with the shared reality across the Congregation and deepening the call within us that we are here for mission and those kept poor. We are also living in a world of pain and suffering caused by climate change.
A highlight and key moment of discussion for me were some of the questions Doctor Jessie Rogers proposed to us for reflection. At this point of the gathering we started to become more outward looking. God is found in the real not the ideal.
Celebrations were key opportunities of the gathering to enjoy one another’s company and celebrate Culture among us. We were also aware of sadness at moments of loss and offered support to those who were grieving the deaths of sisters in their Units.
The process of reflecting on the Proposals and the Discernment Process for the election of the new CLT was very well explained and we were clearly guided through it. There were moments of deep joy and congratulations each time a CLT member was elected.
For me having a strong inner presence during CG24 helped to Embrace Vulnerability as Possibility in a deeper way within my own inner journey of:
Who we are today?
Why are we here?
3) It was my first experience of a Congregational Gathering. What I had heard previously of Congregational Gatherings was that they were very hard work. They are indeed very hard work but so much more!
The warm welcome with a bag full of useful gifts and the key to a very comfortable bedroom with a lovely view was a wonderful beginning. The enriching opening ceremony gave food for thought and a desire to get to know all the Sisters from the different parts of the world where we minister - every few days finding myself sharing with a different group of Sisters as we moved tables to work together, facilitated getting to know each other as well as having outings together and sharing conversations on the bus.
The spiritual beginning to each day using music, song, dance and words was wonderful. Many were the opportunities, too many to mention in detail, to reflect on why we were gathered together and opportunities to be still, to listen and to reflect together in the presence of the Spirit. We were led by two very experienced and skillful facilitators in a very spiritual, reflective and prayerful manner; it did not seem like hard work, despite the long days. I felt proud to belong to our Congregation.
Knowing that our Sisters were praying for us by their lighted candles and journeying with us through the daily reflections on the internet was a great strength on this journey.