ICA Asia/Pacific Update

Transcription

1 Intercontinental Assembly (ICA) Asia/Pacific November 14-28, 2008 Pattaya, Thailand CONGREGATION OF OUR LADY OF CHARITY OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD Schedule November 27, 2008 Thursday Listeners Report Congregational Website and Addresses Closing Address Closing Liturgy November 28, 2008 Friday Scheduled Departure of ICA Delegates Thai protesters shut down airport Protesters demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat took hold of the international airport in Thailand. Thousands of passengers are stranded. PRAYERS Let us pray for peace. ICA Asia/Pacific Update No. 7 November 27-28, 2008 Visit: Asia/Pacific Intercontinental Assembly ends; delegates stranded in Pattaya, Thailand With joy and hope, the delegates celebrated the conclusion of the two-week Asia /Pacific Intercontinental Assembly held in Pattaya, Thailand. They entrusted their experiences, dreams and plans for the future to the 27 delegates who will participate in the 2009 Congregational Chapter. The Listeners Report of Srs. Alice Andres (Philippines), Joan Lopez (Singapore/Malaysia) Anne Manning (Australia/Aotearoa New Zealand) echoed the voice of Good Shepherd Sisters from Asia/Pacific, We were led to an awareness of our being rooted in our reality, to celebrate the diversity of our uniqueness, to accept and respect the blessings and shadows of our cultures, to acknowledge the tears and (Continued on page 2) Asia/Pacific ICA delegates

2 Update on Thailand during the Asia/Pacific ICA Sr. Supaporn Chotiphol gives regular updates to the delegates regarding the recent political situation in Thailand, the indefinite closure of the international airport in Bangkok and the alternatives for those travelling after the Assembly. Travels Two Japanese Sisters who had hoped to try flying at the nearby Chiang Mai airport came back Nov. 27 evening to the Redemptorist Center unable to get a flight. Several sisters from Singapore/Malaysia and the Philippines, left Nov. 28 morning to take a more than 24 hour trip by bus and train to Kuala Lumpur to finalize preparations for the Justice and Peace meeting on December 2-4 and from where they hope to get flights. The Indonesian delegates and ICA facilitator Sr. Jill McCorquodale of Australia joined the group to get flights to their countries from Kuala Lumpur. With the continued closure of the Bangkok International airport, delegates bound to return to their own countries had to rebook their flights. The other delegates transferred to the Provincialate and Fountain of Life Center. The Redemptorist Center management has assured those stranded not to worry about the cost of their stay in the center. They may just give a donation. Goodbye. Safe travels. ASIA/ PACIFIC CIRCLE Province leaders of the Asia/ Pacific Circle are scheduled to have their meeting Nov in Pattaya. The Congregational Leadership Team will join them. Junior sisters attending the Asia/Pacific ICA perform the Weaving Dance during the Closing Liturgy ASIA/PACIFIC (Continued from page 1) pain of our situation, and to recognize the many pockets of hope within, among and around us. A deep desire was felt among us to search and explore together, to find alternatives, to remove boundaries and create possibilities for the new to emerge. As we acknowledged and affirmed our efforts, we saw the need to continue to weave our dreams together recognizing the Spirit within us - calling us to go beyond, to try, to explore, to risk and to dare, to see all as opportunity and possibility. (Text of the Listeners Report is on page 4) Following the Report, Sr. Regina Kuizon, communications coordinator presented to the delegates the congregational website and the addresses. She gave instructions on how to log in to access the Reserved documents of the congregation. The day before, delegates also asked how they can collaborate with the communications office to post important reflections and materials coming from Asia/Pacific. Sr. Regina also showed the delegates the richness of resources in the congregational website, in the pages of the Spirituality Center, the Motherhouse, the Justice and Peace Office and the Mission Development Sr. Brigid Lawlor, right, is grateful to Sr. Michelle and the Sisters of East Asia province. Office. She also explained, on behalf of Sr. Christine Mearns, Good Shepherd technology resource person, the congregational address that each sister may avail of. Unit leaders, secretaries, treasurers, justice and peace persons, communications persons and individual sisters will find collaboration easier with the Global Address List of Good Shepherd Sisters. After a break and picture-taking, the group listened to Sr. Brigid Lawlor as she delivered her closing address. Sr. Brigid said that Asia/Pacific will weave messages at the Congregational Chapter that will be carried forward for the next six years. She also emphasized that one important achievement of the assembly was that, we have given ourselves a message: that we reach beyond our local, provincial, country, and continental boundaries. (Text of the Closing Address is on page 3) The Closing Liturgy/Communion Service gathered prayers of thanksgiving for all the blessings received during the assembly. Junior Sisters danced a Weaving Dance. At the mission sending rite, the Congregational Leadership Team anointed the hands of the 27 delegates to the Congregational Chapter and the assembly blessed them. Everybody danced to conclude the Asia/Pacific Intercontinental Assembly. ICA Asia/Pacific Update No.7 - November 27-28,

3 Sr. Brigid Lawlor expresses gratitude to the members of the Asia/Pacific Planning Committee and the staff. In photo, from left to right are Srs. Kelly Ngai, Gemma Dinglasan, Maria Rose Chinnappan, Guadalupe Bautista, Brigid Lawlor, Johanna Maria Yong, Anne Dalton, Anurak Chaiyapurk and Supaporn Chotiphol. In their name, the Congregational Leadership Team donated US $ 1,000 to Mission Development Fund. Excerpts of the Closing Address of Sr. Brigid to Asia/Pacific ICA delegates x We reach beyond our local, provincial, country, and continental boundaries Dear Sister Weavers, I began my opening address with the following quote of our guest presenter, Sr.Marie Chin: We are a part of a new consciousness that is awakening all around us, gushing forth like the rain that falls from the sky, that waters the earth and does not return to heaven until it does what it is told to do. The reign, rein and rain that we felt these days here in Pattaya, have centered and decentered us! We have examined what it means to become a part of a new consciousness. We have experienced an awakening all around us! How have we been awakened? When we began our assembly, I shared my dreams. Now I ask you: Has our experience here deepened our understanding of internationality? Have we found new ways to delight in our diversity and strengthen our unity? Are we more prepared for the Congregational Chapter of 2009? I feel as though I can safely say that the answer would include a sea of green cards. Do you remember looking around the room at our opening session and being asked to notice the beauty of the diversity of cultures among us? We have done more that look around the room! We have held significant conversations with one another. We have raised pertinent questions. We have presented a richness of differing viewpoints. We have sought information in a discerning mode! We have also formed new friendships and renewed old ones. x Challenged by Marie Chin we have come to new understanding of the importance of culture in many contexts. One that she highlighted for us was how culture is a means of claiming our religious identity as Good Shepherd Sisters. She strongly put us into a process of examining those encrustations in our lives that God must break through. This truly is the process of compassion and reconciliation in global solidarity! Through our dialogue with one another on topics of importance to us, we have been strengthened in our ability to carry forward our mission. Articulated may times throughout these days, our focus, apostolic and contemplative, is always on mission regardless of the topic we are exploring. The Spirit of our Shepherd God has permeated this session. The Holy Spirit has gushed forth like rain that falls from the sky and has totally immersed us. And we danced when we got wet! Thus, my hopes for this session have been fulfilled. I hope that the dreams you articulated on our first day here, have gone far beyond anything that you could have imagined. We shared many stories and created directions from them. I will mention a few of them: Good Shepherd Partnership. Michael s Prophetic Vision for the Future, Theresa s honest representation of relationship between lay collaborators and sisters, and Gendrie s strong committed presence - all challenged us to continue enhancing our growing understanding of the significance of our mission in the light of partnership Our understanding of Article One and some of its implications/government structures. We gave a unanimous yes in promoting the recommendation of our Contemplative Sisters to form a Council at the Congregational Level. We affirmed the direction in which we are going, with regard to freeing our struc- (Continued on page 5) ICA Asia/Pacific Update No.7 - November 27-28,

4 Listeners Report WEAVING A QUILT AS ASIA PACIFIC UNFOLDING A TAPESTRY AS GOOD SHEPHERD CONGREGATION The Intercontinental Assembly of Asia Pacific brought together 80 Good Shepherd sisters from nine provinces, representing 18 countries, four sisters of Our Lady of Charity and three Good Shepherd lay partners to the Redemptorist Retreat Centre in Pattaya, Thailand from November 14 to 27, Our opening liturgy with the seven rainbow coloured clothes, symbolized our diverse cultures, traditions and experiences. We gathered together in joyful anticipation bringing with us threads of different colours and textures to weave into the tapestry that is unfolding before us. There was an eagerness to hear from each other our experiences, developments for mission and hopes for the future. The use of a shared wisdom model to weave conversations at different levels generated a strong sense of familiarity, connectedness, being able to link and bond among us. Marie Chin s three days input fired us with passion and filled us with energy; to a new way of seeing, feeling, and acting. We were challenged to release our inner energy; redefine our values and enhance our effectiveness by finding alternative ways to bring about a fresh, authentic and counter cultural approach for the sake of mission. We heard the call within us to look at ourselves as agents of a globalisation from below, to see alternatives that are life-giving and turn the notion of scarcity into an experience of abundance. We were led to an awareness of our being rooted in our reality, to celebrate the diversity of our uniqueness, to accept and respect the blessings and shadows of our cultures, to acknowledge the tears and pain of our situation, and to recognize the many pockets of hope within, among and around us. A deep desire was felt among us to search and explore together to find alternatives, to remove boundaries and create possibilities for the new to emerge. As we acknowledged and affirmed our efforts, we saw the need to continue to weave our dreams together recognizing the Spirit within us - calling us to go beyond to try, to explore, to risk and to dare, to see all as opportunity and possibility. We reflected and deepened our understanding of Article 1 of our constitutions and we are affirmed in our identity as apostolic and contemplative sisters called to the mission of reconciliation; united in the same charism of merciful love. We rejoiced with and support our contemplative sisters as they dare to break the flask so the perfume can pour out in the living out of their contemplative lifestyle in an Listeners Group. From left, Srs. Alice Andres, Joan-Marie Lopez and Anne Manning. apostolic congregation. There was a unanimous affirmation for the establishment of a contemplative council at congregational level. A sea of green cards also showed our support for the work done by the Constitutions Committee on the government section of the constitutions. The new consciousness that Good Shepherd charism is a gift given to many for the sake of mission was strongly felt through the presentation made by the Good Shepherd Partnership core team members. We felt the Divine Recklessness of the Spirit urging us to tread new ways in developing Good Shepherd Partnership that is mutually enriching, as we recognize the gift of the charism present in both lay persons and sisters. We are challenged to openness; to a change in attitude and perspective so as to see Good Shepherd Partnership in a different light; to address areas of formation and re-formation; to let go of old structures; to develop relationships built on mutual trust and equality; to share responsibility, authority and power in order to respond more effectively to the call of mission We look forward with excitement to the unfolding design as we creatively weave webs of linkages and networks in the areas of Justice and Peace, Anti-trafficking, Migration, Good Shepherd Partnership, Formation, Good Shepherd Spirituality, Inter- Faith Dialogue, Economic Justice and Integrity of Creation by sharing information, facilitating and encouraging greater involvement, initiatives and collaboration among us. We are moved by the courage and initiatives in the restructuring and re-founding of our Provinces. We feel (Continued on page 5) ICA Asia/Pacific Update No.7 - November 27-28,

5 LISTENERS REPORT (Continued from page 4) impelled to continue with resilience, creativity and flexibility, letting go of structures that no longer serve our mission and to create new ones that will give us and our mission new life and energy. There is an urgency coupled with hope to network as Asia Pacific and tap into our abundance to prioritize and coordinate our resources from within the region and beyond, for the service and enhancement of mission. The discussion on the journey of our shared beginnings and enriching experiences with the sisters of Our Lady of Charity was received with mixed emotions. With many questions that remain unanswered, and the end not in sight, we opened ourselves to continue the process of searching together for the way forward while allowing for new possibilities to unfold; committing ourselves to engage in a journey of mutual enrichment. Through the animated and lively participation at the world café of Pelletier Plaza we discerned the broad future directions for the congregation. These included networking within and across borders, the on-going journey with the sisters of Our Lady of Charity, shepherding the earth and formation for both sisters and lay partners. Mission-sending rite of the 27 delegates to the 2009 Congregational Chapter held at the conclusion of the Asia/Pacific ICA. As we come to a conclusion, we entrust to the 27 members who will be participating at the Congregational Chapter of 2009 our experiences, dreams and plans for the future. With this Intercontinental Assembly, one chapter of our story as Asia Pacific concludes. However, we continue to weave the story of our shared mission as we journey on. November 27, 2008 CLOSING ADDRESS (Continued from page 3) tures for mission as outlined in the government section of our constitutions Our evolving relationship with the Sisters of Our Lady of Charity. On behalf of all of us, I want to express our gratitude to Sisters Angela, Annick, Josefina and Rachel, the Central Team of the International Union of the Sisters of Our Lady for your presence at this ICA. We appreciate the clarity, openness and joy with which you shared your history and your reflections on the Journey of Enrichment that we are pursuing together in the spirit of St. John Eudes and St. Mary Euphrasia. We want to continue the journey. Our restructuring processes and our networking. The work of the Asia Pacific Circle has been tremendous and life-giving. Established networks were renewed at this assembly and the potential for new ones are forming. Congregational Chapter Direction Setting. We enjoyed a World Café experience to solidify the directions that Asia Pacific will offer to the Congregational Chapter. Asia/Pacific will weave messages at the Congregational Chapter that will be carried forward for the next six years. Perhaps even more importantly, we have given ourselves a message: that we reach beyond our local, provincial, country, and continental boundaries. The quilting has taken place. The threads of Asia/Pacific have been interlaced. With the designs of America and Europe/RIMOA, your creation will be intertwined. The tapestry will demonstrate each units unique contribution to the whole. We are one.we are of one heart. As St. Mary Euphrasia has said, we have hearts created to love. We also have hearts filled with gratitude! Although we will continue to run to catch up with the Spirit, the spirit present at this 2008 Intercontinental Assembly will remain in our hearts forever. On behalf of the Congregational Leadership Team I extend a wholehearted thank you to all who provided service before, during and after this assembly. In particular, I invite the members of the Planning Committee Anne Dalton, Anurak, Gemma, Guada, Johanna, Kelly, Maria Rose, Supaporn, and in abstencia Jiemjit, to please stand. How can we thank you for all of your goodness to us? Your work has enabled us at times to actually catch up with the Spirit! In your name and in the name of all who assisted at the ICA of Asia/Pacific, the Congregational Leadership Team has made a contribution of $1,000 to the Mission Development Fund. This money can be used as matching funds for grants that Dr. Cristina Duranti will write or oversee for the units of Asia/Pacific. A special note of thanks to Sr. Michelle and the sisters of the East Asia Province who have helped us in so many ways. Your Good Shepherd hospitality has been superb! Thank you! As St. John Eudes and St. Mary Euphrasia dance in heaven while interceding for us, may our Shepherd God bless and guide each of you as you live out the spirit of this great gathering. May you continue the story that has been told here with the sisters in your units. It is my privilege to formally close the 2008 Intercontinental Assembly of Asia/Pacific. Together, may we act justly, love tenderly and walk humbly with our God! (Mi 6) Sr. Brigid Lawlor, Congregational Leader November 27, 2008 ICA Asia/Pacific Update No.7 - November 27-28,

6 PARTICIPANTS, GUESTS AND RESOURCE PERSONS GENERALATE From left, Sr. Helen Anne Sand, Treasurer General and Sr. Regina Kuizon, Communications Coordinator. CONGREGATIONAL LEADERSHIP TEAM. From left, Srs. Elaine Basinger, Cecilia Patiñom Evelyn Fergus, Brigid Lawlor, Eliene Barros, Armelle Dehennault, Sabina Pathrose From left, Sr. Tanave Kin, translator, Japanese; Ms. Celine Desmedt, translator, French; and Sr. Jill McCorquodale, facilitator. SINGAPORE/MALAYSIA. Srs. Joan Marie Lopez, Susan Chia, Agnes- Claire Koh, Brigid Lawlor, Salomi Cruz, Kelly Ngai, Elaine Basinger SISTERS OF OUR LADY OF CHARITY. Srs. Annick Egu, Josefina Lopez, Angela Fahy, Rachel Muthoni Njagi JAPAN. From left, Srs. Assumpta Yamamoto, Regina Munemoto, Brigid Lawlor, Elizabeth Takeda INDONESIA. From left, Srs. Katharina Sri Parmuladsih, Goretti Samosir, Angela Fahy OLC, Brigid Lawlor, Melania Gertrudis Samoudy, Theresia Tjan. ICA Asia/Pacific Update No.7 - November 27-28,

7 As St. John Eudes and St. Mary Euphrasia dance in heaven while interceding for us, may our Shepherd God bless and guide each of you as you live out the spirit of this great gathering. Together, may we act justly, love tenderly and walk humbly with our God! (Mi 6) AUSTRALIA/AOTEAROA NEW ZEALAND. From left, Srs. Noelene White, Anne Dalton, Anne Manning, Pamela Moloney, Brigid Lawlor, Caroline Price, Jan Ryan, Tanja de Jong SRI LANKA/PAKISTAN. From left, Srs. Nilani Silva, Anita John, Anita Fernado, Josita Corera, Salma Ramat, Brigid Lawlor, Rohini Mendis, Stella Fernando, Pramilla Fernando; seated, Dinalika Perera, Martina Raj Fernando, Selinta Fernando, Shirani Algama PHILIPPINES. Srs. Gemma Dinglasan, Leah Ann Espina, Alice Andres, Luz Bantilan, Cecilia Torres, Brigid Lawlor, Henedina Mananzan, Guadalupe Bautista, Arabella Balingao, Ma. Teresa Pomar CGS. ICA Asia/Pacific Update No.7 - November 27-28,

8 Northeast Asia (China, Korea) Bernadette Yuen, Rosanna Hung, Melania Jung, Brigid Lawlor, Johanna Maria Yong, Theresa Song, Hyo Ju Agnes Park, Virginia Kim, Sabina Pathrose EAST ASIA. Supaporn Chotiphol, Veronica Anthony, Goretti Vo, Euphrasia Pam, Anurak Chaiyaphurk, Joan Gormley, Michelle Lopez, Brigid Lawlor, Johanna Su Mon, Pranee Sitti, Jintana Phimsan. Not in the picture, Jiemjit Thampichai. INDIA/NEPAL. From left, standing, Srs. Aruna George, Anita Mammoottil CGS, Vandhana Lobo, Anne Marie Fernandes, Sabina Pathrose, Maria Rose Chinnappan, Brigid Lawlor, Bridget Paily, Helen D Souza, Preethi Joseph; seated, Susanna Selvanathan, Monica Kujur. Special thanks to the following for the translations of the ICA Asia/Pacific Update, Sr. Adriana Perez, Sr. Cecilia Patiño, Spanish; Mr. Michel Ferrer and Sr. Armelle Dehennault, French; and to Sr. Evelyn Fergus, Sr. Ethna McDermott and Sr. Gemma Dinglasan for their collaboration. (RK) ICA Asia/Pacific Update No.7 - November 27-28,