Maria Teresa Cuervo and Maggie D’Costa, from the General Team, to celebrate together with the community of Merlo the Assembly focused on Synodality and Shared Leadership, strengthening our Vedruna mission and fraternity.
The opening song introduced us to the theme, and the symbols prepared for the setting, together with the Gospel of the day, reminded us that gratuitousness is at the heart of the commandment of love: a love given and cared for without expecting anything in return. We are “useless” servants because it is God himself who acts through us, mediators of his grace.
In the chapter “Towards an Integral and Ecological Spirituality”. of the Chapter Document Born Again, we are invited to be women in search of meaning, to walk in the knowledge that the Spirit always accompanies us and encourages us to listen to him in prayer and in openness to the Ruah. We recall how shared mission and synodality allow us to broaden our vision, widen our hearts, live fraternity, welcome diversity and work for justice and peace.
The Gospel of Luke 9:1ff, where Jesus sends the Twelve to proclaim the Kingdom, also echoes the words of Joaquina, when she invites her sisters to imitate the Apostles who went out fearlessly and courageously to proclaim the Gospel throughout the world (Nonell 163). That same impulse continues to call us today to live synodality with strength.
As women in the Church, we are invited to empower ourselves, to walk together and to recognize the dignity and rights of every woman. And as Vedruna Family, we continue to advance in the Inter dimension, opening our homes and communities to a joyful, simple, humble, fraternal and diligent lifestyle.
We also stress the importance of training in various areas – from integral anthropology to the use of the media – recalling the words of Joaquina: “It is very important that all learn what they do not know” (Ep. 164).
The moments of formation, personal prayer, group work, plenary sessions and evaluation were very enriching. The meetings held at Colegio Nuestra Señora del Carmen with the management team, the educational management staff, the Bicentennial group and the Vedruna Friends of Suipacha were also very valuable.
As expressed in the chapter document Born Again:
Leadership is all the more synodal the more conditions are created for open and trusting communication between and within groups (NdN 51).
We thank God for these days of meeting and assembly with Maria Teresa and Maggie, true spaces of spiritual growth and sharing of life and mission.
Sr. Ana María Raventós, ccv
