On September 18, we lived the 1st Day of Formation of Vedruna Personnel in Synodality, a morning full of spirit, color and commitment that also coincided with the 72nd anniversary of our school. It was a day full of meaning, joy and learning.
The activity began with a space organized by the Pastoral Team, where we were reminded that, for God, each person is irreplaceable. Each participant decorated a piece of a large heart-shaped puzzle, writing his or her name and painting it with colors. This symbol reminded us that, for God and for our community, each one of us is important and necessary, as pieces that come together to form a whole full of love and purpose.
We take this opportunity to sing Happy Anniversary to the school, celebrating together 72 years of history, commitment and integral formation. It was a gesture full of affection and gratitude for all that the school represents for each one of us.
To put into practice the idea that “we are all necessary”, we divided into groups and formed close-knit circles and with effort and coordination, we kept a balloon in the air without letting it fall. This activity showed us that only together, with everyone’s participation, we can accomplish our goals and missions.
Then we went to the Audiovisual Room where we were presented the pastoral motto of this school year that will unite all the Vedruna centers of America Vedruna in Synodality. We discovered its logo and, with enthusiasm, we sang the song that accompanies it.
Father William Costa accompanied us with a talk entitled Synodality: a path of communion, participation and mission. During his talk, he emphasized that Synodality is not a new concept, but has deep roots in the tradition of the Church, since the time of the apostles, as related in the book of Acts. He also invited us to reflect on the challenges of the Church to overcome abuses of power and bureaucracy, and to move towards a model where we all walk together.
A recreational activity was carried out as part of the reflection on synodality. We tied the braids of our shoes with those of our neighbor, forming a big circle in the courtyard. The challenge was to reach the court together, without leaving anyone behind and without letting go. Laughter, stumbles and a lot of mutual support were mixed in a journey that left an impression that “Synodality” literally translates into walking together in harmony, recognizing that there will always be a leader to guide us, but that the participation of all is essential to achieve the common goal.
As a Vedruna community, we assume the commitment to transform our lifestyle: Synodality must be translated into concrete actions that evangelize from listening, dialogue and co-responsibility. To conclude, we met in working groups and answered the question: “What challenges do we have in Synodality in the school?“, we shared ideas and commitments that we assumed in this school year.
We closed the day with a heart full of hope and a renewed commitment to continue building, together, an educational community where we are all protagonists of our mission.
Candy Rodriguez Socas
