Sr.
Mary Persico's address to the 2006 IHM Assembly
Sisters respond to presentations at IHM Study Days by Sr. Mary
Daniel Turner, snd de n.
"Having a Heart for Transformation"
During these study days we are challenged to listen to presentations
and conversations at table with these questions in mind. What
attracted me? What did I resist? What questions am I left with?
And the most important question: Why? We heard the importance
of creating an environment of learning and of opening our hearts
to transformation. These are necessary conditions for a meaningful
dialogue about our lives as contemporary women religious.
From our perspective as women continuing to discern our call
to religious life, our decision to commit ourselves to engage
in conversations that would lead to our personal and corporate
transformation is in itself attractive and hopeful. This decision
reflects the vibrancy and viability of a religious congregation
more than median age or numbers of new members ever can. Our commitment
of time and resources to this process is a choice for life and
growth over stagnation. This environment of life attracts new
life.
At the same time what attracts us is also what we find ourselves
resisting. In our limited experience of living the religious life,
one year 10 months and 25 days to be exact, we have experienced
many opportunities for personal transformation. While these experiences
of our initial formation were growth producing, they were often
challenging as we were called to let go of what was for what could
be. As Sr. Mary Daniel reminded us, we are never finished with
transformation. We recognize the life-giving aspects of God’s
call to continuous transformation and yet we know that our response
to this call will require perseverance and courage born of faith.
As we consider what we have heard during these days, the question
we have for ourselves and the congregation as a whole is, “How
can we continue to deepen our trust of one another, trust that
is necessary for transformative conversations?”
- Srs. Carrie Flood and Rachel Terry
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