Lay Participants' Sharing and Presentation
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This day offered a “first’ in the history of the province—the presence and participation of 11 of our lay mission partners in our Provincial Chapter. Sister Celeste read an excerpt on Participation of the Laity (from the 2009 Congregational Chapter Planning Commission): “As part of our continued directions of the 2003 General Assembly/ Chapter and communications from the Congregational Leadership team, we encourage Units to involve our Good Shepherd partners in our Unit Chapters and to develop structures for their ongoing participation in decisions affecting our mission.” This set the tone for the participation of lay collaborators representing our ministries of Education (3), Women and Children (3), Socio-Pastoral (2), Economic Justice (1), and Healing - Care for the Earth (2). The lay participants were each introduced by a Sister who knew them and this provided very personal and creative ways of getting to know our partners in mission.
On powerpoint or oral presentation, each of them shared their association with us-- their entry and participation in the mission, their experience of lay empowerment and their hopes and dreams for the mission. The whole day was truly enriching for us. They shared in such refreshing and inspiring candor, affirming the richness of our own association with them, telling us our shortcomings with courage and truth that can only come from love, and expressing their desire and hope for many more years of participating in the “holy work”. We grew in our own appreciation and gratitude for the contribution of our lay partners in our mission.
In his Recap next day, our able facilitator Karl Gaspar, CSSR had a “Quiz Show” that summarized with wit and humor the “revelations” of our lay participants. Sample questions:
Ube-jam spirituality?