The three congregational offices – Spirituality, MDO and Justice and Peace made a presentation.
The presentation on Spirituality outlined the resources that are available and the challenge posed is how these resources can be integrated into local culture and expressed in the language for today.
An outline was given on the history of the Mission development office and the movement of the office from mainly funding seeking to a mission development process. A process that calls for credibility, sustainability, accountability and invites co-responsibility among the Units and Internationally.
The question posed was how does this office connect with your reality?
We saw justice as inclusion and the need for justice to be integrated as part of all projects, as well as relationships in community, among mission partners, teams etc.
What are the global trends that are affecting society and your ministries?
War and conflict resulting in massive migration, refugees, asylum seekers and poverty
Abuse of women and children – trafficking, prostitution, domestic violence, forced marriages
Global financial crises and economic recession resulting in extreme poverty, homelessness, hunger and ‘new poor’
Demographic changes and aging population in Europe
Global warming and climate change
Hierarchical model of Church
Indifference to Religion
Misuse of new technology
Response to Global Trends
Direct services to women and children – residential care, day services, accommodation of the homeless
Safe guarding programs for staff, sisters and children
Connecting with other Units internationally to support financially and offering opportunities for capacity building
Collaboration and Networking with other congregations, other agencies for a variety of direct services to the marginalized as
well as justice, advocacy and changing structures
Individual ministry – chaplaincy, work in prisons and hospitals, visiting the elderly etc.
Reconciliation and Interfaith dialogue
Making funds available for small project – micro –credit, sharing fare, food provision etc.
Promoting family values
Responses of Resource Persons
All priority issues are similar to that of the UN now being changed to sustainable developmental goals
An invitation to connect direct services with what is happening at UN level in terms of providing information, writing reports for CEDAW etc.
As leadership teams how do you evaluate and monitor and priorities all ministries.
The challenge offered is to develop a unit vision and priority focus with a strong identity and voice.
How keep the ownership and effectiveness of ministry across different entities
How do we ensure the continuity of projects?What methodology do you employ in developing ministries
Underlying spirituality assumptions : anything that happens comes out of a contemplative space within. The quality of presence is vital
We are part of the earth community. How can we shepherd the planet today?
How do we involve ourselves in empowering women in the Church.
.JPG "Listeners Group Standing left to right: Sisters Frances Lynch and Evelyn Fergus Sitting: Josita Corera")
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