From the Congress of Religious Life and Theology in Latin America

Bogotá, Colombia, June 20-22 2009 : in the context of the XVIIth General Assembly we were present at the Congress commemorating 50 years of CLAR (Religious Life in Latin America and the Caribbean).

It was a time that gave us a taste of joy, festivity and celebration. We were like the disciples at Emmaus; everyone we met filled our hearts with hope. Looking, listening, observing led us to contemplate how, in each man and woman present, faith was being explained and experienced by following Jesus. He is the one who keeps on encouraging and strengthening us, showing us the value of proclaiming a God of life, who is still calling us to its unconditional defence.

The various presentations and working sessions introduced us to the ways and practices that have been enriching philosophical-theological thought, and showed us that we are at the turning-point of an epoch, especially in the cultural domain. In this way we were brought to a recognition of otherness and reciprocity, and a greater understanding and clarity in our understanding of the option for the poor, which is simply doing as Jesus did.

Sonia Osorio's ballet, the meaningful songs of Norma Elena Gadea, each day's Eucharistic celebrations, and the final toasts, all showed religious life as multicultural, joyful and vital, undeterred by the denials, frustrations or contradictions of history. One of the speakers said he did not understand why the poor of Latin America do not commit suicide, and why they buy flowers for every occasion. Perhaps being so close to the poor is what keeps Religious Life going in Latin America. Numbers have diminished, but it remains valiant; it keeps its dreams and hopes, and celebrates amid discouragements and contradictions.

Yes, we buy and grow flowers, to bring us beauty as we walk in the joy and hope that come from knowing and experiencing God. He becomes incarnate in our desire to show that society can be different.

And for us RSCJ, we had reason to be grateful for meeting our Sisters from Colombia and from other countries. There, as everywhere in the world, we meet and recognise one another in the heart and spirit of Madeleine Sophie. In her own time, she had her own very creative way of meeting, especially with the One who constantly moves us to joy, and inspires our hope of discovering and revealing his love.

Inés Quiceno rscj
Province of Colombia

Of course these were three GRACE-FILLED days, for which today I BLESS the Lord of history and of life. When I came home, I gave thanks for the journey you had taken. You shared it with us, opening up the horizon, committing yourselves wholeheartedly, and bravely setting out on an untrodden path. The path the poor follow is unsure; they have no certainties, no securities, but go forward with only their faith and hope. It was from them that you learned many things, and unlearned some too.

The historical outline of the 50 years of CLAR invited me to contemplate and realise how God makes all things new. All he needs is my flexibility, my availability, my heart, my ability to take risks and to remain attentive to the sorrow and joy of our people.

The contribution of religious men and women towards a new Latin American Theology and a new Religious Life filled me with great hope. At the same time it confirms some intuitions I have in my heart: the invitation to go very deeply into the experience of God, of community, and of mission. These throw light on my path, challenge my selfishness, and confront my capacity for relationship.

Beatriz Elena Torres, rscj
Province of Colombia

What was the significance of the Religious Life meeting organised by CLAR?

I haven't had much time to think over the experience, but I think there are very deep feelings in me of gratitude, admiration, hope, because I lived three days of :

Encounter with diversity - with the great MULTICULTURAL riches of Latin America and the Caribbean, and a very varied range of Religious Congregations. Different as we are, we commit ourselves to follow Jesus in the perspective of the OPTION FOR THE POOR. Gratitude for the journey of these 50 years... half a century of CLAR, in which Consecrated Men and Women, living in the midst of the people, have given direction, accompaniment and depth to Religious Life in Latin America.

Admiration because CLAR in its journey has experienced the Paschal mystery. Its great crises have inspired it to keep on seeking new horizons; its capacity for resistance in the face of so many conflicts has given strength to follow along the way, in its desire to be mystical and prophetic.

Confirmation of some evangelical priorities that add a very deep meaning to Religious Life, and of the special significance of the centrality of the incarnate Jesus. He is present and active in our history. The joy of community life, built on the experience of the Paschal mystery, accompanies us in our mission of being closer to the poor and championing their cause. How can we tell the poor of this Continent that God loves us? That is the question of Gustavo Gutiérrez that still echoes in my heart...

An invitation to follow along the way, together with other women and men, to strengthen hope, to bear witness to life in a continent marked by death. We must recreate our spirituality in our contact with the most impoverished, discovering there the God who keeps on creating and recreating LIFE.

I am grateful for the opportunity to participate with my sisters in this Congress that has made such a significant impression on my life.

Maruja Hernández, rscj
Province of Colombia

 

Religious of the Sacred Heart of Colombia and other provinces who took part in the CLAR Congress :
(Zoom)

Front row, left ro right : Maruja Hernández, Carmen Cecilia Alfaro, Virginia Henao.

Middle row : Inés Quiceno, Hermengarda Alves Martins (Brazil), Toya Castejón (Spain/Italy), Carmen Margarita Fagot (General Council; Puerto-Rico/Italy), María Clemencia Muñoz, Elizabeth Gómez, Beatriz Elena Torres, María Zulema Pérez.

Back row : Marta Eugenia Pérez, Margot Bremen (Paraguay), Margarita Gutiérrez.

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