Emerging Intertwined Boundaries

I attended the National Giving Voice Conference for religious women under the age of 50 in Kansas City this past August. More than 70 women in different stages of religious formation gathered from different parts of the country/world to reflect on the changing face of religious life in an increasingly diverse intercultural/inter generational American church. The three days event offered us a great opportunity to pray, dialogue and dream together. The event was filled with a lot of shared energy which helped us articulate our collective reality as well discern direction for the future. Conference speakers, Holy Name Sister Sophia Park SNJM and Incarnate Word sister Teresa Maya CCVI led us in the reflection around the theme  “Crossing Boundaries in Religious Life” Both speakers were equally wonderful in their respective approach to the topic. With the use of charts and graphs both Teresa and Sophia showed how the declining, changing and diverse nature of religious life in the Unites States is calling for a new outlook and leadership for the future. Although women under 50 constituted only 10% of those entering religious life today, we rejoiced that our presence affirms the fact that religious life is still here and will continue through us. As a small cohort on the margins, our speakers helped us see that we are in a privileged position to both articulate our present reality as well as see future horizons more clearly. Smaller size also means that we can be lighter, more flexible and fast. One of the important directions of our time is also the issue of leadership. In her recent article “Beyond Middle Space” in “Global Sister” Sr. Tracy Kamme, S.C. beautifully articulated how the changes in religious life seem to be calling for three main types of emerging leadership styles (A leadership style that is able to harmonize all the different facets of religious life discussed at the conference) as we march into the future. Those who feel called to continue with things the way they are, those, the dreamers who have more thrust for the future and those who are in-between. So while it is important for Congregations to focus on retirement and the need of older sisters, we affirmed the need for them to realize we are also here, that our stories, our questions and experiences are all equally relevant and emerging.

  The event helped me realize that, as a group, we are all grappling with the same issues, asking the same questions bordering on size, diversity and resources. I found it enriching to be on  common ground where we could openly voice our hopes and dreams while acknowledging the challenges ahead of us. Hearing our hopes and fears spoken out loud helped us turn our hearts to God whose spirit is at work in us as a discerning group in an emerging church/world. In this space, we also realized that one of our major roles is to continue to build bridges for the future, a future that we are all part of and which we are all moving towards. As the present and future of the church, we are encouraged to continue to rend our voices because whatever we have to say is authentic, even as we respectfully acknowledge the disappearing past which our older sisters are grappling with. We cannot let our voices be stifled by the fear of a disappearing familiar past or concerns about an uncertain future.  

The speakers also discussed how to bridge age gaps, cultural and racial divides. As emigration into United States continues to affect it’s demographic, it is clear that future religious life is not going to be any different. During one of the session, a random sampling of the group’s diversity was conducted by Sr. Teresa who asked all those born outside of the United States to raise their hands. At least 25% of the group indicated that they were born in another country. As a group, I think that GV is well ahead in preparing for an emerging coordinated interconnected/intercultural future religious life. For example, the entire event was translated in both English and Spanish. I think that this type of initiative is great in providing the framework for bridging gaps and creating common ground. This is also why the event has a personal thrust for me. The topic helped me confront some of my own personal challenges as someone coming from a vibrant church discerning a vocation in a church/religious Congregation where things are beginning to slow down or die out. In Nigeria where I come from, the church is still very vibrant, pews are filled to the brim on Sundays and Holy days of Obligation, and religious life and seminaries are still getting lots of vocations. But I have moved from comparison to appreciation. I have personally experienced the type of inclusivity demonstrated at GV and which also happens to be the chapter call of my Congregation this year. I live with older sister whose cultural experiences are different from mine, but whose love, acceptance and openness is constantly challenging me to recognize and share my gifts. And that is the essential in being an effective witness of the Gospel. Recognizing and using my gifts is not limited to space nor place. The world is God's and everything there-in. Where I flourish is not as important as using my talents. 

How can we make religious life more inter-culturally relevant in our society today? No group, culture or generation can represent the entire picture of religious life. Like the universe, the church and religious life is in the process of evolution and each individual, group, and generation can only represent his/her/their experiences in the context of the culture in which they exist. In other words, part of our reflection is to see the whole picture of religious life, the past, the present and the future, to see how this evolution is part of God’s on- going creation Isiah 49:13. I am undoubtedly energized with hope for the future. The space provided at GV helped me not just to articulate the emerging themes of the reality of religious life in the United States but to realize how my personal story and experiences are part of God’s unfolding plan. My cultural background means that I bring an entirely unique outlook which is my gift to my Congregation/church/world. The conference reinforced my optimistic outlook on life/vocation to the religious life. I am at peace because I know that religious life is the work of God expressed in one language – Love. The culture of religious life, like all cultures, is not diminishing, will never extinguish as long as people walk the face of the earth. Rather it is evolving along the pathways specific to it, which is why GV is such a gift we must continue to treasure. Yes, the future may be smaller, inter generational, and multicultural but nevertheless a precious gift of our time. I am excited to be part of the future of religious life, energized in my present role in being the voice, the change the church and the world are waiting for. As a person/group, I/we are called to continue to build bridges for the pregnant future and remain open to accept it as it unfolds. I know that this is possible because we are united in our love for God and are motivated by our passion to bring about the reign of God through our services to the church/world.