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4. Communion and Collaboration with the Consolata Missionary Sisters PDF Print E-mail
Written by Consolata.org   
Tuesday, 07 February 2006
62. Joint Declaration of intent of the IMC – MC

“We Consolata chapter delegates of the IMC – MC, in the name of our respective Institutes, wish to renew wholeheartedly our commitment to answering with determination the wish so many times expressed by our Father Founder to be “family” and to work in mission with unity of intent.

Aware of the common charismatic heritage which binds us together in our consecration to God for mission, we feel the need during the Chapters of our Institute to “purify our past memories” of possible lack of determination and commitment in implementing this often expressed will of Blessed Allamano. Aware also of the fact that the necessary differences between our two international Institutes and their respective character of femininity and masculinity ought never to be a drawback in this process, we firmly believe that the diversities and specific values of each of the Institutes can and should be accepted and treasured by all, missionary men and women, in order to offer a richer and more holistic service to the mission ad gentes.

We wish to commit ourselves, today and in the future, to journeying together in a climate of mutual respect, trust in each other and mutual acceptance, with the belief that only by cultivating a relationship based on reciprocity, communion and collaboration, we can truly call ourselves daughters and sons of Allamano. We wish to confirm our determination to work together with this spirit, and also to originate new common missionary projects. And we further believe that in this way, our life itself, as well as all the areas of our work, will be abundantly enriched”.

63. Motivation

In the last General Chapters of the IMC and MC missionaries, there was born a renewed awareness for a common journey together, as willed by the Founder. The efforts made by the two General Governments as well as the Regional ones, has strengthened this tendency.

In the journey already accomplished, we recognize certain positive elements:

1. The two General Governments have accomplished together various activities: a penitential rite in the Jubilee year, regular meetings and new joint mission openings, exchange of information about programs, joint visits to communites where the IMC and MC work together, special evens and family feasts, and the celebration of the 2005 Chapters in the same city.

2. In the Continents there have been meetings and activities of AMV, JPIC, encounters for pastoral work with the indigenous and courses of ongoing formation for the young MC and IMC missionaries.

3. In the regions some commissions of both Institutes have worked out joint programs and carried them out together. Some new joint mission openings have taken place. In certain regions the two Regional Superiors have conducted a joint visitation to local communities. Meetings have been held together of the IMC and MC formators, and of those in formation.

4. In the local communities there has been some collaboration in activities, in parish pastoral work, in hospitals, and in projects of human promotion and ongoing formation.

In the same journey we also notice aspects which need improvement:

5. Diverse methods are used in carrying out the collaboration, and the journey towards communion has not yet been assumed by all the members.

6. The study of the charism has not been deepened and confronted together.

7. There is a lack of joint reflection on topics such as: inculturation, criteria for the insertion of new members in the apostolic life, and resistance to discerning, programing, working and evaluating in teamwork.

8. The projects for promotion and formation of Consolata Lay Missionaries are different.

9. A certain lack of maturity continues to be present in our male-female relationships.

64. Practical Proposals

In the service of mission ad gentes, we ought to form ourselves in a new mentality, with attitudes of collaboration and listening, in a climate of trust and mutual respect.

At the psychological and cultural levels

1. Continue the journey of conversion and of deeper sensitivity especially in the field of human relations as male and female, welcoming the riches of the other and strengthening the intercultual relationships.

2. Seek time to spend together in reflection and preparation of joint programs in basic and ongoing formation.

At the charismatic level

3. Continue the efforts of re-reading and reflecting on the Founder at the General and Regional levels, bringing his figure and teaching into our present day by means of reflecton and study, so that they may have significance and give inspiration to our mission and our consecrated life.

4. In basic formation, efforts should be made together to seek ways to deepen our charism and our spirituality, which, in turn, will help our young people develop a life style of sharing and communion. Special care should be given to prepare encounters among our young candidates in formation, as well as the celebration of liturgies, family feasts, and courses of ongoing formation for young missionaries (about ten years after ordination or perpetual profession).

5. The two General Governments should promote meetings to compare and confront the experiences of the projects of LMC.

In pastoral work

6. Let the two General Governments continue to consult each other, as has been done in the past, regarding new mission openings, whether on the General or Continental level.

7. Wherever possible the Regional Conferences should be held within the same period of time so that the participants can have opportunity for mutual sharing and thus continue the tradition established by the two General Chapters of 2005.

8. Promote and deepen the reflection on work in teams, based on the model of church-family-communion, or the ministerial church, working with a well defined pastoral project which is regularly evaluated.

9. In the next six years, at least in the regions, some choices should be made (projects, campaigns….), that are to be carried out in communion by a significant number of MC and IMC missionaries.