As with the parable of the woman, who found her Drachma (Lk 15.8-10), the day came for us Sisters, too, to call together "friends and neighbors" to share the experiences of the ‘Jubilee year of Mercy’ of our congregation.
On November 1 and 2, we came together, to share, guided by impulses from the sisters (Sr. Lucia Weiler, Sr. Laetitia Janßen, Sr. Cecília Becker and Sr. Leoni Windarti), who had prepared the Year of Mercy.
At the beginning, to prepare, as it were, the heart for this sharing, the General Coordinator, Sr. Márian Ambrosio, invited us to put coins and other symbols on a world map in those places, where we are present. As a result, it became clear that our experiences are influenced through different cultures, geographies, and stories.
The richness of the internationality of our congregation became very strongly visible in the following exchange: by means of a symbol, the representatives of each province and region presented the Drachma, which they had regained in this jubilee year. All this, was reason for deep gratitude.
In the afternoon, the group joined the Sisters of the German Province, visiting the cemetery at the Vorsehungs-Convent. It was an opportunity to commemorate especially the sisters that have been called to eternal life in the course of the jubilee year. A light was lit on their grave and the deceased missionaries among them got white roses.
The various symbols in the middle of the room, enriched by the symbolism of light and a seed, became the basis for the reflection on November 2: what particular symbol appeals to me, today? What light of joy, hope and compassion awakens that icon in me? What light of joy, hope and mercy would I like to enkindle? Which seed do I want to sow? What hope and joy do I take with me; personally, for my community, for my province/region, for my local network? What precious Drachma is able to strengthen us and keep our international relationship alive? Our reflection was guided by these questions. Also, the participants adopted a common commitment: to pray the prayer of our founder E. Michelis to the Holy Spirit in various languages on the 3rd day of each month.
These two, very intense days of sharing were closed with the "blessing of light".
In the evening, we celebrated a feast of joy for the 175th anniversary of our congregation, which strengthened the bonds of friendship among us, as well as the mutual commitment "to be merciful as God's Providence".