Sr. Pureza (from Minas Gerais, Brazil), Sr. Edith (from Malawi), Sr. Yulianti (from Indonesia) and Sr. Christa (from Germany) attended a seminar on "Interculturality", with was conducted by the UISG (Union of General superiors) in Rome. In our small group of people from four continents, we could collect first concrete experiences as regards the challenge and the chance when you are on the road together in a small community consisting of 4 different cultures. Overall, 182 Sisters from 48 congregations and 45 countries took part in this seminar. Thus, we could experience a rich variety of different cultures in these two weeks. The Steyler male missionaries (SVD) and Steyler Sisters (SSps) have developed in their congregations lectures, power point presentations and other conceivable impulses for an intercultural life and did provide this to all participants in this seminar. We have pursued the question how a multicultural group, accidentally mixed together, could develop into an intercultural community that represents the wealth and the enrichment of cultural life. The theological, Biblical based, socio-cultural and also psychological lectures have expanded our horizons and our hearts to other cultures.
We became aware that the intercultural way of life is the manner how we live our faith and how we follow Jesus. When living together with people from different cultures, it is not enough only to be considerate to them or to offer them hospitality. As Christians, we are sent beyond our own secure borders to OTHERS.
As an orientation for the intercultural way of life, Pater Antony J. Gittins, CSSP, introduced us to Jesus as the "stranger", because Jesus himself has experienced being a stranger from birth: he was born outside "normal" circumstances - in a stable. Some strangers - simple shepherds, Angels, the exotic Magician - celebrated his birth. He immediately became a refugee in Egypt. He lived at the outskirts of the city, at the margin: he went beyond the borders and renounced his privileges. He died outside his village, humiliated and exiled.
The living example of Jesus helps us to discover God's presence in all cultures, and to see every human being with his loving and appreciative eyes. Thus, interculturality brings us into a deep vision of God’s Trinitarian manner of action, which is present in all cultures. Interculturality opens a new way or a model of Evangelization. Interculturality challenges us to dream and to build a world that is less violent and exclusionary.
Sr. Christa Brünen