Lay Spiritan Vision Statement
We envision a community, in touch with the signs of the times,
refusing to be "stuck in the notions of the past". A
community so trusting of the Spirit, that it does not offer the least
resistance to where the Spirit's breath may carry it. A community
open and guided by the Holy Spirit in sharing its life, mission and spirituality.
We envision a community, brought together through the prompting of
the Spirit, to give options to those who are most poor, vulnerable
and excluded from society enabling them to break out of their cycle
of misery.
We envision a community, united in heart and soul. A community of
professed and lay Spiritans, whose interior spirit for openness,
simplicity and gentleness with each other in working together to
build God's reign of Love, Justice and Peace.
A Favorite prayer of the
TransCanada Lay Spiritans. |
O divine Spirit, I want to be before you like a light feather so
that your breath may carry me where you will, and that I may not
offer the least resistance to it.
Francis Libermann
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TEN PRINCIPLES
1. AVAILABILITY/TAKING TIME
versus frenetic business of modern life which values doing and having
more than being.
Much of my past few years has been spent in communities north of the
road system with the First Nations people the Ojibway and Cree. There
has been much sadness and tragedy in their lives. Many a time I have
sat with the families of suicide victims. I have felt helpless and
completely powerless and often asked myself, "What am I doing
here? Am I being intrusive? Should I leave?" Yet each time I
know I am where I should be, and the fact that I am an older woman
make sit even more important that I stay. If someone talks, you sit
still and listen, if someone holds your hand or weeps on your
shoulder, these are silent words. Listen, enter into the pain and
wait. Deirdre Mcloughlin Sioux Lookout, Canada
"Spiritan spirituality flowers in service," they
believe. "We must be witnesses by how we live our lives and
focus on prayer and action in the world. The Spirit will take you
where your talents are most needed." John and Anne Marie Hansen.
2. INCLUSIVITY/WELCOMING THE STRANGER
versus erecting barriers, fences and anti terrorism legislation which
teaches us to be suspicious and fearful of those who are different.
From us/COMPASSION for the refugee, the outcast, the poor.
You come to realize what the necessities are and what are not, what
are the real priorities. You learn so much about values. You begin to
look at things from a world perspective not just from a consumer's
view. Gerry Merkx Addison, Ontario
Our God who longs to be intimately close to us in our daily life, has
chosen to reach out and touch us through people. He cannot do that
very well if we cling tightly to our own baggage and travel only with
those who carry luggage which matches ours. But through the people
whose life journeys cross ours, he invites us to let go in order to
be filled with fuller and greater riches. Kathy Murtha, Toronto.
3. VALUES DIVERSITY AND INTERFAITH DIALOGUE
versus my way or the highway.
LIVES OUT ANTI-RACISM
"The Spiritans don't mold you into what they want you to be.
They encourage everyone to use the gifts they have and to go to the
areas they have been called to. The Spiritans include everyone
because everyone has something to offer." Judy and Peter Stubbs
The advice that Father Libermann gave his missionary priests: "Do
not judge the people you serve by your own cultural standards, but
rather become one with them, adopting their culture in all things
that are not contrary to the Gospel. Translates into openness to the
other in service without judgmental attitudes.
Intercultural, global reality of Spiritan communities. Half General
Council, now African.
4. INCULTURATION OF THE GOOD NEWS
in the here and now and where of life. Resisting pious platitudes and
accepting people where they are at. Family life and parenting are
also part of Spiritan spirituality.
The Spirit meets people where they are - at work, at home, in
churches and synagogues and temples and mosques, as teenagers, as
adults, as senior citizens. As a result, our daily activities, all
the things that happen to us become important. The everyday contains
God's hide-and-seek approach to us. Pray your experiences; get in
touch with God in your life and in the life of the world around you.
God is to be found in what takes place. Maurice Gobeil,CSSp
I have eight children who are all grown up and pursuing their own
lives and careers in five cities in three countries. When I reflect
on those hectic years when I was a full-time Mom, I think of the Holy
Spirit as background music-always there, always comforting -a
constant but unobtrusive reminder that I was not alone with the task.
As you can imagine I was frequently too busy or too tried to do much
in the way of structured meditation in those days, but prayer was a
constant undercurrent of all that I did. "God, keep David safe
on this school trip." God, thank you for getting Hugh into Notre
Dame." "God, I don't like the look of this one, please go
with Mairi on her date tonight!" Sometimes I am embarrassed to
think of how much I have asked of the Holy Spirit over the years, and
I am amazed at how infinitely willing the Spirit is to respond to the
needs of one frantic Mom. Rose Anne Hart - Laval House, Toronto
5. VALUING WOMEN/WELCOMING THE GIFTS AND
TALENTS THEY BRING
Over the next 6 years we will also pay special attention to the role
of women in the Church and in society. P 104 Maynooth 1998.
My own experience, coordinator of JPR, sat on chapter preparation
committee, helped run VICS orientations, increased inclusive language
awareness in liturgies.
VICS gave me the inspiration and encouragement to continue to work
for social justice. Before I went overseas I was unable to see or
understand the injustices in my own society. After returning home I
could not ignore these injustices. I began to understand that while
all poor people suffer, women and children suffer more. Colleen
Cameron Antigonish, Nova Scotia
6. COMMITMENT TO JUSTICE AND PEACE/OPTION
FOR THE POOR - The Spiritan Rule of 1732 challenges all of
us "The members must first of all seek the Kingdom of God and
its justice, place their whole trust in God, find more happiness in
giving than receiving and always be more concerned about the
interests of others than our own. "Our current Rule of Life
tells us we must be "the advocates, the supporters, and the
defenders of the weak and the little ones against all who oppress
them (SRL 14) which means that "we must make every effort to
analyse situations, to lay bare the relationship of individual cases
to structural causes" (SRL 14.1) Lay Spiritans working with
First nations. Newcomers to Canada, refugees, and advocating on
behalf of prisoners, the poor and those experiencing racism.
7. COLLABORATION/BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS
BETWEEN CLERIC AND LAY/MUTUALITY AND COLLABORATION. Only
way forward for today's church.
We collaborate wherever possible with other persons or any other
bodies with similar objectives. We bring to the local Church our own
special charism and world-view. We assist it to develop a missionary
awareness. We respect and encourage the ministry of lay people in the
Church and in their wider society. We are becoming more aware of our
duty to work for the recognition of the dignity and rights of women
both in society and in the Church.
We now look upon other Christians and other religions as brother and
sisters and agents of collaboration. Many of us work in close
collaboration with them We are ready to collaborate with any
organizations with whom we share common objectives. We wish to
eradicate clericalism as an obstacle to real cooperation. (Quoted
from SMN).
8. SENSE OF HUMOUR/FUN
CELEBRATION/HOSPITALITY.
Good food, music, laughter, jokes, story telling, an open door and an
open heart.
9. CREATIVE LITURGY which
nurtures and heals. Monthly home mass where people share their
worries, celebrate their joys and reflect together on scripture in a
deeper way than is possible in a large parish situation.
10. COMMUNITY, ONE HEART AND ONE MIND.
Versus individualism advocated by society around us.
We come from different cultures, continents and nations. We have
different outlooks. But we are brought together by the Spirit of
Pentecost into one larger community, the Spiritan Congregation. Our
cultural diversity is welcomed as a positive force. By coming
together from so many different places and cultures, we are saying to
our brothers and sisters that the unity of the human race is not just
an impossible dream. In this way, our community life is an integral
part of our mission and a powerful witness to the message of the
gospel. We take for our motto the words used to describe the early
Christian communities: "One heart and one spirit."
We draw inspiration from each other, especially from the courageous
faith of those who live and work in difficult situations, sometimes
in conflict and war, but also from the faithful and undramatic
example of others with whom we share a home.
The following elements are characteristic of Spiritan community life:
a regular rhythm of prayer and shared meals, discussion and
reflection on our life, periods of common recreation, being prepared
to challenge each other in a caring and loving way, reconciliation
where the need arises, simplicity and a welcoming hospitality. (Quote
from MSN)
"Lay people bring an energy to the Spiritan community that comes
from being present in and aware of the world.
The spirit goes where it will, which is compatible with the life of a
lay person who has kids, family, a job. It is a spirituality that
interprets life as it is lived. The Spiritans have had a vital
formative role in my life. They have been more of a father to me than
nay other man in my life. They performed my marriage, baptized my
children, celebrated my 25th wedding anniversary, and married my
first child. They are very dear to me."
John Buettler, Holy Ghost preparatory School faculty Guidance
Counselor and former English Professor Bensalem, Pennsylvania.
The following points could sum up the results of this search for
what we have in common:
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The Mission: the contact, friendship and common path taken with the
Spiritans moves the lay person to identify themselves with the
Spiritan mission. This mission is the catalyst that brings together
lay people and Spiritans. The laity make their own the basic concerns
of Spiritan mission: the service of the poorest and most abandoned,
the problems of justice and peace, helping missionaries working
abroad, working for young people in danger, arousing a missionary
awareness in local Churches, the continuation of the spirit of our
Congregation in our schools.. And alongside all that, a serious
commitment to the local Church.
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The Spiritan missionary spirituality: this third aspect is
progressively becoming the deepest and most basic, because it is what
motivates and inspires. The writings of the founders, contacts with
the living tradition of the Congregation and a knowledge of the
spirituality of our founders - these are all aspects of our
spirituality that re waiting to be discovered, deepened and lived out
daily by Spiritans, whether they are professed or lay people. It is a
spirituality that is typified by a readiness to be guided by the
Spirit, an awareness and a study of he action of God in ourselves and
in outside world, a profound simplicity in our relationship with God
(in our prayers) and other people, living a "practical
union" with our Father and an unshakable confidence in his love
and guidance.
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Welcome
to the site of the TransCanada Province of the Spiritans. We are a
Roman Catholic Religious Congregation of over three thousand members,
founded in 1703. Our missions are spread worldwide. While we may be
found involved in many diverse ministries, we have dedicated
ourselves to working with the poor and in those situations where the
Church has difficulty in finding ministers. We hope you enjoy your
visit to our site and that while browsing you will keep us in your
prayers. May God bless you.
