The dynamic pace of movement towards excellence in Singapore has left us with the challenge to throw open our doors and seriously delve into a search for our place and relevance in this multi-cultural, highly technological, affluent society. What can we offer this people whom we have sought to serve through our various ministries? Are we, Canossian Sisters pertinent in this society? How can we serve this new generation in the charism of Magdalen? What are the needs that we are called to respond to in this new millennium? Numerous questions like these had to be encountered…
With renewed zeal, after her year of
convalescence, our Provincial, Sr Janet Wang, in collaboration with her
Councillors organized a feedback session with a few of our lay collaborators.
Three men and four women [out of which two were youths] who
were from different walks of life but had varying degrees of contact with the
Sisters, were invited to form a panel to share their impressions and proposals.
Sisters were encouraged to participate in this session and at the appointed
time, it was gratifying to see that a number of our Sisters, the ‘gems’ and
the 'youthful' came to the gathering held in February this year.
Our young and spirited Sr Edwina who
skillfully guided the sharing and interactions moderated the Panel, a mixed
group who were unfamiliar with each other. A supportive spirit of collaboration
was evident as the panel members spoke of their gratitude for the Sisters’
availability, their work and supportive role within the ecclesia and in their
various ministries.
More significantly, it was the
Panel's candid, yet lucid and practical proposals in response to the Sisters’
search for directions in this new millennium that was challenging. The proposals ranged from spiritual direction/guidance, to empowering and
facilitating lay ministries, mission outreach programmes and even, to a ministry
of healing amongst others.
It was indeed an insightful and
enriching experience for us Canossians as we journey along this millennium
seeking new meaning and relevance in this affluent society that is enamored with
efficiency and progress. The track
could be perceived as an arduous one utterly lined with pebbles and potholes but
it is certainly one that Sisters do not travel alone on, supported as we are by
our lay Collaborators.
We have also had other lay persons kindly enriching Sisters with updated processing tools for our forthcoming Chapter deliberations. We believe that the Spirit, who initiated this movement in us, has clearly given us fellow travellers and we journey on. Yes, we are obviously carried "on eagle's wings" and so with hearts filled with hope we uphold a vision of mutual collaborative love and service for all God's people.