OPEN TO TRANSFORMATION
Transformations at the Heart of Church Events
Let God transform you
by the renewing of your minds.
You can then discern the will of God:
what is good and acceptable and perfect. Rm. 12, 2
As we continue revisiting the 175 years of our SNJM Congregation’s existence, we cannot but be riveted by two major events that have forever marked our community’s destiny. These are, of course, the Second Vatican Council and the Quiet Revolution experienced in Quebec during the 1960’s. Let us spend some time today looking at the first event.
From the beginning of his Pontificate, Pope John XXIII wanted to breathe new life into the Church. And so he convoked the Second Vatican Council. It was a work of faith and courage that would be continued by his successor, Paul VI. One of the decrees, Perfectae Caritatis (Perfect Charity), was addressed to religious congregations and urged them to undertake an aggiornamento, a spiritual renewal of religious life. A major challenge!
Our community set about listening to the Spirit speaking to us in this document, calling us:
- to follow the Jesus of the Gospels,
- to better grasp the original inspiration which motivated our foundress (charism),
- to share in the life of the Church by updating our biblical, theological, pastoral, ecumenical, missionary and social knowledge,
- to discern “the signs of the times” and the needs of the Church.
Concretely, this decree asked us to revise our constitutions, customs, prayer books, common practices, etc., in order to be disciples for our time. Our Congregation responded to this call with seriousness, conviction and enthusiasm. Several Sisters made outstanding contributions by means of their research, their writings, and their work of revising and rewriting the Constitutions. Sisters also contributed by taking part in community discussions, General Chapters, and various other sessions.