Many religious who commit themselves to deepening their understanding of global mission are familiar with SEDOS (Service of Documentation and Study on Global Mission). Some School Sisters of Notre Dame recently attended the SEDOS Seminar in Ariccia, Italy.
Sister Eunice Dagi from the Province of Africa reflects, "The SEDOS seminar was an amazing week. The overall topic was youth and mission. The seminar started with a skit based on the scripture story of Elijah and the poor widow. The point: bring whatever little gift you have to God and God will multiply it. Often God invites us to a project and we bring the excuse that we are not gifted in that area. Through Elijah, God told the widow to share her last food, and as she shared it everything multiplied. In the same way, when God calls, let us dare to respond without hesitation; God will multiply our gifts.
During this week, we came to more deeply realize that each member of the Congregation is responsible for vocation promotion. There could be a sister who is working on this as a full-time ministry, but it does not end there. She is just one person; whatever she does alone will not have much impact. However, if each member of the congregation is conscious of bringing in new members and actively participates by being physically present and sharing their lives with those who are searching, more young women will come to us and remain with us.
Over these days, it was also reaffirmed that each one of us can share in a unique way the fire and zeal that was in us when we were discerning a religious vocation and in the early stages of religious life. Sisters, if that zeal is there no more, look for ways to re-ignite it, to recommit ourselves to God, and live practically what we have vowed.
Pope France talks about the authentic joy which comes from our encounter with God. The radiance of this joy, not only invites young women to us, but also throws lightheartedness into our environment and the world. We need to be that magnetic energy that when we enter a place, there is immediate positive energy spread to each person. If many years ago, we said yes to follow Jesus in a more radical way, what is stopping us from living that life today when that joy and peace is most needed?”
Please click here to read more about SEDOS and reflections on the seminar from some of the other sisters.
