Bonding in Spirit and Truth
We are truly grateful for this opportunity. The three of us were very excited for this was the first time— all three of us, scattered in different communities gathered together. Sr Susan intended the sessions to be light. So we began with an outing to KLCC, followed by sharing of our retreat experiences.
For the next two days, we reflected on two questions: “What had been helpful to us in the past as temporary professed?” and “What had NOT been helpful?” These two seemingly simple questions, interwoven by two movies (Frozen and Men of God), a team-drawing activity and common prayers together, led us into deep sharing. In our team-drawing game, an elephant emerged. The game and the movie ‘Men of God’ that we watched on the second night helped us to reflect and ‘risk’ ourselves with each other in subsequent discussions. We learned to express what we really felt inside and communicated that feeling in ALL-HONESTY yet NON-VIOLENTLY with each other. We tried to LISTEN to each other’s honesty with respect, love and in a life-giving way. We had a taste of what ‘GENERATIVE LISTENING’ was all about and the equally important ‘GENERATIVE SPEAKING’, felt like. |
The annual retreat with Archbishop Emeritus John Ha in Malaysia, ended on 4th of June. Immediately after, for three days and three nights, from 5 to 7 of June, the Temporary Professed (TP) Srs Angeline Poh (6th year), Winnie Vun (4th year), and Susanna Gunawan (6th month) bunked-in at Assunta Children Society, Petaling Jaya for their TP sessions, facilitated by Sr. Susan Thomas, fmm.
This I believe is the first step to be able to love each other in TRUTH. For me— and I believe my two companions felt it too; being TRUTHFUL to each other really took a great amount of energy and courage. Only the Spirit could help us and we were grateful that She did.
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However, the FRUIT is great too—
I feel we are closer to each other now. This was because we were able to surpass ‘chit-chat’ level and TALK about what actually mattered in our hearts. By being truthful at the heart level – we realize how different and unique we each one is. Yet..., deep down all the three of us have the same ardent desire to love— although we have different ways of showing our love. |
We are DIFFERENT in the way we think, see, listen and speak. Yet, when we are able to accept and surpass our differences, we discover…we are not that different at all. At the ROOT, we experience similar feelings— we are in the same boat after all!
Individual conversation with Sr Susan closed the three-day gathering. The Lord has given us this experience. May the Lord help us bring this forward in our respective communities. A huge big thanks to Sr Susan! We really enjoyed our time together as Sisters.
Written by Susi, edited by Angeline, approved by Winnie….
Individual conversation with Sr Susan closed the three-day gathering. The Lord has given us this experience. May the Lord help us bring this forward in our respective communities. A huge big thanks to Sr Susan! We really enjoyed our time together as Sisters.
Written by Susi, edited by Angeline, approved by Winnie….
"We are women of different nations and cultures, choosing to live together in a fragmented world. Revealing the face of Christ by being a humanizing presence among people who suffer and are on the margins.Committing ourselves, with others to the care of creation and to the service of peace, justice and healing, where is most needed."
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