By SSFS
KUCHING (8 December) — There were 64 Sisters gathered at Convent of Mary Immaculate on 3 December 2023 for a Pre-General Assembly Recollection Day focused on the Eucharist, to prepare ourselves spiritually. The 5th General Assembly started on 4 December and ended on 8 December 2023.
The first two days, we listened attentively to the addresses of Superior General Sr Rose Wong and Archbishop Simon Poh; and the inputs on the situation of the Church, the political, and socio-economic situation of Malaysia, in particular of Sarawak, from our three guest speakers Bishop Richard Ng, Mr Simon Siah and Dr Dolly Paul Carlo respectively.
In our Spiritual Conversation, we discerned on how we sisters can put into practice the Incarnational view of St Francis of Assisi: peace, humility and fraternity. This is in contrast to the worldview, world order and world style of life; power and domination. We do this together with the Church to build up the Kingdom of God as rooted in our Franciscan Charism.
On the third day, we walked back and reviewed the ministries and apostolates. We experienced the moments of gratitude as well as despair, disappointment, and hopelessness.
On the fourth day, our Moderator Archbishop Emeritus John Ha, gave a synopsis of the entire proceedings following the flow in the story of the journey to Emmaus. Like the disciples, we were so engrossed with our failures and disappointments that we were unable to recognise the presence of God in our midst but we were made to realise that the Lord is always walking with us. We were invited to sit at the feet of Jesus, like Mary, to listen, discern and prioritize our ministries.
The parable of the Good Samaritan inspired us to reach out to those in the Peripheries and be real neighbours to them. With this insight from these Gospel passages, we felt encouraged, uplifted, and filled with hope.
Now, we feel ready and motivated to carry out the ministries we have reviewed as well as new ministries we may be called to embark on.
As exhorted by our Constitutions 26 and 27, we will continue to be inspired by the Word of God and draw strength from the Eucharist to carry out our ministries. We entrust ourselves to the intercession of Mary the Immaculate Conception, whose feast we celebrate today, 8 December, 2023.
