Ladies and gentlemen,
For almost two years I was allowed to coordinate the Monastic Pastoral Care project. In the beginning I thought that this project would be mainly an ecumenical file recording of ideas and concepts regarding religious communities. However, from the very first conversations the emphasis was not on financial constructions, legal models or on forms of cooperation between religious and lay people. No, in the more than 100 conversations held, the emphasis was massively on the question of one’s own identity and spirituality. I am very grateful to my interlocutors for their great hospitality, openness and often vulnerability they have shown; it made this project an unexpected spiritual discovery for me personally.
The conversations led to a kaleidoscope of results and impressions and during the preparation of this day the coordination group wondered how we could best present this diversity. We have decided to invite as many speakers as possible from different organizations and with different backgrounds to give that kaleidoscope a face. All speakers today are willing to directly talk to you as a visitor and we hope that you will use it on this day.
Early next year, a whole series of reports of conversations and descriptions of organizations will be published on the website. You will receive a message from us via email. Today, however, I would like to focus on four more general conclusions from the conversations that I believe are of great importance to anyone thinking about future forms of religious community life.
The title of this day is “Believe in Change – Religious Life”. Both parts of this title have a double meaning and I would like to place my four conclusions there. The conclusions are:
- We must not hide the pain and doubt in believing in times of change, but name and share it.
- We must dare to believe that change offers an opportunity for life
- God speaks to people in our day too
- Believers are also looking for religious fellowship in our time.
Geef een reactie