As I
discovered at a Mount community meeting this past weekend, one of the many
gifts that Benedictines have to offer the world is a model of peaceful and
inclusive self-governance. Choosing leaders, addressing everyone’s needs, and
articulating a vision for the future are not easy tasks, whether for a nation
or for a religious community of 125+ women. Here is what we can learn from the
approach used by the Mount:
• Begin in a spirit of gratitude. For
each community meeting, a Sister is invited to present a “gratitude talk” after
the opening prayer each day. At the November meeting, Srs. Bernelda Nanneman
and Carolyn Rohde traced God’s marvelous workings in their lives through their
families, ministries, and life in community. We were able to marvel with them
at difficulties they overcame, struggles they experienced, joys they felt, weaknesses
they regretted, lessons they learned, and blessings they received, and we were
reminded that in the body of Christ, their
story is our story.
• Allow each person to have a voice. Not
everyone is comfortable standing before and speaking to an entire assembly, but
opportunities for discussions in small groups were provided, and written input
was solicited from everyone on various issues. In addition, we listened
respectfully and patiently to every person who wished to speak to the entire
assembly.
• Acknowledge everyone’s contributions. Everyone in the community was thanked
for SOMETHING during the two-day meeting, whether it was for serving on
committees, preparing presentations, working on the Night of Dreams event,
assisting elderly sisters in Dooley Center, serving on various boards outside
the community, participating in Atchison outreach activities, being liturgical
ministers, fostering vocations, offering hospitality to visitors and oblates,
praying for those in need, and living out our Benedictine charism to the best
of our ability.
One aspect
of community meetings that everyone can agree on is that we are grateful when
they are over! However, now that I have two community meetings under my belt, I
also find myself grateful that the Mount has the wisdom and tenacity to come
together four times a year to address issues, make collective decisions, and discern how
best to nurture ourselves and the world with our Benedictine values.
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