“Crisis as an opportunity”

From 11-14 March in the formation process of the junior sisters, we explored, reflected, prayed and shared on how ‘crises’ have shaped the history of our Congregation, the life of the founders and our personal history.

We began this week by reflecting on life parables, identifying the one that resonated best with our own experiences and challenges…. This introspection helped us lay the foundation for a deeper understanding of crisis as a great opportunity for growth. Life is full of challenges, and history tells of many people who faced many conflicts and emerged enriched and transformed. Among them are our founders, Maria Antonia Paris and Anthony Mary Claret, who stand out as inspirational figures who transformed conflicts and challenges into opportunities for growth and service. Their ability to live in adverse, confusing and uncertain situations offers us valuable lessons that we can learn and apply in our own lives.

Jolanta Kafka, Claretian missionary and Provincial Superior of Europe, with various creative dynamics helped us to unfold our crises in the light of the experience of the founders.

A particularly memorable part of the workshop was a performance illustrating the transformation of crisis through simple gestures and actions, underlining the belief that sometimes actions can speak more profoundly than words. The silent theatre performance summed up the central message of the session: that crisis, when faced with faith, patience, constancy, placed in God’s hands and with the right tools, can lead to significant personal growth and community renewal.