By Elizabeth Joseph, Myanmar Sector, Province of East Asia
As the journey of restructuring continues in Asia-Pacific, sisters gathered in Myanmar for the second stage of the restructuring process.
Opening the sessions on January 17, 2025, East Asia Province Leader Sr. Rebecca Kay Thi Oo welcomed all the participants and encouraged them to “build relationships by giving voice to their voices and listening to the voices of others,” emphasizing the importance of open and constructive conversations, to address unseen and unspoken issues.
Outlining the goals of the assembly, Sr. Regina Htoo Htoo, a member of the Sector Implementation Restructuring Team, spoke of “fostering constructive, authentic dialogue and communion on the journey of restructuring”.
The objectives of the three-day sessions were to support participants to be able to create environments and practices that encourage meaningful communication, genuine connection and mutual understanding among all mission partners within the Sector of Myanmar.
Participants were encouraged to feel safe to express their views respectfully through open-ended discussions in which they could share their personal experiences and values without fear of judgment.
To enhance these goals and objectives, the session’s facilitators adopted new and creative methods of group work with the participants in which they emphasized shared humanity over differences and the importance of cultivating self-awareness to align (‘integrate’) words and actions with true intentions.
In advance of the gathering, a questionnaire was sent to all mission partners in the sector, and on the first day of the sessions, space was given to reflect on these responses, following which those involved in formation and vocation promotion shared their personal lived experiences to the assembly.
The second day of the sessions focused on community life and leadership. The whole group was invited to have an honest look at the reality of our community life and seek to understand what the most desirable community life would look like. In the afternoon, the group worked on leadership.
In the evening, to represent in action the qualities of service, purification, and humility, participants gathered for the ritual of the washing of the feet, followed by prayer.
The aim of this second day was to foster a sense of unity, mutual support, and shared experiences among participants.
The final days looked at more practical aspects that reflect the present and future reality of the sector, such as finance, safeguarding, and communication. Topics discussed also included updates on jubilee celebrations, invitations received to found new apostolates in the country, and the Myanmar Sector MHPSS (mental health and psychosocial support) team. The assembly concluded with a ceremony of gratitude.
Throughout the three days there was a strong sense of union and renewed hope. All participants contributed individually and as a group for transformation to strengthen our emerging invisible structure. They spoke of how they had engaged wholeheartedly in the process with compassion and honesty, feeling that a sacred space where everyone felt safe and empowered had been created through their shared courage to be kind and to listen with the heart.