By Sr Rona de Leon, Contemplative Sister, Province of Philippines and Japan

Apostolic and contemplative leaders and sisters from across Asia Pacific gathered for 8 days of sessions between October 6 and 14 in Banawa, Cebu City, the Philippines.

In particular, we cherished the presence and participation of Congregational Leader Sr. Joan Marie Lopez, together with three apostolic councilors, Srs Yolanda Sanchez, Josita Corera, and Marie Françoise Mestry, and three Contemplative Councilors, Srs Cristina Rodriguez, Sadhani Walmillage, and Edith Olaguer.

We felt connected and enriched by engaging in long conversations with one another with deep listening hearts and from the joy of social nights together, drawing out the creativity in each one, which is so necessary for our contemplative life.

In this gathering, we experienced the mystery of encounter with God in the whispers of the heart and in the different forms of prayer we practiced, with one another and with the rest of Creation.

Together, we make our own story as Asia Pacific to stay connected through any form of communication and prayer for one another, for the Congregation, and for the whole Universe.

We acknowledge that our ‘enclosure is our place in God where we belong. Our home is in God when we remain in love according to the Great Heart of God’—a God who loves us first, unconditionally.  As beloved of God, we seek God’s presence in the ordinariness of our lives and manifest God’s presence in us and among us through our life-giving relationships, love, and care for one another that alleviates the pain of our suffering world. For what we are and what we become radiates to the whole cosmos.

Our life of prayer bears fruit when we are conscious of our inner reality, reaching out to people in a contemplative way and helping others to discover the God who dwells in them. For our life is not for ourselves but for others.

Sr. Edith spoke of how “the pearl is not the shell but the shell co-creates the pearl” – and so is our contemplative life. The importance of our internal structure, the primacy of God and acceptance of our own vulnerability, and the external structures that support our search for God in the ordinariness and realities within, among us, and around us.

As St. Mary Euphrasia said, “Reconciliation must start from within”, and we can be reconciled to others when we first recognize that we need to forgive and be forgiven. Just as bees are incapable of surviving without unity, we cannot be happy living together without each other’s back.

Synodality calls us to communion, participation, and mission; we are challenged to live our mission of reconciliation in our community and wherever we are sent. As St. Mary Magdalene said, “The world will only change as we change. It is up to us!”.

May we have the eyes of God that see others as they are and not as we see them.