June 2018 #SisterPoets: New Life & Growth
Generativity
Alice Ann O’Neill, SC
In the middle life, generativity is a gift and challenge.
No longer looking to others for guidance,
Rather guiding many.
Giving Voice is very excited to announce a new scholarship for Catholic Sisters! The Leadership Initiatives Scholarship is meant to strengthen the mission of Giving Voice through our participants in three areas: Leadership Skills Development, Relationship and Bridge-Building, and Language Skills.
Almost 13 years ago, I said yes, and filled up the application to be a candidate with the Congregation of which I am apart of now, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace. The decision came after a period of listening intently to what I heard, felt and wanted from God.
On the weekend of April 12-15, I attended a Formation Convocation in Chicago with my community, the Felician sisters. I joined 51 of our sisters: those in leadership, in varying stages of formation, and those in formation. What I expected to be a meeting turned out to be a community retreat where we reflected on formation that is centered in a relationship with God.
Do you write poetry? Join us in creating #SisterPoets, a monthly series of poems by sisters. Each month, sisters who participate in Giving Voice are encouraged to write a poem on one spiritual theme, to be a part of a monthly collection published in our e-newsletter, on our website and social media platforms.
I recently did an interview on Religious Life, the last question took me by surprise because it was not related to the topic of which we were talking about: Which advice would you give to a young Adriana? I must confess that my answer also surprised me when I said: "as time will goes by you will realize that the people around you impose too many expectations and want to see you act in certain ways. It will be very difficult to stay true to yourself but always fight for it because it's worth it.” When I look backward, I can pinpoint the exact moment when this turned into a non - negotiable value for me.
On my desk, I keep a tattered post-it note that reads, “Because of you, I can do something.” A few years ago, a client said this as he sat in my office talking about his new life. I still remember the moment he said that. I felt like an insignificant speck in his new life in Akron, Ohio, but, to him, I stood as a reminder of his new beginning. Who are the people in our own lives that call us to enter into the newness of life? What do these people represent?
Roman Catholic Sisters and Brothers who are currently in formation and have completed their canonical novitiate year are invited to participate in a new program called Together: A Collaborative for Theological Education, Formation, and Community, cosponsored by Catholic Theological Union (CTU) and the Religious Formation Conference (RFC).
Do you write poetry? Giving Voice is excited to announce our new original poetry series: #SisterPoets! Each month, sisters who participate in Giving Voice are encouraged to write a poem on one spiritual theme, to be a part of a monthly collection published in our e-newsletter, on our website and social media platforms.
With some of my sisters, I volunteered at a local soup kitchen. It was my first time at this location in Rome and the patrons were immigrants from all over the world. It felt like a feast of the nations because of the diversity of people and the joyful atmosphere that permeated the room.
