The month that has just ended has been a time of grace, during which we have continued to deepen our vocation in total surrender to God through our being ss.cc. Each day was marked by personal prayer and fraternal sharing.
The first topic, accompanied by our sisters Pushpa Rani and Sarah Ngunda ss.cc., was called "Cultural Diversity and Interculturality." This led us to engage with different cultures, promoting respect, appreciation of diversity, and dialogue. We learned to recognize the plurality of identity, to understand others and their experiences, and to value the cultural roots of each person. Living interculturality requires openness, a willingness to learn from others, and the building of relationships based on mutual respect.
In the second theme, "Consecration and Vows," we were joined by our sister Ratna Kumalasari ss.cc., who invited us to remember that radical call to which we responded, a call that, in the midst of our fragility, is renewed every day with a longing for fullness and the sense of a life entirely devoted to God. We recognized with certainty that the evangelical counsels open the way to an existence that is fuller, more authentic, and consistent with our daily choices. Although these choices may not always be easy, when we turn our gaze to God, we realize that there is no other place we would rather be. We deepened our vows of:
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Poverty, which calls us to detach ourselves from material goods and live simply.
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Chastity, as a total surrender to God, in service to Him and to others, remaining faithful to our vocation.
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Obedience, which helps us live with discipline and a spirit of service, renouncing ego and individualism.
The last theme, "Consecration to the Sacred Hearts: Heart of Jesus and Heart of Mary," was led by our sister Brigida Macamo ss.cc. This space was marked by moments of deep silence and prayer, as it touched the most intimate part of our being. In this meeting, we discovered that our consecration implies a total surrender to the Sacred Hearts: to the Heart of Jesus, who invites us to conform to Him, becoming a source of love, mercy, and redemption for humanity; and to the Heart of Mary, who calls us to live pure and true love in our surrender to God. Our consecration is based on three essential dimensions:
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Transcendence and Fullness, which orient us towards a life that is authentic and coherent with our faith.
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A Way of Living and Understanding Our Relationship with God, which transforms our being and our daily journey.
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A Way of Celebrating, expressed in ritual and community life, which nourishes and strengthens our vocation.
This month was also marked by moments of celebration. On March 26, we joyfully celebrated the birthday of Sister Inés, sharing food, dancing, and concluding with a prayer of thanksgiving for her life.
Likewise, on March 27, we celebrated the Feast of the Good Father at the brothers’ house in DFC (Damian Formation Community). The day was marked by the celebration of the Eucharist, followed by a fraternal supper. We also celebrated the gift of life of our brothers and sisters who celebrated their birthdays in January, February, and March 2025, and enjoyed an evening of music from different cultures, thus enriching our sense of community and fraternity, and our family spirit.
05/01/2025