Ongoing formation for the senior Ursuline sisters of the Indonesian Province
02/02/2021
The Commission of Ursuline Spirituality Development of the Indonesian Province held an Ongoing Formation meeting for Ursuline Sisters aged between 65 and 80 years old from January 14 -16, 2021. This event was attended by 53 sisters. Due to the Covid-19 Pandemic, this activity was carried out virtually via Zoom. To prepare for this activity, around mid-December 2020, the 53 sisters were divided into small groups through WhatsApp. The books, Against the Tide, the Writings of Saint Angela, and the Constitutions of the Roman Union of the Order of Saint Ursula were used to help deepen the spirit of St Angela. They read, pondered and reflected on the spirit and values of Mother Angela and then shared their respective spiritual richness with group members. This sharing was carried out until just before the meeting held on January 14, 2021. The sharing of the Senior Sisters was gathered together and distributed to all participants. This sharing became a richness for each of them and this was then again distributed to the Senior Sisters.
The next preparation which lasted two days and which was no less important was guidance on how to use the Zoom Application. Initially the technical guidance was planned for three days, from the 11-13 January 2021. However, only two days was required to enable everyone to be able to use the application well. The Senior Sisters are not alone as they are still accompanied by wingless angels, namely the young Sisters who voluntarily accompany them in their communities.
The theme of the Ongoing Formation programme for the Senior Sisters is "Living Happily with Mother Angela." This meeting was accompanied by Fr. Priyono Marwan, SJ and Sr. Madeleine Mail, OSU and echoed the Triduum process. The process flowed smoothly and the material used for reflection was about the life of St Angela, from her childhood up to her death. This meeting was very interesting and joyful because it was presented in a way suitable for the sisters; flowing, slow, relaxed but deep and the Senior Sisters really enjoyed the dynamics and the process. Each day started at 9.00 with an opening, then an introduction from Fr. Priyono Marwan SJ, some questions for reflection, sharing in small groups (breakout room), personal reflection, sharing from some sisters in the large group and then closing prayer and blessing from Fr. Priyono at 12.30.
During this three day meeting, the Senior Sisters shared the richness of Mother Angela's life. In the introduction on the first day, Fr. Priyono Marwan, SJ said, “Dig up the richness of Angela's values in yourself because this richness is in each of you, like a chicken in a rice barn. Enjoy this process slowly, just like when we are invited to a restaurant with a delicious menu, enjoy the food slowly, don't be in a hurry so you can feel the pleasure. "
It was amazing to see the Senior Sisters in full spirit and enthusiastically trying to operate the tools that they used in the meeting. In their evaluation, they said that they hoped that this meeting could be continued into the future. The Covid-19 pandemic has not prevented the Ursuline Sisters from continuing to strengthen the spiritual life of the Sisters. The Senior Sisters who attended this meeting felt happy and joyful. They enriched each other's spiritual lives through the spirit of Our Mother Angela. They are also happy because they met with their classmates (online reunion). In addition, they also learned to recognize and use communication tools that are used specifically for Zoom meetings.
Translation from the article by Sr. Theresia Martini, OSU
(Commission of Ursuline Spirituality Development)
