Nourished by this experience,

we believe it is the right time to act. Now is the favourable time!
We believe it is possible to respond to the call of the Chapter to put all things in common.

In order to do this, we need to face up to the reality of the world and of our Congregation.

The revenue from our ministries is not sufficient to support our life and our apostolate. We believe that God provides but we need to find alternative sources of revenue. Budgeting is one tool that allows us to face our situation.

What is at stake is nothing less than living the Gospel,

following Christ,
living the vows
and se livrer.

International Finance Meeting
10-20 0ctober 2011

At the beginning of the meeting, there was palpable excitement among the participants. Many of us expressed hope and faith as we began to receive and work concretely on the acts of the General Chapter, specifically Putting All Things in Common. Bubbles, Reylie and I volunteered to lead the morning prayer with the theme of the Begging Bowl, a symbol of the vows, of how we struggle to live the balance between simplicity and attachment in our lives. The prayer properly disposed us for the task ahead of us.

Each province/region presented a symbol/story that best describes the state of their respective province/region. We were encouraged to be as creative as possible and to have fun as well in our preparation and presentation. In true Filipino fashion, we prepared a feast or a banquet as a symbol of our region’s present state. The banquet is entitled “Handaang Asyano, Salu-salong Senakulo.” Using art materials, all the “food” on the table represented a slice of our life as a region. Dishes such as Pancit ng Pangarap (with pancit being essentially Chinese, this is our dream for the China mission), Kanin ng Buhay (our staple food is the Cenacle mission spirit), Chicken Joy (our joy as young women come to seriously explore the Cenacle vocation), Suman malagkit (the unity in our vision), Lechon ng Kasaganaan (our riches: our sisters, friends, benefactors, etc.), Sophia Escabeche (vibrancy of life is symbolized by fish in Chinese cuisine, while the sweet and salty sauce characterize the joy and difficulty of aging), and for dessert, the Halo-halo special (a mix of the different aspects of our restructuring, which can be messy but good-tasting nevertheless).

The other groups also made creative presentations for their respective province. Italy gave a dramatic storytelling using dolls and other materials; France had a combination of song, recitation and Powerpoint; England/Ireland had Lego structures to depict the changes of their communities; the Generalate community dramatized their very mobile life; North America had soil formed into a cross; Brazil did a pantomime to depict their different mission endeavors; and Madagascar used the symbol of a boat. The common threads in our stories and symbols are self-surrender and faith in God in the face of diminishment.

As I listened to each story and looked at each symbol, I cannot help but be moved by the obvious difficulties each province undergoes. At the same time, it is most edifying to see how each province/region strives to be faithful to the mission despite the challenges in our life, inside and outside the Cenacle. I admire their spirit of surrender, courage and steadfast trust in God’s goodness. There is great hope even as we tread new paths and embrace a new way of being as one Body.

The most touching for me was when we connected our presentation displays with all available materials, and eventually, all of us joined hands to symbolize our oneness as a body. While linked together, each province sang its own song one after another. It was amazing that we were able to join in singing songs even in foreign languages. I was moved by the deep desire to connect with one another and how each sister commits herself to that communion.

Working through the nitty-gritty of budgeting, we confronted the reality of our decreasing temporal resources. The statistics and figures can be staggering, especially with the Eurozone crisis looming big before us. However, the dispositions of the sisters were very hopeful, daring and steadfast. We find strength in our oneness of vision, deep commitment to the whole body, and trust in God’s goodness.

As an ordinary sister (i.e., not in leadership or treasurer position) participating in the meeting, I am very grateful for the chance to see how we, as one body, strive earnestly to live the Gospel truths in the most concrete way. This is not just about finances, but a total way of being Cenacle today. We are called to put our human and physical resources, ideas, ministries, etc. available to the entire Body. More than ever, we are called to live out Mother Therese’s “se livrer” in our daily life.

Surely there a lot of things we need to work out after this meeting: new ways of being and doing, greater sense of accountability, keener discernment in making choices, and many more. But in the end, just like the Buddhist monk who knows that his bowl be full at the end of the day, we are confident that God will see us through, that “we will have what we need. We will have enough.” (from the meditation of the ‘Begging Bowl’) Why, of course, our God is Goodness.

Mel R. Benedictos, rc

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(*Fenxiang is the Chinese word for “sharing”)