RELIGIOUS OF THE PACIFIC CONCLUDE UNIQUE LEADERSHIP ASSEMBLY

 

SUVA: 10^th August – In an Assembly unique for its comprehensive membership and wide-ranging interests in issues pertaining to leadership in Pacific communities of Consecrated and Apostolic Life, 70 members comprising Congregational Leaders and Leaders of Local Communities, met in Suva over the first week of August to be nurtured in leadership and to seek new ways for effective leadership.

 

Under the guidance of several experienced leaders in the Pacific, men and women such as Bishop Foliaki of Tonga, Sr. Katie Ann SOLN, Fr. Frank Hoare SSC, the Assembly was unique in that it brought together the majority of present Congregational Leaders of the 50 Institutes (with 1300 members) represented throughout North, Central and South Pacific, along with potential future leaders, many of whom are already leading local communities.

 

The group was challenged to move out from devotional comfort and ‘put out into the deep’ of human involvement, both in terms of nurturing their communities of consecrated and apostolic life and in leading these same communities to engage courageously with the lives and issues of the people amongst whom they work.  These men and women already see themselves as co-partners in the Church, along with Bishops and laity; they recognize that they have resources and established networks across the region.  Through their spiritualities and charisms they have already committed themselves to a lively presence.

 

The message from the Assembly to their own brothers and sisters was simple: There is little place for lone swimmers diving for pearls of great price – but there are long boats with many oars and rowers. join us in moving out into the deep!