FEBRUARY 2011
VOL. XVI, NO. 3
What’s to come in spring sessions on change?
By Judy Gray, OSUA in Memphis, Tenn.
ASSOCIATES DAY 2010: Left: Ellese Hay (guest), left, of Henderson, Ky., and Sister Alfreda Malone. Above: Associate Laurine Scott of Mascoutah, Ill., and Sister Dorothy Helbling. Right: Associates Stephanie Render of Caneyville, Ky., and Carol Hill of Leitchfield, Ky.
“I wanted to change my answer on that last handout, but then I was afraid to!” This comment from one Ursuline Associate during a Fall 2010 session on Change brought about a rousing, and very empathetic round of laughter. The handout in question was focused on identifying our level of freedom regarding change. We all knew exactly how she felt! How many times, in various settings, have we been asked to complete a survey which asked for our first and most honest response, only to find that we wanted to question once again, or maybe even a third time before finalizing our answer? The two Fall 2010 sessions on Change prompted many sisters and associates to prayerfully reflect on our openness to the Spirit regarding change. At times change is inevitable, and not of our own choosing. Such change can open us to the grace of surrender. It can put us in touch with our own desperate need for God in every aspect of our lives. Other changes are prompted from within, from that sacred space where we listen to God and come to understand that a change is needed – either interiorly or exteriorly – in order to live more fully with God at the center of our lives. Our Fall 2010 sessions helped us to look at the Spirituality
of Change, and at Principles of Change from the Experience of Saint Angela. We used these wonderful opportunities to learn from each others’ rich experience of change in their unique life settings. So, what is to come in the next two sessions? During the Lenten Season 2011, our topic will be Change in Ourselves. This session will help us to focus on personal change. With the help of handouts to serve as guides, together we will explore obstacles to change; resistance to what is new; negative emotions related to change; ways to move past the negative; and positive ways to deal with personal change. The topic of Session IV, which will take place during the Easter Season 2011, is Embracing Change and Transformation. In this session, we come to the culmination of all four sessions – How can we better be the persons, the community, the family, the Body of Christ that God invites us to be? This session will have its basis in New Testament texts related to change and transformation, giving participants an opportunity to reflect on transformation as a life-long journey. Change – exciting to some; frightening to others; a combination of both to many. What a powerful tool to compel us to spend time in Angela’s favorite place, at the feet of Jesus.
Associates and Sisters Day is Saturday, June 11th Please register by May 20th
Watch for more details in the May Update!
Angela Merici, Peacemaker and Reconciler
• What Angela Teaches Us about Living in Today’s Society as a Christian • What Angela Teaches Us about Being an Environmentally Friendly Christian • What the Poor Teach Us About Being Christian Event time: 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. For overnight accommodations, call Kathy McCarty: 270-229-4103 ext. 802