M. CLARE MILLEA
During my early years in religious life, I learned to see beyond external limitations—such as those of the mentally challenged children and adults I lived with and served—and was able to truly respect and cherish, as they do, the inner beauty of each unique person. The Apostolic Much later, as the newly elected superior general of Visitation of Institutes the Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and before beginning dialogue or canonical visitation with each of of Women Religious: my more than 1200 sisters, I made a whirlwind tour A Visitator’s Perspective of the communities in the fourteen nations in which my sisters are missioned. I was welcomed into every faith community by lively music, colorful dance, lovely How many times in our lives, while living handmade gifts, and much jovial hugging. At one point, the through a particularly challenging situation, exhausted by travel, extreme changes of climate and cul- we reflect on earlier situations in which we felt ture, and the strain of communicating in various lan- apostolic stretched beyond our own limited resources guages, I tearfully confided to a priest my difficulty in visitation and abilities. Unable to do anything but rely responding with enthusiasm to these endless outpour- upon God in surrender and trust, we later ings of love. Father gently explained to me that his peo- realize that not only did the Lord sustain us ple needed to use exuberant gestures to express their beyond our imagining, but those very expe- joy and gratitude for visible signs of God’s presence riences taught us the relational and practical so that they would not succumb to the weight of their skills we would need in far more challenging daily struggles for survival. That simple explanation was circumstances to come. I have reflected often a truly graced moment for me, a key to entering into during the past year about how many of my the world of those faith-filled people and many others personal experiences have shaped and honed whom I would later come to know. the gifts I hope to bring to the Apostolic Moments such as these throughout my many years of Visitation of Institutes of Women Religious in congregational service have intensified in me the desire the United States. to synchronize the beating of my heart with the heart of the other person, to understand, accept, and lovingly embrace her in her uniqueness. International living and 6 travel have strengthened in me the liberating conviction 7 M. Clare Millea ASCJ is the superior general of the that “my way” is not the only valid way or necessarily Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Her U.S. address the best way to be or to do. While I still struggle at is Mt. Sacred Heart; 295 Benham Street; Hamden, times to succinctly articulate my congregation’s unique Connecticut 06514.
Review for Religious 69.1 2010 Millea • The Apostolic Visitation of Institutes of Women Religious
charism of witnessing that God loves each person with Women and men freely choose to live in institutes which the human and divine love of Jesus, I am continually are canonically erected by the competent authority of the awed to sense the charism coursing through the veins church. Through the profession of vows or other sacred of every Apostle of the Heart of Jesus throughout the bonds, according to world. I feel constantly renewed and challenged by my the institute’s proper sisters to authentic religious living while at the same law, they profess the time I try to discover with them how we can grow in evangelical counsels The church has the duty personal holiness, effective gospel witness, and fruitful of chastity, poverty, of clarifying the identity, ministry in communion with the church. and obedience and, My recent appointment as apostolic visitator to the through the charity the vocation, and the particular institutes of women religious in the United States, the to which the coun- mission of religious institutes first instance of a woman religious being delegated with sels lead, are joined and promoting their apostolic authority to carry out such a service to the in a special way to church, seems overwhelming at times. While my affirma- the church.2 On her ecclesial communion. tive response to this mandate from the Congregation for part, the church has Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic the duty of clarify- Life (CICLSAL) requires considerable personal sacrifice, ing the identity, the I have embraced it as a joyful expression of that uncon- vocation, and the particular mission of religious insti- ditional assent to the divine will that I freely offered to tutes and promoting their ecclesial communion.3 God, to the church, and to my superiors on the day of my The apostolic visitation of institutes of women religious profession. Personally and through the religious religious in the United States was promulgated with who assist me in carrying it out, I sincerely endeavor to the express approval of Pope Benedict XVI.4 In a encounter with holy respect the members of each of the recent address to the members of the council for rela- religious institutes involved in the apostolic visitation. tions between CICLSAL and the men’s and women’s International Unions of Superiors General, the Holy The Church’s Pastoral Concern for Religious Life Father noted that religious communities are not exempt In the apostolic exhortation Vita consecrata, Pope from the increasing difficulty encountered in proclaim- John Paul II clearly affirmed that consecrated life, with ing and witnessing to the gospel in our modern global- its variety of charisms and institutions, is a treasure ized society. While acknowledging the difficult crisis which has its origin in the example and teachings of that has affected many congregations by reason of the 8 Jesus Christ. It is a gift of God the Father to the church aging of members, a more or less pronounced decrease 9 through the Holy Spirit, a precious and necessary gift in the number of vocations, and a certain “spiritual and for the present and future of the People of God, and an charismatic weariness,” he indicated that the Holy Spirit intimate part of the church’s life, holiness, and mission.1 continues to inspire a new commitment to fidelity in
Review for Religious 69.1 2010 Millea • The Apostolic Visitation of Institutes of Women Religious
long-established institutes and in new forms of religious Phases of the Apostolic Visitation consecration as well. He pointed out that authentic The apostolic visitation is being carried out in four actualization of the founders’ charism has resulted in a phases. In Phase 1, which lasted from April through July promising new ascetic, apostolic, and missionary impe- 2009, more than 75 percent of the superiors general whose tus for many congregations.5 institutes are included in the visitation responded to the The current apostolic visitation can rightfully be invitation of Cardinal Franc Rodé, prefect ofCICLSAL , to seen as a pastoral desire of the Apostolic See to journey enter into personal dialogue with the visitator. Attentive with religious congregations as they respond to Pope and respectful listening to the hopes and dreams of those Benedict’s renewed invitation to “start afresh from wonderful congregational leaders deepened my esteem Christ.”6 In open and honest dialogue with the univer- for the women religious who courageously and faith- sal church, the visitation is a means for congregations fully witness to their foundresses’ and founders’ spiritual to evaluate their present reality with courage and truth, patrimony and spend themselves in generous service to to rediscover their founding charism, and to live it in a the church. The major superiors’ love for and pride in more authentic manner appropriate for the present time. their sisters were clearly evident as they shared their In particular, it offers major superiors and their sisters collective story and vision. These interviews and letters a privileged opportunity to present to the Apostolic helped me formulate more precisely the objectives and See their congregation’s unique charismatic identity, procedures of the visitation. as well as their communal and ministerial expression In July 2009 the Instrumentum laboris7 or working of religious life. It likewise affords the Apostolic See a document for the apostolic visitation was released, out- way to listen to the joys, accomplishments, hopes, and lining its nature, purpose, and procedures. Major supe- concerns of the sisters and, together with the religious riors were encouraged to use the reflection questions themselves, to seek strategies for enhancing the vitality contained in the working document to engage their of the individual institutes. sisters in a process of self-evaluation regarding their In order to attain beneficial results, the dialogue congregation’s unique identity, their present experience with the Apostolic See must begin with an honest self- of community life, their mission and ministry, and their evaluation of the congregation’s lived fidelity to its hopes and concerns for the future. internal norms and to universal church law. The grace During Phase 2 of the apostolic visitation, major of the apostolic visitation can only occur in a climate of superiors were asked to complete a questionnaire regard- prayer, docility, open dialogue, and collaboration, with ing fundamental aspects of their congregation’s identity, a sincere desire on the members’ part to examine the present lifestyle, and future projections. The questions 10 congregation’s strengths and weaknesses and to effect were similar in content to those already suggested for 11 changes which would enhance the expression of its community reflection in the Instrumentum laboris and charism and ecclesial identity. were based on the model of religious life proposed in post-Vatican Council II documents on religious life8
Review for Religious 69.1 2010 Millea • The Apostolic Visitation of Institutes of Women Religious
and the Code of Canon Law. The questionnaire was respectful conversation between the institute and the composed of three sections. Part A requested statistical Apostolic See could predictably lead to greater clarity data about the congregation itself, the demographics of of purpose and identity. its members, living arrangements, care for elderly and During Phase 2 the apostolic visitator also extended infirm members, and ministerial presence. Its results have an invitation to bishops and individual members of reli- been collected by the Center for Applied Research in gious communi- the Apostolate (CARA), which will prepare an aggregate ties to share their report of the findings for all reporting institutes, respect- observations. Input ing the anonymity of the individual congregations. from any persons A core team of religious who are The questions in Part B of the questionnaire offered whose lives have aiding the visitator is currently the major superiors the opportunity to share with the been affected by evaluating the data received in Apostolic See the unique reality of their congrega- women religious is tion. They were designed to permit the major superi- also welcomed. All preparation for the subsequent ors to express each congregation’s unique way of living such contributions phases of the apostolic visitation. the evangelical counsels, in accord with their founding are assured confi- charism and their own fundamental documents, approved dentiality. A core by the church. The questions also sought basic informa- team of religious tion regarding governance, vocation promotion and for- who are aiding the visitator is currently evaluating the mation policies, the spiritual and common life, mission data received in preparation for the subsequent phases and ministry, and financial administration. In addition, of the apostolic visitation. major superiors were invited to offer further explanations The third phase will begin in the spring of 2010 with or comments to express their reality more completely. on-site visits to a representative sample of institutes con- In Part C of the questionnaire, major superiors were ducted by teams of religious visitors who will act indi- asked to submit basic and supplementary congregational vidually and collectively in the name of the Apostolic documents, such as constitutions, ancillary norms, for- See. The visitors were chosen from among the many fine mation plans, and chapter decisions. A complete copy of religious nominated by superiors general and others and the questionnaire is available on the Apostolic Visitation represent a variety of congregations and areas of exper- website.9 tise. Before conducting the on-site visits, all potential The canonical model of religious life which under- visitors will have participated in an orientation workshop lies the questions does not fully correspond to the lived during which they will pronounce the public profession 12 reality of certain institutes. The questionnaire extended of faith and the oath of fidelity to the Apostolic See that 13 an invitation to those communities which appear to be are made by those assuming offices to be exercised in the evolving into a new form of consecrated life to describe church’s name.11 This profession carries with it a special their emerging expression of vowed living.10 Honest and grace which will strengthen the visitors in their delicate
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task. It will assist them to faithfully carry out their role may be a more vibrant presence and effective instrument in communion with the sound teachings and practice of evangelization into the future. As did Pope John Paul of the Catholic Church and not according to their own in the conclusion to Vita consecrata, we entrust all reli- private judgment or subjective ideology.12 gious to the Virgin of the Visitation, that the church The on-site visitors will engage in dialogue primarily may always be gifted with generous women who, as lov- with the members of leadership teams and a representa- ing consecrated persons, will continue to bring Jesus tive group of the sisters, eliciting their vision of the joys, to the poor, the hungry, those without hope, the little challenges, and obstacles the religious face in seeking to ones, and all who seek Jesus with a sincere heart.13 live authentically their charismatic identity. The details of the on-site visit will be arranged with the congrega- Notes tions to be visited in such a way as to afford the visitors 1 See John Paul II, Vita consecrata, §§1 & 3. a broad and objective picture of the life and mission of 2 See Code of Canon Law, c. 573, §2. the congregation and its impact on the local church. The 3 See Vita consecrata, §4. visitation team will formulate a report for the apostolic 4 Decree, Prot. N. 16905/ 2008, at
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