REFLECTION GUIDE FOR MUTUAL ENRICHMENT IN SPIRITUALITY Materials for the Arnoldus Family SVD-SSpS e-Publications Generalate, Rome, 2021 Prepared by Ad Hoc Committee: Peter Dusicka, SVD; Roger Schroeder, SVD; Stanislaus T. Lazar, SVD; Maria Illich, SSpS; and Leoni Pregunta, SSpS Translators: Pedro de Dios Martín, SVD and Lidia Kunze, SSpS Cover page: Dixson D’Souza, SVD Logo on the cover page is Logo of the Vivat Deus Website on Spirituality www.vivatdeus.org Authors of Logo: Ana Elidia Caffer Neves, SSpS and Mr. Gabriel Grecco Layout: Sandy Ashadi, SVD CONTENTS CONTENTS Presentation 7 Introduction 9 Chapter One 11 Basic Framework for Understanding Interculturality 1. Foundations for Interculturality for the Arnoldus Family 11 1.1 Definitions 11 1.2. Cultural Diversity as a Gift 12 1.3. Theological and Spirituality Foundation of Interculturality 12 1.4. Guiding Questions for Reflection (Sections 1.2 and 1.3) 14 1.5. Biblical Foundations of Interculturality 14 1.6. Arnoldus Family Foundations for Interculturality 15 1.7. Guiding Questions for Reflection (Sections 1.5 and 1.6) 17 1.8. Psychological Foundations for Interculturality 17 1.9. Guiding Questions for Reflection 18 2. Challenges for Interculturality 18 2.1. Conflicts, Ethnocentrism and Prejudices 18 2.2. Dimensions in Religious Life and Mission 19 2.3. Guiding Questions for Reflection 20 3. Joys of Intercultural Living and Mission 20 3.1. Best Practices from Our Communities 20 3.2. Guiding Questions for Reflection 21 Chapter Two Modules for Spiritual Activities in the Community 22 2.1. Intercultural Bible Sharing 22 2.1.1. Guidelines for Bible and Faith/Life Sharing 22 2.1.2. Created in the Image and Likeness of God Gen 1:26-28 23 2.1.3. Self-giving in Interculturality Ruth 1:8-19 24 2.1.4. Widening our Cultural Horizons Mk 7:24-30 25 2.1.5. Across the Generation Gap Lk 1:39-45 26 2.1.6. Love of Neighbor Lk 10:25-37 27 2.1.7. Encounter at the Well Jn 4:1-42 28 2.1.8. Courage to Meet the Other Acts 10:1-35 29 2.1.9. Sharing at the Table of the Lord 1 Cor 10:16-17 30 2.1.10. Unity in the Body 1 Cor 12:12-13 31 2.1.11. Christian Love 1 Cor 13:1-13 32 2.1.12. God’s Treasure in Earthen Vessels 2 Cor 4:6-7 33 2.1.13. Trinity, Diversity and Unity 2 Cor 13:11-13 34 2.1.14. Pulling Down Walls of Hostility Eph 2:11-22 35 2.1.15. The Foundation of Intercultural Harmony Phil 2:1-11 36 2.1.16. Beyond Fundamental Distinction Gal 3:26-28 37 2.1.17. From Every Nation, Culture and Language Rev 7:9-14 38 2.2. Intercultural Faith/Life Sharing 39 2.2.1. Sharing one’s Own Culture with a Symbol 39 2.2.2. Sharing the Richness of Cultural Traditions 40 2.2.3. Sharing Experiences of Respect and Listening 42 2.2.4. Sharing Experiences of Disrespect and Ethnocentrism 43 2.2.5. Sharing Experiences of Prejudice and Fear 45 2.2.6. Sharing Experiences of Entering into Others’ Garden 47 2.2.7. Sharing Experiences of Cultural Shock upon Entering a New Culture 48 2.2.8. Sharing Experiences on Building Intercultural Bridges 49 2.2.9. Sharing Experiences of Forgiveness and Reconciliation 50 2.3. Bibliodrama 53 1 to 7 Bibliodrama Segments 54 2.4. Days of Recollection 61 2.4.1. Ethnocentrism and Prejudice 61 2.4.2. Acknowledging and Sharing Spiritual Gifts from Different Cultures 67 2.4.3. Intercultural Life: A Call of Every Baptized Person 72 2.4.4. The Intercultural Journey of St. Joseph Freinademetz 76 2.4.5. Interculturality in the Life of Sr. Theresia Messner, SSpS 84 2.4.6. Reconciliation and Forgiveness in the Community Hurt by Intercultural 89 Insensibility 2.5. Feast Day Celebrations 95 2.5.1. Feast of St. Arnold Janssen 95 2.5.2. Feast of St. Joseph Freinademetz 98 2.5.3. Feast of Bl. Maria Helena Stollenwerk 101 2.5.4. Feast of Bl. Josepha Hendrina Stenmanns 104 2.5.5. SVD Foundation Day (8 September) 107 2.5.6. SSpS Foundation Day (8 December) 110 Chapter Three Modules for Spiritual Activities with Mission Partners 114 3.1. Intercultural Bible Sharing (see above 2.1.1 – 2.1.17) 114 3.2. Intercultural Faith/Life Sharing (see above 2.2.1 – 2.2.9) 114 3.3. Recollection Day for Renewal of the Mission Partners 114 3.4. Devotions and Adorations Together with Mission Partners 119 3.4.1. Devotion to Mother Mary - A 119 3.4.2. Devotion to Mother Mary - B 123 3.4.3. Devotion to the Holy Spirit - A 126 3.4.4. Devotion to the Holy Spirit - B 129 3.4.5. Adoration of the Sacred Heart of Jesus 132 3.5. Sharing Experiences of Vocation and Value System 135 3.6. Eucharist Celebration with Mission Partners and Confreres in a District 137 3.7. Building Community 140 3.7.1. Intercultural Evening in a Parish 140 3.7.2. A Way to Build Intercultural Community 142 3.7.3. Intercultural Gathering in a Community 144 3.8. Pilgrimage 146 3.9. Welcoming New Members to the Mission Partners Group 147 3.10. Sharing and Planning for Missionary Activities 151 3.11. Novena in Honor of Saint Arnold Janssen 153 3.12. Symbolic Way of the Cross 172 Other Resources 183 The tomb of our Founder Arnold Janssen in Steyl and four candles representing three Congregations he founded and the Mission Partners PRESENTATION PRESENTATION The idea of synodality was given much attention in the last two synods of the bishops. The first chapter of the last part of the closing document of the synod on the youth in 2018 carries the title: The missionary synodality of the Church. The synod participants realize that the Church is called to take a relational face that places emphasis on listening, welcoming, dialogue and common discernment in a process that transforms the lives of its members (122). A year later, in the closing document of the synod on the Amazon, we read, “To walk together the Church requires a synodal conversion, synodality of the People of God under the guidance of the Spirit … With this horizon of communion and participation we seek new ecclesial paths” … (86). Being together on the way is a common experience in crises such as the COVID-19 Pandemic. Pope Francis said in his reflection on March 27, “We are together in this.” We are together in facing the suffering, and we are together in looking for ways to respond to it. This is the time for us to make our choices: to walk along or be separated and encapsulated in egoism, clericalism, racism, or nationalism. We thank God for calling us to participate in God’s mission. We are grateful to our Founder and the Founding Generation for having laid a common ground for our missionary spirituality. Our past generations tried to find ways to help our congregations enrich each other and work together to respond to missionary situations. In recent years, we have come to realize the importance and necessity of inviting our mission partners1 to walk along with us, sharing our missionary spirituality and responsibility. We are convinced that working together is only possible if we walk together. Sharing responsibility has to be based on and accompanied by mutual spiritual enrichment. We are walking and working together as sisters and brothers from different cultural backgrounds. Reconfirming a resolution of the 17th General Chapter, the 18th General Chapter of the SVD tasks the General Administration to develop a reflection guide for the local communities. This guideline is meant “to promote appreciation of and mutual enrichment by different cultural expressions of spiritualities present among the members of our community” and “for mutual enrichment in spirituality with lay associates to strengthen our collaboration.” The SSpS Congregational Leadership Team also sees the same need. Therefore a joint team was established to prepare the said guidelines. We now present to you this reflection guide, the result of a long process. It involved 1 In regard to the laypeople who are partners in our mission, 18th SVD General Chapter used the expression “SVD lay partners”, the Sisters Servants of the Holy Spirit use the expression “mission partners”. In this booklet, the expression “mission partners” is being used throughout the text. 7 many of the members of our congregations and our mission partners. We thank the members of the Ad Hoc Committee, namely Peter Dusicka, SVD; Roger Schroeder, SVD; Stanislaus Lazar, SVD; Maria Illich, SSpS; and Leonie Pregunta, SSpS; and all who contributed to this publication. We recommend that these guidelines be used in our communities and groups. When we meet together as brothers and sisters, may these guidelines strengthen our experience of being together. They are also for the good of people we serve, and the glory of Triune God, the God on the way. Maria Theresia Hörnemann, SSpS Paulus Budi Kleden, SVD Congregational Leader Superior General 8 INTRODUCTION INTRODUCTION Interculturality is not something new to us, since we have been striving to live as intercultural communities in our missions. We have been intentionally promoting this value to form our communities and in turn to serve the people with this orientation. Valuing the local cultures and being mutually enriched, challenging any cultural expressions that are contrary to gospel values, and evolving a new culture through the interaction between diverse cultures are all important aspects in the process of building intercultural life and doing intercultural mission.