Sr. Jane Ann Slater, CDP: Back to the Future - Millennium Person
Congregation of Divine Providence

A reflection on the future of Consecrated Life given at the Consecrated Life Day Celebration in San Antonio, Texas February 2, 2000:

Here we are, together this evening, in the year 2000, celebrating our life as Religious. Does that date cause a bit of awe to spring up in your mind and heart?

I'm still adjusting to the reality. To me, there's something magical about being alive at this time of newness, a new century, a new millennium. I keep wondering if God isn't telling us something, calling us anew, beckoning for our attention, using this new time as what John Martin Moye, the founder of my congregation would call a "Time of providence".

What might providence have for us at this moment of our history? What does our world need from us now?

I think the answer to both questions is Refounding, a return to our roots, a taking stock, a re-immersion in that founding reality which captivated each of our Founders and which caught the fancy of those first members of each of our Congregations and imbued them with the courage to sign up and strike out on Mission.

Our Founders were filled with a deep sense of awe and wonder at God's Creation. They saw reality with clear eyes and caring hearts. They imagined possibilities, transformations, relationships which those around them could not begin to fathom. And, they were able to articulate their dreams and visions in words that went directly to the hearts of their listeners.

The pain and sadness which they experienced on seeing the sad plight of the poor and needy of their time were translated not only into inspiring words, but, more importantly, into actions on behalf of justice and right relationships.

Our Founders had eyes for the poor and hearts that beat in sync with those Poor because they beat in tune with God. Our Founders were women and men of deep prayer and profound thoughts and wonderfully courageous action.

Their relationship with God was the source of their passion for the People of God. In their prayer, God graced and gifted them with special glimpses and insights into God's Being and Identity. They stayed in touch with that deep, abiding Presence of God within them. And were able to experience God and relate to God's people in a unique and fundamental way.

They were able to speak and write about their experience and insights in words which inspired and motivated those who worked with them. They were able to pass on their image of God to their first followers who were so caught up in this new reality that it became the driving force of their lives.

Yes, and even we today stand in awe of that special core of our being, that gift from our Founders which we call CHARISM.

It is unique for each of our Congregations and yet, while it is that which distinguishes us from one another it is, nevertheless, that which unites us. Each of us has an image of God which is rich beyond words. And when put together, our Charisms help us see the incredible magnitude of God's goodness and beauty.

I believe that this Moment is for us women and men religious of the year 2000 and beyond, a Moment to step "back into the future" to recapture that founding spirit which impelled our Founders and those women and men who heard their challenge and call and had the guts to follow them.

The world responded those many years ago to our Founders and their courageous followers. The world is hungry today for that same message. We are the messengers so we'd better make sure that we've got the message straight, that we're totally grounded and passionately committed to our Founder's spirit and to the Charism which he or she bequeathed to us.

Can you imagine what we'll look like if we choose to be refounded?

• We'll be committed to deepening our relationship with our God in prayer.
• We'll begin to see with our Founders' eyes and to feel with their hearts.
• We'll get caught up in their passion for justice.
• We'll be courageous in our words and actions, not letting fear or criticism or expediency or being out of step with the status quo or being identified with the "wrong" people deter us.
• We'll be persistent in our efforts to bring about right relationships.
• We'll be patient when the transformations for which we are striving are slow in coming.
• We'll be people of deep joy because we'll know we're being faithful to our Mission.

In short, we'll be changed, transformed.

Probably the biggest change will be in our attitude - the way we approach our ministries, our community, the people whom we meet. Folks will begin to look at us differently because we will be different.

Are we willing to become these Millennium People? I surely hope so. We have such a wonderful treasure to share. God's People are hungry for what we have to offer. And, God's People deserve only the very best.