Pope Francis invited the Franciscan Sisters of the Poor to be a part of the “Church which goes forth.” This is the reason why we enthusiastically participated in an International Meeting entitled “The Church Which Goes Forth: Evangelii Gaudium: Reception and Perspectives”. It was held in Vatican City from 28 to 30 November 2019.
The meeting was organized by the Pontifical Council for Promoting New Evangelization with many voices -- voices different in terms of geographical origin, charism, state of life and social commitment. It was attended by people from almost 60 different countries. Sisters Raffaella Maresca, Mara Bellutta, Loredana Giugliano, Monica Stasi and Roberta Sommaggio attended it on our behalf.
The Pope himself, in his speech at the end of the meeting, explained the expression ‘the Church which goes forth’: “We need a free and simple Church, which does not think of returns in terms of image, convenience or income, but rather in terms of being outbound (…).
And if, with this love of His, we were able to look into the hearts of people who, because of indifference and consumerism, we often bypass as if nothing were wrong, we would be able to see their search for everlasting love, and question the meaning of life, of pain, of betrayal, of loneliness. These are anxieties for which recipes and precepts are not enough; it is necessary to walk, to walk together, to become travelling companions”.
The following are some of our impressions:
“I participated in the meeting with a desire to share in the various ecclesial realities of such an important theme. As a Franciscan Sister of the Poor I feel increasingly an urge to go out of my comfort zone, to listen to the cry of the poor and give hope to a humanity that often lives in a climate of terror and social exclusion. This is one of the desires that I brought back from the meeting -- and which I feel is a call from Evangelii Gaudium to which, as a consecrated woman, I cannot fail to respond.” Sr. Loredana Giugliano
“The meeting opened my eyes to the effort that the Church is making to be "outgoing". The inspiration received confirmed in me the beauty of Mother Frances' initial intuition "to recognize Jesus in the poor and heal their wounds." This is the key! The opportunity offered to us to care for the common good, to be instruments of healing, to witness to the Gospel, are a concrete instruments to continue the "outgoing" journey towards the poor and suffering humanity of today.” Sr. Monica Stasi
“Among the various speeches heard, I was struck by what Chiara Almirante said: ‘We must let ourselves be questioned by the cry of the poor.’ It is a sentence that does not announce anything new, but emphasizes how, at the origin of every evangelization, it is necessary to listen to the need of the other, ‘not to run the risk of answering questions that people do not ask’ - as highlighted by Matthew Kelly (Founder of Dynamic Catholic) in his speech, - and thus not only meet but bring within us the brother and sister that we meet".
The intervention of the Philippine Cardinal A. Tagle also remains in my heart: "As children of God we are so often animated by fear, while we should consider the risk of being misunderstood, of losing control, activating processes without personal pretensions, through simple but profound gestures, thus becoming channels of the Spirit, in the life-giving Spirit.’” Sr. Roberta Sommaggio
For all of us it was an opportunity to renew our feeling of being a church that is fragile and at the same time rich in the gift of Christ present in our sisters and brothers who walk with us. It was also a precious occasion to recognize that all our Chapter Calls speak of a “Church which goes forth”, through our commitment to care for the common good, to face unjust situations in our wounded world, to be witnesses of unity in diversity.
Sr. Mara Bellutta, Sfp
Published: March 20, 2020
