Join a Study Group in preparation for the AMASC World Conference - Sydney 2002

I am writing to you to bring you up to date with the Study Plan which has been developed in prepartion for the AMASC World Conference to be held in Sydney in 2002.

A small committee - including Penny Sturrock, Josephine Barcelon, Patrice Guttress, Fr. Michael Mullins sm. Sr. Mary Brennan rscj and myself, have been working together since August last year to advise on and write the Study Plan. Great care has been taken to develop a plan which is culturally flexible and therefore relevant to participants all over the world.

The 35 participating countries have now received the Study Plan and many are actively responding to its contents.

Alumnae and the entire School community are now invited to join a group to engage in a perid of reflection, study and discussion on the central theme: RECONCILIATION.

The choice of this theme was inspired by the 1994 General Chapter of the Society of the Sacred Heart, which stated that we should attempt to 'nurture life by education to reconciliation'.

For many of us in Australia, the word 'reconciliation' remains synonymous with the concerns of our Aboriginal population. While this is certainly part of our study, the actual Study Plan document calls for a much broader view of reconciliation.

Reconciliation is defined as 'restoring peace and friendship'. It refers to 'the change from anger or hostility to love, friendship and intimacy'. It places value on mutuality, connectedness, relationships between people and the healing of divisions.

This definition transcends any narrow focus and in fact challenges us to consider reconciliation at every level of our lives.

In summary therefore, the Study Plan takes us on a journey beginning inside each of us (the self), and proceeds to thinking about reconciliation with family, community, country, and finally aspects of world division which concern us.

The plan defines a 3-year period of discussion and reflection before a reconciliation project is undertaken in the final year prior to the World Congress. The ideal model would be for each group to meet once a week for a period of 6-8 weeks in the first two years, however, depending on circumstances, groups can determine schedules to best suit their needs. For example, groups in isolated areas may get together and meet for more concentrated periods, and for those who meet at less frequent intervals, it may be useful to pre-prepare answers to personal questions contained in the Study Plan document.

Groups are encouraged to read any material they find relevant, however a very comprehensive reading list is also available, and includes recommended works on psychology, spirituality, the church and women.

Guidelines have also been written to help each group run a successful program. Group members are encouraged to keep a journal if this idea appeals to them. Any other creative suggestions are welcome, such as recommendations of films, music or any other medium which speaks of reconciliation.

As a committee, we are keen to have feedback from each group and will actively seek this at the end of each year.

The Study Plan initially seeks to define reconciliation and individual responses to this concept. Having explored such a definition, each participant is then invited to consider the idea of reconciliation with self. Forgiveness of self and a consideration of self love and self acceptance are key points. Self love is the starting point for a capacity to deeply love others.

Self love is an often neglected part of our lives as we rush to do more and more with less and less inside with which to tackle each day. For each of us, self love can be reflected in different ways. It may be as simple as simply taking time out to really 'be' with oneself, to enjoy a favourite activity or quietly contemplate. It may mean when to say 'no' and when to say 'yes' to other peoples demands. It may mean something more complex such as forgiveness and self acceptance for action or inaction in the past.

However, what will be our greatest challenge in the next 3 years is to learn to step out of the self - to leave it behind and learn to walk in the shoes of the other. It is the really genuine attempts to understand each other which lead to reconciliation. True reconciliation requires courage, generosity of spirit and an open heart. Having an open heart is what our Sacre Coeur tradition holds so dearly. From this position we can then examine our relationship with God in the hope that each of us may deepen our understanding of and closeness to God.

In the second year of the plan, questions are posed about reconciliation with family, community, country and world. Such questions may include: 'Is there a need to reconcile relationships with people close to me? How can I begin to do this? In my country are there groups or issues which need to be reconciled?'

There is also a section which includes a discussion on women and their role in reconciliation.

The action-based section in the final year is underscored by the idea that God calls us to action as a sign of our true Christian faith. Many of us may wonder what part we could possibly play in affecting events around us. However, we should never underestimate the power we each have to be an instrument of peace and reconciliation on a daily basis and even in the smallest ways. Each of us has the opportunity to affect our fellow human beings and ultimately the largest group of all: humankind. We must never lose hope that change is possible.

My hopes for you who join a group are that:

• You enjoy the opportunity to stop, reflect, study and discuss the universal theme of reconciliation.
• You enjoy the opportunity to read more widely in a range of topics relevant to this theme.
• You enjoy the opportunity to enter into a deeper dialogue in the hope of creating a deeper understanding of self, God and the other.

Groups are wonderful instruments for enlightenment and change. It is through participation in this process that we can dispose our minds and hearts most effectively for the work of the Congress and deepen our awareness of what it means to be members of the international family of the Sacred Heart.

Here in Sydney, we are launching the local Study process with an evening with invited guest speaker Stephanie Dowrick, well-known here are a writer and broadcaster on self-development and spiritual issues. She will present a session on the universal themes of forgiveness, courage and love, drawing on the great mystical traditions to offer an interfaith view of the essential spirituality represented by the Sacred Heart, with an emphasis on simple practices of self-knowledge and awareness which sustain a life of inclusiveness, openess and joy. This session will be enriched with sacred music sung by some of our very talented students who are members of the Kincoppal-Rose Bay Chamber Choir.

We are most interested to learn of your own plans and projects regarding the Study Plan. Please share them with us and with the world.