AMASC
Association Mondiale des Anciennes du Sacre Coeur

Draft Study Plan


World Congress - 2002 Theme: Reconciliation


THE STUDY PLAN

As a preparation for our World Congress in Sydney in 2002, we are inviting our alumnae to join in a reflection/study process with the central theme of RECONCILIATION. We believe that in this way, we can dispose our minds and hearts most effectively for the work of the conference as well as deepen our awareness of what it means to be an alumna of the Sacred Heart.

Introduction:

The study plan invites us on a journey towards reconciliation. It is designed to deepen our love and understanding of God, self and each other.

Our wish is that this study plan will be embraced in a new spirit of openness, hope and joy.

As this plan is being shared by some 35 participating countries, we would like it to accommodate differences of language, culture and social or national situation. Some of these differences may well be reflected in the way each of us approaches aspects of the plan. However, the tradition and formation we all share as part of the international Sacre Coeur community gives us the unity and strength to live out the challenges which Jesus places before us. One of these challenges calls us to be reconciled at every level of our lives.

It is through this reconciliation process that our authenticity as Christians will be known.

This study plan is intended as a guide only - to foster exploration, discussion and action.

You should feel free to add, elaborate on, or delete sections as your own wishes and requirements dictate.

We would appreciate any feedback you may wish to send us about this plan. We look forward to hearing from you and hope you will share experiences of your progress. We also welcome suggestions for any recommended reading or other helpful material you have used, including poetry, treasured music, films, photographs of special places that may expand everyone’s experience of reconciliation.

It is preferable that all participants join this process at the beginning of the 3-year period, however, groups should also feel free to welcome new members at any time. We would like to emphasise that every person’s individual experience is a jewel to be gathered as this process unfolds. Therefore it is important to record the main points of discussion and experience as this will assist you in charting your journey as well as writing your reports.

Throughout the study plan, biblical references have been carefully chosen to assist in focussing your thoughts on various aspects of reconciliation. These references can be read aloud at study sessions, but can also be used in private. Participants are also encouraged to find and share their own biblical references. At the end of 2001, previous reports should be amalgamated into a final report, and this, including a report on your project, will be a special contribution to our next World Congress.


THE THEME:


RECONCILIATION : One definition: ‘to restore peace and friendship’.

Reconciliation can refer to the change from anger or hostility to love, friendship and intimacy. It places value on mutuality, connectedness, relations between people and healing divisions. (From proceedings of WUCWO World Assembly, 1996).

SUMMARY OF TASK:

It is anticipated that the study plan will be divided into stages, with each stage occupying up to one year of the projected period for the completion of the plan. However, study groups may find that they devote more or less time or emphasis to various stages depending on particular experiences, interests and priorities.

STAGE I 1999: Explore the idea of reconciliation with self and reconciliation with God. Complete short summary report for submission to the Study Committee.

STAGE II 2000: Explore reconciliation as it relates to family, community, country and the world. Complete a short summary report.

STAGE III 2001: Choose an action-based project and complete final report for possible presentation to the AMASC World Congress in Sydney, Australia in 2002.

STAGE IV 2002: AMASC World Congress, April 2002.


SOURCE OF TASK:

The Documents of the 1994 General Chapter of the Society of the Sacred Heart encourage us to ‘nurture life by education to reconciliation’.








SOURCE MATERIAL FOR USE AT EACH STAGE OF THE PLAN


STAGE I : Reconciliation with self and God

Some questions you may wish to consider:

How do I respond to the word ‘reconciliation’?
What do I hear this word saying to me?
How do I respond to a personal invitation to reconciliation?
Am I willing to undertake a journey, exploring aspects of myself and my world with the aim of reconciliation?
What might my resistances to this journey be?
Where do these resistances come from? (for example: family, tradition, cultural practice, historical, social, political or economic factors)
Are there ways in which I can overcome these factors if they are hindering my progress towards reconciliation?


Reconciliation with myself

1. How do I see myself as a woman who is
my age
my appearance
my health
my status
my social position
with my responsibilities
my disappointments
my life experiences

2. What are my strengths/talents/gifts - physical, spiritual, social, psychological, intellectual etc.?

3. Do I have any limitations that I am strongly aware of?

4. How far have I come in accepting and living with myself as I am?

5. Are there aspects of myself or events for which I need to forgive myself, in order to begin or complete a healing process?

6. What gestures, symbolic or real, could I make to signify that I have forgiven myself?

SUGGESTED READING:
Matthew 11 28-30 (The gentle mastery of Christ)
Psalms 46 (God is on our side)

Reconciliation with God

1. What is my understanding of God? Who is God and what is God like?

SUGGESTED READING:
Luke 18 15-17 (Jesus and the children)
Luke 6 36-38 (On compassion and generosity)
Luke 12 22-32 (Trust in providence - the gentleness of God)
Psalm 121 (The guardian of Israel)
Matthew 25 34-40 (Love of neighbour)

2. Do I feel a need to reconcile myself with God? If so, how do I respond to the idea of reconciling myself with God? How do I respond to the idea of God reconciling me to him or herself?

3. Am I ready to enter into a closer relationship with God?

SUGGESTED READING:
Psalms 63 (Desire for God)
Ephesians 3 16-21 (Paul’s prayer)
Psalm 139 1-24 (In praise of God’s omniscience)

4. What have I discovered about myself that can help or hinder developing a closer relationship with God?

5. Do I believe that I deserve this relationship? Do I believe that God deserves this relationship with me?

SUGGESTED READING:
John 10 10-11 (The Good Shepherd)
Jeremiah 31 3-4 (Yahweh’s love for his people)
6. Do I agree that God wants fullness of life for me?

7. How can I nurture a closer relationship with God? (Could I use prayer, journal writing, quiet meditation to allow God to speak to me?)

8.In what ways has God spoken to me in my life? (We believe that God constantly reveals himself to us in many ways if we are open to this experience. )

SUGGESTED READING:
Exodus 3 1-6 (The burning bush)
1 Kings 9-14 (The encounter with God - the gentle breeze)

As a deeper relationship with God is central to the reconciliation process, it is suggested that adequate time be allocated for discussion of participants’ ideas, feelings and experiences.


STAGE II: Reconciliation with family, community, country and the world

Questions to consider:

Reconciliation with family

1. Is there a need to reconcile my relationships with people close to me? (This may need to be considered privately.)

2. How could I begin to do this?

3. What personal characteristics or beliefs help in this process of reconciliation?

4. What hinders this process of reconciliation?

5. What experiences have I had where there has been an absence of reconciliation?

Reconciliation with community

1. Can I see a need for reconciliation within my local community?

2. How could I begin such a process?

Reconciliation with country

1. In my country, are there groups or issues which need to be reconciled?

2. How could this be done?

Reconciliation at an international level

1. At an international level, where is reconciliation most needed?

2. Is there any way I can contribute to this?

Women and Reconciliation

1. How do I see the experience of women in relation to reconciliation?

2. What are women already doing within families, communities, organisations and countries to assist the reconciliation process?

3. What special role can/do women play in this process?

4. How do I see women’s role in the Church?

5. What are the main concerns for women in parts of the world which are not my own?

6. Are these different or the same as my own?

7. What does the Bible say about reconciliation?

SUGGESTED READING:
Ephesians 4 1-6 (A call to unity)
Thessalonians 5 14-18 (Some demands made by life in community)
John 4 7-20 (Love and faith)
Proverbs 3 13-35 (The joys of wisdom)

If time permits and participants are willing, it may be useful to deepen knowledge on a specific topic which interests them: for example, poverty, violence, the environment, migration, health, work, science and technology, economics, cultures, traditions, religions, politics, inidigenous cultures.


STAGE III: The AMASC Project

Introduction:

Reconciliation is the essence of the Gospel message. God calls us to action through a unity of spirit, as a sign of our true Christian faith.

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 also has the opportunity to affect larger groups of our fellow human beings and ultimately the largest group of all: humankind. We must always have hope that change is possible.

There are many world movements of hope which are transforming our global consciousness and realities: for example the environmental movement, various womens’ movements and the assertion by indigenous peoples of the value of their cultures (from the proceedings of the WUCWO Assembly, 1996).

In all that we do, we must act with love, wisdom and respect.

THE PROJECT:

Your project should have action as its focus. The choice of project should be discussed widely and well within your group before a decision is made.

It would be helpful to define your goals and what you wish to achieve before the project commences.

Some examples of projects which have been undertaken by other groups:

Violence: Urging governments to sign a world agreement banning anti-personnel landmines. Analysing the cycle of violence: the underlying causes, in order to define a therapy.

Environment: Developing a quality of life which is not defined by material values only. Undertaking "micro actions" at local and national level which help towards solving major environmental problems.

Family: Studying the imae of the family portrayed by the media and trying to find ways of showing different values.

Inter-religious dialogue: Encourage knowledge of other religions to allow dialogue. Focus on contacts between churches.

Inequity: Co-operation with organisations working for literacy, environment, division of labour, health, reduction of arms spending, protection of girl children. Understanding and improving the lives of indigenous peoples and cultural minorities. Learning the way the economy works and taking part in campaigns to urge governments to reduce or wipe out the debts of poor countries.

Faith and Spirituality: Initiate new ways of communication and relationship in the Church and the world. Organise workshops on reconciliation seeking its theological grounds; learn to listen, to participate in dialogue and to make decisions by consensus.

Migration: Welcome new migrants into the parish, community, neighbourhood. Find out what is mutually enriching rather than what divides us. Participate in movements which aim to combat racism and discrimination in any form.

Questions to consider:


FURTHER READING STILL TO BE COMPILED