A Look Back & Ahead - (Maryknoll Wide Retreat)

“Where there is no vision, the people perish…” (Proverbs 29:18)

For the four members from the Committee of Twelve (Ellen McDonald MM, Kylene Fremling, MKLM, John Sivalon MM and Bob Short) who planned the Retreat, the title, Living in a New Creation, was recognition and affirmation that something is substantively new in these times. A new paradigm is emerging for how we understand our place in the universe. As Pope Francis said, “We are not living in an epoch of change, but in a change in epochs.” So then, what do we need to understand and what needs to be transformed in us if we are to live well in this new creation? Perhaps the Spanish phrase (and Title of MAC 2017 in Guatemala) “Buen Vivir” best captures it.

I think it’s fair to say that there were two principal emphases of the Retreat: Understanding & Community.

The individual presenters and panel were invited to help us understand some of the elements of this new epoch. Diarmiud O’Murchu spoke to transcending the old understanding, embracing the evolutionary perspective, humans as evolutionary becoming and embracing the new understanding. Maureen O'Connell focused on where and how younger generations are finding their place and role in this new epoch, with a particular focus on the Church synod for a group of college youth. Robert Ellsberg spoke to how we might view the reality of this new epoch, while weighing the charism, legacy and contemporary role of Maryknoll today. The Panel, five newer-generation Maryknollers from all the expressions and MOGC, reflected on how they see Maryknoll now and into the future, commenting on what they have heard in the talks and mutual sharing of the retreat.  The links to the recordings for each of the presentation are below.

·        Diarmuid O'Muchu: https://youtu.be/W6JlHz82rfg

·        Maureen O'Connell: https://youtu.be/wJNlWZuh1vs

·        Robert Ellsberg: https://youtu.be/9QoaFprhYeY

·        Panel: https://youtu.be/N9OUDc3rNHo?feature=shared

While the presentations were stimulating, informative and challenging, the community gathered – from all Maryknollers (past & present and including employees) – brought energy, enthusiasm, hope and a intuitive sense that we’ll have the best chance of moving forward in Maryknoll if we can make an honest effort at embracing the new creation and see ourselves as a Maryknoll family. That goes beyond and replaces the worn out notion of collaboration.

We cannot yet know where any of this will go within Maryknoll. Will transformative change follow for us, individually and collectively? That kind of change takes a good deal of trust and courage. Whatever follows, the insights drawn from the presentations at the Maryknoll Wide Retreat and, most especially, the ardent and even passionate desire to live the new creation as a caring community, is very encouraging.