Father FRANK SANTUCCI, OMI

I am not here to evaluate the congress and its dynamics nor to give you the evaluation of the young religious on the Congress. You heard them yourselves yesterday portrayed vividly and clearly.

I deal with just a few of the topics which I saw emerging from the English-language constellation, which consisted of around 250 participants, not pretending to give you a survey of what they thought. Rather, what I give you is what I experienced during those six days, filtered through my own point of view, which is that of being involved in formation ministry here in Rome at our international post-novitiate house of formation.

The vision – "open the windows and breathe in the fresh air"

As I encountered the enthusiasm and joy of a hall full of young religious from all parts of the world, I thought of Pope John 23rd’s famous, "Let us open the window and let in some fresh air". Here was an open window, and we older religious were being invited to participate in the Congress and to breathe the freshness of the vocation of the younger ones.

Certainly, it was the inevitable joy of a youthful group when together in a pleasant surrounding. But it was so much more. I was looking at and listening to over 800 young religious who were proclaiming that they have experienced the Lord, and have said their "Yes" to God! I was looking at signs of genuine hope and life and desire to change the world.

Our "older" jaundiced eyes have a tendency to look at problems, the horror stories being unearthed out about religious, and at signs of dying. The 800 participants came here enthusiastic because, while being painfully aware and part of the tragedies of this world, they are called to do something about it. As healthy young religious they have seen the Lord. Filled with the joy of this, they want to proclaim it to the world in order to transform it.

This was reinforced for me on the Friday evening when all these young people danced and sang at the cultural evening. The waiters at the Ergife center stood there with their mouths wide open watching, and I overheard one exclaiming, "But these are nuns and priests – but, they are so normal and so happy!"

"Religious life is a journey not a guided tour"

The young religious in the English language constellation enjoyed speaking about their lives, and they loved listening to others sharing their core values. An often repeated sentiment was, "It has certainly inspired me to know that I’m not alone in this journey called religious life!"

The report-back after their afternoons of sharing were done in many creative ways: acts, mimes, poems, drawings, symbols. All gave witness to the fact that they see their religious vocation as an adventure which each one undertakes, and not a "guided tour" imposed from outside. Their values are the signposts which guide them on this journey "A great opportunity to meet and share with so many others making this difficult choice in today’s world." Their evaluations speak generally about how they have been enriched and renewed.

I sensed a healthiness in the outlook of these young people and in their genuine desire to follow Christ and to bring others to the same relationship. They catalogued long lists of core values, all of which show that they are in touch with the heart of religious life. Just some of these values mentioned are, relationship with God, prayer, authenticity, charism, witness-faithfulness and community, value of life, justice and trust, dialogue and creativity, dialogue, self giving. They expressed that these values are the ones that seem to respond to the problems and needs of our world today.

Highlighted unanimously as a major wealth of the Congress was the interaction among many cultures and the opportunity to enjoy these. A participant from the Cameroon said, "I saw barriers fall and we found our ideas, fears, joys, sorrows were alike. There are no boundaries we are one family. This fills me with great joy."

In their healthy idealism and dreaming they often referred to their founders who had been idealists who went beyond the rational way of thinking of the world.

How to live this vision concretely? - Community: "Living as authentic commentaries of the Gospel"

This was one of the areas of unanimous agreement. The role of community is paramount for the young religious and their religious life cannot be conceived without it. There is no need to repeat what the young religious told us yesterday evening – they made their point strongly enough.

What struck me constantly was their desire for authenticity of life in community, and its connection with prayer and apostolate. They want the Gospel to be seen to be alive in our communities.

Universally expressed was also the age-old difficulty of finding an equilibrium between a life of prayer, of community and of mission.

Mission: making visible the invisible

There was no doubt that there is a healthy generosity. They want to do great things for the Lord! When Sister Vilma spoke about the martyrs whose mission led them to this offering, there was an overwhelming "Yes – I am prepared to do that too". No challenge appears too big or too demanding for them.

Here again they are demanding authenticity as the basis of everything – no cutting of corners or seeking a comfortable way out in their service of the poor.

"I want our future to be our past. Religious have always gone where no one else will go. We need to be people who choose life rather than worrying about dying. We need to be risky and bold and courageous looking at who we can be." They want to be prepared to "color outside the lines". They are certainly aware of and immersed in serving the poor and wish to identify with them in lifestyle and generosity.

But this was also the area where frustrations and differences of opinion emerged

The euphoria of the first day began to give way somewhat when we went to the Vatican on the second day. The reactions to the Mass at St. Peter’s and the "festa with the Pope" were varied. Being with the Pope was a great moment for all, but as far as the rest went the reaction in our constellation ranged from a sense of disappointment to anger.

Here began to emerge the differences in outlook. What image do we give to the world and to ourselves? What is the "acceptable image" of the religious which is held up? What about the issue of women, of the sexual scandals in the Church, of the suffering of religious in various countries etc. On the morning spent at the Vatican, why was there such insensitivity in the use of language? What was the image of religious life being portrayed as the norm on that day? So many young religious were bitterly disappointed that the young religious weren’t able to present themselves and their ideals and struggles to the Pope.

During the week there was tension regarding the expected final message. They struggled and were unable to come up with a final text which all could subscribe to. Unclear organization contributed to this dilemma, but most significantly it pointed to the diversity of the cultures and countries and outlooks represented there. Is there, or can there be, an image of religious life universally subscribed to by all?

Reactions to these issues ranged from too "tame" to too "provocative" and it was clear that the Congress was not geared to handling these. They did not solve any problems, but I believe that most returned to their communities wiser and more understanding. Here is what the Congress was about: listening and learning. Realizing how little each one really knows and understands.

I think that the wisest summing up of the tension regarding different ideologies and images was this. "We need to be sure of what we mean and be fully committed so others can see it. If we really live the life we’ve chosen we will be true witnesses" Here is the way ahead.

Also in the same direction, the "importance of the superiors interpreting our charisms and calling us through dialogue beyond our wills."

What do the young religious ask? - Proper formation: "Formators, live what you teach us"

Many times I heard the comment, "If only our formators were here to listen to this! How I wish that my formators could experience this!".

One written comment was, "Please pay more attention to the formation process. I think that sometimes our formators are not well-prepared for their responsible task." Some areas where formators need formation were listed as objectivity, affectivity, sexuality, responsibility and personal freedom. More than once they spoke of the link between what the formators say and do: "formators, live what you teach us".

My own limited experience at our international scholasticate shows me how many lacunae there are in our candidates and in their formation. This is a dreadful generalization that I have made, but when there are gaps, there really are gaps and it is usually not the fault of the young religious. He is the result of the formation process, or lack thereof. He is the result of the formation ideas of a well-prepared formator, or of an un-integrated person. The fault is usually not his, but of the one responsible for his formation. Our young need guidance – and not from formators who are working out their own problems and impose their half-baked solutions on the idealism and receptivity of the young!

To our elder brothers and sisters: "We are religious of TODAY, not of the distant FUTURE!"

While the counsel and experience of senior members of our congregations undoubtedly gives wisdom, the generation gap in many religious communities needs to be faced and dealt with openly. A few areas of differences: conflict of understanding of apostolic commitment and the manner in which community life is lived; the value of sharing not being appreciated; the danger of energy and dreams being stifled; being seen as a work force to maintain institutions; and, the inability to express their views and thus becoming discouraged etc.

However, they do not make these as accusations and condemnations. There is a lot of good will and sharing of attitudes which work for them:

The differences we have in community lead us to Jesus as only model. Patience grows as we work to break the age barrier. I am nourished by the elders in community who are rich with respect and so faithful to the life of our community and mission. To live a life of conviction and commitment, learning from the past and not accusing.

I was struck by the pain of a young Western European sister who is the youngest in her large community, and whose average age is 70 plus years. I was struck by how desperately she wanted the Congress to proclaim this message so that her sisters and superiors would hear the "cry of the young" and treat her less "smotheringly". Or the other young man who spoke about the eighteen loving grandfathers in his community who stifled him with their loving attention "for his good".

They in no way deny the role of their elders. But they need to have space to breathe. We need to remember that we are not dealing with teenagers who are having their growing-up anti-authority crises, but with young women and men who, if God had not called them to religious life, would today be parents, business executives etc. responsible for their own lives and for the lives of others. Our religious houses sometimes have the tendency to treat the young as children. It is in this context that I think we can explain the strong reaction against the pre-prepared liturgies of the congress, the suspected manipulation of the final message, and their disappointment at how they perceived themselves to be treated on the morning of the meeting with the Pope.

They reminded us repeatedly that the Founders of their orders and congregations had usually been their age when the Spirit of God called them to do "crazy" great things for the Lord. What did I learn, listening to them? Be honest and open and transparent.

We older brothers and sisters don’t have all the answers – look at the mess our generation is making of religious life in some areas! So, let’s listen and search together. If the older members don’t want to participate – fine then keep them happy, but don’t let them become an obstacle to the justified enthusiasm of the younger members. Let those who want to dream, dream – and let us learn from them.

Church: "We need to be sure of what we mean"

The authenticity of witness was applied to the relationship between religious and Church.

The absence of a "representative from the Vatican" was questioned by many. Was the "Church" not interested in this Congress? Why was the Mass at St. Peter’s such a cold and distant event? Who was the celebrant? Who was the cardinal who presented us to the Pope, and why did he talk on our behalf since he had never met us? These were some of the questions aired. Sadly, some who had come with prejudices went away with these confirmed and strengthened.

The fault seemed to have been on the part of the Major Superiors who did not invite a representative of the Congregation for Religious, nor one of the Bishops of the city which hosted us. What message do you as major Superior give to your young members on these issues – and what message do your representatives, the local superiors, give to the young?

Conclusion

My description seems to have elements of the idyllic. How super it would be to have all 800 of these young religious in our own congregation! Surely utopia seems to have been reached! You certainly sent your best members to participate. Many others of the same calibre stayed at home, but many others sadly don’t measure up to this calibre. "Vidimus Dominum" showed us what religious life can be for the young, what it could be for all. We personally need to be reminded and we have to remind others that what these young religious live is the norm for all young religious in our houses. If this is not the case, why not? Finally, and personally, this Congress has helped me to re-look at the 23 young people entrusted to my care at our international scholasticate. As a superior I sometimes tend to concentrate too much on the weaknesses and the negative "for the growth of the young person". With the privilege of my experience at the Congress I was made to look at my own community again with new eyes and to rediscover that "They have indeed seen the Lord", and that I am treading on holy ground dealing with them. I believe that since this Congress I have been given the gift of relating to these young religious in a more respectful and loving way.

Dear Superiors General, I wish you the same re-discovery of "new eyes" in your own contact with the young religious God has entrusted to your care.