III - Changes in the Consecrated Life

Together with these socio-psychological and ecclesiastical changes which we have seen in the world that coincided with either geographical changes or with those of the period around and after the Second Vatican Council, we have also seen the effects of these changes within the Institutes of the Consecrated Life and in Societies of Apostolic Life.

We should note first of all the marvelous vitality which many of these Institutes have known and continue to know in facing these new realities of this new world of today with renewed hope and determination, even if in a certain "first moment" upon the appearance of these changes which were both somewhat unexpected and very numerous, coming as they did at one and the same time, they were perhaps at times unprepared as to how to face them.

Among the most urgent problems that the Conferences of Major Superiors or individual Major Superiors in our territories have spoken of in their Meetings, the following could be mentioned.

The preoccupation to respond to the different forms of "poverty" in the world of today in our territories. Examples of this would be the desire among Korean and Japanese religious to travel along a concrete path of reconciliation between these realities, not withstanding the more or less instinctive dislike on the part of the former for persons of the latter nation as a result of the situations that were experienced during the occupation of Korea by Japan. Again there is the commitment for human promotion and above all for reconciliation in countries where there exist conflicts of various kinds as, for example, in the Great Lakes Region of Africa or in Sudan, Angola, Mozambique, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Kosovo, Bosnia-Herzegovina etc. Again there is the determination on the part of both religious men and women in our territories to search for a true and authentic promotion of women in both Asia and Africa. Again there is the search for a more complete and holistic formation at all levels that is adequate to the needs of time and place which the peoples of these Continents need and wish to have. Preparation of Local Leadership. There is again the need for preparing a local leadership from the mission territories that is capable of responding to the needs of the Consecrated Life and the charisma of the Institutes present in these territories. Whence we have many requests for persons or courses in regard to this very pressing and urgent need. (formation of formators) Inculturation of the Vowed Life. Still again we notice in our time, an on-going search for maintaining and retaining true Gospel values in the attempts at Inculturation, including the Inculturation one wishes to bring into the consecrated life (e.g. in the practice of the vows, especially poverty, prayer, community life, liturgical ceremonies, the rites of profession or investiture, relationships of members with their families especially those in need of assistance etc.). It is an extremely delicate area which may see both successes and failures. And it is precisely here where I believe the Conferences of Major Superiors could be of some very valid service to the life of the Church, working, of course, with the Conferences of Bishops of the countries concerned. Relations Between Bishops and Members of the Consecrated Life. The increase of the establishment of Conferences of Major Superiors in the Mission territories has increased the ability of members of the Consecrated Life and of Societies of Apostolic Life to speak as a single group of both expatriates and autocthonous members, both in regards to their own internal situations and problems that concern their charisms and structures, and also in regard to the pastoral activity in the dioceses where they are working. More and more they are also providing an opportunity for these Institutes to engage in working relationships of greater communion and dialogue with members of the hierarchy, especially through the Mixed Committees of members of the Episcopal Conferences and members of the Major Superiors Conferences. When these groupings are used properly they can foster a smoother pastoral planning of various forms of apostolic activity and a better coordination of these activities for the good of the life of the local Churches.

These Major Superiors Conferences are also acting as a forum for speaking of and proposing suggestions to the Episcopal Conferences in regard to problems that Institutes are facing in the country, either with members of the hierarchy (e.g. contracts, respect for their charisms, financial remuneration, relationships with pastors and other priests, courses of initial and continuing formation, etc.).