Winter 2006, Volume 49, Number 4
Standing on Tiptoe
“The whole of creation is on tiptoe to see the wonderful sight
of the children of God coming into their own glory.”
Romans 8:18Looking at religious life through the lens of “the hospitality of God,” Dubuque Presentation sisters gathered at Mount Loretto on October 12, 14 and 15. They reflected on their future together, “to boldly and creatively sustain the Presentation charism as a community standing with the poor.”
Using a reflection aid and the book Presence by Peter Senge, et. al., for individual and small group preparation previous to gathering, the sisters entered into a weekend process with facilitator Mary Ann O’Hara. “We were invited to suspend our assumptions and attitudes and to look for the bigger picture and bigger answers,” comments Sister Elena Hoye, vice-president of the Dubuque Presentations.
Feelings, hopes, questions, insights, inspiration and more continue to emerge since the community gathering. A listserv and a blog have begun among sisters as new ways to communicate. Reflections from a few sisters since that weekend follow.
Sister Joellen Price of Sioux City, IA
“Below is a haiku poem Sister Kevin Cummings recently shared with me.”
“Standing on Tiptoe”
Trying to see the future,
Make room for surprise.
by Sister Kevin Cummings
“ I brought this poem to our meeting, sharing it with my ‘tablemates’ during group discussions, over meals, at Eucharist and with friends. My first ‘surprise’ came in the form of hope, energy and enthusiasm - not fear.”
Sister Joan Lickteig of Dubuque, IA
“ I saw the facilitator’s wisdom in proceeding slowly enough to get a sense of the gestalt rather than getting bogged down with details that we may later decide are not the areas of desired focus.”
Sister Joan Lickteig of Dubuque, IA
Sister Rita Cameron of Davenport, IA
“ I came home from the gathering at peace with the thought that we were comfortable with raising questions that may not have been raised in the past. The questions weren’t necessarily new questions, but our growth in understanding and tolerance has increased enough so we could be open to hearing the ‘hard’ things and we didn’t feel the need to become defensive or judgmental.”
Sister Emilie Bormann of Rochester, MN
“ The first day of the meetings it seemed like we were spinning our wheels, and skirting the issues of facing the future of religious life and I was very frustrated. By the end of the second day, however, I felt a hope. It was like a sense of privilege to be on the edge of entering into a whole new way of experiencing and living religious life. I felt like I was ‘standing on tiptoe’ eager to know and live the future.”
Sister Leanne Welch of Birmingham, AL
“ Our meetings were a good experience of sharing with a variety of others on meaningful topics. We have a strong foundation for future dialogue and visioning. Together we have the power to take many small, and not so small, steps that will make a difference in the lives of those we serve in the Lord’s vineyard.”
Sister Julia Wingert of Dubuque, IA
“ We accepted the invitation to search for the dream of God – something new that is seeking to emerge for us as Presentation sisters. Two ideas that resonated deeply within me and excited me were first, a challenge to become more passionate as a community about hospitality which we claim as our charism; and second, a wondering that perhaps the dream of God for us is not necessarily about what we do but rather a way of be-ing. What ‘new look’ would that bring to our life together in community, to our mission to and with others, and to our earth?”
