I was very privileged to be part of this rich group of
different congregations coming together to learn, to socialize, and to get to
know and appreciate each other.
We started the journey together in September 2018, and in May
2019 we bid each other good bye, hoping to meet again in the future. We were a
group of 16 novices and 12 directors. We all learned together, but primarily it
was meant for us novices and sometimes we were taught by the directors. That
has been a new experience for me here in the USA to learn together with the
directors in the same room. One day we had a conversation with them in a fish
bowl method. They shared with us and were so open about how they lived their
three vows of celibacy, poverty, and obedience.
We had topics like: Catholic Social Teaching, Restorative Justice,
Embodied Prayer, Family Systems, Sexuality, Vows, Mission, and Pastoral
Theological Reflection, among others. I also enjoyed our last trip to White
Violet Center for eco-justice.
The communities represented were the Sisters of Charity of
the Incarnate Word Houston, the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word Saint
Antonio, the Sisters of Mercy, the Sisters of Providence, the Dominican Sisters
of Peace, the Maryknoll Sisters, the Daughters of Charity, the Oblates of Mary
Immaculate, the Adorers of the Blood of Christ, the Adrian Dominican Sisters
and the Congregation of Mary Queen. We learned about each community represented
during the first sessions.
It was quite an intercultural group; we had people from the
Americas, Asia, and Africa. I appreciated how those who knew Saint Louis well
took the initiative to show us around. We visited the zoo together, we had some
games in the park, and we went to see the biggest chair show, etc. 
Another cultural experience was playing in the snow, making
snow angels. I couldn’t believe that it was possible for one to just lie flat
in the snow without feeling extremely cold, until I experienced it myself and
knew it was possible!
We carved pumpkins and exchanged them among communities
during our Halloween Celebration.
Another topic we had together was Intercultural living, in
which the presenter pointed out that in
intercultural living sometimes there can be two parties, the guest and the
host, and that both the host and the guest can experience being strangers in a
particular intercultural setting. At first I could not understand how the host
could be a stranger while living in his or her own culture. In our table
discussion, one of us gave an example of how she has experienced being a
stranger even though she is in her own culture as a host: this is when we have
an intercultural mass together and we sing and dance during mass. This is
unusual in her own culture. This example made me understand how it is possible
for the two parties to experience being a stranger.
We can’t thank our communities enough for this opportunity
they gave to us to learn together, to expand our horizons, and to grow
together.
