Back to NewsGPS – what’s in a name?
by Sister Jocelyn A. Quijano
It’s been two months since the GPS, but its spirit continues to be carried strongly in my soul. Hence, this short article is crafted. Besides, my personal commitment at the GPS conclusion included writing about it.
As you may have read in the Conference e-news, it originally stood for the “Gathering of Presentation Sisters.” However, in civil society, GPS stands for the “Global Positioning System.” I thought that it could also stand for “Global Presentation Sisters.” The way I see it, GPS encompasses all three:
- the event itself in a particular place and time – the actual gathering of Presentation Sisters in Brookings, S.D., the last weekend of June 2017
- though the gathering is Conference-initiated, the presence and participation of Sisters from Ireland, Zambia, and Zimbabwe made it a reflection of our reality as Global Presentation Sisters
- and as we move forward into the future, the charism and mission entrusted to us by the Holy Spirit will serve as our ‘global positioning system’
GPS photos and videos have been distributed through the Conference e-news and can still be found on YouTube. A short account of the gathering is published on the Conference website. Thus, I’m focusing more on sharing what’s staying with me in the hope that it might also evoke reflection and conversation amongst us.
- Perhaps what’s staying with me the most is the honest and open conversations amid contemplative women from various cultures, experiences, and contexts yet with palpable oneness on:
- WHY the Presentation charism and mission into the future,
- WHO will carry it
- HOW it might continue to be a radical response to the Gospel, and
- WHAT kind of presence and way of being that reflects the charism and mission
- The “stimulus” talks given by Joyce Meyer on “Thresholds and Stepping Stones,” Lucy Sebastian on the “Garden of Oneness,” and Elena Hoye on “Becoming Global” were stimulating, thought-provoking, and challenging. For me, they also provided glimpses of possibilities.
- Joyce posed some really tough questions that call me to continued reflection and prayer. I hope they will evoke the same for you.
- What is required of us now?
- If everything is gone, who are we?
- How are we ‘widening our tents’?
- How do we address our latent racism within our communities? Or do we even acknowledge that it exists?
- What in our structures hinder diversity?
- How is our relationship with the women who left our congregations and still carry Nano’s charism?
As in the 2006 Convergence, the sense of oneness at the GPS is tangible. This time, and possibly because there was much less number of participants, GPS concluded with an image that synthesized our days together which serves to call us attendees to be attentive in nurturing the very real oneness that transcends our individual Presentation congregations. We also discussed using existing structures, such as the International Presentation Association (IPA), the Conference, Global Hub, to strengthen our being ONE. Each person also made personal commitments to tend this oneness. One of mine is to reflect more how IPA may be a vehicle to fortify connections made during these days … All in the service of the WHY, WHO, HOW, AND WHAT Presentation life in the emerging future.
You can read more about Jocelyn and her recent time at the United Nations here.