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VIA AURELIA PILGRIMS
“To live Laudato si’ and Fratelli Tutti in our own local area"
Temp. Secretariat: Via Aurelia 290, 000165
WhatsApp Group: Via Aurelia Pilgrims No. +39 3205582916
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UISG-JPIC Sharing Experiences:
Via Aurelia Pilgrims (VAP) and the Synodal Process
Fr. Jean Herick Jasmin, OMI-JPIC, Director
In the view of all specially from the insight of Sr Sheila, the experience of the “Via Aurelia Pilgrims” is an example of a Synodal process building from a common effort to see how to engage our neighborhood in planning the prayer of the Season of Creation, in living together the “Stations of Creation”, and in helping to care of our common home.
1. Where did the idea of the Via Aurelia Pilgrims group come from?
The initiative of Via Aurelia Pilgrims as a link between neighboring religious houses, flows from the search to respond to this question: how can we work together and share experiences for a better response to Laudato Si’ and Fratelli Tutti in the Church today? In fact, for many decades, the religious communities in Via Aurelia have already celebrated certain events and actions in the life of each other congregation. However, there was no concern for common and organized initiatives.
2. The documents of the Church that feed this idea of Via Aureli Pilgrims
Laudato Si' (on May 24, 2015) by making us aware of what is happening around us in our world (cf. LS, chap. I), encourages us to unite our voices in communion and creativity to action for the protection of our common home. “As Christians, we are also called “to accept the world as a sacrament of communion, as a way of sharing with God and our neighbors on a global scale.” (LS., 90).
Indeed, five years later, with the publication of Fratelli Tutti, (October 3, 2020), has come to propose this way of life with a Gospel flavor where the experience of love between brothers and sisters goes “beyond barriers of geography and space” (cf. Frateli Tutti, 1). “There is an episode of his life that shows us his heart without limits, capable of going beyond the distances of origin, nationality, color or religion. (cf. FT, 3).
In addition to the above, one of the motivations to form this group of neighbors lies in the desire fully expressed by the Fratelli Tutti, no. 8: “Fraternity between all men and women. Here we have a splendid secret that shows us how to dream and to turn our life into a wonderful adventure. No one can face life in isolation (…). We need a community that supports and helps us, in which we can help one another to keep looking ahead. How important it is to dream together (…)”. So, we develop three aspects which come from Laudato Si’ and Fratelli Tutti:1. An ecological spirituality among neighbors; 2. A community supporting communities; 3. A community who cares the common home with others.
3. Sharing about our journey over time.
On Sat, 22 May 2021, on the occasion of the Laudato Si’ week 2021, more space has been given to deepen our idea of joining forces and expressing our joy of serving. Our brother Peter Stoll at this time, gathered some members of the OMI General House to start a day of cleaning our park and the front of our house.
lso, the Season of Creation (from 1 September to 4 October, 2021), was the trigger for our friendship to blossom into prayer with our neighbors. It is a time to renew our relationship with the Creator and all the creation through celebrations, conversion, and commitments together. During this time, we joined our sisters and brothers in the “ecumenical family” in prayer and action for our common home. Sister Anne had the idea of “getting a Tent” for Season of Creation.
The OMI-JPIC executive committee, in this circumstance, steered by Jean-Hérick and Peter, with the initiative of a brand of guests such as Sister Anne McCabe (SM)), Anita Callaghan (SJA), Vivienne Goldstein (SM), Fr. Luigi Morell (M.Afr.), Guy Theunis (M.Afr.), Martin Grenier (M.Afr.), Andreas Gopfert (M.Afr.), Fr. Roberto Villa, Fr. Ramon B. and Guillaume, decided to organize and experience the season of creation together, inviting all the surrounding communities.
The proposal was that the Tent will be a moving Tent and to involve others in this Season of Creation activity. Suggested prayer for personal use and also a gathering was to be provided. A proposal for a special Mass on the 4th Oct 2021 was also on the agenda.
During the development of these activities, the dream became stronger with the presence of the executive secretariat of the JPIC-USG/UISG, Sister Sheila Kinsey and Catalina, the OMI Sup. Gn., Fr. Louis Lougen, the Vic. Gn., Fr. Paolo Archiati, the OMI Gen. House, the ISR scholasticate and others General Superiors. On Saturday 16th October 2021, we finished the Season of Creation project with an organized thanksgiving afternoon tea with an evaluation of the whole activity during the season of creation.
Since, we envisage some type of follow up to our activities. Three (3) pages of suggestions were collected during the meeting. These activities or common projects keep us connected and therefore we can dream together. From here Via Aurelia Pilgrims was born, including all the communities of Via Aurelia and under the coordination of the Oblates, the Marist Sisters and the Missionary Fathers of Africa (White Fathers). A periodic agenda was established with the purpose of preparing all activities. A wonderful experience! Here we have the photos of some activities.
4. Finally, VAP is an example of synodality living from small creativities.
For us, Via Aurelia Pilgrims is an effort of communion that represents our concrete contribution to living in synodality in the context of our religious consecration in the Church. In fact, synodality is the constitutive dimension of Consecrated Life by walking together in communion. Living synodality from small initiatives is also contributing to the renewal of the church and its missionary dynamism. Now, invitation is clear: Come and join with us!
Picture: Fr. Peter Subagyo Stoll, OMI, Sr. Anne McCabe SM, Fr. Jean Herick Jasmin, OMI, the three Musketeers, presented a very moving and enthusiastic experience of religious congregations called the Via Aurelia Pilgrims.