This blog is an article for the Together Paper of Wagga Wagga Diocese April Edition.
Over the last few weeks, we’ve had the privilege of stepping into several spaces across our Diocese. From formation rooms with seminarians to gatherings of prayer with Christians from surrounding towns. Whilst each moment was unique and different, a common thread of willingness to respond, participate and remain present to the movements of the Holy Spirit, was palpable.
This month also meant it was time to head back into a new year of meeting with the seminarians for their formation sessions. Meeting the first-year cohort is always an interesting experience, and a lot of the work with them at such an early stage becomes about creating a scaffold for the work that is to come, as well getting to know them and building up a trusting working relationship. It’s usually a bit of a mix of uncertainty and ‘deer in headlights’ when the session begins, but for those ready and open to engage, it ends with a sense of ‘Oh, I think I’m starting to get it now’ as a new muscle begins to be stretched.
The senior students on the other hand, come with a wealth of deep knowledge the longer they’ve been in formation, and often bring rich experiences, insights, and awareness that makes steering the session a lot of fun. They really set the tone for the session. This month we took a deeper dive into the cardinal virtue of Fortitude and its sub-virtues in relation to each of their formation level guideposts for human formation. The commitment to the process is high, and their engagement meant the session revealed a way of looking at one of the virtues in a new and meaningful light.
We also received an invitation to provide a talk for the World Day of Prayer – Ecumenical Service. This year the country of prayer was Nigeria, and the theme was ‘Come to me all you who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest’ from Matthew’s Gospel. The day started with a song by the Children from St Michael’s Primary School, Coolamon, followed by prayer, song, testimonials, intercession and a talk. I was privileged to share a little reflection on the witness of Faith that we receive from our brothers and sisters in Nigeria, through their suffering, displacement, and fear and an invitation to take up the call to receive this witness fully, and to respond with strengthening their faith in turn by interceding for them and providing aid.
Within our very own parishes are a group of people who continue towards completing the 2nd month of the Grace & Virtue Formation Program. Each participant, on their own journey, have been open to receiving what’s been placed before them with so much grace. They’ve also been putting their heads together to come up with ideas to serve, and it’s been a delight to watch them work together and take initiative. At this point, they’ve each had their meeting with their Parish Priest, as well as begun discerning their gifts and faced their fair share of obstacles in between. Please keep them in your prayers as their discernment continues.
Written by Stina Constantine
Founder & Speaker of Virtue Ministry