Temporary Professed Religious and Formators gathered recently to share their experiences and support one another, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic which made life challenging for both groups in a variety of ways.
Carmel Warnock, Catholic Religious Australia’s Committees and Projects Coordinator, says the Zoom meeting of Temporary Professed Religious held on January 30 was a follow-up to a previous online gathering held last October.
Temporary Professed Religious tuned in for their second Zoom gathering recently.
“Participants really wanted more opportunities to socialise and share their story, so they came together again in January,” she says.
“On February 20, an introductory Zoom session was arranged for the Formators of those Temporary Professed. They too welcomed the opportunity to share their story, and provide and receive support from one another.”
Carmel says COVID has made life challenging for both Temporary Professed and Formators.
“Travel being non-existent means formators are not able to get together with their Temporary Professed who are spread out around the world,” she says. “Some can’t get back to Australia, while others who want to go home elsewhere, can’t.”
Madonna Annabelle Fido who is in Temporary Profession with the Sisters of Nazareth says the online gathering was a valuable experience of solidarity.
“The online gathering of Temporary Professed Religious has assured me that I am not travelling on this road alone,” she said.
“Together we share the same goal of pleasing the Lord whom we have vowed to love and serve.”
Duc Trung Vu, in Temporary Vows with the Redemptorists, said he felt “very encouraged and supported after the meeting”.
“This is a special platform to gather all the Temporary Professed brothers and sisters who will work in Oceania,” he said.
“There are many friends on the same road which we are travelling. Meeting each other will give us the chance to know about our companions, and as a result, our mission in the future will be a collaboration based on the friendship we are building now.”
In a summary of her small group discussion at the Formators’ Zoom gathering, Sr Mel Williams OSU said the group raised a number of areas where COVID had affected formation programs, noting that groups in Victoria, where there was a second extended lockdown, were most affected.
Formators of religious congregations gathered to share there experiences in February.
She said one issue raised was a lack of ministry opportunities in the training of Temporary Professed during the COVID restrictions. Other issues included Temporary Professed having only other members of their house to relate to, students doing higher studies having no chance of interaction of peer support; Zoom classes being more complex and tiring; and both students and formators not being able to travel.
However, Sr Mel said there were some creative solutions found to those challenges, including good use of Zoom and development in its capabilities; establishment of prayer online; creative activities within the house, such as movie nights and table tennis; inviting other members of the communities to give input and share their particular expertise to those in formation; and the forging of online connections with students in other countries.
Fr Ignatius Vu Tuan SSS said his group reported that in some instances community life was more focused with more time to pray and share with one another, helping Temporary Professed to deepen their community life.
He said his group hoped that Formators would keep connecting with each other through virtual platforms and sharing resources into the future.