August 4 – Week 4 General Chapter 2008: Interculturality: The Diversity in Language and Culture
The Society of the Sacred Heart is a group of over 3000 religious women, of 46 nationalities, in nearly 500 communities in 43 countries. We usually call ourselves "Religious of the Sacred Heart" or "RSCJ" (the initials of the Society's name in French: "Religeuses du Sacre Coeur de Jesus.") The number of countries, 43, will tell you that we do not all speak the same language nor is the culture of our countries the same. The challenge of our internationality looms large.
Aware of both the challenge and gift of our internationality, during Chapter 2000, one of the calls was, "From Meeting to Dialogue of Cultures." In this we were asked:
to respond to God present in the heart of the world
to expand our understanding of what it means to belong to a multicultural community
to learn to live interculturality among ourselves, with others and in all that we do.
Called to be "women of communion, compassion and reconciliation", it is not enough to appreciate our multiculturality. We are impelled to enter into the reality of the other, to allow our boundaries to be expanded in truly reciprocal and hospitable relationships.
To participate in the process of transformation, we must learn to live interculturality among ourselves, with others and in all that we do. The process of interculturality will allow us to open ourselves to the Spirit present in each culture and to engage in a dialogue that will enable us, together, to celebrate the banquet of God, where each one has a place, sons and daughters of God.
(General Chapter 2000)
At Chapter 2008, the eighty-six delegates representing forty-three countries, will touch the depths of our interculturality as they dialogue and participate in the events of the chapter. At each of the sessions there will be simultaneous translation in one of the Society's three main languages (French, Spanish and English), yet the struggle to understand the mind and heart of one another will be a very real one.
To learn more about the diversity of language among the many cultures
representing the Society at the General Chapter, click on the following
audio file.
Fran Gimber: The Challenge to Understand (MP3)