Identity Construction of Roman Catholic Religious Sisters in the ...

6.2.2 Religious Life as Communion
Some of the participants construct the ideal of religious life as a relationship with one
another. Religious life is constructed as a communal life of sharing with others, expressed in
terms such as love, care, joy, support, forgiveness, prayers and service. It was presented as a
shared space of mutual support where sisters, through care and love, help each other to feel at
home. This communion is enacted especially through community prayers, which are
described as a source of unity. This communion was also described as being expressed in
ways of helping each other with everyday chores such as laundry, cooking and ironing. For
instance, one participant from the diocesan congregation enunciates:
You know there was something – something we called “itu flower” that‟s a
way of >practical charity< which we really embark on … there was the
fetching water … washing of cloths, you know sweeping corners …
This participant enumerates the different services they render to each other. The ideal
communion is also expressed in taking time to find out how each other is faring, particularly
after each day‘s busy life at apostolate, and socialising in the evening after the day‘s work.
They share stories and relax to enjoy each other‘s company. Some participants described how
the shared stories have helped them to get to know one another more deeply. One participant
drew on the ideal expressed in the scriptures in the so-called ―servant song‖, to picture what
the ideal is; ―saying we are here to help one another; we are here to walk with one another –
we are here to bear one another‘s load.‖ Generally, the findings show a consistency in the
participants‘ understanding of religious life as communion. One participant explained the
ideal of communion by employing the idea of religious life as similar to early Christian life:
… religious life was-is dated back to the community of the early Christians,
we share things together; pray together; break bread together … this
breaking of bread together and sharing together is not just a magic …
people are = they are people who made it possible and the-e … you see I
163