Constitutional text - Chapter Tree - Our Community life

The words "we ha.ve chosen" touch upon a rnajor consideration far the
unity of a corrnmmity. The unity, if it is going to be enduring and
vital, cornes frorn a perrnanent spiritual attitude of each rnernber to
readily share his or her life with others and to move together towards
the sarne spiritual goal and rnission. This is freely chosen,
not imposed on us. It is one thing to be clear about the goals and
rnission of a congregation - and another to freely commit oneself to
them. Tue choice - the commitrnent - is a surrender to a conmunity's.
life and rnission. This is very different frorn simply joining a team
or a work group. Tue choice here, in response to being called, puts
us into a relationship with others that will radiate into every part
of our lives, a connnitrnent through which the totality of existence
is shar ed - truly "one heart, one rnind". This is rnuch more in the
nature of a "covenant" than a "contract". Tue resulting relationship
is shot through with our hurnan frailty, but this coexists with
a certain firmness and irrevocability. And only in this way can an
authentic religious corrnm.mity - farnily - be created.
and to work together in a common effort
for the realisation ofReconciliation
Our "being" and our "doing" should be focussed on our primary rnission
- to strive for Reconciliation. Reconciliation is not sinlply a
work that we have to do "out there" - our apostolate - but Reconciliation
is the reality we are called to live ourselves. Our apostolate
is directed to reconciliation, but the living out of our community
life is the realization of that reconciliation arnongst ourselves so
that it can witness to God's gift.
This was pointed out in a corrnnent made at the Special General
Chapter:
'D1e unity will be strengthened if the doctrine of
Reconciliation is seen not sirnply as a work objective,
but as a way of life which urges usto seek
unity in all domains and between all groups in the
Institute itself.
We"work together" not only in our apostolate, but we also "work together"
in the task of building communities that will provide effective
encounter points with the Reconciliating power and love of Jesus
and the Spirit.
(Pulse-Taking joined to the one at the end of
Paragraph II)
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