Wide-open doors

Sister Lutgardis Craeynest (Kortrijk, 1938) from Belgium, daughter of Our Lady Help of Christians, was appointed president of the Union of the European Conferences of the Major Superiors (UCESM) in February 2008. She did her pedagogy studies in Rome and completed Catechetical studies in Lovanio; she has been Novice Mistress and supervisor of the Daughters of Our Lady Help of Christians (FMA). She was also the Mother Superior of Auxilium, the pedagogy faculty of FMA in Rome. During her recent visit to Madrid, on the occasion of the XV General Assembly of the Spanish Conference of the Religious (CONFER), held in the institutions’ headquarters November 11-14, she answered the questions posed by ANS (Salesian news agency).How can religious life contribute to Europe?“As Religious, all we can offer Europe today is our communal lifestyle, that is highly significant. In our context all that refers to communion and reconciliation, and to the openness to the other, holds a special connotation. We also have to offer our availability, our “Samaritan presence” within the new forms of poverty. This is why it’s important to be aware that we are Religious and that we uphold the message of the Gospel”. Many of the tasks pertaining to religious life are fulfilled by state institutions or organizations. What is the meaning of religious life in contemporary Europe?“I believe it has more meaning than ever! Our societies are experiencing new taboos; like speaking of the kingdom come. To this regard, we can share the experience of our life that is focused primarily on the eschatological prospect. We can offer our view of the hereafter that is developed by living a full life here and now. This is a strong sign. However, we ought to realize that the greatest contribution to contemporary Europe is offering who we are and what we do. In the forthcoming UCESM Assembly, that will take place in Poland, we will address this topic specifically. In that circumstance, we will focus on religious congregations understood as a story of hope, since we represent the hope of contemporary European history”. Religious life in Europe in marked by a decline in vocations, by the progressive ageing of the religious and by a lack of incisiveness… “It’s true, but we must not let ourselves be overwhelmed by pessimism! There are difficulties indeed, however we ought to be in touch with the force that is greater than us, the force of the Gospel. Also the prospect of death is evangelical: Christ fulfills his mission up to the cross, which is an evangelical sign and is part of his passion. In the present moment, with the force of faith, we can address these problems and bring new life to our congregations. In this framework it’s important to recover the community concept that ought to be viewed as a cenacle with wide-open doors. This cenacle convenes around the Holy Virgin and our Lord, with wide-open doors, courageously continuing along the path of our mission”. To continue offering…?“Of the many things, the sense of transcendence bears special meaning. The foundations must be rooted within the Lord. Thanks to the daily encounter with the Lord we became spiritual persons; we are serene, and people are aware of it. They perceive that we are directed towards the Lord in full conviction, as a community. This is important, since we didn’t choose one another, but we are united, we share the same vocation and together we open up to the other person’s need that is our mission”. You were invited at the Assembly of the Spanish Religious. What’s your opinion of the work that was done in that framework? “I have noticed that a lot of work is being done with much courage. A serious commitment is being performed in a brotherly atmosphere of friendship and joy. As relates to religious life, Spain is the force of Europe”. Fact fileThe Union of the European Conferences of the Major Superiors (UCESM) is an ecclesial association in compliance with Canon Law. It was established to step up communication between the religious -men and women – across 26 European nations. It represents 38 national Conferences and some 400,000 consecrated. The first general assembly of the National Conferences of Western Europe was held in Paris in 1980 where a temporary committee was tasked with setting up UCESM. The committee was active until the second general assembly in Rome (1981), when the name of the body was chosen and the Canon Law statutes were voted. In 1982 the statutes were submitted for approval to the Vatican Congregation for the Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life. Until 1992, UCESM secretaries general lived in their native countries. However, since it was deemed necessary to be present in the places of the European home, in the 1990s a permanent secretariat was established in Brussels that is now part of the Conference of the Major Superiors of Belgium.