Wow! Our recent meeting with noted author and community expert, Peter Block, was a real eye opener! Can you imagine a community (neighborhood, church, congregation) focused on the gifts of each member? Each person’s interest focused on what she does best rather than what problems she faces? Committees designed to do the work that people (at least 3 of them) actually want to do – and feel committed to do – and actually will do because they love to do it? If we want to change and renew our community, we need a real paradigm shift – and it may be that this is it. We are a Community blessed with so many very good, talented, educated, committed, and holy women that we cannot help but succeed, if only we acknowledge and set aside our problems and build on the wonderful gifts God has given us!
Joanne, I did not meet Peter so I do not know what he said. With what I read what you said, are you saying that our communities need to become committees? Are you saying that our present communities focus on problems rather than recognizing the gifts that each one of us brings to a community? Then am I hearing you say that our communites should be focusing on some work we want to do rather than just belonging to a community? I need some more information from you to understand more clearly what you are saying. What particular paradigm shift are you looking for among us in order for us to succeed?
Beth, Peter Block is helping us with the Centennial Barn. I speak of Community in this sense, I am referring to the larger idea of civic community vs. within our congregation. We are seeking to create “Community Space” in the barn. Peter Block is a noted author and teacher on Community Building. He spoke to us about focusing on the gifts within the Community (neighborhood, city, etc.) around us instead of the need.
Thanks for your response, Joanne. We as SFP’s have talked so long and hard about community, I thought you were referring to that community. I agree with you that the community we should be looking at should include a wider circle, not excluding the SFP’s. However, it will be difficult for me to take my attention off of those in need.
Community of Life as I understand is the whole universe with all creation. This past month of feeding the Poor was not only persons but even the animals were given help by many wonderful loving families within the Hamilton Area. St. Raphael could not exist without the many and dedicated volunteers and community service persons who assisted in the many hours of supporting Santa Shop and even Adopted families during the month of December. I had the previlege of inviting Sisters to participated in prayer, a delicious supper and a time together with the million Christmas lights called “A Walk with the Bible.” This is what I called Building Community.
The Ubuntu article was great. Thank you.
I’m not sure about the entry that talks about success as a guarantee. It was a very hopeful comment, but no matter how focused, confident and trusting we are, we sometimes miss the mark and fail. Guess I haven’t made the paradigm shift yet. ?? Not that I would not like to be at a point.
I am no so sure that the ’success’ referred to in the ‘Ububtu’ blog is a guarantee so much as it an outcome of the sum total of the love and effort and inclusiveness of the sisters (and, as always, the love of God)…
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