In his homily on Easter Sunday, Father Edward Foley, Capuchin, encouraged parishioners to “practice resurrection.” His preaching extolled:
The followers of Jesus practiced resurrection and their dogged commitment to living an Easter spirituality and passing it on from one generation to the next — usually at great cost —is why we stand missioned to practice resurrection today.
Unfortunately in this moment it seems there are too many who prefer practicing crucifixion, played out in the starvation ravaging across the Sudan & Congo, the violence rampaging across the streets of Ramallah and Chicago...
Our prayer this solemn feast is that with expanded lungs, we might inhale the intoxication of the Easter gift and exhale it through our relentless resurrectional practicing so that the Easter mystery becomes an epidemic of grace, and hope, and peace for the glory of God, and the salvation of the world, through Christ, the Risen One, forever and ever.
What does it mean for us to practice resurrection?
If you ask me, everything in this edition of InFormation embodies the Risen Christ. Take the Synthesis Report to the Formation and Vocation Synodal Consultation, for example. The report gives powerful testimony to consecrated life and the overabundance of gifts it offers our church and the world. And it isn’t only in the input and feedback, as pivotal as that is, but also in the process of coming together: two national organizations that serve religious life, women and men religious, and an extravagance of cultures and diverse backgrounds, to be the Body of Christ. To pray, listen, and share from the heart. As one participant so eloquently “We have the heart for this.” We do, thanks be to God.
This is what it means to practice resurrection.
Read through Sister Jenn Schaaf’s inspiring reflection on her journey in religious life and her experience in the ForMission program. A Dominican Sister of Blauvelt, NY, Sister Jenn’s wisdom describes the best of who we are, and the transformative nature of religious life, alive and, despite the challenges, thriving in the world today. She articulates it best: “I appreciated having time to grow in relationship with men and women who believe in the future of religious life, even as they know it is changing.”
This is what it means to practice resurrection.
Don’t miss Sister Maco Cassetta’s experience at January’s Esperanza gathering.
You got it: practicing resurrection.
There’s more to savor in this edition, too. All of it glimpses and gleanings of practicing resurrection: the shimmering and shinning of light and love cast out in sun-soaked fashion in a world in need of Good News.
Thank you for being partners-in-mission and animating so much of what we’re about here at the Conference.
Let’s practice resurrection together.
Happy Eastertide!
Ryan J. Hoffmann, DMin
Executive Director