By Dr. Michael Campos, High School Religion, Theology and Spirituality Faculty
Seminar 2, Day 7: I am Shared
As the days unfolded, so relaxed our observance of the day’s program. Where Beethoven jolted us straight into the morning’s activities early in the week, today we meandered deep into the farm’s forest to enjoy breakfast al fresco. We gathered as a large collective, then divided into our working groups, each assigned a small hut in which to reflect on the week together. In Sacred Heart fashion, we engaged in “tirage,” pulling small cards that identified our “gift” from the Holy Spirit (mine was “knowledge”) and its specific fruit in our lives (mine was “self-control”…not quite sure what to make of that!).
After a satisfying breakfast we returned to our home groups to articulate a shared vision, mission and goals relevant to our ministries and work. Each participant took the opportunity to craft statements that were true to the nature of their professions. Presentations were well-organized and enthusiastic, topped off with a reflection on emergent group dynamics led by Sr. Digna.
Photos by Dr. Michael Campos, Religion, Theology & Spirituality, Faculty
The afternoon brought us back into the circle from which we began the week. Having been “blessed,” and “broken,” how might we imagine ourselves and our work “shared”? This movement from blessing, brokenness and sharing evokes the Eucharistic principles in Christian worship, where Jesus’s body (in the bread) is fragmented and distributed for the nourishment of all.
The evening descended with guests and a feast. The Roman Catholic bishop of Northern Samar, Most Rev. Emmanuel Trance, joined our final liturgy, even gifting the community with lechon (roast pig, a staple of every Filipino celebration). The scholars-in-residence, staff members and volunteers at Sophie’s Farm put on a moving black light dance that illuminated key iconographies of the week. Elea and Guillemette, our two French volunteers, and Sam performed Da Coconut Nut, a Filipino pop song. Competitions among participant groups then followed with recognitions and acknowledgments concluding the formal proceedings.
Well past midnight, as we slowly turned inwards, Sr. Lydia, Malou, and Gerard offered a moving dance to Lee Ann Womack’s “I Hope You Dance” — an appropriate conclusion to a week that moved us from our heads to our bodies, our bodies to our hearts, our hearts to the open and expansive spirituality of the Sacred Heart.
Convent & Stuart Hall Travel 