This Thursday, July 21, the work focused on the data collected during the experiential phase. The experiential phase, the second step of the process towards 2026, took place from March 2021 to June 2022. The purpose of the experiential phase was to encourage members to individually reflect on, share, and celebrate together the missional experiences of the current generation of SMA and OLA.

During this phase, personalized questionnaires were distributed to collect key points; for example, what attracted members to the institutes and how those mission desires have been realized over the years. Sr Agnes Adepoju and Fr. Charles Tshingani did an excellent job of statistics and analysis of the responses collected.

Their intervention set the tone for the different sharing and conversations of the day.

So how important was the experiential phase to this seminar?

It should be emphasized that this phase provided important elements that are now being used to confront the results of the historical phase to make a hermeneutical interpretation of the evolution of charisma over the years. This phase also provides information on the various missionary apostolates and on how we respond to new challenges.

It should be noted, therefore, that this seminar is not an isolated action of a few members of the two institutes. On the contrary, it is the echo of a journey of listening to each other in mutual respect of all the members of the two institutes OLA and SMA. It is undoubtedly a historic moment in the life of the two congregations, an experience called to bear much fruit.

Pierre Paul DOSSEKPLI