The 2017 Community Life Symposium began with a moment of prayer on Monday, July 24.  The participants, Missionaries and lay associates, gathered in the Chapel of the Italian Provincial Center in Rome.  V. Rev. William Nordenbrock, C.PP.S. presided and preached during the opening liturgy.  He challenged the participants to open their minds and hearts to where God is calling the Congregation.  Loosely quoting Moses, he urged the participants to be like the Israelites during the Exodus and to “shut up and trust in God.”

This first day of the Symposium was dedicated to laying the foundation for our understanding of Community Life from the Precious Blood perspective and from the wider view of religious life in general.  In the first session Rev. Emanuele Lupi, C.PP.S. walked the participants through the history of rule of the Congregation.  He highlighted those elements that make our community life unique.  

The second and third sessions were dedicated hearing from two other religious communities about their living and understanding of community life.  Rev. Ed Dougherty, MM, the Procurator General of the Maryknoll Missionaries, explained how the Maryknoll Missionaries community life is influenced by their mission.  He spoke of the tension between community and mission that is often present in Societies of Apostolic Life. 

Bro. Robert Schieler, FSC, the Superior General of the De La Salle Christian Brothers was the other speaker.  He stressed how his congregation is intentional in their relationship with lay associates.  He also shared with the participants his reflections on the different aspects that constitute community life.  In his context, community life has three dimensions:  a faith community, a fraternal community, and an apostolic community.

During the final session of the day the participants shared with the plenary assembly their thoughts and reactions to the previous three sessions.  Nordenbrock concluded the day by mapping out the next few days of the Symposium.