Courtney McGrailConsecrated life remains at the forefront of the Church’s pastoral outreach, writes Sr Pat O’Donovan
Sr Pat O’Donovan
Pastoral outreach is a response in faith that resonates with the mission of Christ who came “that we may have life and have it to the full” (John 10:10). Human persons have an innate and natural longing to attain true wholeness and happiness by becoming their full and best selves. Keen awareness of this longing or a capacity to articulate it may not necessarily be obvious at all times and in all circumstances. Yet, the quest for happiness and fulfilment is given consistent expression in individual lives, in families, in places of work, in educational institutions, in places of hope and healing such as hospitals, hospices and care centres and in the lives of many persons committed to public service. This quest becomes more intense and evident during times when people are negotiating life transitions, are experiencing trauma or are faced with serious illness, tragedy or loss and bereavement.
Viewed through the lens of Christianity, life is a pilgrimage with unique and varied experiences, very many of which give glimpses of the fullness of life referred to by Christ. Alongside moments of happiness and fulfilment are many moments of brokenness, uncertainty, pain and vulnerability. These moments often change life into an arduous journey that puts faith to the test, or that makes it difficult to find meaning and purpose in engagement with life’s journey. For some, because of personal circumstances and vulnerability, or because of societal, economic or political factors, life may indeed be extremely arduous. Challenges that may be temporary or circumstances that lead to utter darkness and loss of direction call for genuine and caring human outreach and accompaniment. Compassionate presence that communicates solidarity has the capacity to empower individuals and groups to find meaning and to gain the strength and access the resources to continue to engage with life in ways that can become truly life-giving and healing.
Those whose vocation it is to live a life of consecration as religious or within societies of apostolic life are committed to offering pastoral outreach and care to their fellow pilgrims, most especially those who are negotiating difficult life moments or circumstances. This is faith-based outreach, which does not distance those in consecrated life from the real and raw lived experiences of so many within society. Rather, such deeply humanising experiences invite them to engage in pastoral encounters that communicate solidarity, understanding, mercy, compassion and unconditional and non-judgmental pastoral presence. With deep consciousness and appreciation of the injustice, fear, uncertainty and alienation endured by many, pastoral care offers a service that aims at establishing the reign of God through building a human society where the dignity of each person is recognised and respected.
Pastoral outreach has many forms and expressions that enrich the lived experience of pilgrims on the road of life and enables them to enjoy greater freedom, realisation of potential and fullness of life. The accompanying presence offered by people in consecrated life represents a history of goodness that has touched very many stories of suffering and searching over the centuries opening up rays of light and hope in the lives of people in need of comfort, care and direction.
Within the Irish context, the provision of assistance and spiritual care by persons in consecrated life was more readily recognised and understood in previous centuries. We are now in a new era with much fewer religious at the coal-face in the faith-based healthcare and educational institutions that were founded by them and which operate from an ethos rooted in Gospel values. Those who are still at the forefront are mainly involved in direct pastoral outreach and care to persons in need of pastoral care. The outreach of others, as agents of pastoral care, is mainly to those in administrative roles. They provide support, encouragement and care to lay colleagues who are entrusted with continuing the tradition of offering holistic care to persons from diverse faith traditions and cultural backgrounds and most especially to those on the margins of society.
The pastoral responses of persons in consecrated life to the emerging pastoral needs of recent decades are normally low-key and often quite unknown. Nonetheless, working in collaboration with religious and lay colleagues, they are making a significant contribution to the physical, emotional and spiritual health and well-being of persons in their journey through all of life stages. There are many within Irish society for whom one or multiple life circumstances have made the journey to wholeness and the search for meaning particularly difficult. Some who have lost direction and a sense of purpose and meaning and who often feel quite vulnerable and overwhelmed by intense spiritual and emotional pain. Many are empowered to move into a healthy and wholesome life path through the provision of compassionate, empathetic and effective pastoral outreach and care.
Opportunities for access to effective treatment for substance abuse and addiction, and to programmes for re-integration into society have been initiated and continue to be sustained or sponsored by persons in consecrated life. Likewise pastoral outreach to migrants and asylum seekers has become a core ministry for religious. Projects that provide safe and life enhancing accommodation for older and vulnerable people, in urban and in rural settings, are initiated and sustained by religious in collaboration with lay colleagues and associates.
The work of pastoral care continues, quietly yet persistently by persons living the consecrated life as members of institutes of religious life or societies of apostolic life in twenty-first century Ireland. “The joy of the Gospel” continues to be transmitted through authentic pastoral encounters that help to “wake up the World” by facilitating people to grow in spite of adversity or awake from the nightmare of darkness and despair. Consecrated life, which is a gift to the Church, remains at the forefront of the Church’s mission in trying to bring about the reign of God through vibrant pastoral outreach.
Sr Pat O’Donovan, RSM is head of healthcare at the Conference of Religious Ireland (CORI).