An experience of community

...JOY, BLESSEDNESS, AFFIRMATION AND FRIENDSHIP

By Anne Quesnelle
January/February 2003

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When I look back at my experience at our meetings last summer, the first word that comes to mind is community. Scott Peck, one of my favourite authors, describes community in this way: a state of being together in which people, instead of hiding behind their defenses, learn to lower them; instead of attempting to obliterate their differences, learn not only to accept them but to rejoice in them.

At the mass for the Ecuador mission. L-R: Scarboro priest candidate Ignacio Pinedo, lay missioner Carolyn Beukeboom, Julia Duarte, and Anne Quesnelle.

What better way to describe our coming together, priests, lay men and women, married and single, young and old for a two-week in-depth look at who we are and where we are heading as a missionary Society. Needless to say, the rejoicing that took place was definitely a highlight for an extrovert such as myself.

Throughout the Assembly I was part of the music coordination team for some of the morning prayers and for the daily liturgies (which all had an international flavor). During these worship times I was truly moved and one could feel the presence of the Spirit among our lively Christ-centered group.

We spent a lot of time in small group discussions, which allowed me to become aware of the presence of God in the faces, flaws, faith, vision and missionary zeal of those sharing with me. To share stories with missioners working all over the world, some having been in the field for over 30 years, was to feel conversion and joy.

My personal experience at this event peaked not because of some groundbreaking decision made by the Assembly, but because of something much more plain, subtle, and more intimate.

At the end of one session, I was sharing my table with five Scarboro priests, most of whom had lived their entire lives overseas in mission. Some had not known or worked with another Scarboro lay person before.

One of these priests, referring to my husband and my decision to join Scarboro Missions, leaned over to me and said: "I want to congratulate you on the risk you and your husband have taken with your lives. You've given up most security nets other young people have been taught to cling to. I admire the both of you and I hope you know that the Lord will always look after you for what you've done."

After such an affirmation I was secretly fighting off an emotional outburst as my eyes welled up with tears. At that moment, I felt truly honoured to be part of the Scarboro Missions community where friendship really does erase all age gaps.

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