INTRODUCTION

Dear Readers,

Here is the long-awaited English version of the “Acts of the Colloquium” held in Québec in November 2004, whose theme was Spiritual Kinships among lay and consecrated persons: a source of tension bringing new life. The publication of this English edition was made possible thanks to the help of the Canadian Religious Conference, especially Lise Barbeau, SCSL, Mission Formation Portfolio Director, in collaboration of Bernadette Ward, FMM, who translated the texts and Teresita Kambeitz, OSU, who proofread them. We thank them warmly.

The Colloquium, which was organized jointly by the Centre de spiritualité Manrèse, the Canadian Religious Conference and the Faculté de théologie et de sciences religieuses de l’Université Laval, in collaboration with the Institut de pastorale des Dominicains, gathered lay and consecrated persons from seventy-seven Religious and Secular Institutes, Societies of Apostolic Life and New Communities from six Canadian provinces.

As part of a research project regarding spiritual kinships within the Church, these study days awakened us to an emerging reality coming to full bloom. The discovery of the many different bonds uniting lay and consecrated persons helped us discern new spiritual and ecclesial challenges as well as new paths leading to the future.

During these days of sharing and reflection, we first explored the evolution of relationships between lay people and religious institutes outlined by Sophie Tremblay. In his consideration of the theological and pastoral dimensions, Rick van Lier, OP, upheld the view that the sharing of the charism constitutes the basis of the relationship between lay and consecrated persons, while Mireille Éthier shed light on the conditions favourable to the growth of ecclesial bodies. Looking at the issues from the ecclesial point of view, Bernadette Delizy, RSC, pointed out paths along which “Gospel families” could journey. Gilles Routhier showed what is at stake in these changes for the Church; such alliances among various groups of the faithful are altering a particular model of religious life and giving rise to new and original ways of answering the call to holiness.

The second part of this collection of writings is dedicated to accounts of associate relationships in practice. Four of the groups who share their experiences of associate relationship are presented here: Viateurs: Religious and Associates (Clercs de Saint-Viateur); the Associates of the Ursulines of Prelate/Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, the Foreign Mission Society and Consecrated Affiliates of the Sisters of Good Shepherd of Quebec.

The new lights shed during the Colloquium created much enthusiasm. New horizons becoming visible permit us to glimpse new forms of spiritual kinship among lay persons, consecrated persons and priests in one Church, in which all the members form but one Body in Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 12: 12). Our amazement at seeing the ecclesial growth through the many new alliances being formed together with our certitude that the Spirit is doing something new, lead us to believe that this sharing of charisms by lay and consecrated persons cannot but contribute to the renewal of ministries and the diverse forms of consecrated life.

Gaétane Guillemette