WEEK 3 OVERVIEW: OBEDIENCE, COMMUNITY LIFE, THE WORD OF GOD, AND DILEXIT NOS
Monday, 14th & Tuesday, 15th July 2025
Sr. Christiana KURE, SSL, facilitated a two-day session on “The Vow of Obedience and Authority.” She began by affirming that each participant has a role to play at various levels of authority. She explored the concept of obedience from general, psychological, religious, and philosophical perspectives before defining authority as the power or right to control, judge, or prohibit.
She distinguished between obedience as command (external compliance) and obedience as a vow (a spiritual commitment to align one’s will with God’s). The root of the word obedience — ob-audiere — means “to listen intently,” underlining the vow as deep listening and surrender to God through people, events, and nature.
Sr. Christiana traced the historical development of the vow from the early Church through monastic times, St. Francis, the Council of Trent, Vatican II, and modern interpretations. She also reflected on its biblical foundations.
On Tuesday, she focused on the dynamics between obedience and authority, affirming that obedience refines freedom and helps individuals rise above selfishness. Authority, modeled on Christ, is a service grounded in humility, justice, and Gospel values. She concluded with a presentation on the contemporary challenges of living this vow, followed by group work.
Wednesday, 16th & Thursday, 17th July 2025
Sr. Winifred DIABOYA, OLA, led sessions on “Community Life”, highlighting its spiritual, historical, and cultural dimensions. She emphasized that community life is a place of sanctification and Gospel witness, rooted in early Christian and African communal traditions. Quoting John Mbiti, she reminded us: “I am because you are, and because you are, I am.”
She stressed values such as unity, mutual support, and shared responsibility, noting that community life requires patience, forgiveness, dialogue, and intentional participation. She also warned of the negative impact of social media on fraternal life.
On Thursday, Sr. Winifred focused on respect in community life, describing it as a foundational value based on kindness, empathy, and recognition of each person’s dignity. Respect is not imposed but earned, and it must extend to interpersonal relationships, workers, and sacred spaces.
In the evening, Sr. Mary T. BARRON, OLA (Congregational Leader), facilitated a session on “Community Sharing of God’s Word.” She underlined the importance of Lectio Divina as a communal practice and mission-rooted discipline. Drawing from several General Chapters, she encouraged communities to make time for regular scripture sharing.
She outlined the stages of Lectio Divina:
• Lectio (Reading)
• Meditatio (Reflection)
• Oratio (Affective Prayer)
• Contemplatio (Contemplation)
The session concluded with a prayerful Lectio Divina on Luke 10:38–42, led by Sr. Mary.
Friday, 18th July 2025
Sr. Emilia facilitated the day’s session on Pope Francis’ encyclical, Dilexit Nos. She reflected on the Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus as presented in the document, focusing on five key chapters:
• The Heart and Its Importance
• Actions That Reflect the Heart
• This Is the Heart That Has Loved So Greatly
• A Love That Gives Itself as Drink
• Love for Love
She also shared the Seven Steps of Reparation: Building the Ruins (as proposed by St. John Paul II), concluding with an invitation to embrace the Sacred Heart devotion as a universal call from Christ to all humanity.
Saturday, 19th July 2025
The day was set aside for personal reflection and group integration. Participants gathered in their respective groups to share and process their experiences from the week. The evening was left free for rest and leisure.
It was a grace-filled week of discerning God’s will through obedience, the beauty of community life, and a renewed love for the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
By the Sisters Preparing for Final Vows
Ibadan – 2025