DSC_0138_(1024_x_768)It was one of the first beautiful early summer days after a long period of cold and rainy weather as a group of Laysalvatorians from 6 European countries met in Vienna. The meeting took place in a hotel located amongst the well wooded surrounding of Vienna. Not only these great conditions but also the good mood of the participants gave a kind and cordial atmosphere from the very beginning. Although the persons of different nations did not know each other there was soon a sense of familiarity noticeable within the group.

After dinner we introduced ourselves with a personal symbol and posted portrait photos onto a map of Europe. With a short and funny play with balloons where our names were written on we came in closed contact to each other. The evening was concluded by a complete that was prepared by the group of Belgic with parts of it in Flames, English and German.

The following day started with a holy mass after breakfast. Fortunately we could celebrate it in the garden of the hotel. It gave a touching impression with music from the harmonica and a guitar which Hubert and Rita from Bad Wurzach brought with them. The wind and noise from farmers working on the field nearby mediated the feeling of being closed to God and the world.

The next highlight of the morning was the presentation from Fr. Thomas Malal from Kongo who is responsible for the matters of the Salvatorian Family in the Generalate of the SocDS. He reported about Lay communities of Kongo and Tansania but gave also a glimps of how the beginning in Mexico was made. In the following discussion he was assisted by Fr. Michael from Tanzania who stays in Vienna for nearly two years for studies. Many interesting questions were asked concerning the life of Lays in Africa but also about the vocation of Lays.

After lunch a bus brought us into the Inner City for a short sight-seeing walk. Our guests were very impressed by the numerous beautiful palaces and houses, monuments and fountains.

We took the underground to go to the Sister’s Provincialate in Hacking where we were invited for supper and a workshop on the Salvatorian Charta afterwards. The food was delicious but more was the subsequent discussion about topics of the charta. Sisters, Fathers and Lays shared their thoughts and opinions originating in the difference of their daily lifes on how they act, live, pray and work as individual Salvatorians and as the Salvatorian family. Everybody was deeply impressed by the intensiveness of our conversation. It was planned that everybody could switch from table to table where different topics were presented and discussed. But the talks at each table were so intensive that nearly everybody stayed where he/she started. The most impressive statements for me were:

“Salvatorian family for me is that wherever I stay at a Salvatorian community there is a big comfortable wing chair for me.”
In concern of soliciting new members: “If you want to sell a rose like that: – (in a very monotonic voice) Here is a rose, do you want to buy it? Hardly anybody would be interested in. But if you can communicate that you are really fond of that rose: (spoken in a very keen way) Look at that rose its wonderful colour, the velvet like petals, the beguiling scent will fill your home … everybody wants to have this rose. That is the way we have to speak about our vocation.”

“Everybody who takes the discipleshift of Jesus serious acts in a salvatorian way – we Salvatorians have the advantage of a marvellous family that strengthens us to be able to follow HIM”.

The evening was closed by a complete prepared by the “Austrians” in the Sister’s chapel. The bus brought us back to the hotel not going directly but making a little sight-seeing through “Vienna by night”.

On Saturday we started with a morning prayer that was prepared by our German guests.

Than we had two workshops:

“Our vocation”

Here are some of the statements:

  • A vocation should result in a commitment.
  • The way from vocation to commitment should be chaperoned.

and

“Which wording should we use for evangelisation to be understood”


To illustrate the problem of misunderstanding we played a game: five people had to leave the room, the first person coming in again was shown a picture. He had 2 minutes time to memorise it. The picture was hidden and then he had to describe what he had seen the next person coming into the room again and she had to tell this description to the next woman who had to tell it once more and so on. The last person had to draw what she was told. This new picture did not have any similarity with the original.

For each of the two workshops texts have been prepared with additional texts taken from a paper of Fr. Mario Agudelo, of the Spiritual dairy of Fr. Jordan and other sources.

After lunch we talked about how to use the new media for communication, information and kindle interest in small groups by making a walk in the near wood or sitting in the garden of the hotel.

For the afternoon a special guided sight-seeing tour of St. Stephan’s cathedral was scheduled including a visit of the big bell and the attic. After an individual walk through the inner City we returned to the hotel.

For the evening a typical “Wiener Heurigen“ was planned. We spend it with good food and wine and music and funny presentations from our guests. We also celebrated the 25th anniversary of the Austrian Laysalvatorians with a big Sacher fancy cake. With music and dance we partied till nearly midnight.

On the last day we had holy mass in the Basilica of Kaisermühlen where Fr. Martin, who has ignited us with the Salvatorian fire 25 years ago, is parish priest now. Also Fr. Jirśi with a group of young people from Hungary came to celebrate the mass with us. Afterwards we made a concluding session in the parish hall, everybody could tell what was the most impressing thought, encounter … during the last days. For that we had a large ball of wool which was thrown from person to person across the room and everybody held the strand before throwing it to the next person across the room creating a web that connected each of us symbolising the international community.

After lunch one group after the other left for returning home. But we have already taken in consideration a next meeting in Belgic in 2014.

More pictures you can see here.

 

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