Our school will join the Spiritual Education Project in the coming September. The project is an outgrowth of the Spirituality Theology designed by Fr. Thomas Kwan in the Centre for Catholic Studies in Chinese University Hong Kong. While he was preparing the course materials, he wondered whether it would be better if he designed this course to benefit more secondary school teachers than a few postgraduates. So, he wrote a QEF proposal to start promoting Spiritual Education in secondary schools. Seven Diocesan schools took part in the pilot scheme. Our school and seven other Catholic, Protestant and even Government schools are member schools in the second batch.
Last month, they organized a visit to the Our Lady of Joy Abbey in Lantau Island to experience Benedictine Spirituality. I did not go because it was too remote for me. Health was always my concern. Today was the second training session. We went to the Martyrs Saints of China Chapel in Shek O. I was able to join because the location is closer to the urban area. Brother William Ng, O.F.M. conducted this training session on Franciscan Spirituality.
Last month, they organized a visit to the Our Lady of Joy Abbey in Lantau Island to experience Benedictine Spirituality. I did not go because it was too remote for me. Health was always my concern. Today was the second training session. We went to the Martyrs Saints of China Chapel in Shek O. I was able to join because the location is closer to the urban area. Brother William Ng, O.F.M. conducted this training session on Franciscan Spirituality.
Brother William is in his early forties, bearded and not imposing in stature. He was humourous in his ability to tease himself. For example, in his PowerPoint, he introduced himself by showing a fifty-cent coin, a Vitasoy label and a poster of the movie "The Chariot of Fire", each indicating a Chinese character of his name. His presentation was well designed. First, he introduced St. Francis of Assisi against two other St. Francis! Then, he asked a few questions of increasing difficulty to reinforce our understanding of the life of St. Francis. Near the end, he clarified a "happy misunderstanding". People usually attribute the "Lord, make me a channel of Your peace" to St. Francis, but it turned out to be a myth. He did this to introduce the "Canticle of the Sun". Contrasting with the Song of Azarias and Psalm 148, Canticle of the Sun calls all creatures brothers and sisters: Brother Sun, Sister Moon and lastly Sister Bodily Death! This oneness with Creation and self-emptying are major characteristics of the Franciscan Spirituality. Then we spent one hour feeling the environment with our five senses.
The afternoon was more stimulating. Brother William began by telling us one particular story of St. Francis: the taming of the fierce wolf of Gubbio (The Little Flowers of St. Francis, 21). He used this story to introduce the seven elements of Reconciliation.
1) Risking: leaving our comfort zone.
2) Relying on God
3) Respectful: encounter our "enemy" with respect. Brother William reminded us to meet one wolf at a time.
4) Recognizing: name the pain. Face it squarely. Evasion is no solution.
5) Reconciliation: accept our limitations
6) Repent: take to the road again
7) Rejoice: celebrate life.
Of course, my brief sketch here does no justice to the depth of the Franciscan Spirituality. But it opens up my eyes to discern something profound in reconciliation. Many of us are not able even to take the first step. Our boss stayed through the whole workshop. But we did not eat lunch together. Though she fell into the last group sharing with Adrian and me, she did not say anything. In the end, she left on her own.
As for me, I enjoy the workshop a lot, in solitude as well as in group sharing. I have been very rational and intellectual to protect myself. Now, I begin to tap more into my feelings and my vulnerability.
1) Risking: leaving our comfort zone.
2) Relying on God
3) Respectful: encounter our "enemy" with respect. Brother William reminded us to meet one wolf at a time.
4) Recognizing: name the pain. Face it squarely. Evasion is no solution.
5) Reconciliation: accept our limitations
6) Repent: take to the road again
7) Rejoice: celebrate life.
Of course, my brief sketch here does no justice to the depth of the Franciscan Spirituality. But it opens up my eyes to discern something profound in reconciliation. Many of us are not able even to take the first step. Our boss stayed through the whole workshop. But we did not eat lunch together. Though she fell into the last group sharing with Adrian and me, she did not say anything. In the end, she left on her own.
As for me, I enjoy the workshop a lot, in solitude as well as in group sharing. I have been very rational and intellectual to protect myself. Now, I begin to tap more into my feelings and my vulnerability.
Dear Lord, help me to love my enemy more. Amen.
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