With a missionary spirit I traveled to Mexico City for the Unification Assembly. I headed to the  meeting with no expectations, no pre-conceived ideas or thoughts to communicate. I went to learn what questions and hesitations the confreres had, to meet new friends, and to talk with old ones.

Every morning, we began the day with a prayer service, uniting everyone in faith, mutual respect and the Redeemer’s love setting the tone for the day’s discussions. Each day a speaker, guest and confrere, gave a presentation focusing on identity, mission, or government. The conclusion of each presentation left attendees with questions to reflect on and discuss. The small group discussions gave each person time to digest what was presented and hear the thoughts of others. My favorite question each time was, “What did you hear the other members in your group say?” While expressing one’s thoughts can make you feel vulnerable, it was humbling for me to hear others’ words and realize I had missed a very relevant and important aspect of the report given or not understood the emotion involved.

 As the week progressed, I saw men beginning to look at the future with optimism and a mindset of planning for the new reality of living the missionary spirit as a member of the Seelos Province. I heard men speak about feeling vulnerable as they expressed fears of the unknown but willing to be “sent” as the true Redemptorist missionary they chose to be. I heard men expressing new ideas for living the Redemptorist mission multi-culturally and how to embrace the charism in this changing world of theirs. The respect given to the care and thoughts of the young and old was impressive and heart-warming. The week was a process of leaving a comfortable way of thinking and living and moving toward a new place inviting renewal and merging of ideas to accommodate different cultures and lifestyles.

I was honored to be an attendee at this meeting, and as a Lay Missionary of the Most Holy Redeemer I will continue to be a participant in unification process walking alongside the Redemptorists.