Bucaramanga (Colombia), 08/21/2023, Sr. Sonia Stella Muñoz Ulloa.- Within the background of the celebrations of the 150th anniversary of the arrival of the Congregation in Colombia and of the 25th anniversary of the Association of Lay Dominicans of the Province of Bucaramanga, took place in La Turena from August 18 to 20, the XVIII Annual Meeting met under the theme: “Baptized and sent to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world.”
"The Lord gives us a new face through the laity, who feel identified with the spirit of Marie Poussepin, thus our journey constitutes a manifest sign of the Spirit who acts in the Church through the service of the Gospel."
This assembly saw the participation of a good number of lay people from the different groups, and of the sisters who accompany them in their process of formation and missionary projection. During the assemblies, a space for formation is offered, this year the theme which was deepened was the consecration by baptism and the mission of the laity. They were accompanied by Father Richard Bayona Arévalo, Carmelite priest.
Each participating group organized a "stand" where they shared their story, the process they lived, the sisters who accompanied them more closely and the apostolic projection in the places of mission, the different pastoral fields in the parishes and institutions where they are projected enlightened by the pedagogy of Marie Poussepin and the charism of Saint Dominic.This activity developed on the base methodology allowed us to remember everything that our experience, the lay people who died during these 25 years; also review their being and their action and mutually enrich each other’s experiences.
Thanksgiving was lived in the Eucharist on Sunday in an atmosphere of simplicity, of joy for all that we have lived these 25 years, formation, life shared in small groups, missionary actions that require giving, availability to share their gifts and their charisma.
Every two years, lay people who have consecrated themselves renew their consecration, this year 31 lay people renewed their consecration.
Today, 25 years later, we are grateful for the research carried out by Sr. Rosa Estrada Vega in her provincialate to go with the laity from a project, also the spiritual accompaniment, the formation provided by Sr. Beatriz Álvarez Gómez and the dedication of each of the Sister Advisors at the local and provincial level.
We ask for their intercession to Marie Poussepin and to Santo Domingo de Guzmán that we continue to advance as a Presentation family and that we are leaven of the Kingdom of God in each of the places of mission.
