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New Wine, Fresh Skins

New Wine, Fresh Skins

By Brother Patrick Sean Moffett, CFC, Ph.D.

Nobody puts new wine into old wine skins; If he does the wine will burst the skins, and the wine is lost and the skins too. No! New wine, fresh skins! -Mk 2,22*

The Pandemic and heightened awareness of racial injustice through the Black Lives Matter movement enter the world scene at a time when formators have been challenged by a Vatican document on religious life stressing the need for “new wine skins” and a reimagining of the formative process.

“The world sets the agenda for the Church and the Congregation.” This line from a previous Chapter document took on special relevance in March as the Covid 19 pandemic required a “proroguing” of our sexennial Congregation gathering mid-Chapter sending Brothers from around to world back to our home countries from Lima, Peru. In June the Religious Formation Conference united religious from around the country and the world in a series of Zoom gatherings exploring how the pandemic, stay in place, and social distancing were impacting formation programs. The interactive sessions elicited creative adjustments that may have a place in formation programs long beyond whenever the pandemic passes.

Unique times require unique responses. The Holy Spirit seems to relish such occasions. I have in mind the upper room lock down that culminated in Pentecost, the window opening experience of Vatican II, solidarity following the terrifying events of 9/11, a rapid series of floods, fires, and natural disasters awakening us to the message of Laudato Si, and now the global pandemic and Black Lives Matter awakening to racial injustice. Pope Francis points out we are not in an era of change, but rather a change of era. With this article I focus on a Vatican publication, New Wine in New Wineskins*, that further articulates the current challenges for religious life and formation in the here and now of our era.

Read entire article in Fall edition of InFormation

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The Religious Formation Conference (RFC) is a national Roman Catholic organization serving religious institutes of women and men with programs and services for those in the ministry of initial and lifelong formation, and general congregational membership.

Animated by God’s vivifying presence, the RFC will stand at the forefront of discerning the formative horizon of the emergent in religious life. In concert with members and collaborative partners, the Conference will lead in the areas of initial and ongoing formation and the professional preparation of formators.

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1525 E. 53rd St. | Suite 716
Chicago, IL 60615
Phone: 773.675.8362
Email: rfc@relforcon.org

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About RFC

About RFC

Mission, Vision, Values

Board of Directors

Staff / Contact

Membership

Congregational Members

Member Areas

Partners & Collaborators

Get news & notes

News Blog

Travel to/from

Privacy Policy

Programs

Attend a Program

ForMission

Program Cost and Payment
Dates and Location

ForMission 2.0

Life Commitment

Program Cost and Payment

Compromiso de Vida

Orientation to Formation

Program cost and payment

Webinars

Workshops

InterCongregational Collaborative Novitiate (ICCN)

Together

Program Advisory Committee

Member Areas

Scholarship Funds

Calendar

Cancellation Policies

Congress

Congress 2023

Congress 2021

Congress 2019

Congress 2017

Congress 2015

Congress 2013

Congress 2011

Resources

Resources Portal

Webinar Recordings

Workshops & Presentations

InFormation Bulletins

Annual Reports

Scholarship Funds

News Blog

Online Store

Cancellation Policies

Members

Become a Member

Member Areas

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