Dreaming Our Identity as Society

(...) What is our dream for the future?  Where do we want to go?  We want to discern a dream or vision for the future that stretches us beyond the good that is already present as we try to imagine what it would look like for us to take all the gifts/blessings that God gives to us and then using those gifts to the fullest.  This is about accepting the responsibility to be the co-creators of our community.  We are able to construct/create the community that God calls us to be by answering the questions: If we use all the gifts/charism that God has given us to the absolute fullest-what would we look like as a community?  This vision for the future is our discernment of our faithfulness as a community.

The dream or vision of the preferred and faithful future of the community is articulated in a narrative that is grounded in the charism (positive core) that was discovered, but provocatively stretches the community to an identity that is more than who we are today.  The whole community desires this vision and is committed to its realization because it has flowed from their faithful discernment. 

William Nordenbrock 

Superior General 

of the Missionaries of the Precious Blood

Dreaming Our Identity as Society

Artist: Fr. Antonio Koffi, M.Afr.

The moderator invited the participants to draw an image of how they want the Society to be in 6 years from now.  Here below are the images of our dreams:

A community of rabbits:   rabbits relax (from this image we learn to love, to empower and to live more harmoniously.

Image of the funambule:  this image calls us to be careful and cautious.

Image of a pot with milk overflowing: we will be more in terms of personnel, going beyond (mission outside Africa).

Image of a plant diseased but later on pruned:  this image reveals a situation of transition but with the increasing number of candidates, this reveals that we shall be many.

Image of banana forest: this image reveals to us that a lot of projects will blossom.

Image of the rainbow:  a society that will be multi-ethnic (more intercultural). The society will be younger. Less material resources and this will affect our life.

Image of mushroom after raining: This image reveals that the society is growing in and outside.

Image of the Zebra: the zebra has different colours and designs, that is how the society will look like. They pasture in green fields. 

Image of flower: a society will be like a flower expanding, there will be a growth number of confreres.

Image of beehives:  bees work together this tells us of Team work.

Bird’s sanctuary: we will be able to attract.

Image of eucalyptus tree: This image takes us to news ventures.

Image of the donkey in the well:  there is this fear that we are dying, but we can’t die, because more candidates are coming and new ventures are being explored.

Image of traditional cooking stones: if you use one stone you cannot cook, you need three to cook; this tells us of the sense of community.

Image of a big heard connected to the big heart and a big smile:  This tells us of the joy of the mission.

Image of the map of the world with Africa at the centre, having arrows going all over: it reveals our mission within and outside Africa.

Common elements: Growing, flourishing, hope, new life, communion, sense of purpose, joy, stability in our communities, creativity.

Secretary: Fr. Emmanuel Barongo

Art piece: Fr. Antonio Koffi