On August 6, the First Meeting on Indigenous Consecrated Life in Latin America and the Caribbean began virtually. This event is a joint initiative of the Commission for the Pastoral Care of Indigenous Peoples of the Latin American and Caribbean Episcopal Council (CELAM) and the Commission on Indigenous Consecrated Life of the Latin American and Caribbean Confederation of Religious (CLAR).
The theme of the event is "Weaver of Hope and Guardian of Memory: Original Consecrated Life in the Service of Caring for Life, Cultures, and Our Common Home," with the aim of creating a space for listening, encounter, and dialogue among the participants.
In an interview with ADN Celam, Sister Luz Angélica Arenas, a Mexican nun and member of CELAM’s Pastoral Commission for Indigenous Peoples, explained that the main motivation for organizing this meeting was to join forces between the two institutions to strengthen the service they provide to the continent’s indigenous peoples.
A space to weave identity and hope
The nun explained that the call for this gathering stems from a desire to coordinate joint efforts with indigenous peoples, avoiding isolated initiatives and strengthening their shared mission. “The motivation was to build a network and create synergy so that we can come together on the same path,” she said. She added that the gathering will provide an opportunity to hear the voices of indigenous consecrated men and women and to build an ecclesial ministry that is increasingly “stronger and more meaningful.”
He also mentioned that the gathering aims to foster an atmosphere of listening and recognition where indigenous religious men and women can “weave together their insights,” share the memories and wisdom of their peoples, and rekindle their cultural and spiritual roots. He noted that this process strengthens an identity that sometimes tends to fade when they enter religious life.
"Their identity and the ancestral wisdom they carry are not a threat," he emphasized. On the contrary, he maintained that this cultural and spiritual richness is a gift to all consecrated life and that religious congregations "should be fertile ground" where these ancestral seeds are strengthened in the light of the Gospel.
Listening to the peoples to renew the Church
Throughout the day, participants will share their experiences, discuss the “roses and thorns” that shape their vocation, and reflect on the role of original consecrated life in caring for creation and cultures. The program also includes moments of prayer rooted in ancestral traditions, group work, and a concluding dialogue to discern actions that will strengthen their roots and their ecclesial mission.
Finally, the nun called on the communities to actively participate in this gathering, inviting them to come “with their ayates,” laden with the memories, spirituality, and wisdom inherited from their peoples. “We encourage you to participate, to foster dialogue, to foster hope, and to foster synodality,” she said. She also emphasized that Indigenous peoples have practiced synodality for millennia and that this experience can enrich the Church’s journey.
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