Tam Ha (Vietnam). From July 11 to 22, 2024, Sister Milena Stevani, Daughter of Mary Help of Christians, Professor Emeritus of the Pontifical Faculty of Educational Sciences “Auxilium” in Rome, was joyfully welcomed in Tam Ha, at the House of the Mary Help of Christians Province (VTN), to share sessions on psychology topics with FMAs of different formation stages. Sister Milena has 40 years of experience in teaching and consulting psychology for religious and lay people.
From July 13 – 14, Sr. Milena met perpetual professional sisters under 44 years old. Sister shared with the sisters the topic: “Stages of life and the path of progress in love”. She invited the sisters to reflect on some specific points such as: the journey of female consecrated ones from the age of 40, maturity in the psychological aspect, consistency, form self-image in each person, the process of advancing vocation through life stages, self-awareness, emotional aspects, antagonisms or difficulties in interpersonal relationships, … As the female consecrated, each of us is called to care for our relationship with Christ, have the courage to build a more realistic self-image and learn to accept the realities as they are.
On July 15, Sr. Milena had a meeting with the elderly sisters: “Senior age – an invitation to grow in love”. She started the sharings with words: “Each of us is present here with a response of love to God. God comes to each human age differently. He comes to our old age with a redemptive change and each of us responds positively or less positively…”. After that, she continued to present to the elderly sisters about the crises in their period, the changes of this age and each person has different changes from each other.
She also showed that the elderly period is an opportunity to reflect and accept one’s own life journey. She invited the elderly sisters to know how to take care of themselves in order to face difficulties in life and maintain an inner life; Learn to appreciate everyday realities from small things; Be open to the world, to people, to nature, to what is happening in this world; Maintain dynamism in community life, knowing how to evaluate experiences, experiences with people and current events.
On July 16, Sr. Milena shared with Postulants and Novices the theme: “Journey towards self-knowledge and God’s plan”. She invited them to go on a journey of formation to know yourself, a journey of formation of effort and responsibility, balancing positive and positive thinking, returning to your personal history to discover a plan, looking back at the wealth of rich experience of the past.
Sr. Milena met the young people, pre-aspirants and aspirants, on July 17 with the topic: “Knowing yourself and orientation”. Sister invited them to reflect on the questions: “Who am I? Do I know enough about myself?” These are important questions for each one, being an important basic foundation for everyone at every level of life. She also invited them to contemplate the image of Mary, re-read life history with her to courageously walk like her and to grow in human life, awareness and faith.
From July 18 – 19, Sr. Milena shared with the perpetual preprofession sisters over 44 years old the topic: “The importance of a sense of inner unity and consistency” and “Understanding the changes that occur during midlife”. Through that, she helped sisters to see and understand their stages better.
After the sisters reflected, group discussed and presented, Sr. Milena also shared with them some steps to go through their aging period with serenity and trust: “You have the Word of God and the guidance of Mother Mary throughout your life; Put aside your personal expectations and let God’s plan come in; Make yourself capable of being like a bridge connecting each other and to God”.
“The importance of knowing oneself to live the covenant with God” and “Conversion in the spiritual aspect” are the two main topics of the two-day meeting between Sr. Milena and the temporary profession sisters on July 20 – 21, 2024.
Sr. Milena invited the sisters not to eliminate the human element in their formation journey but to start from the fundamental element which is humanity itself. She also shared with them the crises that may occur during this period. “This is a normal thing that can happen but it can be an opportunity for them to strengthen their faithfulness with God”. Self-awareness is necessary to effect changes and conversion of the heart. “From there, strengthen your relationship with jesus through prayer and daily life”.
The Mary Help of Christians Province thanked Sister Milena for the lively presence and for the time she dedicated: overcoming obstacles due to age, geographical distance, and culture, she made herself available, communicating to all a great passion. Gratitude also, on the part of the FMA, to the Institute and the Province and for taking care of the lives of the sisters through many different courses throughtout the year, especially this course, hoping that the sisters will live happily in their vocation starting from the realities of each one.
Photos: Flickr VTN
Cara sr. Millena lei é un dono per l’Istituto e per ogni FMA che ha avuto la gioia di conosceLa e ricevere il suo aiuto fraterno e assai professionale. Un forte abbraccio. Preghiamo a vicenda. Sor Paola dal Peru
Que riqueza de renovação formativa para todas as etapas da vida. Parabéns, Irmãs do Vietnam! Que Jesus Cristo fortaleça o caminho de cada uma em direção ao Seu em vista de um testemunho que encante as jovens de hoje. Obrigada, Ir.Milena por seu testemunho de vida em favor das novas gerações. Nossa mãe Auxiliadora seja sua companheira de todas as horas.
Great! Well done Sr Milena!
A word of appreciation to the Province of Vietnam. God bless your efforts!