The third regional assembly of prioresses and delegates from the Dominican monasteries of the Region ‘Europa Utriusque’ took place in 5-10 September in Krzeszowice near Krakow in Poland. Nuns from thirteen monasteries took part, coming from Austria, the Czech Republic, Ireland, Lithuania, Germany, Norway, Poland, Portugal and Switzerland. Among the invited guests were fr Brian Pierce, Promotor General of the Nuns, fr Viktor Hofstetter, ex-Promoter in the 1990’s, fr Józef Zborzil, Promotor of the Nuns in Poland, fr Krzysztof Popławski, the Polish Provincial, and for the last two days, fr Bruno Cadoré, the Master of the Order.

The assembly took place in a formation centre of the Missionaries of St Vincent de Paul. The official languages were the three main languages of this region: English, German and Polish. Listening to talks, sharing and discussions were possible thanks to five generous Dominican friars and sisters who served as interpreters, and provided us with simultaneous translation. Yet, the language barrier was not a problem. It was good to be together as brothers and sisters, talking about serious matters as well as conversing freely at the table, during walks in a beautiful park. We prayed together the liturgy each day in a different language. Sr Dominika rightly said that we communicated in four languages: English, Polish, German, and the language of heart.

First day Sr Josefa Strettiova from Prague, our representative on the International Commission of Nuns, introduced her report on the state of the monasteries of the Region during the last twenty years. Her report could be summed up in two words: a decrease in numbers, an increase in collaboration. Within the last two decades six monasteries were closed and two discontinued; the number of nuns also has reduced significantly. But there is much more unity and collaboration, mutual knowledge and willingness to help. Sr Josefa presented a beautiful example of a community of nuns in Nijmegen who, welcomed by a Congregation of Dominican Sisters, continue to live fully their contemplative life, which would not have been possible any longer in their former monastery. The Order seems to be fully alive in our region, with growing awareness of the mission of the nuns in collaboration with other branches of the Dominican family.

Fr Brian Pierce then presented his main concerns as Promoter of the Nuns. They pertain to: the quality of spiritual life in monasteries; providing good care for our elderly and ill sisters; and the need of a common initial formation programme. Under the present circumstances the Holy Spirit seems to be inviting us to communion, to collaboration in the area of care for our elderly and infirm sisters, and to cooperation in providing times and places of common study for our sisters in formation, to give them a chance to form relationships with their peers.

In his Biblical conference fr Brian introduced us into the theme of the Assembly: ‘Freedom and Obedience’. He presented Dominican obedience as the expectant waiting of poor people who, knowing and accepting their own inner emptiness, receive with open hearts the Word of God only to give it to others, not to keep the gift for themselves. A good example of free, generous and joyful obedience is the anonymous boy with the five loaves and two fish who attentively listens to, and hears Jesus. Similarly, what we receive from God can transform our lives. The Johanine boy is an image of a true disciple who receives the Word of God with all his poor heart, giving everything he has to Jesus and to people.

Fr Viktor Hofstetter in his three conferences pointed out the unique relationship between obedience and common life in the Rule of St Augustine and in our Constitutions. Dominican obedience is only possible in friendship that liberates us. ‘Obedience, by which we “conquer the deepest part of ourselves”, aids greatly in attaining that interior liberty which belongs to the children of God and disposes us to the free gift of ourselves in love.’ (LCM 19.III.)

Fr Viktor also showed the contemplative dimension of obedience, illustrated by the examples of St Nicholas of Flüe and the Jewish mystic Etty Hilesum. He also drew from the rich source of Meister Eckhart’s homilies. We were especially impressed by his meditation on Mary and Martha, in which Eckhart reverses the stereotyped interpretation of this gospel story.

In group work we shared our reflections and lived experience. A summary was then presented to the whole assembly, enriching all of us.

From 8^th September we were pleased to welcome among us the Master, fr Bruno Cadoré. He reminded us of our place and mission in the Order. The obedience of nuns of the Order of Preachers comes from listening to the word of God. “The word of God, lectio divina, is the centre of the LCM. It is not an option,” said fr Bruno. “The goal of our life in the Order is to give always first place to the word of God.” (cf. LCM 96.II.). In this sense the whole Order is contemplative. Fr Bruno also said: “In the liturgy we want to celebrate the word of God, just as we celebrate the coming of a friend, our meeting with him, when we introduce him joyfully to everybody. This is part of our mission: not just praying the breviary, but celebrating the word of God together.” The word of God is the principle of unity of the Order, in which we are called to preach the good news of God’s coming down to be with us in Jesus Christ.

Each day of our assembly was concluded with common Vespers and an hour of Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. But on Saturday night we had a lovely, joyful recreation at beautifully laid out tables in the dining room. There were skits, songs, jokes, and we admired the Irish dance of Sr Mairéad. During this evening fr Brian received the title of a ‘nun honoris causa’.

On Sunday afternoon we went for a trip to Krakow. We visited the Sanctuary of the Divine Mercy in Łagiewniki. Then we went to the ancient monastery of Dominican friars, where we prayed at the tomb of St Hyacinth and listened to a very interesting exposition of fr Tomasz Gałuszka on St Hyacinth and the beginnings of the monastery of the Holy Trinity founded by him. Together with the friars we sang the Sunday Vespers, after which we had supper in the refectory that has been used by the friars invariably for nearly eight hundred years.

The next day we said good-bye with grateful and joyful hearts. Special thanks go to the sisters from various Polish and Czech monasteries who prepared the meeting. There was a general agreement that the next Euromon would take place in 1215. The venue and organizing committee are yet to be decided upon. At the moment we are just grateful to God and to all our brothers and sisters for this wonderful meeting.

By Srs. Zdislava Szymczynska OP and Josefa Strettiova OP