Build a culture of encounter, Focus on young Maryknollers, & Identify 2-3 collaborative initiatives emerged as the three priorities from the Maryknoll Ecclesial Assembly (MEA).  A list of cross-cultural recommendations followed. The first being: move from communication to communion. Initially, that seemed intriguing, insightful and almost mystical. What conceivable difference could such a move make? Is there really a significant difference?

COMMUNICATION

For sure, before packing up all the furniture and moving from communication, some would argue, that we first need to fix communication itself’…i.e., it’s not all that spiffy in Maryknoll right now. One concrete fix suggested by many was to have a Maryknoll wide calendar of significant events for all to have quick access.

COMMUNION

Intuitively, moving from communication to communion does feel like an important spiritual insight for how life does (or could) unfold.  Communication and communion are lived out very differently. In general, Communication is about the transfer of information and involves speaking, reporting, messaging, writing, etc. Do we understand what the other is saying or writing? Communion implies presence to each other, a joining of minds and spirits where there is trust, vulnerability and a sense of connection. Do we feel truly present to and in relationship with each other?

Three Examples:

·        Communion – is more than the flow of information and message delivery. It is a shared spiritual and emotional relationship and presence to the other.

·        Communion with God - goes beyond petitions about, requests for, and promises if. It implies attentive presence, being in relationship with, living in God and God in us

·        Communion with creation – where we don’t see all of earthly creation as an object for us to use as we want, but we see ourselves as connected to and in relationship with it. Whereas good stewardship is a plus, communion is more than that.   Separation is an illusion.

Nowadays we could say that Communion is synodal – listening, honoring, and being present to. Synodality doesn’t have a necessary role in Communication. Hopefully our meetings, virtual or in person, evidence a strong element of communion. What would change in our communities (in our lives) if, more than just communicating more effectively, we were united in communion?