LAUDD - Lay Associates Uniting in Diversity Discernment is a group of Lay Associates and Charism Carriers that meet regularly to:
Understand better the vocation of lay associates we have in common,
Explore how, as members of a lay associate movement we can inspire each other to live our vocations more authentically, and
Discern what the Holy Spirit might cause to emerge through our continued interaction or potential collaboration.
The core group has used the synodal process which Pope Francis introduced to the universal Catholic Church to create “spaces of encounter” first for leaders of lay associate communities to meet each other and to share their charisms and then for lay associates from the Pittsburgh region to share the joys, challenges, disappointments and failures they have experienced within the lay associate movement as well as the hopes and visions that continue to inspire their journeys.
These spaces of encounter have created opportunities for engagement through circles of dialogue and this process has introduced a new energy bringing the core group to face the question of “Where do we go from here?”
Choosing Transformation
Carol Zinn, CSJ, Executive Director of LCWR, addressed changes for the lay associate movement at the OPAL conference in October, 2022. She encouraged us to embrace change in the face of its inevitability. Transformation, she cauthioned, can be resisted or chosen, advising associate leaders of the importance of choosing transformation. Sr. Carol emphasized that lay associate leaders need to discern what the Hopy Spirit is causing to emerge.
Pope Francis has outlined his emerging vision for the Church in the 21st century. This vision exhibits a strong link between community and mission. Francis draws on the Vatican II image of a pilgrim “People of God” journeying together, moving outward, to share experiences of the “good news” (Gospel) of God’s merciful love and compassion to all people, in all places, on all occasions, without fear or hesitation, excluding no one. His vision is of a church of all the baptized made disciples through their common mission as sharers and recipients of this good news.
At this critical moment, Pope Francis is leading the universal Church to embark on a synodal path, the purpose of which is to allow for shared discernment of the Hopy Spirit, so that all may journey together, led by the Spirit in living the church’s faith and mission in history and with eschatological hope.” Synodality, as presented by Pope Francis is not an event, a methodology, or a structure. Rather, synodality is a way of being transformed together as church.
Spaces of Encounter - Healing Wounds
At the OPAL conference, Sr. Carol also challenged lay associate leaders to discern the unment needs of our time. Her challenge echoes the challenge of Francis Libermann, the second or re-founder of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit (Spiritans), to study “the needs that are making themselves felt” and to identify “the wounds of society” taking every opportunity to bring relief to those needs and remedy to those wounds.
Today, for us in 2023, one of the wounds of society is the wound of division that leaves the fabric of our society not merely tattered and torn, but marked by gaping holes, the mending of which seems an impossible task. The synodal path may provide us, the heirs of Libermann and other religious and their associates, with opportunities to offer healing for the wound of division.
Can creating spaces of encounter in which opportunities for loving engagement through widening circles of dialogue or snyodal conversations become a treatment regimen for healing?
“We believe synodality is the way of being church for the 21st century, a way of being transformed together as church, and a possible remedy for the wound of division. Therefore it is appropriate to practice it and to encourage its practice widely amount our lay associate communities.”
LAUDD is an informal group of Lay Associates from various religious congregations and communities. LAUDD has no membership requirement to be able to participate in events or discussions they sponsor.
OPAL is an organization with a specific mission to support leaders of Lay Associate communities. OPAL requires a membership to be a part of this group.
(Members of OPAL have participated in and supported LAUDD sponsored workshops and discussions.)
To receive information about upcoming LAUDD workshops and discussions, email: lauddassociates@gmail.com
Where do we go from here?
LAUDD is planning to host future conversations that will provide spaces of encounter as part of the transformation taking place in our Church. We encourage Associates and Charism Carriers to participate in these encounters as we gain experience and develop the skills to speak to be heard and listen to understand. By doing this we, as lay associates, will continue our journey as pilgrim people of God, members of the universal Church, while nurturing directly the growth of synodality within our local churches.
Thus, we intentionally choose to cultivate a culture of encounter:
within our own associate communities (intra-communal),
among our different associate communities (inter-communal)
outside our communities (extra-communal).
Two mini-workshops were held in May that focused on contemplative dialogue and the synodal experience. The enthusiastic response has encouraged us to continue to offer these spaces for encounter as lay leaders who have accepted the call to co-responsibility in our Church.
Future workshops will be offered virtually using contemplative dialogue. Our hope is that Lay Associates will join in these important conversations as we unite as People of God journeying together.