Mission Priorities
Sisters of the Divine Savior
General Chapter Mandates, December 8, 2001
We, Salvatorian Sisters, attentive to the needs of the world like our founders, hear the cry of women throughout the ages -- centuries of violence, discrimination and oppression. We reclaim the design proclaimed in Genesis -- man and woman created in partnership, both equal in realizing the plan of God. To do this we take up the "re-establishing" of our God-given dignity and enter into a process of salvation for women as stated by the International Union of Superiors General Declaration (May 13, 2001).
United with a million religious Sisters from all over the world, we publicly declare our determination to address insistently at every level the abuse and sexual exploitation of women and children with particular attention to the trafficking of women that has become a lucrative multi-national business.
As educators, we will continue to promote the education and formation of women by committing personnel and financial resources to ensure the holistic development of women at every stage of life, empowering them to develop an inner strength and appreciation of their God-given gifts to promote and enhance life.
We stand in solidarity with the poorest countries and will direct our efforts to work for the cancellation of the international debt. We oppose the perpetuation of war and violence and will call on heads of governments and multi-national companies to stop the sale and purchase of armaments.
We dedicate ourselves to the preservation of Mother Earth; to end the destructive behavior that causes global warming and climate change and threatens all forms of life on the planet.
We declare our determination to work in solidarity with one another and network among ourselves and other existing organizations with similar concerns within Churches and society.
We charge each Unit of the Congregation to respond boldly to this intent, according to its resources and its culture.
Because of the urgency of these needs and the limitations of our resources, we will evaluate (critically analyze) our methods of apostolic action, the places we serve and the means used, in order to discern methods that are most effective and needed, and have the courage to make necessary changes.
Identity Statement
To make these mission priorities a reality, we will refound our Salvatorian life. The previous formation we received as Salvatorians prepared us for a former time that has given way to a new century. Therefore, we ready ourselves for a new process of conversion by distilling what is of our essence and allowing the challenge of today to give it a new shape. To enter into this process we will drink deeply of Salvatorian waters by:
- re-discovering our passion for God;
- naming and claiming ourselves as women, using a Salvatorian consciousness examen;
- being deeply contemplative and deeply active;
- cultivating a critical and prophetic consciousness through communal sharing;
- being evangelized by the poor;
- nurturing our Salvatorian heritage of bold trust in Divine Providence, missionary zeal for all peoples and cultures, and belief in the cross that becomes resurrection.
We realize the hunger of our world for the values proclaimed by the foundational elements of our life, so we stand ready to make our vows and community living an essential part of our mission.
We will:
- explore the social-political meaning of our vows to balance the personal emphasis of our previous formation;
- open our communities to be places of sharing life and faith with both Salvatorians and others.
By holding in balance both the inward and outward dynamic that this flexibility will create, we strengthen both ourselves, and the persons with whom we share life and ministry.
We renew our stance of seeing ourselves as collaborators with all these persons to be effective in mission.