In my 21 years in religious life, I have been engaged in two ministries: Formation and Generalate. I was a formator in the novitiate and pre-novitiate and later general superior of the Missionary Sisters of St Paul (MSP), one of the local congregations in Myanmar founded in 1990. When I was thrust into these roles, I had no prior training, no knowledge and no skills for leadership. Being a young congregation and because of the need for leaders, I had to play these leadership roles in the congregation. Like me, many of our MSP sisters also have to be formators and superiors in formation houses and in the communities without any experience or specific training. There is no choice for us but to trust in God. For the sake of service, for the love of God and congregation, we accepted these big responsibilities.
Because of my personal experience and concern for the future of the congregation I had a deep desire to learn leadership and management skills. I was happy to have been accepted to both the Pastoral Leadership for Management and Mission programme and the Pastoral Renewal for Discipleship programme at the East Asian Pastoral Institute (EAPI).
The learning I received from the programmes surpassed my expectations. EAPI did not teach only knowledge and skills but also helped me to grow in wholeness. Living in a multicultural community and working together in teams helped me with my personal growth. I found new friends, brothers and sisters from different continents.
I learned how to pray. Before I thought praying was a certain place, in a certain time, using a certain book, but here I learned from Ignatian spirituality that praying is not this way. Praying is really a personal relationship with God; finding God everywhere, in every moment, in everything. I became familiar with some practices of Ignatian spirituality: such as Ignatius’ Spiritual Exercises through an eight-day retreat, daily examen, and spiritual discernment. It deepened my personal relationship with God and developed my self-awareness.
EAPI’s modules emphasise our call for pastoral leadership and mature discipleship, in which Jesus is our only model and Master. The facilitators used Scriptures, Tradition, Church teachings and documents, and highlighted some points to help us deepen our understanding. They broadened my mind and helped me better understand theology and the Vatican II documents. The lectures of the facilitators often brought me into reflection about myself and my past ministries. I was challenged to change some of my perspectives, to come out of my comfort zone, to open up to dialogue with others, and to be both mystic and prophetic in responding to the signs of the times.
I was nourished by the different modules. Each module filled my “empty cups”. I found all the modules helpful, important, and useful for me and my ministry. I am privileged to have studied at EAPI. I want to share my experiences and learning with others when I go back to Myanmar. I don’t yet know where my next assignment will be. However, I have some plans that I want to try to implement immediately. Wherever I will be I hope to share with others the daily examen, spiritual discernment, and some steps in pastoral planning and management, and make some decisions with my community in caring for Mother Earth.
Sr Rufina Nan Fi MSP joined EAPI’s Pastoral Leadership for Management and Mission, and Pastoral Renewal for Discipleship programmes in 2019. To know more about these programmes and other offerings, visit eapi.org.ph.