The seminar was an invitation to become more aware of the world’s reality, characterized by rapid, unpredictable changes, cultural differences, and changing values. It revisited the call to consecrated life as an intervention of God to set his people free (Ex 3:16).

Empowered by the Holy Spirit and believing that God is always at work, we look at the world with hope and joy. We thank God as we are called to let go and accept that we don’t have ready answers and solutions. We journey together, acknowledging our differences and seeking together how to live a consecrated life, prioritizing consultation and dialogue to promote unity. We are discerning together as communities, congregation/s, and missionaries where and for what God is calling us. We engage in the process of learning the language of today’s world so that we can communicate and be credible for God’s love. We are called to discover ways to acculturate the Gospel message and our charisms and allow their inculturation. We favor enhancing the coming of God’s kingdom and calling to racial, civic, social, and ecological justice.

According to Pope Francis, “We are not living an era of change but a change of era”. The scenario of nature is always in constant transformation as well as our world and religious life. In this changing landscape, we find the changes in consecrated life, emphasized by the Second Vatican Council that opened itself to the local Churches. With the decentralization of the Church, there has been a greater evangelization in the peripheries. Religious missionaries made fundamental contributions in health care, education, and in the defense of human rights

In this scenario, it is also noticeable that the number of people in consecrated life is gradually decreasing. Numbers, however, should not scare us, but ensure the quality of religious life and the efficacy of our mission. Jesus started with a small group. We are in mission because we have fallen in love with God. As religious, we are called to become intentionally intercultural communities, foster in all of us an ad-gentes missionary spirit, step out of our comfort zones and use technological means available to create networks for mission.

The third day focused on the impact of the changing landscape on governance, leadership and financial management. Many insights were shared with us. That this era, described as volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous, demands a change of mentality, organization and styles of functioning. Top-down governance is being challenged, especially the Church, which, in excluding women from the decision-making processes, has damaged the face of religious life. Some institutions are transitioning to new structures for sustainability and mutual sharing.

What has happened in the Global North will happen to the Global South, which is becoming the locus of missionary activity. Hence, there is a need for new tools, concepts and understanding of community life, leadership, authority, and resource management through synodality, dialogue, discernment, co-responsibility and subsidiarity. The deep spiritual traditions in the Global South should translate into justice, peace, and human rights promotion. Servant leadership and a responsible membership that foster unity, hope, diversity, listening, and accompaniment are crucial.

Religious must not be obsessed with numbers but to trust, be responsible, creative, and avoid the formation that seeks privileges and influence. They are to occupy a liminal part, be a little flock, salt, and leaven for transformation. Drawing from God-experiences and becoming experts of communion, they are to be simple, optimistic, detached and hopeful. For silence to give way to a culture of care, congregations need to educate their members in safeguarding, implement procedures and guidelines for prevention, protection and respond to allegations of abuse.