Sr. Chinyeaka C. Ezeani, MSHR
Holistic Formation of Leaders
HOLISTIC FORMATION OF LEADERS OF RELIGIOUS CONGREGATIONS FOR MISSION IN A FAST CHANGING WORLD Sr. Chinyeaka C. Ezeani, MSHR Chinyeaka C. Ezeani, a Missionary Sister of the Holy Rosary served on her congregation’s leadership. Presently, she is Vice Postulator for the Cause of Canonisation of their founder Bishop Joseph Shanahan CSSp.
She’s the author of “Rooted in Christ - Insights into Contemporary Religious and Priestly Formation”. and “Interculturality in Religious Life - A Blessing in Different Colours”.
Original in English
UISG - Bulletin Number 176, 2021
Introduction
28
Two images from the Gospels stand out whenever I reflect on the subject of leadership. The first is where Jesus stooped and washed the feet of his disciples, and urged them to do the same (cf. Jn 13: 3-17): “Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you” (vv. 14, 15). The second is when Jesus went away to lonely places to pray (Matt 14:23; Mk 1:35; Lk 3:21; 6:12; 9:28). At every opportunity, he modelled for his disciples a personal relationship with the Father. He taught them that authority is service, and humility the hallmark of true discipleship. God chooses and calls anyone according to divine wisdom and design. Saint Paul reminded the Christian community of Corinth that their calling was not out of any merit of theirs, but because of God’s intention for the world (cf. 1Cor 1:2631). This equally applies to the call to leadership in religious congregations – a poignant bell of reminder, lest pride take over the leader’s heart and direct his or her thoughts and deeds. To be authentic disciples of Jesus and stewards of Christ’s body, leaders of religious congregations are to be grounded in the values of Jesus Christ. The world is changing fast. The experiences of those who entered religious life about twenty to forty years ago strikingly differ from those of persons
