Community Life Symposium 2017: Kansas City Province Report
1. Current Experience
A. Community life in the house community:
Members of the province may live alone, if the
apostolate requires this. When living in commu-
nity, members are expected to share daily liturgy
of the hours with community prayers and to
share meals together when possible. Some of the
proposed mission houses of the province invite
the lay associates (Companions) and others, for
shared spiritual and educational programs in
the house. When our members live together, it
is typically focused around a shared apostolate.
As members living together, the bond of charity
creates a quality level of engagement and conver-
sation. Even when members live and work alone,
there is an expectation that community is also
made real by communication, meals when pos-
sible, visits, and participation in activities with
members who live near.
B. Community life in the overall unit or province:
The Kansas City Province has 46 Incorporated
Members, including five who are serving the
Vietnam Mission. The province has 220 lay asso-
ciates—Precious Blood Companions—who have
made covenant with us. There are also several lay
women and men who participate in our Precious
Blood Volunteer program.
The Companions have an integral part in the
community life of the province. In addition to
their own monthly gatherings, they participate in
community meals and prayers as well as spiritual
Fr. Tom Albers, c.pp.s., 2017 Provincial Assembly
and educational events. Some of them serve as
presenters and conveners. They have staff posi-
tions at Precious Blood Renewal Center, our
central house. They have always been welcome at
our annual Provincial Assembly and their partici-
pation is typically high. The Companions took an
active part in the Community Life Discussions
leading up to this Symposium.
We have had good attendance at our Assemblies,
with 90% participation by the members and
about half of the Companions participating.
Some of them travel long distances to attend.
There is an annual retreat for the Companions,
and members are welcome to attend. When there
is installation of new leadership, members come
together for retreat and the Companions join
the first evening for the installation ceremony.
In those years when a community retreat is not
scheduled, members are expected to make their
own arrangements for retreat. Over the past year
and a half, our members came together on two
different occasions with a facilitator for several
days to engage in a deeper dialogue on envision-
ing our future. These gatherings kindled a new
energy and enthusiasm among the members,
including opportunities for individual members
to share with the larger group their stories of hurt
and healing in community life. These encounters
put us in a good position to enter the discussions
on Community Life and the process that flowed
from the XX General Assembly. Special work-
books were designed to facilitate these discus-
sions.
How do we understand a simple lifestyle?
A simple lifestyle manifests a priority on follow-
ing Christ. Material possessions are minimalized.
It affords us the grace of being available. When
we are unencumbered by material possessions,
we are free to give our lives in service to the
reign of God. The distractions of technology are
reduced. Simplicity concerns itself with a regard
for the environment by recycling and practicing
good stewardship of resources in order to respect
the earth; a simple lifestyle reduces the human
footprint. Mission to the poor and marginalized
is supported when things are shared rather than
8 • The New Wine Press • July 2017