From 21 July to 15 August, the Teresian Association International Meeting of Member Associations (TAAIM) is being held in Santa María de Los Negrales, Madrid (Spain), followed by the 19th General Assembly.
The Meeting, in which 116 TA members from 27 countries are taking part, began on the morning of 21 July, with an opening address by the TA President. It will conclude on 28 July, feast of the founder, St Pedro Poveda, on the anniversary of his martyrdom.
The 19th General Assembly will be held from 1 to 15 August and a new governing team of this Association of the faithful will be elected, which in 2024 celebrates the centenary of its pontifical approval.
Called to be a Church that goes out to the world
At the opening of the Meeting, TA President, Maite Uribe shared the letter that Pope Francis addressed to her, encouraging the TA “to look back at the foundational roots with gratitude during this time of grace. Ask the Lord to grant that the holiness that nourished the beginnings of this Association may continue to abound and produce good fruits in the world today. With the example of Saint Pedro Poveda and of so many teachers ‘who lived next door’ whose sacrifice and self-giving proclaimed Jesus Christ through education and culture, may you be encouraged to continue working tirelessly. You are lay people in an outgoing Church, open to dialogue with everyone while being particularly sensitive to the vulnerability that exists in society.”
The Pope ended by asking the TA “Do not forget to pray for me.”
New spaces of participation
Then, in her opening speech, Maite Uribe highlighted the journey of preparation for the International Meeting of TA Member Associations (TAAIM), which has been going on for more than a year, connecting people from different places, thanks to remote meeting technology. It has been a step in co-responsibility and has meant richness, exchange, building together and networking.
In addition to TA members, these international groups have included collaborators, former students, friends... people who share in Poveda's charism.
In her opening remarks, Maite Uribe underlined, among other things, that the days of the Meeting are a quest for “new spaces for the joint participation of all members at international level.” She added: “We want to bring to the 19th General Assembly the result of our careful listening to the proposals and suggestions that may emerge from the light to be shed on this issue during the next few days.”
At the end of her speech, Maite Uribe presented “the motto that will inspire and guide these two events, which are so important for the future of the Teresian Association: People of the Teresian Association, arise: Go forward as befits the charism you have received.”
Priorities
The participants at the meeting are working on lines of mission and spirituality that are relevant to our world today, and on other issues that fall within the framework of the following blocks:
♦ To weave networks of fellowship in the world: diversity, inclusion, dialogue and equality.
♦ Families, agents of social transformation.
♦ Young people in a changing society.
The participants had times allotted for exchange in small groups and consensus-building in order to define the thrusts or priorities of the Association mission and spirituality to be ratified by the 19th General Assembly.
At the 19th General Assembly, the representatives of the TA Primary Association will elect a new TA President and General Council.
The International Meeting and the 19th General Assembly of the Teresian Association are taking place as the Teresian Association prepares to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the pontifical approval by Pope Pius XI, the anniversary of which falls on 11 January 2024.
TA Info
TA Translations Team.
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