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The Call of Ignatian Leadership |
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Friday, 17 November 2006 |
“Do you have the spirit of Magis in yourself?” “Do you know how to ride the turbulence, the ups and downs of life?”
These were some of the thought-provoking questions Bro. Karel San Juan, S.J. fired at the group of Magis Deo community members in attendance at the first Friday community celebration held at the Layforce in San Carlos Seminary, Guadalupe last October 6th.
The teaching, timed largely to set the tone for the annual community election of pastoral council members early this November, covered five aspects, namely: the spirit of Magis, journey of discernment, self-transformation, mission and orientation, and companionship in mission. (Pls refer to the two-page handout emailed earlier by the Council to community members who are enlisted under the yahoogroups).
As espoused and lived by St. Ignatius, our lives as members of the Ignatian community, should be dedicated to doing and being more for God, for His greater glory, and in the process, doing and being more for others in the spirit of generosity and magnanimity. As such is the spirit of Magis, members have to guard against a spirit that is driven more by pride, quest for power and self-entitlement.
In our journey of discernment, the Ignatian leader is enjoined to be very open to change, to be ever sensitive to the movements and invitations of God, and to be humble enough to flow with God’s grace. This is to say that we must decrease our modes of trying to be stuck in our comfort zones or old, habituated patterns, and constantly trying to be in control, rather than letting God be in control.
Regarding self-transformation, we should be open to such a process, and be unafraid despite possible pain and suffering such a transformation may induce. For as servant-leaders, we are supposedly regarded in a special way, thus, enabling us to transcend the shadows of leadership which are power, narcissism, and self-entitlement.
In terms of mission-orientation, we must emulate St. Ignatius whose desire was to help others, especially those in need. This is the service component very much needed in Magis Deo. Thus, we are called upon to rise from our passivity, indifference and non-involvement in today’s challenging social issues.
And finally, companionship in mission. Ignatian leadership is the form of leadership that asks everyone in the community to journey with others in community bound by a common mission, armed with the spirit of care and concern for others (our so-called cura personalis), and ever avoiding the tendency to go on “solo flights”.
Bro. Karel ended his teaching by stressing that Ignatian spirituality is a worldly spirituality; St. Ignatius got out of the monastery to be in the world. He added that leadership is not positional leadership, it is a disposition. “You’re in the world, but can still be holy”.
---- arajr
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Last Updated ( Friday, 17 November 2006 )
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