MADRID, Spain. The magazine Vida Nueva has published an interview with Maite Uribe, President of the Teresian Association. It is a dialogue with the journalist Jose Lorenzo on current matters of the Teresian Association, Society and the Church.
On the strengths and weaknesses of the Teresian association (T.A.), at the start of the second century, Maite Uribe sustains that “the greatest strength is the relevance of the lay Charism of the TA that one hundred years ago was a novelty and today is a horizon of development. Also, its internationality and the fact of being rooted in various countries and cultures .Likewise the recognized holiness of many persons, among which stand out saint Pedro Poveda, blessed Victoria Diez, the servants of God Josefa Segovia and Eliza Guiambelluca. As for its weaknesses -points out- a number of members still scarce and a progressive aging of the same.
Regarding actual commitments of the TA, Maite Uribe affirms that these pass through the evangelizing incidence, wherever we live and work, born of a deep experience of the God of Jesus”. Also, through “being able to transform the social, cultural, political and educational life”, from the Teresian tradition of “dialog, articulation of strengths and initiatives”.
Concerning one of the priorities for the six year term started last August: To live and generate brotherhood, a prophetic sign of the Kingdom”. Maite Uribe explains that “it is a way of witnessing to the world, is that of John’s Gospel: ‘See how they love each other’. That kind of love gives credibility to God’s love”. And… it entails concrete forms of collaboration, consultation, fraternal help, service, listening, dialog, support, forgiveness, shared feast...”
In the interview enters also the issue of education within the actual context of crisis. On this point the interviewee recalls that the Church speaks of “an educational urgency”.
And that, because of the crisis, various educational projects will experience a reduction of the support coming from the international cooperation, a fact that will accentuate their fragility. For this reason, the members of the TA, through an extra gesture of solidarity, will contribute economically to their maintenance.
Responding to the interviewer, the President speaks of the educational tradition of the TA and of its commitment to the fullness of humanity in all realities and cultural diversities. She also points out the conviction that “to educate a woman amounts to educate a nation”.
Finally, Maite Uribe, answers questions on the believing experience of the youth and on the invitation of the Pope to a new evangelization in the year of Faith. “It is a challenge for the whole Church to show the beauty of faith and the joy of believing. We need not only speeches but witnesses, and it is possible that the youth understands better the language of deeds than the language of words. We mustn’t deprive them of the Gospel”, affirms.
She also distinguishes the generations that are born in secularized societies from those born in other contexts. She affirms that the TA “is called to walk with courage new paths in the announcement of the Gospel”. And that she connects well with the invitation of the Synod to participate in social debates with “arguments informed by faith”. She concludes that the TA “would like to discern the new social scenarios with the Church so as to inhabit hem and transform them into places of witnessing and Gospel announcement”.
Renewed commitment
In its editorial page, Vida Nueva magazine dedicates a brief commentary on the Work founded by St. Pedro Poveda in 1911, which serves as reference for the cited interview.
The Teresian Association (TA) celebrated last year the first centenary of its foundation, an anniversary that has help to look with gratitude at the journey made and to face the future with a renewed commitment.
The difficulties are not few and, many are common to so many Church organizations as is the aging of its members. But this, far from lessening the spirit is an incentive that carries this association, well anchored in its lay character and in the inner strength of each member’s vocation, to assume with courage its challenges.
One of these, the new evangelization, for which, from its specific sphere in the field of education, they are perfectly prepared: they know how to witness and are not afraid to enter into dialog with the world.
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