Rome 2020 International Symposium of Sacred Virgins

May 2020 International Symposium of Sacred Virgins

Rome, Italy

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Principle Languages: English, Spanish (possibly Italian and French)

Consecrated Virgins and Diocesan Officials are cordially invited to participate in our 2020 International Symposium of the Ordo Virginum in Rome themed “That We May Be One”. This Symposium is inspired by the “Banquet of the Ten Virgins” by St. Methodius. Following the fictitious banquet in which the virgins “had all kinds of food and a variety of festivities, so that no delight was wanting”, each virgin was asked to “pronounce a discourse in praise of virginity.”

In celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the revised Rite of Consecration of Virgins, we, too, will gather, break bread together, and experience a variety of festivities to strengthen our fellowship and mutual support, and deepen our appreciation of our holy calling. Together we will explore our shared identity and patrimony throughout the ages as sacred virgins. There will be a pilgrimage to Ordo Virginum sites in and around Rome. We will discuss our worldwide experiences of formation, fellowship and methods of facilitating communion and communication around the globe.

Download the official event brochure here: ENGLISH or ESPAÑOL

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PROVISIONAL TIMETABLE

24th May 2020: “Working Toward a Shared Identity”

10:00 am

Opening Mass: Conventual Mass with the Benedictine Nuns at St Cecilia’s Basilica

12:00 noon

Welcome & Introduction

12:15 pm

Small Group Discussion: “Working Toward a Shared Identity”: Exercises 1 & 2

1:00 pm

Lunch

2:00 pm

Presentation: Unity in Diversity Part 1

3:00 pm

Small Group Discussion: “Working Toward a Shared Identity” Exercises 3 & 4

4:00 pm

Presentation: Unity in Diversity: Part 2

4:45 pm

Coffee Break

5:15 pm

Presentation: Working Through the Existential Identity Crisis of the Ordo Virginum

5:45 pm

Open Discussion and Q&A

6:00 pm

Announcements & Close

7.15 pm

Vespers with the Benedictine Nuns at St Cecilia’s Basilica

Evening

Optional Gathering: Dinner

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25th May 2020: “The Radiant Face of the Church: Ongoing Formation”

6.45 am

Lauds with the Benedictine Nuns at St Cecilia’s Basilica

7.20 am

Mass with the Benedictine Nuns at St Cecilia’s Basilica

8:30 am

Breakfast

10:00 am

Welcome: Charity, the Love of Christ, Ourselves, and Others

10:15 am

Workshop: Our Cup Overfloweth

11:15 am

Coffee Break

11:30 pm

Workshop: Overcoming Challenges in Ongoing Formation

12:00 pm

Open Podium: Our Experiences as Formators and Formed

12:30 pm

Presentation: Diverse Formation Models

1:15 pm

Lunch

2:00 pm

Workbook Group Exercise: Looking with Fresh Eyes at ESI: A Vision of Initial and Ongoing Formation

2:45 pm

Coffee Break

3:00 pm

Presentation: Personal and Moral Integrity in a Disintegrated World

4:00 pm

Open Discussion and Q&A: Personal and Moral Integrity in a Disintegrated World

7.15 pm

Vespers with the Benedictine Nuns at St Cecilia’s Basilica

Evening

Optional Gathering: Dinner

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26th May 2020: “Communion and Fellowship”

6.45 am

Lauds with the Benedictine Nuns at St Cecilia’s Basilica

7.20 am

Mass with the Benedictine Nuns at St Cecilia’s Basilica

8:30 am

Breakfast

10:00 am

Presentation: Strengthening the Bonds in and with the Ordo Virginum: Part 1

11:00 am

Coffee Break

11:15 am

Presentation: Strengthening the Bonds in and with the Ordo Virginum: Part 2

12:00 noon

Presentation: Who is Our Neighbor from a CV Perspective?

1:00 pm

Lunch

2:00 pm

Group Exercise: Facilitating Fellowship, Multi-Level Transparency, and Communion

3:00 pm

Open Discussion: Global Happenings

3:30 pm

Closing Announcements

7:15 pm

Vespers with the Benedictine Nuns at St Cecilia’s Basilica

Evening

Optional Gathering: Dinner

27th May 2020: “Patrimony of the Order of Virgins”

6.45 am

Lauds with the Benedictine Nuns at St Cecilia’s Basilica

7.20 am

Mass with the Benedictine Nuns at St Cecilia’s Basilica

8:30 am

Breakfast

10:00 am

Presentation: Liturgical Treasures

11:00 am

Presentation: It’s All in a Name

11:45 am

Coffee Break

12:15 pm

Presentation: Heroines of the Ordo Virginum.

1:00 pm

Lunch

2:00 pm

Workbook Exercise & Discussion: Who is your CV heroine and why? Opportunity for open sharing of participants’ personal Ordo Virginum pilgrimages, artifacts, anecdotes etc.

2:45 pm

Resources for Facilitating International Collaboration and Research

3:00 pm

Closing Announcements (for those doing the pilgrimage)

Free Afternoon

Real and Virtual Pilgrimage to Significant Ordo Virginum Sites:
Choice of self-guided pilgrimage or watching an indoor video/slideshow of the sites

6:15 pm

Optional: Lectio Divina with the Benedictine Nuns at St Cecilia’s Basilica (in Italian only)

7:15 pm

Vespers with the Benedictine Nuns at St Cecilia’s Basilica

Evening

Optional Gathering: Dinner

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Registration Information:

• 100€ Registration Fee Only. Meals and Lodging not provided but a list of suggested places for accommodations, meals, and grocery stores will be given. Workbooks (not included) should be obtained from Amazon.com and utilized prior to the Symposium.
• We understand that not all can afford the registration fee. If you are able to pay something towards the registration fee, you may contribute what you can afford.
• If you are in need of a full scholarship for the registration, please contact us as soon as possible.
• A limited number of full or partial scholarships for registration and/or lodgings will be available for virgins in need. Donations accepted for this purpose. Any excess funds will be used to house virgins for the Vatican conference 28-31 May or donated to the Hildegard International Ordo Virginum Library Endowment.
• This schedule is provisional and subject to revision.
• For more information see http://www.orderofvirgins.com/2020 and https://www.facebook.com/ocvgathering/