Beyond the Crossroads: Religious Life in the 21st Century by Amy Hereford

Abstract

Reviewed by: Beyond the Crossroads: Religious Life in the 21st Century by Amy Hereford Rev. Vien V. Nguyen, SCJ Beyond the Crossroads: Religious Life in the 21st Century. By Amy Hereford, CSJ. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis, 2019. Pp. xvi + 176. $22.00. As the title indicates, the book explores the "contemporary movements" and "emerging currents" (x) in religious life today in North America. It continues the conversation on religious life started in Religious Life at the Crossroads: A School for Mystics and Prophets by Amy Hereford (Maryknoll, NY: Orbis, 2013) and highlights the evolving forms of religious life emerging in the twenty-first century. The book comprises seven chapters, bookended by an introduction and a conclusion. In Chapter 1, H. engages with Pope Francis's encyclical Laudato Si' to focus on humanity's interrelatedness and [End Page 210] interdependence with every living thing in our common home. The encyclical provides the framework to contemplate the evolution of religious life, focusing on collaboration and community. Chapter 2 examines how social movements and ecclesial changes have shaped and colored the identity of religious life, particularly the evolution of religious life from the pre-Vatican II phase to the Vatican II phase to the current post-Vatican II phase. Amid these evolutionary changes, religious life remains resilient and manifests itself anew. Fundamental to the resilience and the social cohesion that draw and unite people are community, spirituality, and mission. In each phase, women and men religious strive to live the Gospel radically and their call with integrity. In Chapter 3, H. discusses the vows in the context of archetype, a notion based on philosophical, psychological, and sociological literature concerning observable, socially constructed patterns of human behaviors (43). The evangelical counsels of obedience, poverty, and celibacy are also archetypes that will continue to evolve in their meanings. Chapter 4 is H.'s dialogue with In Our Own Words, edited by Juliette Mousseau, RSCJ, and Sarah Kohles, OSF (Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 2018). The book is a collection of reflections by young women religious from various religious communities in North America who entered religious life in the last few decades. H. highlights how these women's religious life experiences resonate with her own and how they collaboratively strive to "give voice to their common experience" (64) of religious life in today's rapidly evolving society. Aspects of religious life reflected and shared include the vows, community life, charism, culture, identity, mission, and leadership. Chapters 5 and 6 give attention to the topics of vocation and formation. New and smaller cohorts of men and women entering religious life come from diverse cultural backgrounds and life experiences. Vocation recruiters and formation directors are at the forefront of religious life renewal and transformation by inviting, accompanying, and mentoring those discerning religious life (87). This entails openness to the movement of the Spirit and a sharpened awareness of the shifts in expectations and assumptions of millennial vocations. In each stage of initial formation, the formation directors assist a candidate in navigating the transition from independence to interdependence in community, spirituality, and ministry. Since today's new entrants to religious life come from different spiritual, educational, cultural, and ministerial backgrounds, it is necessary to tailor a coherent but adaptable, individualized formation plan to meet their particular needs and provide a more positive experience for candidates and formators (109). In Chapter 7, H. discusses the characteristics and implications, opportunities and challenges of the evolution of religious life. As a new generation of religious is stepping up to re-imagine and live the Gospel faithfully but radically, the way forward entails collaboration and community. [End Page 211] This reflective and engaging book is written mainly for active, apostolic women religious in North America, but the insights presented also apply to men religious. Readers are challenged to read the signs of the times with courage, discern where the Spirit is leading, and commit themselves to ongoing renewal and conversion of heart. For a community to be viable, H. suggests that we give each other space and time for relationships. Those in community who have well-established social support networks acquired over decades of living, praying, and working with others are called to create space...