Women asked to be mystical

MANGALORE, India -- The 45th annual assembly of women religious in India began Dec. 29 with their leader urging them to be "prophetic and mystic."

Addressing 345 major superiors, Sr. Innamma Yeruva, president of the women's section of the Conference of Religious India, said nuns should be "in touch with the experiences of people's lives" and at the same time have "an experience of God."

In a later conversation with reporters, Yeruva said religious women need to balance contemplation and action. "It is our union with God that impels us to involve actively in the other ministries in the church, and one's prophetic mission will not be effective without mysticism," she said.

Yeruva, who heads the Hyderabad province of the Jesus, Mary and Joseph Sisters, said that prophets empower and energize people and are willing to suffer. They are not only social workers or people who simply proclaim justice, she said. They "are compassionate in the struggle for justice."

India has 91,650 professed women religious. They belong to 251 congregations and live in 12,062 communities.

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