Exchange April 2008
JUBILEES
Congratulations to:
Máire Bríd Mackey who celebrates her Platinum Jubilee on the 21st May;
Nuala Mullins who celebrates her Diamond Jubilee
on the 1st June
and to the following who celebrate their Golden Jubilees on the 2nd June:
Christiane Bousquet and André Dullaghan
Between 35-40 RSHM and lay friends from Béziers, Upminster, Socialising, praying, “buzzing”, working in small groups, all contributed towards forming friendships, a sense of belonging to something wider, enthusiasm and practical ideas to develop further in localities, areas, across the Province and, indeed, with other Provinces. The Core Group, who had so ably guided us through the weekend, have gathered together details and comments. So watch out for a Bumper Edition of the Extended Family Newsletter. They will also be working on suggestions regarding (i) the future function of the Core Group, aiming for greater representation, and (ii) the content and distribution of the Newsletter. Discussion group Ron and Catherine on Emmaus walk Missioning and empowering one another
THEY WERE GATHERED: Extended Family April 4th - 6th Barbara
Congratulations to Thérèse Marie Potelle who has been appointed Assistant Director of the National Catechetics and Catechumenate Service, in
CONGRATULATIONS
Year 2007” award from Fingal County Council Dublin. It is the first time that a religious sister received this award and it was richly deserved. We know that
Congratulations,
We are very proud of you and we thank you for your long involvement in making life better for so many people.
FAZAKERLEY MEETING – 1st APRIL
Once again the ‘Ministry Group’ met in Fazakerley, experiencing the usual warm welcome and joy at being together. Patsy Butler helped us gain some insight into ‘Trafficking of women and children’. Some facts she gave us were new to us:
Ø Research shows that paying for sex is more common among men who already have sexual partners.
Ø Sweden, which until now has had liberal laws concerning prostitution, has now changed its legislation to prosecute those who pay for sex.
The stories and facts that were shared gave rise to a good discussion and then we watched the DVD ‘Fields of Mudan’- a very moving film about child trafficking. (Contact Patsy, if you want more information about this).
We became aware that sex- trafficking is happening ‘right under our nose’ and that we have to take a stand. Patsy used the words of Desmond Tutu, ‘If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor’.
OPENING OF INTERNATIONAL NOVITIATE - The Bishop, Don Aloisio, reminded all of us and particularly the pre-novices that formation is a constant process in our lives, a slow one in which God walks with us at all times. After Mass everyone was invited to a wonderful feastday dinner during which we were able to meet some of the friends and colleagues of the RSHM. In the evening, the pre-novices were received into the novitiate by Sr. Terezinha. Each expressed through a symbol and a biblical passage her desire to become a novice and to follow Jesus Christ in the Institute of the Sacred Heart of Mary. Then each novice in turn received the Constitutions and a wooden cross symbolizing the journey they were making to follow Jesus more closely and more faithfully. At both the Mass and the Reception ceremony, there were many sisters present, from almost all the communities in the Brazilian Province, as well as Terezinha from Rome, Sr. Olga Georgina who had followed the process of preparation step by step and had done so much of the practical work involved, and Sr. Loretta Ruvo, a member of the formation community who had until then been absent from the novitiate because of illness and had come especially for the opening and to be with her community for a couple of weeks. I felt privileged to be there also and to have a sense of “mission accomplished”, though the real work of the novitiate is just beginning. Before going to The United Nations building is like a small cosmopolitan town and can be very confusing to the visitor or newcomer. However, I had an excellent guide and mentor in Sr. Rita Arthur, our NGO representative. I was able to sit in on several NGO meetings on various topics, to attend UN discussions on Social Development, especially in regard to the right to decent and dignified work for all, and to be present at the General Assembly when each communities in JPIC MEETINGS The meeting on 28th March was in The next meeting will be October 30th-31st in Noddfa. 
SPIRITUALITY AND PHYSICAL WELLBEING IN LATER LIFE
A conference on the topic above was organised in
One important message from the Conference:
Wellbeing emphasizes:
Strengths rather than limitations
What person can do rather than what she cannot do
Choices that enliven rather than over protect