Exchange May 2008
TEREZINHA : FIVE STAR STUDENT Barbara
Terezinha spent just six weeks during March and April improving her English (she was already quite fluent). She attended a language course in
Celine
and
Andre
provide extra tuition!
She also had extra tuition from the
Terezinha with Brendan and Marie Pierre
Terezinha with the Arrowsmith community
A long weekend at the end of her course meant that she was able to visit
Margaret, Terezinha and De Lourdes Patsy, Terezinha and Eleanor
Agnes, Catherine, Terezinha and Patsy
Goodbye and Congratulations! You have passed with flying colours!
VISIT TO MONIQUE: Arthez d'Asson Barbara
Just a ½ hour by car from
The view from her front door encompasses snowcapped mountains, mountain streams, meadows brilliant with spring flowers and scattered homesteads. It is quite breathtaking when the sun is shining and tantalizing when shrouded in grey mist, which I also experienced.
Monique has served in the Parish of Notre Dame de Piémont for over thirty years. The parish is widespread, encompassing ten villages and it can take an hour to reach the furthest point in the parish from where she lives. These days there is just one parish priest. The population in general has increased but the numbers in the Christian Community are diminishing. Even so, Monique’s ministry of walking with these people over the years, ministering to their pastoral and catechetical needs is still full time and very much appreciated. It was good to receive a warm welcome from Monique, Abbé Joseph and some parishioners and to see her still with the vigour and enthusiasm to continue.
INTERNATIONAL FORMATION COMMISSION IFC
Bernadette McNamara
You will read on the web about the International Formation Commisssion IFC which took place in
What a great week! We shared our hopes, our questions and our enthusiasm about Formation to day. The visibility of the international novitiate made all questions so real as we talk of Formation moving into the future…. What does the new vision mean? How does the fact of living to the full our call as religious give birth to a lived experience of vocation awareness? We helped each other through the exchange of our lived experiences, and our hopes.
As participants of the group, we all agreed that we need to trust and allow life to flourish wherever we are. Let God accomplish what is new.
Besides the meeting I was able to visit again with the sisters and experience first hand the dynamism and the vibrancy of the local church and the communities. I had been there 20 years ago and visited as General Councillor as well as studying Portuguese. It would be impossible to name people! These are precious moments and I feel very grateful to have had that opportunity
I have to add that the biodiversity amazed me once again but the camera cannot capture all the beauty.
MILLENIUM GROUP Kathleen O'Keeffe and Agnes Hunt
The Millennium Group Sisters, meeting at Marino Conference Centre from 5-7 May, were blessed with wonderful weather and comfortable accommodation. We soon got to grips with the complexity of sleeping, dining and Conference Rooms, which were well dispersed and a challenge for the “hip and knee” club! We were sixteen in all and were delighted to welcome Anne (Murphy), Patrice and Philippa among us.
Beyond Boundaries there be Monsters!
Our desires, like ‘nudges’ from God that may disturb complacency, involve action
together, digging deep, enkindling, making room, welcoming, finding new images, symbols and myths to express a right relationship with God, ourselves and creation.
We are encouraged to dig in our “Gospel heels” to transform boundaries into meeting places where grace unfold because‘at the edges of our borders,
God waits . . .’
This résumé was set within a framework of prayer:
opening with a reflection on Ps 139 set to music,
words and unforgettable images and ending with
'The Deer’s Cry' in similar setting.
The final words, “I Arise Today”, provided a significant inspiration and invitation to dig in our ‘Gospel heels’.
Some thoughts on Leadership
Patrice and Philippa based their presentation on an address to the Provincial Council by Diarmuid O’Murchu. Theyspoke about a more creative and challenging understanding of leadership: leadership as empowerment engaging all members, leadership that calls forth the adult in the Discipleship of Equals.
The thirteen principles central to empowering people to be their adult selves led to a lively discussion on the leadership topic. One of the principles debated at some length was: ‘Adults empower by giving away their power and this doe not leave them feeling weak or diminished.’ The principle left room for further reflection, discussion and practice in an adult way!
Human Trafficking
Patsy, a member of the JPIC Group, spoke very movingly of her experience and involvement in the ministry focused on the
Trafficking of Women and Children,
and on the groups like TRACT, she engages with.
What was so touching was Patsy’s own caring, reverential attitude to the vulnerable women and children open to abuse and being abused at this moment. We were amazed to hear that trafficking is the second fastest-growing business internationally and that it is going
Free Afternoon
OnTuesday p.m., 6 May, some Sisters enjoyed a glorious few hours in the Botanic Gardens nearby. Some went to town while others attended a Gailhac Trustees Meeting in 70 Drumcondra. Yet others prepared for an evening get-together, purchasing drinks, nuts, crisps etc. Three ‘Sunflowers’, Ellen, Madeleine and Mary, arrived somewhat late for the feasting, having spent forty minutes in the building trying to locate us, and nobody could offer them any help. It was great to see them.
Next Year
Since it had been agreed in 2007 that we would have one meeting in Penmaenmawr in 2009, we did no further discussion on future developments.
