Committed for Life

Season’s Greetings of the General Council

      "The Word became flesh, he lived among us, and we saw his glory, the glory that he has from the Father as only Son of the Father, full of grace and truth" (Jn 1:14).

      John, because he has seen the glory of the only Son, has to write preciously in a collection all the memories he keeps of Him, of his experience lived with Him and which he has fathomed each day. He dedicates his Gospel to those who will believe in Jesus Christ through centuries to come. Paul, because he has seen the Lord on the way to Damascus, has to proclaim it to all the peoples. Peter, because he and his companions have seen the Living Jesus come back to them, have to go tell it in front of the court and the judges who had put him to death a few weeks earlier.

      From where does this need come to go tell what we have seen, to go relate to strangers a story in which they have not taken part and which is foreign to them? The fact is, it's not just a question of an event, of a bit of news, and of publicizing a dispatch. The event is inseparable from a face, from a God who became human. And this face can only be discovered in an ENCOUNTER.

      An invitation to begin an encounter with a God who became close to each one of us. He is there, really present at the heart of our humanity. Plainly speaking, that means that, as far as God is concerned, no matter what happens to us, whatever we may have done to make us depart from the road of our destiny we are beautiful beings, beings who are worthwhile being encountered, or better still beings whom God wishes to open up to his love. He was born in a manger. He is very small, very fragile opening his hands to our humanity.

      May this time of Christmas be an invitation to enter into the mystery by living it, that is, by lighting up our personal and community lives with an inexpressible joy, that joy which dwells in us. For we live with this intimate conviction : this God who became man came to give us an abundance of life, as well as a deep peace, the concern of the love of neighbour, the pleasure of the encounter in truth.

      May this Christmas be an invitation to live it each day of the year! Promote communion, non-violent communication, respect of those who are different, justice in our gestures and our words every day : all of this is to enter into a daily dynamic of Christmas and thus, to be faithful to the mystery which brings us together in this time of Christmas.

HAPPY CHRISTMAS!

Piluca, Helene, Marie-Alice and Chantal

Editorial

      At the end of the year 2008, all medias of the world, by a large majority, are focused on the world financial crisis. If it is true that this has a direct effect on the developed nations, how much more does it reach the developing nations! Now, as the state-of-the-art of the Millennium Development Objectives shows 8 years after its launching, the time-limit of 15 years set in 2000 will certainly not be reached in 2015.

      The medias seem to be very little worried about that! We cannot remain indifferent to that silence. Doesn't this fact directly concern Africa? It is enough to note the continuous flow of all those who risk even their life in the hope of finding a better world, to escape poverty, violence, wars... who never cease to spread and multiply the victims.

      Some rays of hope, however... For at the same time, the Church in Africa is enriching itself by a human potential from which our religious family is reaping the fruits, thanks to the young women who commit themselves for life with the MSOLA. We must say that the intercontinentality desired by the Cardinal continues to come true as well, thanks to the presence of two Europeans which Africa has conquered. Such is the theme suggested in the “dossier” of this issue of Sharing, the last of the year 2008. It is in this way that you will be able to follow the progression of those who were so willing to respond to the request addressed to them. Margreth Kibola, taking advantage of her home leave, will make her final commitment on the coming January 2 in her parish of origin in Tanzania. Therefore, it will be in the February 2009 issue that we shall become better acquainted with her.

      In the diverse columns of this issue, you will find as well elements which contribute to the communication between all of us. For life is shared! The Generalate has had the joy of living a beautiful event around one of the participants in the bilingual juniorate of last May-July. You will read the account of it, written by that juniorate candidate and by her adopted parents. You will be able to follow as well the itinerary travelled in Rome by the participants in the French-speaking session for those who are 60 to 75 years old which took place at the Villino during the month of last October.

      And do you know that the First Catholic-Moslem seminar was held in Rome from 4th to 6th November? This seminar is even more interesting in that it is a positive response to the initiative of 138 Moslem signatories who sent an "Open letter" to the Holy Father in October 2007. They summarized some essential Moslem texts on the Love of God and the Love of neighbour.

      You will also be able to read the Communications of the General Council which announce the list of the participants at the next French-speaking session of those between 65 and 75 years old at the Villino. You will be informed about the composition of the new General Council of the Theresian Sisters of Malawi, a congregation founded in 1932 in Lilongwe. Then follow the other usual communications. The list of our Sisters and of the Mafr who entered into eternal Life will give you the opportunity to pray with them and for them.

      When you will receive this issue of Sharing, you may begin savouring the Season’s greetings of our sisters of the General Council. They are inviting us to meditate on the key-phrase of St. John's Gospel, “We have seen his glory...” and to be a sign of hope in a world which would very well run the risk of being without it. The entire Sharing team join them in wishing to the readers of our bulletin to share, in Africa and elsewhere in the world, “what we have seen and heard”.

Lucie Pruvost

 

      One of the symbols for my final commitment was a clay pot. And I wish to present myself and what I feel through this symbol.

      As a woman traditionally uses the clay pot to prepare food for the whole family, for me the pot represents my life, the Word of God and the vows. I receive each day the Word of God in my life, contemplate it (cook it) for my own nourishment, but also to share it with others in Africa wherever I may be on Mission.

      In order to cook, the pot needs three stones to stand well; in my religious life, I promised to live the three vows: obedience, poverty and chastity, in order to be available and free to follow and serve the Lord with undivided heart.

      I got to know the MSOLA when I was a refugee in Malawi - Katsekaminga – Dedza. I was attracted by what Sister Laura Fernandez was doing, on her motorbike, going about the villages to visit the women and girls refugees, teaching them cooking and sewing. When I saw her, I asked myself ‘Why did she leave her country and come to Africa? If she has done it, can I not do the same? But I saw many obstacles: I was in a foreign country, did not have enough education and did not know English; so I wanted to forget about such a dream; but the idea never left me in peace till one day, I had the courage to talk about it to Laura, who led me to Sr Helene Marchand then, Sr Catherine Booth, and that was the beginning of my long journey to become a MSOLA.

      I wanted to belong to this Congregation because I felt attracted by its charism through the work of the sisters, and also through the words of Lavigerie “The lasting work will be done by the Africans themselves when they become Christians and apostles.” These words made me feel that now, it is my turn to be a missionary in Africa.

      It is my wish and prayer to see this Congregation to which I have committed myself for life grow and bear much fruits through its mission in Africa. I also pray that I may not be the first and last from Mozambique, but that others may hear the call from the Lord, and in their turn, answer and become MSOLA.

Hortência Sizalande Filipe, Mozambican

THE CALABASH,SYMBOL OF THE WOMAN
by Jeanne d'Arc Ouattara

Itinerary

* 1995: Two years in community at Dori (Burkina-Faso): Work and reflection
* September 1998: Postulate in Ouagadougou (Burkina-Faso)
* October 1999-September 2000: Apostolic stage in Ouagadougou 
* September 2000: Novitiate in Ouagadougou - First profession: 15 December, 2001
* February 2002: Butare (Rwanda): Nursing training
* June 2005: Gitega (Burundi): Nursing in the health care centre of the Congregation 
* September-December 2006: Juniorate in Rome
* 6 September 2008: Perpetual vows in Toussiana (Parish of origin in her home diocese of Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso)
* At present, in Gitega, Burundi

What symbol best expresses for me what I feel I am? The image that best expresses this reality for me is a solid calabash carried in two hands as a sign of offering to God: one, that of my family and the other, that of the Congregation. In my culture, the calabash holds an important place: it represents the woman. I have become an adult woman, rich with all I have received from my family, my society and from the Congregation.

      We often do not know when the seed of a calabash was planted. No matter! The essential is that it accepted to fall into the earth and to undergo all the transformations needed to germ and to bear fruit. Today, this calabash may serve to offer life to others or to receive it, it may contain other seeds and even carry its sower: “God”.  It is God who created me and carried me in His arms. And now, behold! He dares to put Himself into my fragile hands to carry Him in turn and offer Him to the world, as Mary gives Jesus to anyone who wants Him. Trust in God and in the Congregation have helped me to walk and to grow in my MSOLA vocation. I want to be faithful to this grace, for I know that God gives it to me with joy and He expects the generosity of my heart to receive His love.

      I first met the MSOLA at the youth chaplaincy of Sya in Bobo-Dioulasso. I had gone to enroll my little brother for catechism, and we were welcomed by Sr. Elisabeth Biela who asked me: “And you, what will you do even if you are baptized and confirmed? There are other activities here… You may sign up for whatever you wish.”  As for me, after baptism and confirmation, I had only to await the sacrament of marriage!  I nevertheless signed up for the Bible Club without too much conviction.
     
      Bit by bit, I came to know the community of sisters, and during the holidays, I took part in a session/retreat given by Sr. Nicole Robion.  Since then, I felt attracted by the life of these dedicated women, so simple in their welcome at table, or in their way of listening, their leanings toward the Moslems - and especially by this phrase from the Cardinal: “The lasting work can only be carried out by the Africans themselves, once they have become Christians and apostles.” I, too, want to proclaim Jesus-Christ to the world, and I am ready to live with anyone else having this same vision.

       I desire to belong to the Congregation because I feel it is there that I can best respond to God’s unceasing call to do His will serving my brothers and sisters. The communities where I have lived thus far enabled me to discover the treasures of a feminine apostolic life, in search of love and of treasures hidden in the depths of human hearts.

      Here are a few of my dreams: 
> That many other young women will generously embrace the MSOLA vocation.
> That we live together fraternally in community in interdependence and concern for the common mission, mutually supporting one another, together facing the challenges on the way, while both trusting the capacities and respecting the limitations of each one.
> That the intercultural and interracial features of our communities remain constant, so that all people may take part in God’s work through our charism and our vocation.

Jeanne d’Arc Ouattara, Burkinabe

A COVENANT OF LOVE
by Véronique Hégron

Itinerary

* 20th March 1999: community experience in Paris-Gay Lussac, while teaching in Paris
* 6th September 1999: Postulate in Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso) together with a Congolese, a   Rwandese, a Burundian and a Burkinabe
* September 2000: Noviciate in Ouagadougou - First profession on 15th December 2001
* 22nd September 2002: After 6 months of English studies in London, Gumo (Ghana) and after
  studying the local language, Dagbanli, kindergarten and organisation of extra classes
* September-December 2006: Juniorate in Rome
* 13th September 2008: Perpetual vows in Le Bignon (Home Parish, diocese of Nantes, France)
* Currently: Gumo- Headteacher of Malshegu Primary School, near Gumo

Which symbol can express who I am today? I searched and was lead to a key sign of the day of my final commitment: the ring. Indeed I feel linked, sealed, attached to Jesus… A prisoner? Oh no! I drew a rose: it is a covenant of love, rooted in his covenant with me, which is sure, since all time and forever. I offer Him my love, all I am, as I am; the drawing is imperfect: it is me who is given, not as an ideal, but given in trust and joy.

      How did I get to know the MSOLA? After my “yes” to Jesus Christ, who had invited me to give my whole life to serve my brothers and sisters as a religious missionary – this was during a retreat of discernment - I continued my search to make this response concrete. My accompanist gave me a leaflet where different missionary congregations were presented. I got in touch with a few of them. I discovered our charism and our founders through encounters with Elisabeth Bellais, a sister with an enthusiastic heart and a contagious passion for the Mission!

      What made me to be at one with the Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Africa was the vision of Cardinal Lavigerie: to be all to all, whatever our differences; it was his commitment to respect the dignity of all human being, his fight across borders for the abolition of slavery, his work of love among believers of Islam. It is what I believe: each one is God’s beloved and a brother, a sister in Him. I felt ready to go towards another people in this Africa that I loved to become close to people by learning their language, their customs, to live with them and reveal to them Christ’s love for all.

      I was also touched by Mother Marie-Salomé’s words: “Be women of faith and prayer”. Yes, I had the desire to live by Christ, to announce him through my life and make him my rock. I was attracted too by a life in an international community: to be gathered from different countries and cultures, but united in a common love for Christ and for Africa and to live among us as “true sisters”. When I went to visit the sisters in West Africa, I was confirmed in these attractions, seeing that they were really lived in the communities.

      My journey in the Congregation : I was first sent to Gumo, in Ghana. After some months of learning the local language, the Dagbanli, I started with the apostolate entrusted to me in our small school and the centre for extra classes. In this responsibility, I shared my abilities, learned how to create something from nothing, formed some postulants and young people for teaching in a pre-school. I loved this mission and the contact with the parents; the little ones taught me a lot! At the beginning of the academic year 2007/2008, I left them to go to the Catholic Primary School in Malshegu, 2 km away from Gumo. I was sent to be the head teacher, and some sisters from the community, Victoria Gaa, Philomena Aruk and Justine Akampamya joined the staff. The first 3 months, Margreth Kibola was working with me in the administration.

      This summer 2008, I went for my home leave and had the joy to say my “yes” forever to the Lord, surrounded by the parishioners of St. Gabriel Sur Maine, in “Le Bignon” (France). Many sisters came from Paris, and from everywhere, I received messages of encouragement and support. I felt the communion for the mission in our charism that gives us life! Thank you to each one! I go back to Ghana filled with joy.

      I desire to belong to this family because I feel and I know that I find life in it; its charism and the journey we pursue together have met my desire: to make myself “All to all”, being rooted in the “all to God”, to build the communion in our multiple differences and the vocation that unites us for the mission. This mission is to be adjusted unceasingly, as it wants to answer the calls of our time, of the Church, of the people to whom we are sent. This mission is Christ’s, and I am called to continue it in Him, with Him, for His Kingdom to expand.

      The years of temporary vows with their joys, consolations, difficulties made me grow in the love of our charism, discover the source of life within me and the unfailing faithfulness of Christ. I struggled with my search for perfection that was leaving me unsatisfied and I learnt patience to proceed in the liberating way of trust that opens me, with often so much wonder, to God’s gifts. “If you knew the gift of God and who is speaking to you…” Yes, I am learning to recognise Him and I am thankful; thus the desire to belong totally to Christ and the Congregation, to continue the journey towards life, to receive it and to give it.

      My dreams for the Congregation are linked to our charism: to be initiators, to share who we are, what brings us life, so that others discover who they are, for more dignity, more justice; “to be there”, to “be with” in difficult situations; to tell about the Congregation as much as possible, to radiate, so that young women who are called by the Lord to the gift of self and to the love for Africa, find their way of life and set about with audacity and trust; to be creative to accompany them, to live true communion in our communities, to be witnesses; to discern the priorities in our insertions, our commitments, the new calls received; following Cardinal Lavigerie, to know how to see far and dare… and always TO LOVE!

Véronique Hégron, French

 
Today, the symbol, which appears to me to be the best for what I am living, is a mat. For me the mat represents a place where I deepen my relationship with God, with my sisters in community and with the persons whom I am called to meet. Why a mat? It is first of all the  place where I meet God in the silence of prayer, both personal and community prayer. These moments of prayer will help me to meet the others, to help them to meet God, and in their turn to love and follow Him. Also, without limiting the place of my heart, it is the place where I hear the call to be compassionate towards my brothers and sisters who are exhausted, strained, and where I learn to show them God’s tenderness.

   I have known the SMNDA thanks to a little booklet published by the Bukavu Archdiocese, introducing all the congregations of the diocese. It is the fact of being exclusively missionary which attracted me to our religious family, going to make Jesus Christ known to those who do not yet know Him.  When I began my journey in the Congregation in 1996, it was a few days before the beginning of the war in Congo… Then I was sent, it was a few days before the beginning of the war in Congo… Then I was sent to Goma, later to Uganda to learn English. After my first commitment in Ouagadougou, I was sent to Algeria where I began by doing one year of Arabic studies. That sending responded to my inner aspiration to go to those thousands of Africans who
who are not Christians, but share with us something of the love of God, of Abraham and of Jesus Christ.

   By committing myself for ever into our religious family, I am committing myself to place my hand into the hand of  the Master and Friend not like others wishing with all my heart and for my whole life to go with Him wherever  He Himself wishes, in the service of his African brothers and sisters. I wish to start each day from this mat, the place of my encounter with the Other where He sends me to live in my community,  to give my share in its life, and in my apostolate.

 My dream for our religious family which I am joining forever consists in doing my part, in full availability, to contribute to her long life, to her mission, and to the dream of Mother Marie-Salomé “Be true sisters to one another” and nothing ever divides us. May the aspect of internationality and interculturality remain a reality which testifies to the Kingdom of God, present in our world divided by differences! 

  Zawadi Namakoma Barungu, Congolese

    
  “In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and to the greater glory of God, I, Sr. Celina Natanek,  vow to follow Christ in obedience, poverty and chastity…to proclaim his Kingdom in Africa.” That is how I have started the formula of my final commitment as MSOLA. The celebration took place on the 7th September 2008, in my home parish in Tarnawa, Krakow, where I was baptized and received my first Communion, at the roots of my religious missionary vocation. The parish, my family and many friends committed themselves to prepare the feast. Sr. Piluca Benavente, Sr. Gertrud Glotzbach, the community of Lublin, Sr. Agnes Nouyrigat from France, 10 young women and some friends arrived the evening before in Tarnawa.

      On Saturday evening, our postulants and candidates prepared a vigil, a prayer-time to thank God for my call, for my parents and grand-parents for teaching me to listen to the call of Christ. It was also a time of presentation of our Congregation. The vigil ended with a dance of light done by my nephews and nieces. The youngest was 5 years old.

      The next morning, with my parents, we were accompanied by a group of small girls in traditional dresses, carrying a garland plait of oak leaves to the church. This is a tradition in Poland. Then my parents lighted a beautifully-decorated candle at the Easter-candle and handed it to me, to remind me that religious life is the continuation of baptism. Before that, I recalled in a few meaningful words my journey of faith and the reason why I have chosen our Congregation.

      There were many diocesan priests, among them a Tanzanian priest, Fr. Paterni Patrik Mangi, who witnessed to the work of our sisters in Tanzania. His presence was very much appreciated by the people gathered for the feast. There were other priests, friends of mine from the diocese and different congregations. After the Eucharist, at the entrance door of the school where the festive  meal was prepared, Piluca and Gertrud received me, with a loaf of bread and salt, symbols of goodness and of life.

      “To be as good as bread… To be all to all…” has been my deep desire for many years. In my youth, I desired to serve God in His people, but the missionary aspect of this call grew in me during pilgrimages to Czestochowa, the spiritual capital of Poland and through reading different missionary magazines. I was looking for a missionary congregation to go beyond the horizon to proclaim the love of God to all people.

      I met one of our sisters, Sr. Dolores Lavoie, just there, in Czestochowa, where my journey with the MSOLA began. What struck me from the beginning was the simplicity of the sisters, their nearness to the people and their love for the people with whom they lived and worked in Africa, for the Mission. Their love for Africa was contagious, and I could see how many young people were opening up to the world, thanks to them and their positive look at the reality. After three years, from my first encounter with the Congregation, I asked to join the community in Lublin. I was accepted.

      In Poland among my people, I got the chance to share what I cherish most: the journey of God with me and my journey with the African people as MSOLA. It is an experience of deepening my missionary vocation. The experience of Africa and Europe helped me to enlarge my vision of the reality of our MSOLA family, of Africa and of myself. In all circumstances, I recognize God walking with me. I see His beautiful work in me and through me. I cannot do otherwise, but to remain His forever. The vows, renouncing myself, gives me freedom to be for the service. Being accepted by the Superiors, I decided to make my final commitment in our MSOLA family because God in whom I put my trust has always been walking with me in the past, making me more and more open, free, filling me with inner joy and desire to be at His service for Africa.

I wish for all of us, MSOLA, the vision of our Founder Cardinal Lavigerie and the passionate love for Christ and His Mission living in Mother Marie-Salomé. Vision and love that move us to do the impossible, so that many young women may be attracted to us by the Spirit and by our zeal for the Mission.

Celina Natanek, Polish

Lucile Habimana Nzigire

 

Sharing Life

A MSOLA’s HERITAGE

      When I invited my “adopted parents”, Mr Terry and Mrs Andrea Reeves, I had no idea that they could give me something so special and particularly dear to Mr Reeves.

      It was like a dream becoming a reality when I got the news that they were coming to see me in Rome at the end of my juniorate. I had longed for a moment of grace to be able to meet this couple that had been so generous in sponsoring part of my secondary school education and my formation to religious life and mission. Before knowing me personally, they opened their heart and arms to help me through Sister Laura Fernandez. I was in need after my return to Mozambique, having spent seven years in Malawi as a refugee. Was this by chance? What made them so generous to a stranger? Who put such love in their heart? Why are Africa and her people special for them?
     
      I cannot explain it, but one thing I am sure of is that it was God who made it all happen. I experienced this also when God put into my heart the desire to become a missionary knowing that I would meet many obstacles. At the same time, He knocked at their door, and happily, they opened it for Him to enter and make us “a family.”

      In his own way, God made sure that we met in Rome from 24th to 28th July 2008. It was a very short time, but very rich, filled with emotions, laughter and sharing. For me, the climax of all was Saturday evening, 26th July! What a historical evening! I was overwhelmed by emotions when Mr Reeves – in the presence of Sisters Laura Fernandez, Pierrette Coudé, Hildegunde Schmidt and, of course, his wife Andrea, handed over to me something very dear to him, something he had received from one of our sisters some days before she went to the Lord: Sister Claire Desrochers. May she rest in peace! This special gift is a cross that Sister Claire bought at one time from the catacombs in Rome. It is a cross that she carried with her in her many journeys and in Africa during her missionary life. Mr Reeves always kept it very preciously until he felt that it was now the right moment to pass it on to his “adopted daughter from Africa”, Hortência.

      I felt so moved, so humbled to be the chosen one to receive this special cross from him. The fact that the cross came from Rome and was given to me at our Generalate in Rome, this cross that came from a MSOLA and was given to me, a MSOLA, while preparing for my final vows, I felt my deep roots in this MSOLA family, supported by the living here on earth and the living in heaven!

Mr Reeves gave me – besides Sister Claire’s biographical notes - some articles about another great woman, Sister Lesley Bangham, a nursing sister with the “Church Army” (Anglican Church), who lived many experiences during her 28 years of faithful service in Africa: some good, some bad and some terrifying ones. Mrs Reeves described Sr. Lesley in one article as a “woman of faith”. I feel privileged to have such good examples and I feel challenged to follow them by doing likewise in my life as MSOLA. I pray that in moments of difficulties and discouragements, I may stand in faith and remain in the love of God like these two women, so that I may let God do wonders with my life through the simple realities of my daily life wherever I will be and whatever he will enable me to do.

      Oh, what a good way to end the juniorate! May God be blessed for all the wonders that he has worked in my life. I feel that he has already given me the hundredfold for my humble readiness to put my life into his hands in becoming a MSOLA. May I grow to live and let the dream of Cardinal Lavigerie become true:

 “Missionaries are to be initiators, for the lasting work will be done by the Africans themselves, after they have become Christians and apostles.” (1874, in I. M., p. 250)

Hortência Sizalande Filipe, Mozambican

My own love affair with Africa by Mr Terry Reeves   

        My own love affair with Africa began when I plunged out of the sky into Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania in 1965, as a volunteer with Voluntary Service Overseas. My love affair with the MSOLA started in 1978, when I first met the sisters at Mlale Mission, near Bunda University of Agriculture, south of Lilongwe (Malawi). At that time, Sisters Genevieve Samson, Laura Fernandez, Anny Neujis and Irena were serving at Mlale Mission, and I was running the University Farm at Bunda. My then wife Ann, used to go and help Laura with teaching the local women to sew. Sadly, Ann became ill and at the end of 1978, had to return to the UK with our two children. I stayed on a further year to fulfil my contract. It was during that year that I grew to know the love and support that came from the MSOLA.

      On one of my many visits to Mlale, to attend Mass and also to enjoy a meal and a chat with the sisters, I met Sr. Claire Desrochers, originally from Canada. She was very ill. At first, she was too weak to chat. As the weeks passed, she gained in strength, thanks to the devoted care of all the sisters. I sat a few minutes with her one-day, and she told me that she really had no appetite for food; the one thing she wanted more than any was fish, but that was not available, as we were so far from town or the lake. I told her that we, at the College, kept fish in small lakes to show how they could be used as a source of protein, that I could bring her a choice of three types. From then on, I brought her fresh fish each day until the day came when she was thought strong enough to make the journey back to Canada. Claire always said, “You saved my Life with that fish!”

      It was so sad to see Claire leave. But she was always very serene and I only perceived her inner wisdom. When she left Africa for Canada in 1979, we exchanged addresses, and it was not long before I received a letter from her; it was to be the first of many that I would receive from her until the end of her life.

      In August 1979, I returned home to my sick wife, Ann, and two children, Lynda and Paul, (7 and 9 years). All through the dark and difficult days after this, Claire was ever at my side with her letters, never more than when Ann died at our home in Yorkshire on 7th October 1981.

      Within the business and trauma of everyday life that followed for me, I would sometimes not make time to answer Claire’s regular letters. Within three weeks of receiving it, if I had not answered her, she would write again and insist that I stop everything and reply immediately, which of course I did! Our correspondence continued for 14 years; in this way, she knew all about me, my hopes, my dreams, my grief, my heartbreak and my joys. After a few years, she encouraged me to again seek a partner in life, someone to share with, someone to love. She so wanted me to find someone, and I would tell her about those I had met and she would give me her forthright comments on them!

      So often, she said, how she hoped that one-day I would go to Canada and meet with her again, but the time was never quite right to make such a trip. In November 1987, I met Andrea and with Claire’s great approval, we married in July 1988. In 1993, we fulfilled a dream when Andrea and I went to see Claire at Sillery. After some 14 years of correspondence, we were to meet again. Claire, who by this time was suffering with Parkinson’s disease, came to the coach stop to meet us, it was a wonderful reunion with her being so delighted, and for her to meet Andrea for the first time. Our excitement was such that we returned the following year to meet again, which was to be the last time we would meet Claire.
      Each year, we would open our garden for lunches and teas to raise money, which we would then send to Sister Laura in Malawi, to distribute, as she felt appropriate. Some of the £15,000 raised over the years went to help Mother Luiza with the Orphans in Dedza and some to help a Mozambique Refugee, named Hortência, with her education and training, as she had, through Sister Laura’s example, expressed an interest in becoming a MSOLA.

      Our correspondence with Sister Claire continued to the end, a few days before her death, on 18th January 1997, we received a parcel, inside was a crystal cross for Andrea and a metal cross that Claire had purchased at the Catacombs in Rome, when she was a young sister. Enclosed was a hand made card with the following words: “Here is a cross from the Catacombs which I carried with me wherever I went, including my various journeys throughout Africa where I crossed your path. May it remind you of my deep affection! It is a bit heavy as crosses are! Isn’t! However, I can testify that you know how to deal with. Dear Terry, you know how I have always loved you and your family. Be sure that I will always, always keep you in this affection and in my prayers. Sr. Claire.”

      I received the cross with great humility from such a friend and treasured it greatly. I also carried it on my trips to Africa. It is so special for me!

      Over the years since our fund raising helped fund Hortência through her education and training, we have kept in touch, first through Sr. Laura, and as Hortência learnt English by correspondence with her. Hortência has been diligent in keeping us informed. Over the years, our love and admiration for her has grown. We have watched with great interest, as she progressed through her noviciate up until today, when she takes her final vows. We met her parents in 2000, while staying at Dedza for a few days; they had walked miles on the chance that they might see us, baring so many gifts. It made us feel so humble.

      Hortência invited us to attend her service for the final vows, or to go and visit her at the General House in Rome. We would have loved to go to Mozambique, but we decided to go to Rome, where we spent five delightful days with her and the other wonderful sisters, who all made us so welcome.

      I had decided before going to Rome, that this was the time to follow what Sister Claire had said to me when giving me the cross from the Catacomb, when she said, “that I would know how to deal with it” I felt I wanted to give the cross of Claire to Hortência, that she was the one to carry it, far better equipped than me.

      So, gathered around a small table in the dinning room of the sisters in Rome, I related this story to Hortência and a few of her sisters and passed the cross to Hortência, together with the card that Claire had given me back. We know that she is strong enough and courageous enough to carry it. This is a very special young sister, full of love for the people of Africa, faith and sense of service; there is nobody better able to carry out the objectives of the MSOLA and dear Sister Claire Desrochers.

Terry Reeves - 30th July 2008

BEING REBORN AT OUR AGE ?

      “How can anyone who is already old be born? – In all truth I tell you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born through water and the Spirit” (Jn 3:4-5).

      A new birth. Ageing well is quite an art!  This session invited us to the new life in the Spirit by rereading and welcoming our past and our present… guided by its ‘golden or red thread’ running through our life.  Wonder and joy while perceiving God’s action in each one!  We discovered the source, sometimes hidden, sometimes gushing forth, God Himself in us and in each one of His creatures.

      In international community, for three weeks, we have also shared and thanked God for the joys and the pains of an already long missionary life. We have lived intense moments: the encounter with our sisters of the General Council, the visit to the places that connect us with the Cardinal, places where we did remember his intuitions that speak still today to us: the liberation of any slavery, the attention given to woman, the ‘all to all’…;  the visit to our brothers at the Generalate who opened to us their treasurers in a very fraternal welcome.

      Our thanks go also to Patricia Massart, who accompanied us, to our Sisters of the Rome community and the other animators, especially our brother Otmar Strzoda , M.Afr., all of them so available and kind.

      The future ?  It is in the hands of God who offers us His love and continues to call each one of us by name.  It is up to us to live it – giving preference to the being over the doing, welcoming the present moment as a gift!

The sisters of the session of  “ 60-75”,
Rome, 2nd to 22nd October 2008

 

Did you know that?

FIRST JOINT CATHOLIC-MUSLIM FORUM ROME  (4-6 novembre 2008)

Here an abstract of final Declaration of this Forum

      “Gender, religious freedom, financial ethics, violence or terrorism in the name of religion, these art some points that align the Members of the First Catholic-Muslim seminar that ended today in Rome.

The Catholic-Muslim Forum was formed by the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue and a Delegation of the 138 Muslim signatories of an open letter called A Common Word (…)

> Twenty-four participants and five experts from every religion attended the meeting.
> The theme of the seminar was LOVE OF  GOD,  LOVE OF NEIGHBOUR.
> The discussion (…) focused on two main themes: Theological and Spiritual Foundations and Human dignity and mutual respect.
> Points of similarity and differences have emerged, reflecting the specific and distinctive genius of the two religions. (…)

      We have agreed to explore the possibility of establishing a permanent Catholic-Muslim committee to coordinate responses to conflicts and other emergency situations and of organizing a second seminar in a Muslim-majority country yet to be determined.
We look forward to the second Seminar of the Catholic-Muslim Forum to be converted in approximately two years (…)

      At the end of the seminar, His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI received the participants (…) All present expressed their satisfaction with the result of the seminar and their expectations of a further productive dialogue.”