General Council
Training day
On 4 May, the whole Council took part in a study day organised by the Catholic Canonical Institute of Paris on the theme “The goods of “religious”: between the ideal of poverty and tools at the service of the mission”.
Canonical visit
In January 2020, I began my canonical visit to the Province of France. Unfortunately, in March I had to interrupt because of the pandemic. With some restrictions lifted, I resumed my visit to the sisters of Rose Giet on Tuesday 18 May 2021. I was able to finish the visit on Wednesday 26 May. This experience of meeting and listening has allowed me to experience a great closeness and understanding of the realities of each one. I am grateful for the welcome I received from each of the sisters and the communities.
Community of Montgeron
After more than 2 years at the service of the Generalate :
– Sister Constance MPULO has agreed to make herself available to be part of the inter-postulancy community for the provinces of RSA and Lesotho in early August. She will return home on 12 June. After a time of holidays, visits with her family, she will join her new obedience in AMAKHASI in RSA;
– Sister Léa RAZIFAMAHOLY will go to the Catholic University of Angers for the academic year 2021-2022 in order to deepen her knowledge of the French language. On 9 July, she will go for a holiday in her province and with her family and will return at the end of August.
Dear Sisters Constance and Léa, thank you from the bottom of my heart for the years of community service that you have generously accomplished. May the Lord accompany you and grant you the necessary graces in what you will undertake in the future.
The departure of the latter calls into question the maintenance of a local community and the location of the general administration in Montgeron. The General Council has met with Sister Anne Marie Barré and her advisors on this subject. I leave it to her to give the information concerning the members of the community.
A place to live for the General Council
In view of :
– the departure of the above-mentioned sisters ;
– the difficulty in finding human resources for the community services at the level of the Generalate;
In Council, we continued to reflect on the possibility of moving from Montgeron. We have been looking mainly at Angers, but it is difficult to find something suitable for us. Mgr Michel PANSARD, bishop of Evry, suggested a house in Etampes. It offers both living and working spaces that are more functional. We have agreed in principle. We are in the negotiation phase. We will have to discuss and specify the conditions of occupation. A meeting with the bishop and the bursar of the diocese is planned.
I would like to officially inform you of the project to move the General Council.
Visit to West Africa
Since 14 May, Sisters Marie Christine AHADJITSE, Monique COUTURE, Councillors and Claudia NGEMA, General Bursar have been in West Africa. They will stay there until 23 June. We wish them a good stay, beautiful discoveries and meetings with the communities of the province.
Council of the Congregation
The Council of the Congregation will be held at the Mother House from 25 to 11 November 2020. You will receive more information later.
Orientations of the General Chapter
– Provincial Economic Commissions
Before proceeding with the evaluation of the works, the members of the general economic commission requested that each province concerned constitute its own economic commission, a decision taken at the level of the General Chapter. On 8 May 2021, the provinces communicated the composition of their provincial economic commission. On 21 May, Sister Marie Anne LOUËRAT, secretary of the general economic commission, sent each provincial bursar the document from which the members are invited to reflect on their role and their participation in the evaluation of the works. A meeting between the general and provincial commissions is planned for the end of June. In order to prepare for this meeting, avenues of reflection have been proposed to them.
– Bicentenary of the Congregation
On the occasion of the bicentenary, we wish to update the trombinoscope which dates from 1998, to publish a perpetual calendar, a booklet of prayers which will be translated into French, English and Portuguese, and a booklet proposing songs from different countries. Sister Julia BEMASO is the reference person between the Council and the members in charge of providing the necessary elements to be transmitted to the publishing house.
Trombinoscope
Sister Julia BEMASO
Perpetual Calendar
Sister Bernadette GRIMAULT
Song booklet
Sister Lydie ARTAUD – Sister Valérie BESIN – Sister Noëlle COTILLON
Prayer booklet
Sister Marie Claude JAGUENAU – Sister Marie Paule PERRAULT
The sisters have started to work. I thank them for their availability.
FRANCE
As a reminder, as mentioned in the echoes of March, the Province of France has acquired the property of the monastery at BESSINES near NIORT. One part will be made available to a community of 5 sisters and the other part will be reserved for the St Joseph’s Village project.
On 15 May, following the BESSINES project, the sisters of the Mother House and the sisters present at the Mother House for the annual retreat had the joy of meeting Nathanaël and Katia GAY, the founding couple of St Joseph’s Village, as well as Laurent and Corinne BENETEAU, who will be responsible for welcoming people in difficulty in part of the monastery premises. This meeting with the latter was well appreciated.
On 16 May, a Mass of thanksgiving was celebrated in the presence of Bishop Pascal WINTZER, before the departure of the Carmelites from the diocese of POITIERS.
RSA
On 12 June, Sister Thérésia Noncedo NDALA will make her final profession in the Congregation. The celebration will take place in Matikwe. May the Lord fill her with his graces and accompany her throughout her life. We unite ourselves with Sister Theresia and all the sisters of RSA and assure them of our prayers and support.
MADAGASCAR
On 21 May, the house put at the disposal of young girls who are thinking of religious life, trainees at the College or at the primary school or students at ANDAPA caught fire. Fortunately, it happened during the day and only caused material damage: beds, mattresses went up in flames… The students intervened to help the sisters put out the fire. The estimates for the work and the purchase of mattresses and beds have been sent to us. The Generalate will do what is necessary to provide financial aid.
ONGOING FORMATION
French School of Spirituality
The second and last session of the French School of Spirituality, planned for 30 May to 5 June this year, was held at the Spirituality Centre of La Roche-du-Theil. With the exception of Sisters Marie Christine AHADJITSE, Claudia NGEMA who are currently visiting West Africa and Sister Christinah KHAMBULE, who is taking her final exams at the end of the university year, the other 10 sisters are participating in the session. They are accompanied by Father Benoît SEVENIER (Eudist), Sisters Maryvonne VERRON (Missionary Sister of the Gospel) and Thérèse BICHON (FCSCJ).
In a few days, we will celebrate the feast of the Sacred Heart, so I would like to invite you to contemplate the :
Open Heart of Jesus, our treasure.
The open heart of Jesus, evangeliser of the poor.
Jesus who teaches by his Word and by his whole life.
who announces the Word,
who speaks a Word that comforts, that relieves, that soothes…
Open heart, inexhaustible source of all graces.
HAPPY FEAST OF THE HOLY HEART!
Sister Maria Andrée HUVEKE
Superior General