Feast of December 18
It was with the sisters of the province of France that Monique Couture and I celebrated the anniversary of the foundation of the Congregation and celebrated the 50th anniversary of our Common Evangelization Project. I was in wonder listening to Sister Thérèse Bichon tell us the history of the birth of the Common Evangelization Project. The testimonies of Sister Thérèse Barraud, Sister Marie-Thérèse Bressollette “interviewed” on this subject and Sister Joseph of Christ through a written document that she had given to Sister Thérèse Bichon were very beautiful. They allowed me to recognize and welcome our Common Evangelization Project as a true spiritual treasure. You will find the text of the presentation (attached) and I encourage the communities to read it in order to recognize the spirit at work through the capitulants to the General Chapter 1971, the drafting of our common project of evangelization and to rejoice in it today.
GENERAL ADMINISTRATION
Return of the Councillors
Leaving since October 27 for a mission to the community of Burkina Faso and for her family leave, Sister Marie Christine Ahadjitsè returned on December 21. Sister Claudia Ngema arrived the same day from Madagascar. She has been back in RSA since December 24 visiting her family. She will also take advantage of this time to update her administrative documents.
Sister Jeannine was due to return on December 31, but “a virus came to disrupt her return to France. We have to wait for the end of the confinement! She will return with Sister Julia Bemaso on January 17, 2022.
Visit to MADAGASCAR
“Arrived on November 15 on Malagasy soil after many postponements. Sr. Julia, Sr. Claudia and I were supposed to come in July, but COVID and the closure of the borders had affected our travel plans! We were welcomed by Sr. Josée Clémence at the Provincial House and for our accommodation in the infirmary, newly built.
The visits began with the animation for the consultation of the new provincial.
We went to Antisirabe for the inauguration of the brand new “Rose Giet” building that will serve as the residence of a new community and for a sewing project. Then departure for Ambatondrazaka. It was the discovery of the state of the roads, the reality of transport leading us to the different places where the communities are inserted. The kilometre distance is not always the main difficulty, but the conditions are all obstacles that must be taken into account. I was not able to visit the community of Ambohitompoina.
The early rise for prayer, the service and the Eucharist punctuate the daily life of the Sisters and then it is the teaching, the care center, the community services, the studies.
The visit and sharing with novices, postulants, pre-postulants, students in the different communities in Tana manifest the vitality of religious life. Joy and youthfulness are traits that characterize the Province of Madagascar. Today, the province has 100 members.
Andape, Antanimbaribe, Ampanefena, Marovato, Vohémar, Antsoha, Diego are places that I can memorize as well as faces, even if the stay was short-lived!
An event that I had the joy of living with all the communities present in Tana: the 198th anniversary of the Foundation of the Congregation. Throughout the day, singing, dancing, creativity and vitality were present with the participation of associates who came for this occasion.
For reasons of border closures with Mauritius, I extended my stay by a week and celebrated the arrival of Emmanuel here in Antananarivo with the Sisters of the Infirmary Community.
It is a THANK YOU “MISAOTRA BETSAKA” from the bottom of my heart that I address to each one for the welcome received, your availability, your participation in the consultation for the appointment of your new Provincial. Together, let us continue the mission of “making Jesus Christ known and loving” where we are.” Sr. Jeannine Sourice
NOMINATION
Sister Virginie SOANASY is appointed Provincial of Madagascar for a term of 3 years. She will take up her duties from 1 January 2022.
ANIMATION BY ESDAC ANIMATORS AND THE GENERAL COUNCILLORS
Two sessions for provincial councils and local superiors of Lesotho, RSA and Madagascar are scheduled to help and accompany them from the beginning of their mandate. We hope that these sessions can take place on the scheduled dates.
For RSA and Lesotho
From 22 (evening) to 27 January, 2022: Provincial and Councillors
From January 29 to February 03, 2022, in the morning: Provincial Councils and Local Superiors.
Animators: Sister Rachel Guillien of the Congregation of the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Sister Julia Bemaso, General Councilor.
Sister Jeannine Sourice will participate in all assemblies.
For Madagascar
From 05 to 09 February 2022: Provincial and Councillors
February 11-15, 2022: Provincial Council and Local Superiors
Moderators: Jacques – Elisabeth Fremiot (ESDAC team members), and Sister Marie Christine Ahadjitsè, General Councillor
CANONICAL VISIT
In the weekend following the session, I will participate with the General Councillors, Sister Claudia Ngema, in the welcoming celebration of the new RSA Provincial Council. I will make my canonical visit to Lesotho in mid-February 2022.
CONTINUING EDUCATION
Faculty of Canon Law
“Canonically accompany the departure of a member of an institute.” This was the theme proposed by the Faculty of Canon Law of the Catholic University of Paris for the study day of November 23, 2021, and in which Sister Monique Couture and I participated. The interventions of canonists or experts working with Congregations were very enlightening in the procedures to be followed according to the situations.
“ENTRAIDE MISSIONNAIRE INTERNATIONALE” (EMI)
On December 2nd, I participated in a day organized by CORREF (Conference of Religious in France) on the evolution of EMI services. It was a great opportunity for me to better understand what EMI is. I give you what I think is essential to share with you. This International Missionary Assistance was desired and created in 1965 by the churches of France and the religious congregations and had received the approval of the Vatican. The decisions taken there are open to the international dimensions and to solidarity. The EMI is not a mutual, but a mutual aid. This solidarity is experienced through sections and groups. The overview of what EMI is a way of living universality. In its creation, it has an ecumenical dimension. It was a deep desire that the major superiors on the one hand, and the bishops on the other hand, take care of the men and women religious, priests, seminarians, pastors, members of associations of the faithful — including spouses and children, when they do not have a health system in their country. It is therefore at the service of religious communities and institutes and their members that the EMI intervenes in the field of health care coverage in accordance with the obligations of canon law. This is a dimension of care and social protection. It is a church service that is opened to all congregations as well as to all dioceses that want it. This service is there to promote the conditions of the mission… “People in poor health cannot truly live their mission of evangelization well.” It is therefore important that the executives of local churches and institutes and their members are healthy people. Everything that is deployed for the advances of the EMI so as to meet this mission of taking care of everyone for a better mission…
Studies of the French language
Teaching sisters from Madagascar are required to teach French. It is therefore necessary that the sisters have a solid formation or a professional qualification to ensure the teaching of the French language. To meet this objective and on the proposal of the General Council, Saoravola Olivia Rahalison, Ernestine, Léa Razafimaholy, 3 sisters from Madagascar began the study of the French language at the Catholic University of Angers. Sister Christinah Khambule from RSA is in her second year.
FCSCJ SPIRITUALITY ROOTED IN THE FRENCH SCHOOL OF SPIRITUALITY (CONTINUED)
Do you remember the special page of the Echoes of the General Council of May 2021, entitled Continuing Formation “FCSCJ Spirituality rooted in the French School of Spirituality”?
We told you about the weekend of 30-31 January and the session from 21 to 27 February which had taken place at La Salle de Vihiers since the health conditions did not allow us to go to La Roche-du-Theil, as previously planned.
As a reminder, the group was as follows:
From RSA: Sister Claudia Ngema, Sister Constance Mpulo, Sister Christinah Khambule;
From Madagascar: Sister Julia Bemaso, Sister Marie-Denise Botobe, Sister Léa Razafimaholy;
From West Africa: Sister Marie-Christine Ahadjitsè, Sister Lorette Houngbo, Sister Angéline Chabi, Sister Julienne Assou, Sister Gertrude Parkoo;
From France: Sister Lydie Artaud, Sister Valérie Besin.
The work then continued from May 30 to June 5 in the framework of La Roche-du-Theil, by deepening texts of the Spiritual Masters already introduced during the previous sessions: François de Sales, Bérulle, Jean Eudes, Jean-Jacques Olier and Vincent de Paul.
Even though the content of the sessions was dense, it was only an introduction that called for a sequel: how could the group continue?
This is how the idea of deepening the knowledge acquired by sharing it with others was born. What we have received, how are we going to transmit it here or elsewhere? A new project was then developped.
The group, composed of sisters who had followed all the sessions of 2021 (9 sisters), met on the weekend of November 6-7, at La Salle de Vihiers. It was then a question of preparing what would be the shared discoveries of our roots in the French School of Spirituality.
This sharing would be proposed:
– to the sisters who began the formation in 2021 but who had to interrupt the process for various reasons,
– to the sisters from Madagascar who have just arrived in France,
– to the French sisters who would like to discover FCSCJ spirituality in a different way.
So, we worked in small groups of three to prepare for the upcoming weekends, scheduled for 26-27 February; 26-27 March; 9-10 April 2022.
This research has already borne fruit: the joy of discovering together, in an international group, the roots of our spirituality and our Treasure..
Sister Thérèse Bichon
PROVINCE FRANCE
TRANSFER OF HEALTH ESTABLISHMENTS
On September 20, 2021, during a celebration in our chapel at the Mother House, six health and medico-social institutions (Les Récollets, la Tremblaye, les Romans, les EHPADS Rose Giet, Régina Mundi, and la Jumellière, were transferred to the Saint Jean de Dieu Foundation. The chapel was full on this occasion. It was an important event both for the Daughters of the Charity of the Province of France, who founded these works, and for the Foundation of the Hospitaller Order of St. John of God, which will now manage them. The bonds that unite us, a similar spirituality and charism, with the Brothers Hospitallers of Saint John of God are the basis of this rapprochement. We have the same will to take care of the most fragile, which is why we are happy to be able to count on the family of St. John of God to continue the works of our Congregation and give people a quality of life and dynamism.
This is how on October 16, the first stone of an ambitious project was laid, which brings new resources to the territory at the service of the EHPAD [health care facilities] “Vivre ensemble.” Regina will begin accommodating in May 2024, aging people with disabilities and independent seniors wishing to live in intermediate housing.
COMMON PROJECT OF EVANGELIZATION
On December 18, the Province of France celebrated the 198 years of Foundations and the 50th anniversary of the Common Evangelization Project. At the beginning of the day, Sister Thérèse Bichon shared the history about the birth of this project, which is still relevant and still energizes us today. This presentation was followed by a time of personal prayer and sharing in small groups. After the festive meal, those who wished could participate in workshops: singing, body expression, visit of the exhibit “La Bonne Oeuvre” slideshow. At 3 p.m., it was the celebration of the Eucharist in the large chapel.
OPENING OF NEW COMMUNITIES
Lesotho
After one of the two RSA sisters left for the Matikwe clinic to do a practical internship, the question arose of maintaining the presence of the FCSCJ in Hardenberg. On the proposal of the General Council, after consultation with the sisters of the province who voted in majority to continue the presence of the FCSCJ, the Provincial of Lesotho and her Council requested the opening of a community in RSA. This is how 3 sisters have been appointed and sent for a new mission in RSA since November 9th. It is the second community belonging to the Province of Lesotho that is in RSA: Hardenberg and Bethlehem.
Madagascar
On June 15, 2021, it was the inauguration of the new infirmary and the installation of a new community of 6 sisters.
Since October 1, at the request of the local bishop, a new community has settled in Ambohijanahary-Didy, 45 km from Ambatondrazaka. Access is difficult. In good weather, that is to say when the track is dry, the journey is from 4h to 5h with a good vehicle (Land Rover). When it rains, it takes 9 hours to drive. The establishment of this community is a way of responding to the invitation of Pope Francis, who encourages us to go to the periphery.
At the end of October, a community was opened in Antisarabe, to take care of the implementation and operation of a sewing project, making uniforms for the students attending our schools.
Tenkodogo
We had the joy of communicating with the sisters on December 29 via Zoom. They had beautiful Christmas celebrations in the parish and shared a time of conviviality with other congregations and the bishop. They were happy to share with us what they went through. It was beautiful and good to hear them. They are devoted to teaching, pastoral and community service.
I would like to conclude with an excerpt from Pope John Paul II’s message to young people on:
The secret of happiness. . .
and that would help us to better live the difficult period
of the health crisis that we are going through.
“You are worth what your heart is worth. The whole history of humanity is the story of the need to love and to be loved […]
Whatever the use made of it by humans, the heart (symbol of friendship and love) also has its norms, its ethics. Making room for the heart in the harmonious construction of your personality has nothing to do with sensitivity or even sentimentality. The heart is the openness of the whole being to the existence of others, the ability to discover them, to understand them.
Such sensitivity, true and profound, makes one vulnerable. This is why some are tempted to get rid of it by hardening themselves.
To love, it is therefore essentially to give oneself to others. Far from being an instinctive inclination, love is a conscious decision of the will to go to others. To be able to love in truth, one must detach oneself from many things and especially from oneself, give freely, love to the end. This dispossession of oneself (long-teamwork) is exhausting and exhilarating. It is a source of balance. It is the secret of happiness.”
John-Paul II, Excerpt from the Message to the young people of France, Paris, 1980
Take care of yourself, let’s take care of one another,
Sister Maria Andrée Huvek’
General Superior