November 2009

A Visit to Portugal: Opening Horizons of Hope

“It is a great joy for us to spend this month of October in the Portuguese Province – the month of the final apparition of Mary in Fatima, the month of the Rosary, the month dedicated to the missions, the month of many birthday celebrations, the most beautiful month of the year!” With this greeting, Terezinha welcomed the sisters of our most numerous province to each of our three assemblies held in Lisbon, Fatima and Braga. Using a format similar to that of our visit to the Northern European Province, we presented in the form of a powerpoint reflection our insights from our study of cosmology, linking these intuitions with our reading of the journey of our RSHM presence in Portugal since the first foundation in Porto in 1871. The experience of the universe story of crisis, death and transformation served as a cosmological metaphor for the life and mission of the Institute on Portuguese soil.

We highlighted as well the women and moments of cosmic grace: Margaret Hennessy and her invitation to the Founder to assume responsibility for the English Academy; M. St. Liguori MacMullen, a woman of small stature but of great heart, full of love, generosity and joy in creating RSHM communities of life and unity; M. de Aquino Ribeiro, who, when faced with the anti-clericalism of the 1910 Revolution, left her beloved country to initiate a new foundation in Brazil in 1911.

We, too, encountered contemporary women, men and moments of cosmic grace in our visit to the province: our sisters who welcome the gift of new life that God offers at all ages and stages; the coordinating group of the SHM Extended Family, who are deeply imbued with the spirit and charism of Jean Gailhac, Mère St. Jean and our founding sisters; the laity with whom we collaborate in the schools, social centers, student hostels and residences for children at risk, whose sense of shared mission is testimony to the vision of collaboration and sustainability we have as RSHM.

Cabeção: Herminia Gonçalinho, Marie France, Teresa Meira, M. de la Salette da Rocha	M. da Conceição, a four-legged friend, M. do Rosário Teixeira

“Transmitting our common hope to our world” is the theme chosen for reflection in the province for this year. We want to thank all the sisters of the province for sharing their common hope with us – a hope that we can build together a world of compassion, solidarity and communion. We want to thank Ma. Teresa Nogueira and the Provincial Team for their tireless work in the preparation for our visit and for all the organization such a visit required after our arrival. Your gracious welcome and that of the entire province fill us with hope as we continue our corporate journey in faith as Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary.

M. Francisca da Assunção Gaspar, M. Teresa Nogueira	Hermínia and elder

SHM EF Coordinating Group: M. Antonia Quinteiro, M. Alice Santos, Paulo Campino, Luís Pedro de Sousa, Gaspar da Silva Cruz	Luisa Maria Almendra and her nephew, a student in our school in Lisbon

M. dos Remédios Sousa, M. Luisa Brito	Murtosa: Olinda Fernandes and friends

Fátima: Isabel Lima (center), catechists	Porto - Livramento: Palmira Alves (right), Administrative Team

M. Joaquina de Oliveira	At the Lisbon Assembly: Catherine, Terezinha

For more pictures of
our visit to the Portuguese Province...

Portugal Picasa Album

The Institute Task Force to study the possibility of an RSHM Volunteer Program met in Rome from 15-17 November with the General Council and Kathleen O’Keeffe. We want to thank Maire Concannon, a Viatore Christi volunteer who collaborated with our sisters in João Pessoa, Brazil, M. da Felicidade Daniel (M), Mary Heyser (EAP) and Luís Pedro de Sousa, Colégio do Sagrado Coração de Maria - Lisbon, for their generosity and hard work in responding to the 2007 General Chapter mandate of “taking bold steps in creating networks” that promote our vision of global community.

Cathy, Luís Pedro, Kathleen, Mary, Maire Terezinha, M. da Felicidade, Catherine, Marie France

 

Good News!

Terezinha is now a member of the USG/UISG Commission for Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation – this is a wonderful opportunity for us on Institute level to engage with other groups who promote an alternative globalization of concern, solidarity and hope. (Gen Chap 2001)

We join our voices to those who of sisters in the Eastern American Province in rejoicing with Kelly Carpenter who successfully passed the New York Bar Examination! Congratulations, Kelly!

Archived Generalate Bulletins

October 2009
July 2009