GENERALATE WEB SITE

July 2008

from the General Council

We rejoice with the entire Institute as we celebrate with Rosa Cristina Onofre Pinto, who made her final profession on July 6, 2008. May our God, in whose palm your name is written, continue to be the Source and Center of your life, Cristina.


	M. Teresa Nogueira, Provincial Cristina Onofre Pinto

After our week of Spirit-filled days in Béziers, our time has been filled with many events, meetings and visits – we would like to give a “snapshot” in words and pictures of our recent experiences.

On May 31st, a beautiful, sun-soaked Saturday morning, Catherine, de Lourdes Mechow, Kathleen O'Keeffe and Marie-France attended graduation ceremonies of the Class of 2008 at Marymount International School where Catherine served as the commencement speaker. She captivated her audience and you can be sure that neither teachers nor these young people will forget the heart of her reflection: "Find the beat of your own drum and follow it."

Later that day, we hosted the RSHM Roman communities in celebrating the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Mary. A Brazilian priest, Father Victor Hugo Porto, in residence here in Rome serving as a chaplain of our local hospital, presided at our festive liturgy. We then enjoyed an aperitivo and conversation “al fresco”, followed by a delicious lasagna dinner, prepared by our own Brazilian chef, Conceição Reis, with culinary specialities contributed by Marie-France, Eileen Kearns, John Bosco Goria and Nicoletta Scotti.

During the first week of June, we spent five days working with Christine Partisano, CSJ, in preparation for the meeting of the Enlarged General Council, which will be held in Sag Harbor, New York in mid-October. Kathleen O’Keeffe, General Treasurer and Ma. do Rosário Durães, General Secretary, joined us for these days of work, reflection and team-building.

In June, Maria Antónia Quinteiro Lopes spent two additional weeks working with Marjorie Keenan in preparation for her new role as Sources Coordinator. At the end of June, we celebrated dinner out with Marjorie to express our gratitude and that of the Institute for her three decades of generous service in coordinating multiple projects to make our history alive and inspirational.

We welcomed many visitors as well: Breda Shelly (EAP), who had just completed her sabbatical experience at the SAT program in Berkeley; Sr. Honorine Yumba, a friend of Bernadette Tesoura (M), who because of visa requirements for a visit to a seriously ill niece in the Congo, needed lodging in Rome; Corita Clarke, RDC, a good friend of Catherine who was celebrating her golden jubilee of religious profession here in Rome; and Terezinha’s eldest brother, Jeronymo, his wife, daughter and son-in-law, who had their first experience of international travel outside of Brazil!

Cathy herself had a first traveling experience as well – to Dublin, Ireland. There, she, Kathleen and Lelia O’Shea (Z) participated in the Annual Meeting of the Irish Missionary Resource Service, which launched its new name “Misean Cara” (Mission Friend) and logo, underlining its “work for a radically different world order through poverty eradication, the sustainable use of resources and the promotion of just and peaceful relationships among people…”

Cathy also serves as secretary for the Southern Sudan Project – a collaborative work of UISG/USG with the Bishops’ Conference of Southern Sudan. She is responsible for taking minutes at the day-long quarterly meetings – we see this as our RSHM contribution to this intercongregational project of pastoral, educational and health ministry to the people of Southern Sudan, who are rebuilding their lives after two decades of civil war.

Claudia Falçoni, who has been here from Brazil for almost three months, helping in so many areas – the kitchen, the garden, cleaning - spent a few days in Béziers, drinking from the well of our Sources and enjoying the gracious hospitality of our sisters in the Motherhouse. Claudia will be leaving Rome in mid-July. Thank you, Claudia, for the many things you did so quietly so that our home here in the generalate would be a lovelier place, (especially the artistic salads!).

On July 1st, Bernadette Tesoura celebrated the completion of her doctoral diploma with the generalate community and friends associated with her studies. A

Eucharist of thanksgiving was presided by Fr. Arnaldo Baritussio, a Comboni missionary and friend, who had ministered in Mozambique for 10 years. He was joined by Father Eusébio Maria Inocêncio, a native of the same province as Berna and the son of one of our former students in Mozambique. Following a Eucharist filled with joyful melodies from our many cultures – African, North American, Portuguese and French - we enjoyed a lovely lunch, conversation and laughter, despite the heat of a Roman afternoon. Congratulations, Berna!

Bernadette will return proudly to her country, diploma "magna cum laude" in hand, on July 11th.

We are very grateful to Veronica Brand for all her work to “close” the 2007-2008 accounts in a timely fashion with the capable assistance of de Lourdes, assistant general treasurer. To express our gratitude and that of all of us her sisters throughout the world, we had dinner out as a generalate community at the Cassetta di Campagna restaurant, surrounded by grapevines, Roman pines and flowers. Veronica, you have been a wonderful, generous and competent steward of general level resources for over 12 years – enjoy the sabbatical which has been prepared for you in New York, New Mexico and England!

Like Mary, we sing a faith-filled Magnificat, thanking God for the wonders - people and events - which have been done among us.

September 6 - Planning for anniversary celebration of M. St. Jean, Béziers -
Marie-France

September 10-11: Planning Meeting with Ms. Jo Kennedy, facilitator - General Council

October 17 - 30: Enlarged General Council Meeting, Sag Harbor, NY - General Council