English #16

Bicentenary of the birth of the Founder

The year 2002 began with one more jubilee in the family of the RSHM: the jubilee of the Bicentenary of the birth of the Founder, Pere Jean Gailhac. From this perspective, at the beginning of the year, during the first days of January, the whole Region participated in an inter-community retreat directed by Sr. Mary Milligan (WAP) and Sr. Maria Teresa Nogueira (P). Mary Milligan, Maria Teresa Nogueira and Mozambican Sisters The letters of the Founder and the Constitutions, enlivened by the word of God, provided rich material for our reflection.

And the star of the Bicentenary accompanied us at various important moments of the life of the Region:

In November a big event happened for all. The pages of the web site, which we opened each day, provoked great enthusiasm. At the same time, the novices had done research on the letters of our Founder according to different themes. The exhibition of the work took place precisely on the 13 November. A week previously the candidates were prepared and on the day were able to take part in this 'cultural session'. The Gailhac community was also present and the novice, Mariana.

But the meeting of communities in the area of Zambezia marked a high point, the summit of the Bicentenary celebrations. A pilgrimage was planned to the places where our Sisters who came to Mozambique 50 years ago had lived. In this event both jubilees were commemorated: the Bicentenary and the 50th anniversary of the foundation of the Region of Mozambique.

We had the Eucharist in the Gailhac community, presided over by the bishop and attended by all the Sisters and a big number of candidates and students of the Lar. That night we had a festive meal. The following day, Sunday, we started the pilgrimage. We had a guide, previously prepared who showed us the different places. A group animated each step of the journey. There was a high level of participation.

After a festive and lively meal, there was entertainment prepared by the novices, candidates and younger sisters. In a creative way they highlighted certain moments in the life of Jean Gailhac, as Founder. We were able to imagine how there were times of discernment for the foundation of the Refuge and the Orphanage and how he was helped and encouraged by the bishop. These historical moments, animated by songs and typical African gestures, gave us a flavour of our internationality.






CHRISTMAS WITH THE STREET CHILDREN Our community of St. Jean in Maputo, moved by the spirit of our 2000 Chapter and following the option for women and children, on 26th December invited in 15 street children in order to celebrate Christmas with them.

Full of joy most of the children appeared 30 minutes before the agreed time which was 13h00. Seeing that the children appeared before the time, we asked some of them to go and buy refreshments and bread to complete the joy of the feast. They were very honoured to be asked to do this shopping themselves. During the time together and after it, the joy of the children was visible on their faces: to have been chosen, to receive a new dress sent by a Sister from Portugal, and to receive dolls that Maureen O'Shea (former RSHM) brought from New York, made by the children in the school where she works. The meal finished with a slice of cake accompanied by the singing of 'Happy Birthday to you…' By 15h30 all had left and until this day these children are very affectionate with all the sisters in the community.

Bicentenary of the birth of the Founder The year 2002 began with one more jubilee in the family of the RSHM: the jubilee of the Bicentenary of the birth of the Founder, Pere Jean Gailhac. From this perspective, at the beginning of the year, during the first days of January, the whole Region participated in an inter-community retreat directed by Sr. Mary Milligan (WAP) and Sr. Maria Teresa Nogueira (P). The letters of the Founder and the Constitutions, enlivened by the word of God, provided rich material for our reflection. And the star of the Bicentenary accompanied us at various important moments of the life of the Region: The Final Vows of Sr. Maria da Natividade, at which Sr. Catherine Dolan, our General Superior was present, was a beautiful celebration in the open air, with a group of young people animating the liturgy and many people accompanying us. Two other ceremonies followed where there was significant reference to the Bicentenary of the birth of our Founder, with the presence of candidates and various RSHM Sisters. These were the ceremony of Natércia, Lola and Angela entering the Novitiate and Lisby's First Profession. In November a big event happened for all. The pages of the web site, which we opened each day, provoked great enthusiasm. At the same time, the novices had done research on the letters of our Founder according to different themes. The exhibition of the work took place precisely on the 13 November. A week previously the candidates were prepared and on the day were able to take part in this 'cultural session'. The Gailhac community was also present and the novice, Mariana. But the meeting of communities in the area of Zambezia marked a high point, the summit of the Bicentenary celebrations. A pilgrimage was planned to the places where our Sisters who came to Mozambique 50 years ago had lived. In this event both jubilees were commemorated: the Bicentenary and the 50th anniversary of the foundation of the Region of Mozambique. We had the Eucharist in the Gailhac community, presided over by the bishop and attended by all the Sisters and a big number of candidates and students of the Lar. That night we had a festive meal. The following day, Sunday, we started the pilgrimage. We had a guide, previously prepared who showed us the different places. A group animated each step of the journey. There was a high level of participation. After a festive and lively meal, there was entertainment prepared by the novices, candidates and younger sisters. In a creative way they highlighted certain moments in the life of Jean Gailhac, as Founder. We were able to imagine how there were times of discernment for the foundation of the Refuge and the Orphanage and how he was helped and encouraged by the bishop. These historical moments, animated by songs and typical African gestures, gave us a flavour of our internationality.