In a concern for peace and as a concrete action against the US "war on terrorism", Sister Mary Leah Plante invited the Provincial Office staff, the community and staff of Casa Guadalupe, WAP assisted living residence, and other local RSHM sisters to join in a daily-lunch time demonstration in a protest of a war against the people of Iraq.
We make this action in the tradition of the heritage we have received from our Founder, Jean Gailhac, in his own response to the turbulent times of mid-nineteenth century France, a result of war, poverty and injustice.

As members of an international Institute we honor Jean Gailhac on his birthday by our participation in a non-violent action for a more just global community.

HONORING THE BIRTHDAY OF FATHER GAILHAC

On Sunday, November 10th, several sisters of the Western American Province gathered to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the birth of Jean Gailhac at Santa Teresita Parish in East Los Angeles, where Sister Catherine Minhoto serves as music minister. The invitation to give the Sunday homily was extended by the pastor Father Ramon Farré to Sisters Renée Rushton and Pauline MacDonald.
At the Spanish liturgy, Renée, a member of the Los Angeles Archdiocesan Vocation Committee, shared reflections from the life of Gailhac - his family roots, his boyhood and his commitment to the marginalized of his city. She challenged the youth of today to consider the Founder's dedication of his life to the mission of making God known and loved through a vocation to the Church. Pauline gave the homily at the English liturgy, with a focus on the light of baptismal commitment and the light of Gailhac's zeal in service of all persons, especially women and children.

The Eucharistic Celebration began with a procession into the Church of the pastor, ministers, acolytes and the RSHM in attendance.
A portrait of Father Gailhac held an honored place on the altar. Literature on the Founder both in Spanish and English was distributed to grateful parishioners.