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Go for a walk and realize the beauty around, above

and below you

Suore della Santa Famiglia di Bordeaux, Via dei Casali Santovetti 58, 00165 Roma, Italia

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Communication Service – HOLY FAMILY OF BORDEAUX – N° 34

Content: Page 03

ITALY Opening of the Congress 04

R.D. CONGO Echoes of preparation for the Congress 05

PAKISTAN On the road to building communion 06

SPAIN There are many ways of collaborating

with young people 07

FRANCE God’s invitation to start afresh 09

ITALY Opening up to an unknown world 09

My vacation: Caritas, Calabria,

Campobasso 11

BELGIUM A family atmosphere 13

A change is essential 14

RWANDA Winifreda writes from Rwanda… 15

INDIA Non-violence is a weapon to change

The world 16

SRI LANKA- JAFFNA Listen to the cry of the poor 17

SRI LANKA – COLOMBO The Holy Family youth rally 20

BRAZIL From the community of Cerejeiras… 22

ARGENTINA Sharing life and working to defend life 23 PERU Indigenous peoples 24

LAY ASSOCIATES - ARGENTINA Holy family in xxi century – go forward 26

CONSECRATED SECULAR Experiences... 27

Last Page 28

Editors M. Lourdes de la Fuente Maristella Soosaipillai 

Translators Marie Paule Chauvin  

(Bordeaux) Gemma Corbett 

(Ireland) Marie Madeleine 

(Rome) Mercedes Mendiguchía 

(Spain)   Email;sfbinfolourdes@pcn.net        sfbinfostella@pcn.net 

 Website: www.sfb.pcn.net 

Interconnections is published by

the Holy Family of Bordeaux

International Communications

Service.

IN THIS ISSUE

EDITORIAL

THE CONGRESS

OF THE FAMILY

EUROPE

AFRICA

AMERICA

ASIA

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Editorial

 The news these days is dominated by the severe economic crisis affecting our  world.   World  leaders  are  struggling  frantically  to  find  solutions  to what  seems  to  be  insoluble  problems.  Another  important  event  that caught  our  attention  recently  was  the  coming  together  of  two  million young people from all over the world to celebrate “World Youth Day”. And within the Holy Family, in this year when we celebrate the anniversary of the death of our Founder, we begin the first phase of the “Congress of the Family” – an important event that brings us together as we reflect on our life and mission.  The world seems torn apart by chaos and suffering yet there are signs of hope and communion. When the Pope was  interviewed by  journalists on his arrival in Madrid he said, “the World Youth Day should be seen as a sign, as part of a great journey; it creates friendships, opens frontiers and makes visible  the  beauty  of  our  being  with  God  and  of  God’s  being  with us”(L’OSSERVATORE ROMANO on 24 August). Members of the Holy Family opened their houses to many young people during World Youth Day.  They were  struck  by  the  fact  that  despite  great  diversity  of  age,  cultures  and languages, there was a profound sense of friendship and communion.  And this coming together  in  friendship forms part of our mission as we work with  organisations  like  Caritas,  various  NGOs  and  prison  chaplains  to bring God’s message of liberation to all.  Jesus said, ‘Anyone who wants to save her life, must lose it. Anyone who loses her  life will  find  it. What gain  is there  if you win the whole world and  lose your very self? What can you offer in exchange for your one life?’ Mt. 16: 25‐26. We are called to be people of compassion. To be compassionate means we have to go out of our comfort zone and reach out to other people and be  moved  by  the  cry  of  the  poor  and  the  lives  of  burdened  people.  As missionaries  in  foreign  lands  Sisters  integrate  into  a  new  culture  and environment with great  respect,  knowing  that  the Holy Spirit  is  there at work before their coming.   An  attitude  of  non‐violence  is  essential  if  we  are  to  have  peace  within ourselves  and  in  our  world.    We  have  many  examples  of  people  who practice  non‐violence  including  Gandhi  who  achieved  independence  for India.  Pierre  Bienvenu  Noailles  wrote  to  letter  to  Sr.  Gonzague  Daux,  ‘give yourself to God totally and unreservedly. He alone deserves our heart and he alone  can make  us  happy.  Creatures might  distract  our  heart  for  a  short time but can never satisfy it. It was made for God Alone and finds its perfect happiness only in him’. (Selected Texts, 64)   

EDI TORIAL

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Members of the three vocations present in the area attended:

3 sisters from the community of Campobasso A member of the Secular Institute

A member of the Lay Associate group News and Music played at the beginning of the assembly helped to introduce an atmosphere of prayerful, reflective listening. Five red candles floating in water symbolised the five vocations that make up our Family. The picture of the Holy Family “gentle image of the Trinity” reminded us of our source. To begin with we listened to the reading of our commitment as a Family on Mission (Invitation to Participate p.3). The word of God that inspired us was: “The word of God became flesh and came to live among us”. After reading the questions, there was a short moment of silence followed by rich sharing on the part of each of the vocations.

Apostolic Sisters • The congress lived in three stages is a real challenge to us. It is a challenge to come together

as Family to pray, listen to one another, reflect, experience a new way of relating to God, our sisters and brothers and all of creation.

• We need an attitude of faith to begin from zero and discover a new way of living our apostolic life in today’s world.

• Someone said: This is a time of grace and I want to allow myself to be renewed by the Spirit through concrete situations of daily life. I want to open myself up to the unknown, to choose life with the other members of our Family, discovering the gift of complementarity and making our Good Father’s dream a reality.

A Consecrated Secular I hope that the Congress will trace out a path for us in the future. I see the importance of deepening my vocation as a consecrated secular in the Holy Family, embracing fully the gift of Pierre Bienvenu Noailles, allowing myself to be filled by the spirit of God Alone so as to live our charism as a gift for the world today. I feel called to greater simplicity, openness to what is different, deeper respect and compassion for all.

The Congress of the Family

Since we published the last Flash News on the 1st phase of the Congress we received three articles of how the Congress of the Family was launched in Italy, Congo and Pakistan.

OPENING OF THE CONGRESS IN CAMPOBASSO – ITALY

1. What are your thoughts/feelings with regard to the Congress? 

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A Lay Associate I like the idea of living the Congress in different stages. Meeting in Intervocational groups enables us to appreciate better the diversity that characterises us, knowing ourselves to be sisters and brothers, daughters and sons of the same Father, experiencing solidarity in the mission we have received.

Apostolic Sisters

Many cities in Europe have become cosmopolitan Mass emigration. There can be no true peace without global justice that ensures equally distribution of resources to all.

Working together in solidarity for the dignity of the human person, learning to collaborate with earth in promoting the flourishing of all God’s creation

We see how many people are losing their identity as a result of their struggle to survive There is great moral and social confusion, great political and economic struggles. Young people are seeking something new and life-giving. They are often the casualties of economic power in some countries.

A Consecrated Secular

In today’s society dictatorships are not accepted – each one seeks autonomy Solidarity is evident especially at times of calamity, violence or war Young people need guidance

Lay Associate

• I like to contemplate the universe story as a way of leading us to greater harmony in the world and greater harmony among all creatures.

• We need to read evolution in a positive light; make the Family of Pierre Bienvenu Noailles visible by committing ourselves to our mission in whatever place we find ourselves.

We ended the meeting by praying the Congress prayer and a hymn to the Virgin.

Tonina Ferrau Comunidad de Campobasso

On receipt of the documents to be reflected on in preparation for the Congress, Sister Yvette, Head of the Delegation (Democratic Republic of the Congo) and Sister Elizabeth national leader of Lay Associates together with some members of the National Committee, met together to reflect. They looked at how the documents could be translated into the national

language KINGOGO, how to set up meetings with secular members and sisters responsible for animation of lay associate groups in each area and to plan the work of reflection on the Congress. This meeting took place in the Novitiate from the 9 to 10 September. There were 30 people

2. What changes do you see, feel that show that we are living in a changing world? 

ECHOES OF PREPARATION FOR THE CONGRESS – R. D. CONGO

The Congress of the Family

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present. The theme and the different reflections were explained, and an evaluation of the lived experience of each group was carried out. This meeting took place a week before the official launch of the opening of the Congress – 18 September 2011.

On explaining the theme: Family on mission: gift in a changing world, Sister Elizabeth explained what a Congress is. Its aim is to tighten the bonds that link the five vocations, evaluate our lives and revitalise our mission of communion. She also reminded the participants that our Holy Family Charism is a gift for the world today. We are very much aware of the need to cultivate the values and attitudes of the Holy Family, to engage in specific action, each one according to his/her own vocation, so that we can contribute to real change in the world. Yesterday, 18 September, each community and each group of Lay Associates entered into the process by praying the prayer for the Congress that we have been asked to recite each day and after each meeting.

Sr Christine Fene Fene

The theme for the Congress: “Family on Mission – gift in a changing world”, was the subject of our meeting in Gojira parish on 18 September 2011. The meeting was held after the Sunday Eucharist and so many people were there to witness the event. I was very touched by two things. First we had a presentation. This included an Introduction with a story of the gift a mother gave to her son. Then we had a very beautiful, simple but meaningful power point on “The Four Candles”. The four candles represented Faith, Peace Love and Hope. The first three candles went out but then were re-lit by the fourth one – HOPE. The second thing which touched me deeply was the participation of the people, not only the young and the Lay Associates, but also the parishioners and children. All showed their interest by answering questions and openly expressing their viewpoints regarding the programme, specially sharing on how much

the Holy Family sisters have done for them. Many people showed their gratitude by saying that the presence of the Holy Family Sisters in Gojra Parish really has been a blessing for many of them and that the sisters have been channels of light, guidance and communion for them. My heart was filled with love and gratitude for the presence of our sisters in my parish. I felt that we are moving in the right direction. We are contributing all that we can to the building up of the Kingdom of God - building and creating family everywhere. We are signs of hope in this divided and broken world, giving witness to the fact that communion is possible – when God has the primary place, and when we can go beyond all barriers in order to accept others as our brothers and sisters. This is what I feel our mission is in this world: to give witness through our words, actions and lives that we are builders of communion.

WE ARE CALLED TO BUILD FAMILY

Sr. Nasreen Nazir

ON THE ROAD TO BUILDING COMMUNION - PAKISTAN

The Congress of the Family

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Spain

How the members of the Holy Family collaborated with young people during the Word Days for Youth in Spain. The Community of Malaga Our college was used for this great event. Fifty young Polish people lodged there and the community participated in all the main events with them in the city of Malaga. The Sisters recounted: “We witnessed 1500 young people, rooted in Christ and firm in their faith. The presence of this abundant life, a great gift to our city, filled us with joy and we were encouraged to continue to make efforts to help young people get in touch with Christ.”

The College of Our Lady of Loreto in Madrid From Monday 15 August to Monday 22 August we welcomed 103 young people from Argentina, Taiwan, the Philippines and Korea. Over 47 volunteers helped to receive them – mothers of families from the parish and collaborators from the College itself. Some families welcomed young people into their homes, among them a lady of 79 years of age who gave lodging to 7 young girls. This was very much appreciated by the girls. Maria Paz Clemente, Sister of the Holy Family, said the following: “I was very impressed by the way the young people participated in the Eucharist – their recollection, silence and interior peace, their general attitude. I was also struck by

the attitude of the volunteers also – commitment, respect, cheerful service, good communication with the young and expert animation of the different groups. I am very grateful for the experience and gladdened by the wonderful spirit among the young people who are giving a great impetus to the life of the Church by their witness of faith, their joyful attitude and the certainty that the following of Jesus can give true meaning to our lives.” Teachers in the College share their experience “Our names are Natalie and Ruth, teachers in the College of Our Lady of Loreto. We have had a very good experience of these days; we have realised that love is possible, helping groups to work together as one, all sharing the same goals. It

THERE ARE MANY WAYS OF COLLABORATING WITH YOUNG PEOPLE

Europe

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was amazing to see how the Pope’s visit brought so many people together – people of different languages and cultures to give witness of their faith. It was inspiring to see the values of the Gospel being lived so generously – patient service, self-giving, humility and these values filtered down to others – crowd control personnel, transport officials, first aid workers and firms and businesses that collaborated in the events with donations of money. Those who at the beginning had come to share their mission rather than their faith were enthused by the lively faith they witnessed in young people who were rooted in Christ.” From Collado Mediano.... This is a town near Madrid in which the Holy Family has a community. “From the 15 to the 22 August, we hosted 82 young Irish people in our building. Another 574 Italians were put up in the public school and sports centre. Families in the town opened their houses to

another 44. We opened the community to two girls and three boys. These young people helped us enormously. The whole town welcomed the young people with a specially prepared feast where all could enjoy themselves together. They ate together many times in the porch of the residence and sometimes they did not disperse until 2 in the morning. There was a lot to be done but we all helped one another and at the end we prepared a farewell party for the young people on their departure.” From Clemente Fernandez (Madrid) Three sisters from this community willingly volunteered to take part in this ecclesial event. We had been preparing for this for two years through a number of preparatory stages including sensitisation through catechesis, meetings and courses for volunteers and through celebrations for the whole town. We welcomed groups from Murcia. After that came groups from Austria,

Portugal, France, Canada and Italy. In our house we put up 4 young people from Ecuador and they impressed us by the way they entered into this experience with deep personal prayer. In all the tasks we were engaged in – preparing and distributing meals, cleaning, looking after those who were sick – we experienced a deep experience of the universality and catholicity of the Church and we were overjoyed and filled with hope to see this multitude of young people 25,000 from different countries and ethnic groups and speaking different languages. We felt really sustained by the Lord at difficult moments and were delighted that we Sisters of the Holy Family could participate in such an important event. We lived these days profoundly, experiencing union, simple relationships, collaboration in the work we committed ourselves to do, strength in prayer, joy and happiness in service. It was a true experience of communion among us all.

Europe

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France

GOD’S INVITATION TO START AFRESH

When we accompany catechumens preparing for Baptism, we are undertaking a journey that leads us to renew our fidelity to our own Baptismal vows and our life of faith. Those preparing for Baptism can be for us a sign that God has never said the last word when it comes to us human beings. There is always something more that is possible, some further change that can be made. A

conversion is a new beginning. When we see men and women, from every walk of life, making this change in their lives in response to a call, we realise that with God, nothing is definitive. God can always find a way into our lives and save us from ourselves. For me the catechumens are a sign that the Holy Spirit has entered their lives. The Gospel is Good News today. God’s word is always new; it is always a sign of hope and it challenges us to be signs of hope for others. The catechumens remind me that God reaches out to everyone

just as they are. And so the experience of accompanying them is a source of wonder and thanksgiving for me. But catechumens are not a source of hope for those Christians who are tired of their faith. They are however for those who make the journey with them and they can be a challenge to the entire Christian community. There is the hope. They witness to the fact that the Church today can be a real sign of hope for those who accept to undertake the journey, enter into a period of formation and truly desire to form part of the body of believers.

Michèle Lebas

Community of Champigny ITALY

It is difficult for me to describe in few words a world that is completely unknown to me – that of a prison. The Holy Spirit called me to get to know this world when I was transferred to the community of Campobasso.

Our call to choose life, to listen to God’s word has guided me towards this unknown world of the prison. The work in the prison forms part of the pastoral plan of the Archdiocese of Campobasso Boiano. It is a new form of evangelisation in the world today. Within the prison there is much poverty, human fragility and social degradation.

OPENING UP TO AN UNKNOWN WORLD

Europe

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Formation for ministry within the prison The main objectives of formation for those working within the prison are to educate participants in three main areas:

Theological Institutional Evangelical

Formation is inspired by the Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 19, 29-37) and in the letter to the Hebrews (13, 3). Jesus the Good Samaritan invites us to care for those who have lost their dignity; he invites us to have a compassionate heart like his own and to love our neighbours as ourselves. It is a call to sisterly/brotherly love, to communion, to forgiveness. This love leads us to welcome others: “Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering”. Hebrews 13:3.

Who are the volunteers? They are people who are called to sew “seeds of freedom”, who are interested in and love others without judging them. They do not dwell on what the prisoners have done but rather respect them and respect their human rights and the fact that these are children of God, loved and saved by God.

The Church is called to promote and defend the dignity and rights of all, to make an option for the poor, for those who suffer and those who are deprived of their freedom, those who need to hear the Good News of hope and who are seeking life and light.

The programme

The programme is intense and varied and is based on the proclamation of the Gospel, the celebration of the sacrament of reconciliation and the Eucharist and personal encounters with

the prison visitor. Sometimes we volunteers can share meals with the prisoners in their cells.

My experience It is difficult to sum up my experience in a few words. My experience takes its meaning from the fact that it is part of the work of a missionary group that proclaims Jesus, the Saviour of the human race. I have come to know that the real protagonist of the proclamation is the Risen Christ himself and we are mere instruments. As I carry out my mission, I have learned to be open and welcoming. I have learned how to participate, to listen and dialogue and share the Word of

God with others. I have become more aware of each person deprived of liberty and to be discreet and respectful. This work I carry out with prisoners is a real learning experience. I have learned to listen and be compassionate in the presence of their suffering. I know that everything is possible with God because in Jesus we find the Way, the Truth and the Life and only he can fill our lives with meaning.

Tonino Ferrau Campobasso community

Europe

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For some years, the community of Via dei Gracchi, Rome, (Network Belgium-France-Italy) has provided a home-from-home for Holy Family Sisters who have come to study theology or spirituality in the Roman universities. Theophane Croos, from Sri Lanka, is a member of the current small group. During the long summer vacation, various activities were organized to broaden the Sisters' apostolic outlook and Holy Family sense of belonging. Here Theophane shares her personal experience.

Have you ever had an experience that made you so happy that you felt like jumping for joy and shouting at the top of your lungs! This is how I felt at the end of my vacation as a student in Rome. I would like to share a glimpse of my vacation, made possible through the support and initiative of our General Leadership Team, for which I am very grateful. Caritas: During last semester my Professor for Pastoral Theology proposed to Students to have Caritas experience in Rome at least for three days. What a surprise! I received the good news before I ended up my semester that I was going to have one month experience in Caritas. What a privilege! I was delighted to go everyday in the month of July and realized this experience was an eye-

opening for me to admit to myself that God’s people are suffering everywhere in different ways. I was moved in this inspiration to realize that my love for the universal cannot be limited only to those who are like me; those who know me and those who do not threaten my sense of comfort or propriety. I was very happy to see the respect and the equality given to the poor and destitute men and women who come to Caritas for their daily Lunch. Caritas produces its services in many ways and I entered into one part of it. Though the language was a bit of barrier, I could go beyond and build my relationship with them. I could listen to their sad stories. As the each dawn was passing the desire of meeting my new friends became broader and brighter within me. My zeal of visiting and being with them

was accomplished in their joy of waiting for me to say at least something. It gave me strength to be continuing happily. Everyday there were 55 people and some days it went up to 60. Though the food was not enough I could see the staff always tried their best to feed the late comers. The volunteers’ services are appreciated well. I was happy to relate with them and share about our Congregation. The tears from some eyes and the sad look on some faces and the words of gratitude are the precious gifts that I received for my service of one month. I thanked the One, who went about doing good. Calabria: It was another opportunity for me to enjoy the beautiful natural scenery of mountains and sea. I enjoyed and wondered to see the responsibility of the

MY VACATION: CARITAS, CALABRIA, CAMPOBASSO

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natural time keeper of Sun. The Sun was setting exactly at 7.10 p.m. I am grateful to the thoughtfulness of Sr. Maria Antonietta De Carlo who gave me an opportunity to spend three days with our Associates. The Associates were from Campobasso, Napoli, Sicily and Rome. They came together to Calabria for their Annual reunion. I felt joy to visit many young couples and two families with their children. The faithfulness to their vocation and witnessing life of the Holy Family is well seen in their simple relationships and the feeling of being members of one Family. These few days' experience gave me a strong impression that the Holy Family Vocation is deepened and well rooted in Italy. I appreciate you, dear Sisters for your self-giving services. Congratulations to Mariuccia our leader and wish you all the best to all members to go forward in choosing life in order to share the life-giving experience in the midst of our neighbours.

Campobasso Community: It is a beautiful place which is surrounded by mountains. I feel a sense of belonging among Sisters of different ages in Campobasso. I appreciate their encourage-ment, hospitality and ministries. Each sister helped me to speak the language apart from a professor who was teaching it. I was very much touched by an amazing ceremony of Baptism during a Eucharistic in the church of St. Antony of Padua. The priest Fr. Rino, Franciscan who was the celebrant came forward with the baby whom he baptized and said “We welcome Chiara to our parish community” What an amazing moment and the welcoming applause for the baby Chiara who was blinking to see the crowd in the Church. I was happy to visit a few families of Associates who accompanied me to visit some places. The visit to the old beauty of Napoli is wonderful and the life of our Sisters in the city of Orta di Atella living among the people had more

effect on me. The visit of some families to see “our Sisters” was unforgettable. I was happy with the final gathering at Campobasso with the Associates. Many couples and one family with three kids bore witness to the fact that the life of PBN is vibrant. I am gladly wishing you Sisters to go forward with joy for the glory of God Alone. I was happy to finish my vacation by parti-cipating in the opening ceremony of the Holy Family Congress in our Generalate, and a pilgrimage to Loreto, a place which was such an inspiration for our Founder, when he made the difficult journey to pray there so many years ago. These experiences reinforce my sense of interconnection; they give me courage to continue to choose life, to go beyond, and to open myself to be a channel of the energy of love in the universe of which I am part.

Theophane Croos - Student

Sisters and Lay Associates

in Calabria

Europe

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Belgium

A FAMILY ATMOSPHERE

When we enter a residence for the elderly and sick Our eyes are drawn to the letting go...

at every level. And this reminds us of our own end:

God Alone

Our community had that experience on 11 January 2010.

Yes, a new life begins! A new road opened before us

We accepted it knowingly given our fragility of age and health.

In this context we had the joy of being together for our community meetings

visits from people outside and evening prayer.

Each day we have Mass celebrated by a priest who has followed our progress

All the residents participate in this prayer of the Church which brings us joy, comfort and trust in the “Wholly Other”

In the house we have activities that bring us together Occupational therapists help with mobility and

there are volunteers who help those in wheelchairs All activities are open to all who wish to avail of them

And so...this is our life with times of prayer, its joys and sorrows lived in community or alone

The atmosphere in the house is very good And the personnel very welcoming.

The Liege community

Europe

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A CHANGE IS ESSENTIAL Monsignor Bonny, Bishop of Antwerp, recently invited leaders of all Christian Movements to adopt “Eco Ethics” which calls for an urgent change of mentality and way of life. He announced a series of actions in the months to come. He explained the foundations of Eco ethics – a recognition of our obligation to shoulder burdens that may not be seen as explicitly ours. We are called to take a good clear look at our world and become aware of the limits of our planet and the necessity this imposes on us to lead a more simple lifestyle. The history of the last few centuries has taught us that money is not an absolute and that in fact it can be a threat to living a harmonious life in the future. We are now being challenged to assume our responsibility

for future generations and to safeguard all forms of life. Today there are huge inequalities between peoples; nature is being devastated; over consumption and waste are widespread in rich nations while in other countries people struggle to survive. Development is needed but we are all responsible for this earth that God has given us and it is our duty to ensure the flourishing of life for all – humans, plants, animals.... A change is necessary with the help of everyone! We must change our way of life and avoid the errors of the past. We must live responsibly and sustainably, respecting the richness of our planet.

Léona VAN DEN ABBEELE

Antwerpen Community (Markgravelei)

Europe

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Rwanda

WINIFREDA WRITES FROM

RWANDA… I have been in Rwanda since the 24th May and I want to write to you a few words about this beautiful country. As you know this country has experienced a terrible genocide. In 1994 very many people were massacred in a very short time. People still remember the event. Every year they have 8 days of mourning. There are memorials built in different places of the country. Some are big and they preserve the bones of those who were

killed. As yet I have not had time to go and see any of them. I saw only a small memorial in a Jesuit retreat house where 17 people had been killed, 3 Jesuits, 3 diocesan priests, and the others were lay men and women. Since the genocide, the country has developed quite a bit. There seems to be a lot of money flowing from other countries. The country is full of mountains. Going through the country is like going across a beautifully kept park. Beauty and cleanliness seem to be the key words of this culture. The capital city Kigali is very beautiful and clean. Plastic bags are not allowed in the country. If you have one you have to hide it. Every bit of land is cultivated or covered with trees that protect the land. In our area there are tea estates. The tea grows in valleys.

Mountain tops are full of beans, bananas, maize, sorgom, and fruit trees. There are rice fields in some areas. People are friendly but reserved. At Mass they sing beautifully. The most difficult thing is to learn all the rhythms of their clapping. They make beautiful sounds at different times of the Mass. Sometimes it is like birds singing. Mass is not as long as it is in the Congo. Sunday Mass finishes in less than two and half hours. People always stay in line and are very patient. If someone wants to get in front of you in a queue it is a not a big issue. They allow it easily. They are calm but someone told me that the major part of the war happens inside. Only the final battle will be in the open and it will be terrible. That is what happened in 1994, she said.

Winifreda Wasalathanthrige Rwanda

I have to learn a lot about this country and its people. I am happy to be here.

Africa

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India

In an ever changing world human beings seek perfect health, wealth, prestige and power. We are being continually called to change our behaviour patterns and mindsets and we are being invited again and again to respect human dignity,

respect the sacredness and the giftedness of each person and be in touch with creation in love.

The celebration of the 65th anniversary of Independence calls me to reflect on the word ‘Non-Violence.’ Non –violence demands that we always respect human beings and the whole of creation. All human beings are created in the image and likeness of God. Thus all have an equal right to live in this world and enjoy all that exists in creation. No one should have the right to harm or do any injustice towards creation. God is a God of love and non-violence and this is revealed in the life of Jesus (Mt.5:38-45). Jesus inaugurated the kingdom of God based on the Jubilee principles of the Old Testament. These principles call for political, economical and spiritual revolution in response to human needs. Jesus intended nothing less than an actual revolution, with debts forgiven, slaves set free and land returned to the poor.

Gandhi said that non-violence is the weapon of strong peoples - those who are morally and spiritually strong. All the saints and prophets who were strengthened by God guided the people by being and living in the way God wanted them to be and live. They invited everyone to have a renewed spirit and be transformed in their daily lives. We the people of God need also to be transformed in our hearts, minds and in everything we do. We need to accept our strengths and weaknesses. Are we strong enough to guide the people with an attitude of non violence? The virtue of non-violence leads us to show concern towards all. Do we show real concern for those who are living with us? I think the following story may help us to reflect on the virtue of non-violence through love.

A certain man planted a rose plant and watered it faithfully and before it blossomed, he examined it. He saw the bud beginning to blossom, but noticed thorns upon the stem and he thought, "How can any beautiful flower come from a plant burdened with so many sharp thorns? Saddened by this thought, he neglected to water the rose, and just before it was ready to bloom... it died. So it is with many people. Within every soul there is a rose. The God-like qualities are planted in us at birth and grow amidst the thorns of our faults. Many of us look at ourselves and see only the thorns, the defects. We despair, thinking that nothing good can possibly come from us. We neglect to water the goodness within us, and eventually it dies. We never realize our potential.

NON-VIOLENCE IS A WEAPON TO CHANGE THE WORLD

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Some people do not see the rose within themselves; someone else must show it to them. One of the greatest gift, a person can possess is to be able to see beyond the thorns of another, and find the rose within. This is one of the characteristic of love... to look at a person, know their true faults and accept that

person into your life... all the while recognizing the nobility in their soul. In this way we help others to realize they can overcome their faults. If we show them the "rose" within themselves, they will conquer their thorns. Only then will they blossom many times over. We can truly trust the creative, life-giving energy

of God within us and among us, enveloping us and holding all things in being. We will find the steps we need to take to move forward into a new and more meaningful life and mission. We need to believe that transformation often takes place through small, simple changes that can have surprising results.

Take courage to listen to our own hearts and not to be violent at any cost. Smile at five people per day. Praise yourself as much as you can. Focus on appreciating the good qualities in yourself

and others. Contemplate for at least three minutes, relax, breathe, and let your mind be fed by

“whatsoever is good and beautiful and just”.

Go for a walk and realize the beauty around, above and below you.

Latha Lawrence

Sri Lanka - Jaffna

Anthoniyar Puram is a little hamlet in the Diocese of Mannar with 139 families who have suffered enough in the recent ethnic war. They were displaced and now resettled in their own village and just beginning to raise their heads from scratch. This is where we want to focus our attention as Holy Family Sisters of Jaffna along with few sisters from Colombo, in

memory of the 150th death anniversary of our Founder. This was a decision of the Joint provincial Leadership Team. A group of sisters were formed and were helped by Sr. Helen Fernando and she stressed of the importance of ‘TO BE WITH the POOR rather

than FOR the POOR and the next point was on the sustainability of this Project.

LISTEN TO

THE CRY OF THE POOR

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We chose to be with the people who are cornered, wounded physically, mentally, emotionally, morally and socially. They are fisher folks and the little they get is spent by the men in drinking alcohol, youth prone to different kinds of drugs, young women are abused, girls marry /flee (not very much given in marriage) even though they are minor, broken families and single mothers left with many children who do not know where to belong to, young widows who have lost hope for life but holding on to a ray of hope that one day their life will be better than today. School drop outs going to the Sea for fishing since economically these people live below poverty line. They do not have enough and good drinking water, bread winners and young men and women are in detention camps and prisons. These people are not exposed to the outside world, but we want to choose LIFE with them and for them. The wounds and traumas of war is so fresh in their memory because no one has come to LISTEN to their tragic and true stories up to now. They are longing to tell their stories but no one to listen to… at last, we are here now to ask for their stories and listen to them. It was terrible… young and old all of them had bitter stories to tell and most of them are unfinished...? Their expressed and unexpressed

feelings are understood by our simple presence. We have no answers but they felt our solidarity with them and there was a deep sense of gratitude at the bottom of their hearts and a bright smile in their faces who had lost their smiles in life for more than 30 years. Their simple faith needs to be strengthened. All the people here are Catholics they have Eucharistic celebration twice a week. Families need to rectify their marriages and family units are broken in many different ways. It is so complicated. They are blessed with children, at least 5 or more than that. My brothers and sisters are deprived of their basic human rights here… Is there anything that I am deprived of..? They have one meal a day mostly and do not have any vegetation. The natural beauty of this place is being destroyed by the barbed wire fences of the armed forces.

The natural resources, even in the catch of fish these poor have been exploited by the powerful. Influential people from outside cut down their trees and sell back to these people and they have to buy them to use for their fishing. The land is wounded, people are wounded the nature is wounded but their HOPE for life is still alive in them. Our presence as two provinces is a sign of Hope and Life. Our choice of this place brings back hope for these people. They teach us the wisdom of everyday life, and to be simple to live life to the fullest. During these ten days we visited all hundred and thirty nine families spent time with them, listened to them for certain extent. There were seventy young men and able to meet fifty of them altogether and spent time together listening and discussing about their life situations. There is so much to concentrate on their lives.

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More than thirty-five young girls, who long to listen to us and want us to say something for them to deepen their faith… such a thirst they have to live a meaningful life. So many children who want to speak to us, tell their stories, and want us to teach them something, to play with them. Single mothers sitting at home and looking at us and asking us “Is there a future for us..? How can we bring up our children with dignity, educate them, and give them hope? No one has come to see us, to listen to us or to express their solidarity with us”. The bread winners are most of the time at the tavern and we dared to go there to speak to them and some listened some did not. Some stayed and some ran away. “How happy we are to see

you living with us and sharing our struggles of life,” said one. At the beginning of our visit we planted trees; spoke about our Founder and Charism very creatively. The whole village knows his

dream very well and all children and youth keep on singing this dream in a song which we shared with them. When we visited the families we gave the picture of our Founder with the prayer at the back. Now they know who our Founder is, what his

dream is… The Presence of the sisters is very much appreciated by these people and their request was “please do not let us down”. We plan; we are enthusiastic to take the responsibility for

the sustainability of this project of life in honour of the 150th anniversary of the death of our Founder, who is our inspiration. Keeping with our

corporate commitment, ‘the voice of the poor speaks louder in our

hearts when we are with them than secured in our ‘Convents’. Yes, there is nothing that can check our course in sharing life with God’s poor radically in this way.

Sisters from Jaffna :Selvarani, Clara,Yvone,Rewathy,Nivetha,Vasanthy Meraline and Catherine Sisters from Colombo: Chandrani, Chandani,Nimali and Jacintha

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Sri Lanka – Colombo

The Holy Family Youth – Supatha of the Colombo Province held their Youth

Rally on the 18th – 19th June 2011 at Marawila.

One hundred and eighty five youth from different areas gathered at Holy Family Balika Vidyalaya early on 18th June and their programme began with a meaningful prayer service. During this opening prayer we invoked God’s spirit to guide us to live communion through our personal acceptance of interconnectedness with one another and with the whole of creation. Sr. Francisca Perera’s opening address set a reflective tone for the meeting as she presented a story entitled: “Growing good corn”. In this story the farmer shared his good wheat-seeds to help other farmers reap a good harvest. While the story was in fact about pollination, its message challenged the

youth who live in a competitive world which has lost the value of sharing. The importance of Interconnectedness and interdependence was brought out well through the story. This story was a prelude to the introduction of the Noailles Family and the life and Spirit of our Founder. There was evidence of an enthusiastic response when it came to “Family Talk”. The ice breaker proved very enjoyable and enabled our young people to get to know one another within a relatively short period. Sr. Deepa Fernando led the next stage based on the story of a caterpillar that had a dream – to climb a huge mountain. The caterpillar bravely faced the many challenges, discouragements and risks of this journey. It realized its

dream but found that in order to climb the mountain it had to become a butterfly. Having enjoyed and reflected on the power point presentation the youth were invited to share their feelings and inspirations in small groups not forgetting to note down their own personal dreams. This group reflection was followed by a presentation on Howard Gardner’s “theory of multiple intelligences”. As a follow up the participants were given ample time to share their own views.. As a result they discovered something of their own personal richness of which they are not always aware neither do they value how talented they are. The next step was a study on how people with disabilities

THE HOLY FAMILY YOUTH RALLY

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were able to realize their dreams. The participants were amazed at the heroic efforts of such individuals in

achieving their dreams. Their unanimous conclusion was that one must have determination and

perseverance in overcoming all barriers to realize one’s dream.

It was no mere coincidence that the 19th June, the closing day was Trinity Sunday. Fr. Asanka Pradeep OMI celebrated the Eucharist. Sr. Goretti Fernando spoke about communion – in the Trinity, in the lives of Jesus, Mary and Joseph at Nazareth and in our

Family where we are connected by virtue of our spirit and charism As this Holy Family Youth Rally concluded on 19th June, 2011, we took leave of one another carrying many hopes in our hearts.

Sr. Chandrani Dias

The participants appreciated this programme as the following points in their evaluation indicate:

We were made aware of our vocation as Holy Family Youth. It was a help to enable us face our future. An encouragement to face challenges to realize our dreams. We were amazed and challenged by the determination and perseverance of differently - abled persons presented to us as role models.

We were empowered with new hope to go forward as Holy Family Youth. We received tremendous help to be focused on our purpose in life. We were encouraged to think positively.

Many suggested

the need to extend membership of their groups. to share this experience with friends to get others interested in our Founder’s life

and Spirit by distributing leaflets and other literature. The need to strengthen the family spirit by having programmes with Supala and

Supatha groups.

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Brazil From the community of Cerejeiras, Aurea da Silva and Geni Dos Santos share with us their challenges, difficulties, joys and hopes. This article is taken from the news bulletin of the Latin-American Network. At the end of 2010 and the beginning of 2011, the community of Cerejeiras began a period of transformation with the arrival of Laura and Geni and after the departure of Silvia for the new community of Piaui and Luciana for the new community in Buenos Aires. Aurea who lived for some time in the community is the one who has been with the process and recorded it. At the moment there are two of us in community: Aurea and Geni. We have been together for 8 months. It has been a time of learning for us – getting to know one another and getting to know the reality into which we are inserted and in fact we are well inserted into this place. We wish to continue to give witness as Holy Family by the way we live our lives and by our apostolic action in this district. And that is

why this time together has been a time of listening and learning in this environment which is so challenging. What are the challenges that we meet? Poverty and suffering that are the consequences of emigration, lack of infrastructures and basic sanitary facilities, long distances, poor public transport, the impact of the consumer society, low

educational standards, a Church that does not always facilitate participation, sects and

fundamentalist movements, lack of a future for youth, alcohol, drugs... We have the challenge of trying to organise our time and our energy because the distances are

so great and transport difficult. We also have other activities that we are engaged in – volunteering in the hospital, attending meetings of the Conference of Religious, work with the homeless...

In spite of everything we thank God who has permitted us to collaborate with our small efforts during these months in a number of areas:

• Catechesis • Accompaniment a group of women who work with poor families • Accompaniment of adolescents in craft workshops and reflection groups • The formation of future Lay Associates • Meetings with families to share our spirituality • Visiting those who are alone • Meetings during Advent, Lent...

And so we journey on with the people of Cerejeiras trusting in God, the source of life and love.

Geni and Laura Community of Cerejeiras.

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Argentina

SHARING LIFE AND WORKING TO DEFEND LIFE

Dear Family, I am very happy to be able to share with you my experiences during my

time of formation in Buenos Aires and it is from there that I send to you some echoes of the themes I have studied and the experiences I have lived especially

those that have impacted me most. My work in the “Good Samaritan” residence, the themes I have reflected on with the young people who are recovering from addictions and the topics of reflection that we who work in the residence have prepared – all have awakened in me a desire to give myself more fully. I have also been filled with gratitude to God for all I have learned through the input received from our Institute about the new cosmic vision. I have been impressed by the work carried out by Father Bachy, by his commitment to life and his work with the mothers of the organisation called “My Child I love you”. This organisation is aimed at helping young people recover from drug addiction. I have been able to accompany Father Bachy as he goes through the streets of St Petersburg; I have seen the poverty, the overcrowding; I have listened to people tell of the daily struggles on behalf of their children caught up in

drug abuse and association with bad companions; I have been close to a mother who cried for her 17 year old son who was a victim of gang violence which is so prevalent in these divided districts of the city. All of this is a cry that has penetrated my heart and urged me to commit myself. Alone we can do very little; we need one another; we need to work with others to safeguard life that is being threatened every day. New forms of Church I have come to a greater understanding of our Charism: our charism of communion. By its nature it creates unity; sisterly and brotherly union and it is a gift from God. We each have our part in living the charism by building up community. The sense of belonging comes from our identity and to belong we need to cultivate trust and freedom. We need to develop the capacity for dialogue and

empathy with those who are different from us. I need to ask myself: Do I build up community? Do I contribute; do I get involved or am I simply a “consumer” in community, complaining when there is something that does not work? We have to awaken the sense of responsibility; become concerned for others and see in them the place where God awaits me and through whom God speaks to me... This does not come easily to us; we have to be truly in love with God, to be clear, to be convinced... Non-violent communication Daniela Muzzachi’s input was very rich and spoke to me a lot especially at this particular time of my life. Non-violent communication is a tool that enables us to live our relationships more fruitfully and to be in close contact with the reality in which we live. As human beings we have needs and we wish to meet these needs. We need to learn to look at

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our reality objectively without rushing to judge it. We need to have the capacity to identify our emotions, the feelings that move within us and to realise that these may come from an unmet need; we need to learn to be clearer about our emotional life, to share what is happening within us with our sisters and to ask for what we need. An alternative vision of the vows As I reflect on these themes and listen to my sisters and brothers as they share their

reflections, I am aware that I am a member of the Holy Family. I know that I am unique, a sacred gift. I wish to celebrate the diversity that I see existing among us and be in communion with all created beings and all who form the great Family of God. I have become conscious that vows are for the promotion of LIFE and I wish and need them to be dynamic and a sign of my ongoing search for God who invites me to make a prophetic commitment to life.

It is necessary to go back to Nazareth and look at life there with new eyes; to go back to where Jesus, Mary and Joseph learned to relate to God in daily life, to the place where universal love is at its most human. There we will learn to create new spaces where each one can be freer, more content and more in solidarity. There we will enkindle our ardent desire for God in order to bring to God all God’s daughters and sons.

Ana Maria Alvarez

Community of Isidro Casanova, Argentina Peru

This article was sent by Nilda Chico and is taken from an interview given by one of the most renowned exponents in the country. Nilda says: “Thanks to the Peruvian people who enrich us with their studies we have been conscientised and helped to be more committed to Life.

How painful it is to see the division existing among us...the violence arising from extreme repression and from political discourses that only serve to increase discontent...” The district of Puno is divided into two very differently defined areas: the Aymara to the

America

INDIGENOUS PEOPLES WISH FOR A ROLE IN

THE DEVELOPMENT OF THEIR COUNTRY AND

THE REGION

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South and Qechua to the North. These are two important ethnic groups...however the Aymaras seem to have more ethnic cohesion and there are about half a million Aymaras in Puno. The majority of them live in their communities or in the cities. These people have raised their voices in defence of their right to participation. Immediately this came to the attention of the mass media – both national and local. The media speak of these groups as homogenous groups that are opposed to integration with the Peruvian state and totally different from the urban population – something that is obviously not true. Here we touch on something that is endemic in Peru and in other countries in America: racism. Racial differences and racism is complicated, not only in Puno. In the whole of Peru, there is indifference to cultural diversity; there is racism, exclusion, contempt for the poor, especially for indigenous people. This state of affairs has given rise to the mobilisation of communities that wish to make their voices heard and their rights respected by the State. Interested groups have joined them in challenging

political power. This is a sign of a new way of social mobilisation based on rural indigenous communities and traditional authorities. Demonstrations have taken place at regional and local levels. Unfortunately there has been a restriction of the public spaces in which different interests and projects can be discussed in a democratic manner. And this has worsened due to the inability and inefficacy of the State. The desire of the communities for development clashes with the style of the present Government and this fact is seized on and used by people who are only interested in gaining power. The people demand to be heard and Puno, because of the racial mix, is a place where violence can be quickly generated. The indigenous people’s project is not separation; they seek recognition by the State and long for a different kind of development. They wish to have their rightful place in the development of their country and region. While there is no recognition of their rights and no acceptance of the indigenous communities there will never be a resolution of the conflict.

Nilda Chico Jimbe Peru

America

Nilda ends with the words of a song written by a Peruvian poet: What is it that sustains my country? Oh my country, take flight and may the wind, God’s breath, heal your wounds Oh Country, sail across the sky and may hatred and lies be vanquished by love Break your chains and greet your future with hope You are more than your problems.

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HOLY FAMILY IN XXI

CENTURY – GO FORWARD

As members of the Family of Pierre Bienvenu Noailles, living our Charism of being and building Family, we set out on mission accompanied by Magdalena and Cecilia. We began our mission in the poor quarters of the city of Resistencia (Chaco Argentina) It did not matter to us whether the sun was too strong or the cold too severe – this placed no limits on us as we went out in twos to proclaim the message of Jesus: GO AND PREACH THE GOOD NEWS!

Families opened their doors to receive us and share with us – maté or cake or cold water. As we listened we built up relationships; we shared the people’s desires, joys and sorrows; we shared the joy of music with Cecilia who always brought along her guitar. Together we learned that Bethany is a meeting place, a resting place. The memory of the first Christmas that we celebrated together on a

football pitch energised us. We shared the concerns of families for their children. We also had the joy of joining in the spring festival at parish level, contributing our creativity to helping the people with the setting up of a small float. All the families met together to participate in family catechesis and family gatherings where food was shared.

We listened to the words of our Founder who tells us: “Grow in numbers and virtues and may your hands scatter on all sides the seeds of good works and good example”

Mirta, Yaya, Graciela and Patricia Lay Associates

Resistencia-Argentina

LAY ASSOCIATES - ARGENTINA

"It was necessary to build on fresh ground and to choose with discretion, among the old edifices, only those stones that were suitable for the new

structure… Building from our heart is the work of our inner wealth" (P.B. Noailles - Preface of the General Rules of 1851)

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EXPERIENCES... In my final years as a teacher, I received a great deal from students and others who aimed for professional excellence. I have learned the value of hope and listening but above all the value of life – that life rejected by many who argue that they are masters of their bodies and that no one has the right to frustrate their plans. There are some who live out their lives in darkness and silence quietening their consciences with money. Unknowing they are crying out for life. Today however there are young people who defend life and who conquer fear. Even when the situation is difficult they can say yes to life. Thank you Father, that there are still those who open their hearts to what is truly essential - life. How life-giving it is to listen to the witness of those who, when the world seems to be crumbling around them and who do not know how to relate to their parents, how to face up to the fact that they feel alone and helpless and yet they can utter a resounding yes – a

response that shines in the darkness of a society that judges and takes advantage of innocent beings. But that is not all. The young mother has to cope with even more. It is as if the Creator demands an unmeasured, unequivocal yes to dreadful situations such as the birth of a disabled child. In spite of endless examinations there is no avoidance of a painful diagnosis such as hydrocephalus. What hope remains! The mother had struggled so hard to conquer her fears but now....However the old saying comes to mind: “Hope is the last thing that is lost” and she continues to hope. And then hope arrives in the form of studies carried out by foreign doctors who have come to our country to carry out social work. They confirm that all is well with the child and soon joy will return to their lives. This mother said the following: “Today my son receives me with a kiss and calls me mama...” These kinds of daily encounters are like miracles written on the heart of a mother who would lay down her life for love and for life.

A Consecrated Secular  

CONSECRATED SECULAR

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Communication Service – HOLY FAMILY OF BORDEAUX – N° 34

As in the time of the first disciples of the Gospel,

there was talk at your cradle of the martyrs and confessors of our faith; and when the Holy Family gathered you together under its banner,

you were surrounded by men who either disowned or persecuted our Divine Master.

And so you asked these men for nothing – nothing, except the air we all breathe and the common burden borne by us all.

However, your vocation required that

you should be able to live either alone or in community according to circumstance.

Also, since your Society embraces Works each of which is quite distinct from the others,

these rules of conduct had to be adapted to your different ways they were intended to direct you all to the same end. It was necessary, therefore, to build on fresh ground, and to choose with discretion, among the old edifices,

only those stones that ere suitable for the new structure.

I confide these Rules to your loving care. You will cherish them, my dear Daughters,

as the sole legacy bequeathed to you by your Founder.

Thus, my Daughters, there is nothing now that can check your course.

Go forward.  

Selected Texts Pierre – Bienvenu Noailles 

WORDS FOR YESTERDAY … AND TODAY…

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