Youth of the Holy Family in Colombo took the lead to celebrate the Patronal Feast of Good Father with the Family.
The Covid -19 pandemic has been keeping apart the members of the Noailles Family, without any opportunities of meeting up physically. Children, youth, adults, priests and even the sisters; all were yearning for an opportunity to gather but to make it a reality was a distant dream. Schools are closed for more than a year obstructing the children and the youth of the Holy Family to have their sessions. The government regulations prevail any kind of gathering. Those who had the facility continued their journey online.
Amidst this background, the national committee of the Holy Family Youth, comprised of 7 members came forward to give the Family a chance of reuniting on the Patronal Feast Day of our Good Father. There was not much time, only about 2 weeks to organize the day. They took up the challenge. The members were geographically scattered in many parts of the country, some of them are employed, working till late evening. Yet, in keeping with Founders words:
“There is nothing to check your cause…Go forward”
 
Continue reading: http://saintefamillebordeaux.org/v2/sites/main/files/Youth%20of%20the%20…

The Holy Family remained in Alcalá la Real for 48 years, from 1972 to 2020. The religious community was closed in November. Today, the presence of the Holy Family continues through the Lay Vocation, with a large group of committed Lay Associates.
On Friday 18 June, they accompanied the community of Campohermoso (Almeria) to receive the Hercules Prize, awarded by the City Council of Alcalá la Real to individuals or groups who have distinguished themselves in different areas in favour of the towns’s inhabitants.
The City Council explains why we received this award:
“TO THE SISTERS OF THE HOLY FAMILY OF BORDEAUX. FOR THE WORK OF THEIR CONGREGATION IN ALCALÁ LA REAL AND THE NEIGHBOURING VILLAGES FOR 48 YEARS, THROUGH MULTIPLE AND DIVERSE SOCIAL AND PASTORAL ACTIVITIES. FOR THEIR CONSTANT ATTENTION TO THE NEEDS OF THE POOREST AND THEIR COLLABORATION IN ALL THE PARISHES.
IT IS THANKS TO THEIR WORK THAT THE PROFESSIONAL WORKSHOP IN ALCALÁ CASCO AND THE CONFECTIONERY COOPERATIVE IN LA RABITA WERE CREATED. THEIR COMMITMENT TO EQUALITY HAS LED THEM TO SET UP LITERACY, SEWING AND CRAFT COURSES AS WELL AS OTHER TRAINING COURSES. THEATRE WORKSHOPS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE OR THE ORGANISATION OF TRIPS FOR NEEDY FAMILIES ARE OTHER EXAMPLES OF THE MANY GOOD WORKS OF THE CONGREGATION SINCE 1972 UNTIL TODAY”.
The presentation of the award was an intimate celebration, shared with other awardees and beloved people of the town, with whom we have shared so much over the years.
“In devoting yourselves to the Works of the Association, you have not separated yourselves from those who live under the common law. As companions of their Good Angel, you follow them in the valley of tears and, to bring them back or to keep them for Jesus Christ, you share with them, as far as you can, all the fatigue, the trials and the dangers of the journey.” P.B.N.
(We share a video of the event and a photo of the Lay Associates with the Campohermoso community).
                                                                                                       
 

MALAWI
On the 11th of January 2021, we began our 6th ‘Uplift the Girl Child’ Training Process in Mthasewe, one of the centers in Benga Parish. It is here that we began our first training program two years ago, that we really, practically learned the culture and the needs of the girls. The first group of girls of Thasewe laid the foundation of ‘Uplift the Girl Child’ Process. They encouraged us to be more creative in responding to the needs of the rest of the girls. This encouragement pushed us to move forward courageously into other centers of the parish.

Considering the Covid 19 Pandemic, we selected 12 girls to follow the course in order to comply with the restrictions. In the process of the course we had to close down for two weeks adhering to the request of the government, as the number of Covid patients were on the increase in the country. It was a challenge, not knowing exactly when we would be able to continue….. With the blessings of God, things returned to normal and after consulting the Parish Priest Fr Manolo, we were able to continue after two exactly weeks. We experienced the eagerness and joy of the 12 young women who came back to continue the process. 
And so we began our Training Program, being conscious of the blessings of the Risen Lord by lighting the Paschal Candle.                           
January to April is the rainy season in Malawi……Time for cultivation. The whole family is involved in the field. Yet, giving priority to this Vocational Training, the parents of these young women encouraged their daughters to follow the one month course in the midst of their economic challenges. 
Meditation and concentration are the tools for a life of serenity and tranquility. The young women were trained daily on different methods of meditation.
They dedicated themselves fully to learning to sew various types of dresses and bags, looking forward to brightening their future through self-employment. During the training they were also encourage to save money so that they may learn to save a little from what they earn in future.
This group had the opportunity to prepare a different forms of Model Home Garden and cultivate    various kinds of green leaves that could be used as vegetables. On the Final day the harvest was shared with Fr. Fernando.

The food items introduced in this course were snacks made out of maize flour, tomato jam and banana flower as a vegetable, to encourage them for self-employment.
The young women were trained to think, plan and act in order to uplift themselves and their families. Self-Awareness, Conflict management, Time Management, Communication Skills and Social Awareness are been taught to build up their mental and Spiritual life through various activities and discussions.
The Awarding Ceremony was held on the 27th February 2021. The girls welcomed the guests, as well as the parents of the young women and friends. The ceremony began thanking and praising God at the Eucharistic celebration. Later, all were invited for the entertainment, It was a great day for the village Mthasewe.. The program was conducted by the young women. A presentation of the one month program was presented by Sr. Matilda Lazarus, and  Sudarshani Fernando gave the Vote of Thanks. The 12 women were honored with certificates distributed by Rev. Fr. Fernando Aguirre,  along a sewing kit, and Vegetable seeds to begin Home Garden.
Our sincere Thanks to God Almighty, and to all who contributed to the success of this Programme.                                                                                                                 
                          
Holy Family Sisters – Benga Parish – Malawi

“Growth of a mustard seed”: A reflective looking back of working with members of the Family of Pierre Bienvenu Noailles, and others, during the Pandemic.
The ways of God are very mysterious! One can lose hope, faith and energy in knocking on doors that seem very unyielding as regards ministry in the local area. Some time ago I explored the possibilities of having weeks of guided prayer in the Celbridge/ Straffan and Clane Parishes. While open to the idea, a small group of parishioners met and thought the parishes were not quite ready for one-to-one spiritual accompaniment.
Instead, we decided to put on reflective evenings for Advent and Lent. The members of the team were Charlie Flynn, Terri Coonan (two of our Holy Family members), John Farrelly, a Clane parishioner, and myself.
When Covid-19 struck in March, we finished the Lenten reflections via Livestream in an empty church. Up to a point, we had lots of people attending.
In the ‘new normal’ times, we needed to think of what we would do about the weekly Centering Prayer Group since we could not meet in person. John Farrelly, who is a wizard in technology, used his skills, and the group of 12-16 members from Clane, Maynooth, Westmeath and Dublin continue to meet each week on Zoom. It is open to anyone to join.
So far, we have facilitated three retreats. One took place in Clongowes Wood College before Covid-19, and the other two were online with people attending from a wider radius on Zoom.

Moving out from the Parish, “Silence@Six” has emerged. This takes place daily at 6pm (Irish time) on a virtual Meditation Chapel site (https://meditationchapel.org/wisdom-chapel/). Between 50-80 people meet every evening for input followed by silent meditation. Those attending come from Clane, different parts of Ireland, UK, Canada, Iceland, Australia and United States. We now have a team of 11 facilitators, including Sr Anne Kearney.
One can imagine how supportive this daily meeting is to everyone and has introduced many people to meditation and contemplation in a new way. We have become a world-wide community. For many it is a life-line, especially for those with physical impairments. It is a profound experience and gives a great feeling of solidarity.
For Advent, a retreat took place over a weekend. On each Sunday, a Special Candle was lit by a representative from each continent. In Lent, there is an extended session once a week with some facilitators highlighting creation.
Our “Silence@Six” has now extended to a “Silentium Spiritual Practice Group” which meets on Zoom every Thursday night and a “Silentium Contemplative Sabbath Liturgy weekly.
Before the Pandemic, a Labyrinth beside the Church in Clane was created and has proved to be a source of great benefit to parishioners. A real joy for families who used it throughout the summer and, in lock-down times, it was another way of introducing children to different ways of praying.
We had ‘great plans” to hold rituals and highlight care of the earth, but that was pared down to a Creation Ritual last September (with social distancing and masks) that took place outside our house in Clane, spearheaded by Sr Anne Kearney. Stones were beautifully painted that day and later placed on the labyrinth.
However, more important was the prayer, raising of awareness, and being together. The energy and joy in the group as they participated was a delight. It is hoped that this group, mostly from the centering prayer, could form the nucleus for working on climate change locally in the future.
Sr. Bernadette Deegan, Clane Community (Ireland)

With the JRS supporting asylum seekers

Phone Support
Due to the restrictions of the Pandemic the usual JRS activities were suspended leaving our refugee friends without what was a vital support and lifeline for many. Their sense of isolation increased as did their struggle to survive, since they were no longer able to access the services that helped them meet their essential needs.
Before the pandemic they would visit the Day Centre, chat with their friends, have a hot meal, and receive various forms of help. Due to the restrictions arising from the spread of COVID- 19, this was no longer possible. Creative ways were found to enable as much support as possible to continue; one of these being the formation of a group of Phone support volunteers. Faced with increased loneliness, isolation, fear, and insecurity many of the more vulnerable were needing this emotional support and friendship. With the closure of the usual activities, I became part of a team offering accompaniment through weekly phone calls. I have 10 refugees on my list.
Sometimes it is a question of a friendly chat, letting them know that they are not forgotten. On other occasions there may be concerns that need attention, shortage of food, toiletries, phone top ups, medical concerns, anxiety, fear, stress… When this arises, a report is given to one of the staff, who organises a response. What is remarkable is that in the midst of a situation of abandonment and destitution they will always ask, “how are you”, and express interest, gratitude and appreciation for the smallest help received.
Hosting
One of the greatest challenges faced by the asylum seekers is the lack of accommodation. Often, they must resort to sleeping on night busses, depend on a friend who may give them a sofa for a few nights, or else find a corner somewhere on the street. The hosting scheme organised by JRS is a wonderful opportunity for some of them to receive secure, friendly accommodation in a family or with a religious congregation.
The community I live in has the privilege of hosting for nearly four years now. Normally, our guests stay for a period of 4-6 months and then move to another hosting place. We have a one-week break before the next guest arrives. Our present guest, originally from Ethiopia, has been with us for one year now. She arrived just before the pandemic was declared and lockdown became law. She will be leaving us shortly and we will welcome another one. We will miss her.
Each guest makes her own unique contribution to our lives. We learn a lot and get real insights into the experience of so many who find themselves in a foreign country, with no friends and totally destitute. We marvel at their ability to survive and often we say to ourselves that we would find it almost impossible to walk in their shoes for one day, let alone one week. We gain so much from our daily interactions with our guests, who come from several different countries; some may have been in the country for +18years without any response or support from the government. Our experience of hosting enables us to keep in touch with the reality of people “on the move”, opens us to the pain and struggle of people we wouldn’t, normally, be living closely with, and it relativises our own struggles.
 
Sr. Margaret Muldoon
St. Gabriel’s Road

Marathon prayer rally against global human trafficking & our solidarity action in the Philippines
Human Trafficking is a global problem affecting people at all ages. It is subjecting people to forced labor for little or no pay. Human trafficking as defined is a form of slavery involving the illegal transport of individuals by force or deception for the purpose of labour, sexual exploitation or activities in which others benefit financially. Trafficking in persons is a serious crime and a grave violation against humanity. In an effort to deal with the problem, the Philippines passed Republic Act 9208 or the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003 is a penal law against human trafficking, sex tourism, sex slavery and child prostitution. This is a significant issue in the Philippines as well as prostitution and Child Abuse. Human trafficking is the second fastest growing crime in the world. It is a heinous crime that shatters lives, families and dreams.
In the Philippines, cybersex is one of the prevailing form of human trafficking which is the live-streaming sexual exploitation of children viewed over the internet. Young boys and girls are being sexually exploited in images or videos online in the so called pornography. Almost 55% of the victims are twelve years old or younger and the youngest is two months old. Snapshots of naked children are retailed to pedophiles for fifty to one hundred dollars. According to End Child Prostitution and Trafficking (ECPAT) an International NGO, there are 100,000 Filipino children are exploited every year.
One possible reason why Philippines is a hotspot for this kind of trafficking is because of the wide access of internet and English is widely-spoken which makes it a lot easier for paedophiles to set up shows. The internet is a major source for predator’s hunting, recruitment and trapping of innocent victims. To protect children from sex trade, the Philippines continue to establish policies especially with social media networks, internet service providers and remittance agencies.
Across the world, millions of women and young girls live in the long shadows of human trafficking as it operates in darkness. This is quite alarming, so let us initiate advocacy and media campaigns to promote awareness of the crime. Indeed, human trafficking is a crime that preys on society’s most vulnerable people. The cause stems from the adverse circumstances in origin countries and the main cause is massive Poverty, Unemployment and lack of basic Needs. Thus, wherever there is poverty, women and young girls’ lives are at risk for exploitation.
It is unimaginable how some parents sell their children even online through cybersex, how husbands allow their wives to engage in this trade.  Parents who should be their protector become their offender. Poverty deprives the poor from good education and people lack education and knowledge on their rights which lead them to the hands of the traffickers who take advantage of their ignorance and vulnerability.
February 8, 2021 was the International Day of prayer and awareness against Human Trafficking. It was also the feast day of St. Josephine Bakhita, who herself was the victim of slavery and abuse and who is now declared as Patron for Human Trafficking.
We, the Holy Family of Bordeaux in the Philippines is blessed with the direct involvement in Trafficking Ministry as Sr. Vivian Fernando is the National Coordinator for this new ministry called TALITHA KUM – a mission entrusted by the AMRSP – The Association of Major Religious Superiors in the Philippines. The Talitha Kum Team in the Philippines is kept very active under the leadership of Sr. Vivian Fernando and Sr. Subhashini Raj as Project Fund Coordinator for the Funds generously shared by our PBN Foundation for this year 2021. Several Activities relating to Awareness Programs are undertaken frequently and regularly reaching out to all sectors of the society here in the Philippines. The Talitha Kum Team conducted Prayer Rallies, Protest Marches,  Poster distributions, Seminars to Parents in general, Students in all Secondary and College levels, and special programs to Women, Religious Groups in the past. Now due to Pandemic the work is on-going with On-line seminars, Webinars, virtual seminars at village levels. A great sense of awareness has been created as the situation of Trafficking in the Philippines in its numerous and various forms is very much present and is actively operational even during this Pandemic.
February 8th 2021, on the International Day of Prayer and Awareness against Human Trafficking, a program named GLOBAL MARATHON PRAYER was prepared by “Talitha Kum” International to highlight the Theme for this year 2021 that focused on ‘An Economy without Human Trafficking’ in line with Pope Francis’ call for a total sustainability plan beginning 2021-2030.

We the Holy Family Communities in Bulan and Rizal took the opportunity to make it available to the Lay Associates and Lay Leaders, Mothers’ Groups and Youth Groups to participate the well planned program. We also created room and space for chats in dyads and groups. Groups activities based on the Video Presentation. They were able to see for themselves the mothers horrifying reality of human trafficking and all other issues related to it, not only in the Philippines but also in other countries as well.
In RIZAL SORSOGON we had this program on February 8th with our Kapiliya Cluster 1 Youth Group – youth comprising of 07 Barangays. More than 60 Youth participated in it. Sr .Merita Fernando welcomed the Youth and she introduced the program and what Human Trafficking is concerned about. The Youth performed a dance with the theme song “Heal our land’ before the Program to give an energetic start after which they watched almost all the sequences of the global Video Presentation.
They were taken by surprise to know and to view that Trafficking is really an International serious situation that calls for urgent and immediate Action against it. The time was given for Personal and Group reflection, sharing, expression of one’s own concerns and to identify the same problems and situations prevailing in their own homes, villages, schools and in the society. The time for Group Activity provided the Youth to identify familiar the situations and they there was free sharing of the real situation they themselves are familiar and concerned with. After a fruitful time spent in prayer, reflection, discussions and sharing, the Youth came forward to pledge themselves against Trafficking. The lighted candle in their hands as a symbol of radiating Christ to the Trafficking world and as solidarity with the victims of this modern slavery, they vowed to fight against this crime against humanity and especially the children and youth who fall victims to this heinous crime. We wish to follow this up with other similar seminar, video presentations and workshops and to extend it to the other sectors at the Barangay level.

 
 
 
 
In BULAN SORSOGON we gathered the Mothers and the Youth, the Lay Leaders and the Lay Associates to participate on the International Day of prayer and awareness against human trafficking. It was a fruitful participation where all the participants were actively involved in dialogue, group activity, creative presentations, freedom of expression and opinion to feel free to share their own and environmental situation related to areas of Abuse and the category of the victims fallen as prey to this crime.
After hearing and seeing the actual situations in the video presentation, and after a fruitful interaction among the groups, they were asked to write on a piece of paper given as to how each one would commit to eradicate this situation and protect the children, women and even the men. It was a very moving moment each participant remembering those affected, lighted the candles, and read how they are going to commit to safeguard the victims and how they would react to the situation. Some of their resolutions were:
to be an attentive parent
to pray for the victims
through prayer, not only to reflect on the experiences of those who have suffered through this at the level of human dignity, but also to find ways to heal, to comfort, to strengthen, to help and to empower the survivors.
to pray for the people who are working and fighting to end this issue
to be vigilant and report those who can do something
to work and to join groups that fight for human rights and many more….
It’s very alarming and heart-breaking to become aware of the situation in the Philippines. What can we do as women leaders, mothers and as Lay Associates to contribute our share of support to curb this sinful situation in this society. How can we help to end human trafficking and this modern day slavery? what commitment can we do to help to end this issue even in our own places? These were some of the questions hard but realistic questions raised to us during the symposium.
The topic about human trafficking has helped them to awaken their awareness that human trafficking can happen, anytime, anywhere even at home, especially now that social media is open to all because of the education which is being imparted online. It is challenging to be vigilant and be attentive to the children using social media. One of the ways that we see on how we can help the present human trafficking is empowerment through educating the Parents as well as the children about human rights and what is human trafficking. We need to continue to prioritize educating the people around us to keep them aware of the danger it may bring to everyone.
Ida Joseph
Philippines
 

The idea of changing the logo for our Information Communication Service began during our last Information Communication meeting, held in May 2018 in Rome.
A logo has to make an impression; it should be deceptively simple, and instantly recognizable. Therefore, we decided to take our inspiration from the Holy Family crest, which is already well known and widely used.
The design:
In the centre, as in the original, three leaves of the shamrock symbolize the Holy Family: Jesus (blue), Mary (silver/white), and Joseph (sable) with a purple stem. The shield is formed from the God Alone Cross on the left, representing our spirituality, and on the right, a branch with five leaves symbolizing our five vocations. At the bottom, is our motto “Gloire à Dieu Seul” The treble clef intertwined with the cross signifies that ‘each has its own song but all merge into one voice’ to sing in perfect harmony, “Glory to God, Glory to God Alone”.
 

It is common in the beginning of the year to greet each other with “happy new year” I believe it is to express our best wishes for the year. How do I even begin to wish a blessed, happy or joyous year to anyone when people are dying in a search for a better life! Caledon River (Mohokare) which separates Lesotho from South Africa is a bottomless abyss that swallows my people each year during the rainy seasons. Basotho who have no proper documentations take chances and put their lives in danger by swimming across to South Africa in hope for greener pastures. This has been happening for centuries and makes headline news for few days and then forgotten but the crossing is never ending.
The year 2020/2021 with the challenge of a pandemic – Covid-19, brought a new dynamic of a ‘COVID PASSPORT’ to the already big challenge that exists between these two countries. Let us not forget that it is a known fact that “migration is a human phenomenon…” people have been migrating and will continue to migrate for as long as we exist. ‘COVID-19 PASSPORT’ means that for one to cross a border they should produce a Covid-19 certificate on top of their normal passport. Now, a big challenge is that a Covid-19 certificate does not come cheap and does not last forever. For already struggling people with jobs that pay them bare minimum wages, it is almost impossible to pay for a Covid-19 certificate.

Images like this demonstrate desperation of a people migrating in search of better opportunities for themselves and their children. My heart bleeds for my people, who risk their lives and the lives of their children only having hope as their saving grace. Many drown and their dreams and the dreams of those left behind get buried within the Caledon River. Many are unaccounted for because families never know what happened to them, the common rhetoric sounding back home is “haesale a ea Gauteng” loosely translated ‘he/she left years ago going to Gauteng.’ My heart bleeds for my people.

According to the SABC report of the 3rd January 2021 “Police in Lesotho have retrieved the bodies of seven people from the Mohokare (Caledon) river … between South Africa and Lesotho…It is understood that the number of bodies could be more.” How can we still continue to greet each other with ‘a happy new year’ when our brothers and sisters die unnecessarily because they cannot afford to pay for a Covid-19 test certificate?!

Nowadays having a passport to cross a border of any country is not enough, Covid-19 certificate has become an additional travel document. However, those who suffer most are the poorest of the poor, those who struggle for a slice of bread. Is Covid-19 still a global pandemic in a literal sense or is it the disease that affects the poor the most! My heart bleeds for my people.

My heart bleeds for my people, images coming from up North Beitbridge Border showing the people of Zimbabwe rushing to cross the border into South Africa. How can it be “a happy new year?” Public health is challenged, there is no social distancing and that does not seem a priority. Desperation of a people hoping for greener pastures in the Republic of South Africa is my interpretation of this reality. This image of the Zimbabwean People represents the similar situation between Lesotho and South Africa. The Border Posts are in chaos, there is only one common thread, desperation for something better. Even if people had not been infected, surely Border Posts are hotspot for infections.
The governments in the Southern Africa region should think seriously about the desperation of their people in the fight of this deadly virus Covid-19 with new variants. Public Health measures should be well mapped taking the reality of the people in to consideration. There is no hope of successfully curbing the spread if the governments do not put people first. Any Public Health measure that is not centered on people is just a theatrical show on the part of the Southern African governments. My heart bleeds for my people.
 
Clementine  Sekantsi,  dated 06/01/2021
South Africa 
 

Dear all,
We are preparing to welcome and celebrate the GOOD NEWS for this year and for all time:
In Jesus, God has revealed his intimate love for humanity and for all creation.
The prophet tells us: “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness— on them light has shone” (Is 9:1)

This is the Good News that reaches us here and now in this difficult and uncertain time. It is an invitation to trust the God whose Promises exceed all our human hopes and possibilities.
To welcome Jesus with joy and hope, while at the same time experiencing insecurity, vulnerability, uncertainty, fear… does this not put us more in tune with what Joseph and Mary lived, during that first Christmas?
Everywhere we hear that this Christmas is going to be different. Pope Francis has said it will be “a more purified Christmas”, free from the tyranny of consumerism and from so many superfluous things that make us forget, or leave in the background the Who and  the what we are celebrating. This will be a Christmas with even deeper reasons for the joy of believing, hoping and loving the life that is coming to birth.
The birth of Jesus is also a call to “rebirth” and this year in the Holy Family we have had and still have many opportunities for “rebirth”: the Bicentenary celebrations, the preparation for the General Chapter, the experience of the pandemic that we are still living through, etc. All of this is moving us rapidly towards a transformation in the awareness of our true identity and purpose in the world of today.
Every “birth” is an invitation to embrace life, however fragile and vulnerable it may be. Every new life is born small and in need of care and respect.
To everyone,
A joyful, different Christmas!
A meaningful celebration of the Feast of the Holy Family in communion and solidarity with the human family and may the Year 2021 bring peace, justice and abundant life for all.
Ana Maria Alcalde
Superior General

Since the first Papal Approbation of the Constitutions of the Holy Family, dated Dec 18, 1903, reaffirmed in 1988, it has been a tradition that we renew our Vows on that date…
What is the significance of this gesture?  Does it mean much to those of us who are already “perpetually professed”, or to those at the beginning of their religious life, who already renew their vows annually…  ?  
The answer to that question depends, of course, on each one us – however, we could reflect that this  tradition links us to those who have gone before us…  it is a corporate act… Not only am I renewing my vows in the presence of my community, but in union with all the members of our Institute…  it is an act of belonging, and of  fidelity.
A document entitled “The Gift of Fidelity,  the Joy of Perseverance” has recently been issued by the Sacred Congregation for Religious and Secular Institutes.  Its chief aim is to look at the causes of defections from Religious Life, but  here I’d like to quote some  brief paragraphs which speak of fidelity:
Fidelity is engraved in the profound identity of the vocation of consecrated persons: it has to do with the meaning of our life before God and the Church. Coherent fidelity enables us to grasp and reclaim the truth of our own being, that is, to remain in God’s love.
Fidelity and coherence to the cause of Christ are not an instant virtue. They require deep awareness of the human, spiritual, psychological and moral implications of the vocation to consecrated life.  God’s cause transcends, challenges, leads to a decision and a dedication of oneself to and for the service of the kingdom of God. In this service, personal convictions and community commitments are gifts experienced by the grace of conversion.
As men and women of discernment, consecrated persons become capable of reading the reality of human life in the light of the spirit, and thus they are able to choose, decide and act according to the divine will.
A journey of fidelity in perseverance demands looking at life as consecrated persons without closing one’s eyes when problems or difficulties arise. Consecrated persons on a journey of authentic fidelity recognize and discern their own story while, above all, they question themselves about “.fidelity born of love”. They discipline their own life so as not to deprive of meaning the attention to their interior life. They welcome the gift of divine grace, the promise and pledge of remaining of God’s love. 
What allows us to remain in Jesus’ love is the observance of his commandments, the docile listening to his word. This listening changes the hearts of the disciples: from a heart of servants, it makes a heart of friends. It makes them friends in an authentic and lasting relationship with Jesus.
From our own “Vowed for Mission”  :
Our consecration, as that of all baptised, is a call to communion at the service of mission.  Our choice for living the vows of celibacy, poverty and obedience, in the context of Christian religious life is an expression of our passion for God’s purpose in the world. Responding freely and in faith to God’s call to us to follow Jesus, we commit ourselves to a particular way of loving, living freedom and justice, in and through community
And the Constitutions which we celebrate tell us:
Throughout our life, it is God’s fidelity which supports ours; it is on God’s call constantly renewed  that we rely to sustain our daily response….
May this Advent enable us all to find and share light and hope in this dark time.
 
Eithne Hughes
Rome.