A child is one of life’s greatest gifts. Each time a child is born, it is a gift for the family, the clan and the village. It means continuity for society – here is tomorrow’s adult. But the child’s future depends so much on what he/she receives in infancy.
A CHILD IN THE CONGO
A child is one of life’s greatest gifts. Each time a child is born, it is a gift for the family, the clan and the village. It means continuity for society – here is tomorrow’s adult. But the child’s future depends so much on what he/she receives in infancy. The body and the environment are in constant interaction, which are important to stimulate certain functions.

For some decades now, we have witnessed on one hand the precarious conditions of life which the Congolese people have endured: conditions which cry out to the heavens, and on the other, we have seen their anxiety regarding their future. The population is always seeking ways and means to answer even the most basic needs. Unfortunately, they are disadvantaged and exploited by certain of their systems and traditions, such as ignorance, customs and superstition, unemployment, illiteracy, social and economic exclusion, and the phenomenon of “street children”. These are the poorest, since they depend totally on others.

The persistence of these precarious conditions of life and the lack of adequate solutions on the part of those responsible for alleviating such situations of abject misery have taught the Congolese to develop strategies for survival, throwing themselves into all kinds of income-generating activities, such as bartering, or becoming travelling vendors.

Because of this, many children do not go to school, because they have to go and sell something in order to help the family to survive. Some manage to go to school, but then cannot give any time to study; some are turned away from school, because there is no-one to pay for their studies. There are also children who feel obliged to sell something or to do odd jobs in order to earn a little money to buy what they need for school and pay the fees that are asked of them. These children cover great distances, carrying on their heads burdens that are much too heavy for their age.

This state of affairs creates very serious problems regarding the future of these children. They are exposed to great risks: death, stunted growth, immorality, various illnesses, inclement weather etc.

The Congolese child lives certain frustrations which come on the one hand from the gap between what he/she desires, and the lack of means to achieve them, and on the other hand from the great pressures exerted on him/her by parents or society in general.

In spite of everything, we are sure that it is God’s providence that keeps us alive. Even in the midst of poverty and crisis, God continues to work wonders, as in the case of this little girl, born of a mother suffering from tuberculosis, yet bursting with joy and good health.

In the face of this reality, and in spite of our powerlessness, we Holy Family Sisters try to commit ourselves seriously to activities which will help the children, who represent the hope of tomorrow. We want to contribute in such a way that they will be freed from all that can compromise their future.

Srs. Of the Holy Family of Bordeaux at the service of youth and children.

Sr. Claudine GAYONGO

We are aware that only a part of our planet is experiencing summertime at the moment…that the length of the seasons varies considerably from one part of the world to the other…

Space to taste 
life’s simple pleasures
 

We are aware that only a part of our planet is experiencing summertime at the moment…that the length of the seasons varies considerably from one part of the world to the other… so how are we to speak to every reality? Once more, Nature can guide us in our reflection. The seasons, in fact, mark the rhythm of our life, they draw our attention to its movements.  We have often heard of “the dance of the Seasons”…

It is true that the seasons ceaselessly follow one another, yet at the same time, each one holds its own share of the unforeseen. Contemplating a season can bring home to us all the meaning  of the rhythms of life, the inevitable changes we have to face. And so, Summer brings us space to taste the sweetness of living… it makes us aware of the importance of re-collecting or “re-gathering” ourselves, of re-creating, in order to rediscover our true rhythm.

“Rythm is breath, the breath of the soul unhindered in its capacity for enjoyment. Going and coming. Breathing in, breathing out”, writes Christian Bobin (Souverainté du vide. Lettre d’or; Ed. Gallimard 1995 p.87).
“Taking time” does not meaning “wasting time”: it signifies, rather, receiving each moment, and being totally present to it: “getting one’s breath back” by making the time one’s own …
Summer offers us the opportunity to make a break with our daily routine, to do things we do not usually do, to stop in order to “receive ourselves” in total openness, and allow our craziest dreams and our deepest desires to resurface, for they are often buried under the multiple pressures that fragment our lives.
Our leisure will take different forms, according to our tastes and our possibilities… Savour our morning cup of coffee in the coolness of the garden…feel one with the universe as it unfolds in all its splendour while contemplating the beauty of the landscape, taste the joy of reading, of walking, of listening to music, take time together as a couple, or with your family, meet your friends, forget the alarm-clock and the late hour…
To take care of oneself, to allow oneself some small pleasures can make us better able to accept the needs of others…
For some, Summer means eating up the kilometres, a change of horizon, going in search of the sun… some warmth…the smell of cut hay…then seeking out those shady corners where it is good to quench one’s thirst…

For others, Summer is the time for a spiritual journey: a stay in a monastery, a retreat, a time of day given to “lectio divina”, meditation, a space for silence or contemplation, in order to take stock, and begin again.

Summer is a time for gratuitous wonder: you only have to look up at the stars…
“The heavens tell out the glory of Godthe vault of heaven reveals God’s handiwork;one day speaks to anothernight with night shares its knowledgeand this without speech or languageor sound of any voice,their music goes out to all the earth,their words reach to the end of the world”
(Ps. 19, 1-5, NEB)

Having come from the four corners of the world, 20 participants, belonging to different teams of animation called together by the General Council, gathered in Rome for 8 days, from 3 – 11 July.
SESSION FOR INTERNATIONAL TEAMS OF PARTICIPANTS
3 – 11 JULY 2009

We give you now a piece of information but the Echoes will follow after the session.

An eight day session – some key points

·     “The Universe story is our common story and as we gradually enter into it, we hear the invitation to “ situate ourselves in a new way of relating”…this new era of consciousness calls us to review and revise our way of living our religious life.  For this change to be effective it needs to come from an inner transformation, from a desire to love, seek and desire God alone in all things”  (From Margaret’s opening address)
·     Our principal common richness is what we are as Holy Family.  The energy that draws people together and that exists in everyone and at all levels is love.  When we enter into relationship with another we manifest this love.  As we contemplate the marvels of the universe around us; we become more aware that we are part of the cosmos and we sense the energy of love that beats within us arousing our admiration and heartfelt gratitude. 
·     To listen to the word of God among us, to imitate the Holy Family in the way we live our mission in the light of the calls coming from the Chapter.
·     The new vision demands of us a change of mentality, a new way of relating to God, to others and to the universe.  We are aware that communion includes everything; we believe in a God who is the origin of all and who gives life to all.
·     Reality is made up of “wholes” and “parts”.  As an individual, I am a whole but at the same time I am part of other wholes greater than myself.  Everything is intimately interconnected and  interconnection is a law that we cannot avoid.  None of us is complete without others.
·     We are here as a whole but at the same time parts of the Holy Family…we are part of the whole that makes up the teams of animation and we are part of our specific team.
·     “I am the vine and you are the branches; whoever lives in me and I in him will bear fruit – fruit that will last”
·     The corporate reflection process helps us to work together and to gather the wisdom of the group through reflection and shared listening.  Attention to the Spirit within each of us and among us is essential for the quality of listening and relating.  It is a process that respects the uniqueness of each person, the differences that exist among us and it is a process that fosters communion.  It integrates the three basic principles of the universe: subjectivity, diversity and communion. 
 

03 . 07 . 2009

Having come from the four corners of the world, 20 participants, belonging to different teams of animation called together by theGeneral Council, gathered in Rome for 8 days, from 3 – 11 July.

The overall purpose of this meeting is facilitate a process that enables teams of participation to develop a common mind in order to address international animation needs in particular areas over the next four years.

On June 28, the vigil of the Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul, Eric NDENZE was ordained priest for the Diocese, in the Cathedral at Liège.

On June 28, the vigil of the Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul, Eric NDENZE was ordained priest for the Diocese, in the Cathedral at Liège.

Eric is the son of Boniface and Seraphine, who are presently in formation in the Associates’ group of Liège.

We share the joy of Eric and his family, and of the Christians of Rwanda, their native land.

We celebrate Pierre Bienvenu Noailles Feast

Pierre Bienvenu Noailles Feast
29th of June
Click on the picture

It was in the year 1908 at the fervent request of Rev. Father Oulic the then, Parish Priest, and in response to the earnest appeal of the parish community, the Holy Family Sisters, were commissioned to pitch their tent among the people in the village at Burullapitiya.
“Go forward… There is nothing That can check your course”

It was in the year 1908 at the fervent request of Rev. Father Oulic the then, Parish Priest, and in response to the earnest appeal of the parish community, the Holy Family Sisters, were commissioned to pitch their tent among the people in the village at Burullapitiya. The parish family warmly welcomed the Sisters arrival. On the part of the pioneer sisters, they laid a solid foundation strengthened with abundant blessings from heaven and constant support from the congregation.

Imbibed with the Spirit of God Alone, rooted in the Holy Family values, filled with zeal and enthusiasm the sisters launched out courageously and began the onerous task of attending to the needs of the people in the village.

Among the many services they rendered from the very inception, educating the young of the area took priority. The Sisters dedicated themselves to education imparting holistic and sound knowledge to the young in the village schools.

The parish community and also the entire village, irrespective of cast or creed were delighted to reap the benefits of the sisters’ venture, and to have their young under the able guidance of the Sisters.

The simple, modest life style, modeled after the Holy Family of Nazareth, supported by prayer, communion in community and vowed commitment bore a silent but a clear witness to the people, and this was also the steady means the sisters employed to reach their goals.

What was begun well over hundred years is being continued with greater enthusiasm and better understanding up to this day. Promotion of unity in diversity, awareness of the dignity of the human person, living the call to communion in life – giving relationships with all human beings and eventually with the whole of creation, is in progress through their life and works.

SOME OF THE COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES

At present the Sisters at Burullapitiya community are engaged in various apostolates – Sunday schools, nursery school, family apostolate and visits, literacy and skill training to adults, women’s’ groups, seeing to the basic needs of the community such as shelter to the homeless – to mention but a few. Among the parish ministries the P. B. Noailles family too is being promoted bringing spiritual vitality among the lay associates, children of the Holy Family and youth of the Holy Family.

The hundred years of service and our presence in the village could be considered a gracious gift of God to the Holy Family. We rejoice on this special occasion of the centenary of our Community at Burullapitiya and praise the Triune God for the numerous opportunities and countless blessings given to us to make the dream of our dear Founder a reality in our midst. 

June 6th this year is a very special day of celebration for the Sisters of the Holy Family in Poland. It all began on Trinity Sunday exactly 75 years ago when the first Holy Family Sisters came to the Poland to establish a new foundation. As history shows us, the beginnings were not easy…

75 years of the Holy Family in Poland 

June 6th this year is a very special day of celebration for the Sisters of the Holy Family in Poland.  It all began on Trinity Sunday exactly 75 years ago when the first Holy Family Sisters came to the Poland to establish a new foundation. As history shows us, the beginnings were not easy…

It is spring in 1934 in Lodz.  In the aftermath of the First World War there is still great poverty and unemployment as well as huge material and spiritual needs.

A few Sisters of the Holy Family arrived, at the invitation of Bishop Vincent Tymieniecki, who was concerned by the lack of medical care in the diocese. He began the building of a Catholic hospital, which was to be run by nuns.  An opportunity arose in April 1934, when a failed Unitas clinic, located in the city centre, was put up for sale.  However, before the Sisters could begin their ministry, many repairs had to be carried out.

Trinity Sunday 1934 is regarded as the beginning of the Holy Family Foundation in Poland.  During the first Mass celebrated by an Oblate priest, Fr Teofil Nandzik, sisters and postulants, gathered in the Chapel of theHolyFamilyHospital, heard these words: “Dear sisters today, you have begun to write a new chapter in the history of your religious family. In coming here you are the carriers of Jesus Christ.  That is what God and your religious Family expect from you”. (Archives). 

The first superior of theHolyFamilyHospital and of the first community was Mother Paul Lazar.  Her assistant, Sr. Veronica Majnusz, was a very experienced nurse.   Many Polish sisters came directly from France and Spain, where they were working as nurses. Until 1936 the first community of the Holy Family had 26 sisters, most of whom were engaged in nursing.  Later, others took on administrative and organisational tasks.

The first community in Lodz was also involved in relief work during the terrible times of the Second World War.  During this time of food shortages and consequent hunger, Sisters organized a secret kitchen, delivering hot meals to more than 80 people a day.  Pots of soup were lowered on washing lines from the first floor to the basement where people gathered to eat.  People were also able to bring food home to their families.   These secret food programmes operated for some time before eventually being discovered by the authorities.   The Sisters continued to deliver aid and organised celebrations of Christmas during wartime.  The Holy Family hospital was made available to refugees: Poles, as well as foreigners; priests who escaped transportation to the concentration camps; two married couples who were to be sent to work camps in Germany.  The Sisters also raised a little girl who had been abandoned at the convent door on the 6th September 1939.

The Sisters delivered food, clothing and documents to people in need of assistance.  They sent food parcels – up to 200 a month – to prisoners in the camps and by their generous service, they helped many people to survive the horrors of war and the dark era of communism.

For about 23 years, the hospital was the only Holy Family institution in Poland.   Then as the years passed, the Sisters gradually took on other apostolic activities.  They undertook educational and catechetical work among children and youth in state schools and kindergartens; they engaged in work with the needy in Caritas and they began to work in the parishes and local environments, and on the missions.

So this is who we are today.  We owe a debt of gratitude to the brave women who have gone before us and who gave their lives to God Alone in the service of the people.   With hearts full of joy and gratitude we look to the future with hope and we pray together:

“Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. Amen.”

 Sr. Beata Malecka.

As we all know, in May 2008,during the General Chapter of the Religious Institute of the Holy Family, there was an official presentation by the canon lawyer, Silvia Monica CORREALE, who is the Postulator of the cause for the beatification of the Venerable Pierre Bienvenu Noailles.

The Bulletin on the CAUSE of Pierre Bienvenu Noailles

As we all know, in May 2008, during theGeneral Chapter of the Religious Institute of the Holy Family, there was an official presentation by the canon lawyer, Silvia Monica CORREALE, who is the Postulator of the cause for the beatification of the Venerable Pierre Bienvenu Noailles.

Since then there has been a new enthusiasm among all the members of the five vocations in our Family, to share the treasure of our Charism. 

We all seek healing, harmony, serenity, peace…  Father Noailles helps us to pray and the Congregation for the Causes of Saints requires testimony of the power of his intercession that is proof of his sanctity.  In reality, a beatification is a response given to those who pray for it, who need it.  This Bulletin helps us to live this experience with our friends, our neighbours … it helps us proclaim that God is good and that we can approach God in the company of Pierre Bienvenu Noailles.

That is why this Bulletin has been introduced.  It makes our Founder known by making known the graces that we receive through his intercession.  It is available for everyone and we are grateful for your great interest in it and your continuing contributions to it.

Like everything that has life, our Bulletin is growing, changing and evolving.  The little leaflet that you receive at present is provisional and we hope it will improve so as to render greater service.  We would like it to reach as many people as possible – priests, members of our families, anyone at all that may be interested – people who are seeking help or people who wish to communicate graces received.  Making it known is everyone’s task.  So when you wish to comment on the Bulletin or communicate favours received, please write to:

TheSecretary for the Cause

Via dei Casali Santovetti 58

00165 Roma

sfbesp.sec@pcn.net
 
 

If you wish to recount something that can be proved, please include the documentation, which will be handed over immediately to Silvia, who, with her grope will work with it.  It may be that it could be recognised as a miracle.

This Bulletin is meant to help us follow a simple, luminous path with Pierre Bienvenu Noailles.  He was a pilgrim with the poor and he lived like Jesus, Mary and Joseph who loved, sought and desired only God Alone.

We cannot let anything hold us back. Let us go forward!

 Marie Carmen Leach
 

The 5th Asian Meeting of the Lay Associate of the Holy Family took place at Wennappuwa in Sri Lanka from 06th – 10th May 2009 and the theme was “Called to bring forth life”. There were forty-seven participants from four countries – India 2, Pakistan 4, Philippines 5, Jaffna 17 and Colombo 19.
 Asian Meeting of the Lay Associates

The 5th Asian Meeting of the Lay Associate of the Holy Family took place at Wennappuwa in Sri Lanka from 6th – 10th May 2009 and the theme was “Called to bring forth life”. There were forty-seven participants from four countries – India 2, Pakistan 4, Philippines 5, Jaffna 17 andColombo 19. The two provincials of Colombo and Jaffna Srs. Francisca Perera and Yolande Mathias, Fr. Emmanuel Fernando OMI – the speaker for the day and all the participants were welcomed in the Sinhalese traditional style with respect and joy.

The opening prayer brought everyone into a reflective mood. It helped all to be immersed in the meaning of the theme “Called to bring forth life”. The Provincials of Colombo and Jaffna in their opening addresses respectively underlined that,

Ø     “we as human beings are given the responsibility to care for God’s great gift of life and to enhance are ongoing transformation in collaboration with God”
Ø     “living in a world of death culture, we need to be Christ’s messengers of hope, peace and love to this wounded world”.

Fr. Emmanuel Fernando’s talk made a tremendous challenge to all the participants to see the immense harm done by human beings to God’s creation. All were taken up by the responsibility each one has as a Christian to protect creation for the future generations. Sr.Clare Fernando (Contemplative) focused the attention of the participants on the theme “Called to bring forth life as Associates of the Holy Family”. She made the connection between the Founder’s dream and our understanding of the cosmic vision. She used power point presentation of ‘the ancient love’ and ‘the cosmic walk’.

Discerning and planning for the next four years was the main focus of the evening session. Mrs. Regina Ramalingam facilitated this session and the action plan has been approved. 

On May 10 was the very important task to choose the new Asian leader. The former Asian Leader Mr. Linus Manuelthamby was unable to join the group due to health reasons.

After going through the process of election, Mrs. Regina Ramalingam was unanimously accepted as the Asian Leader for the next four years. She was congratulated by the Provincials and others.

In Newbridge (Ireland), from the 4th to the 8th June 2009 there will be a meeting of the Leaders of the Lay Associates of Europe with the leaders and presidents of the National Committees of Britain, Spain, France, Italy and Ireland.

In Newbridge (Ireland), from the 4th to the 8th June 2009 there will be a meeting of the Leaders of the Lay Associates of Europe with the leaders and presidents of the National Committees of Britain, Spain, France, Italy and Ireland.  The aim of the meeting is to continue the reflection initiated during the last European Meeting in Ariccia (Rome) 2008.  At the beginning of the year, in order to facilitate the on-going reflection, a plan of work was decided on and this reflection was carried out by all the groups of the associates in Europe.  The main elements of the reflection were: 

§      An analysis of the reality in which we live

§      Our belonging to the Church – a Church in and for the 21st Century

§      From our Holy Family identity, how can we respond to the challenges posed by our society today?

The conclusions reached during this reflection will be shared and discussed during this meeting.  In this way we hope to continue our analysis of the reality in which we live and look at ways that we, as Holy Family Lay Associates, can respond to the needs of our society.

We will also review the organisation of continental meetings so as to fit in with our present reality.
 

Antonio Garrido. European Leader.
Holy Family Lay Associate.