In English
31 December
Year-end Greetings at the Casa
A beautiful culture of gratitude takes place at the Casa every year-end!
This year, after Vespers, at 5:30 pm, the serene-wholesome atmosphere within the Crypt paved the way into welcoming the presence of Mother and the Sisters into this communal gathering.
The affair formally opened with a French song,” “ followed by Sister
Paulette, (being the eldest student of the house from Madagascar), giving the opening remarks.
Sister Marie Raphael JEANNELLO, (from Guadeloupe) then gave the greetings in French and Sr. Nati RUELOS (Philippines), in English.
In a spirit of thanksgiving for all the marvellous graces the Lord has done for the Congregation, through Mother General and the Council, both led the community at looking back into the great events of 2010.
It was a graced opportunity for them to acknowledge with grateful hearts, the beauty of the person of Mother and her Assistants for the great work they do, contributing to the growth of the Congregation, on various fronts.
Sister Raphael particularly spoke to Mother Myriam, that the Sisters near and far will remain indebted for her written works, of which she is a living exemplar: “Serve as Christ has served, such is our mission, a mission based on love that gives and give freely-voluntarily!.” For, has she not often insisted on words as: love..service.., gift.., Spirit, amongst others, while equally inviting us to take Christ and Paul our Patron, as models?
Sr. Nati on her part mentioned that “all these past grateful remembrances will remain futile, if they do not contribute to the present and enkindle zeal and determination towards the future!”
They ended by a renewed promise of prayerful devotion for their intentions, a wish that the loving and merciful Lord may descend and live amongst us, filling our lives with the richness of His grace!
At this point, Mother was called to deliver her New Year address. She humbly acknowledged the well-written and beautifully delivered pieces of the “two heralds” of this affair, which will be subject of her meditations!
Mother’s greetings in essence, was an invitation for all of us to “move forward in a united manner in the next three years by making a lived experience of a consecrated life that is both mystic and prophetic!”
Mother ended with a personal wish of a “HAPPY, GOOD AND HOLY YEAR - 2011!
With much satisfaction and energized by this graced encounter, everyone partook of the prepared aperitifs at the lobby before moving to the refectory for supper.
Year-end Greetings at the Casa
A beautiful culture of gratitude takes place at the Casa every year-end!
This year, after Vespers, at 5:30 pm, the serene-wholesome atmosphere within the Crypt paved the way into welcoming the presence of Mother and the Sisters into this communal gathering.
The affair formally opened with a French song,” “ followed by Sister
Paulette, (being the eldest student of the house from Madagascar), giving the opening remarks.
Sister Marie Raphael JEANNELLO, (from Guadeloupe) then gave the greetings in French and Sr. Nati RUELOS (Philippines), in English.
In a spirit of thanksgiving for all the marvellous graces the Lord has done for the Congregation, through Mother General and the Council, both led the community at looking back into the great events of 2010.
It was a graced opportunity for them to acknowledge with grateful hearts, the beauty of the person of Mother and her Assistants for the great work they do, contributing to the growth of the Congregation, on various fronts.
Sister Raphael particularly spoke to Mother Myriam, that the Sisters near and far will remain indebted for her written works, of which she is a living exemplar: “Serve as Christ has served, such is our mission, a mission based on love that gives and give freely-voluntarily!.” For, has she not often insisted on words as: love..service.., gift.., Spirit, amongst others, while equally inviting us to take Christ and Paul our Patron, as models?
Sr. Nati on her part mentioned that “all these past grateful remembrances will remain futile, if they do not contribute to the present and enkindle zeal and determination towards the future!”
They ended by a renewed promise of prayerful devotion for their intentions, a wish that the loving and merciful Lord may descend and live amongst us, filling our lives with the richness of His grace!
At this point, Mother was called to deliver her New Year address. She humbly acknowledged the well-written and beautifully delivered pieces of the “two heralds” of this affair, which will be subject of her meditations!
Mother’s greetings in essence, was an invitation for all of us to “move forward in a united manner in the next three years by making a lived experience of a consecrated life that is both mystic and prophetic!”
Mother ended with a personal wish of a “HAPPY, GOOD AND HOLY YEAR - 2011!
With much satisfaction and energized by this graced encounter, everyone partook of the prepared aperitifs at the lobby before moving to the refectory for supper.
31 December
New Year’s Vigil
Three hours adoration! This was how the community welcomed the Year 2011! What better way could there be?
As though suspended in time, the Sisters fervently prayed in adoration before the Blessed Sacrament exposed. Three themes on “Forgiveness: forgiving and being forgiven,” Thanksgiving” and “Petitions for the New Year,” enabled us to enter into a rich encounter with the Lord.
During the first hour, we humbly begged forgiveness for personal, communal and all of mankind’s transgressions. This culminated to a high point, when the Sisters gathered around the altar with joined hands, in a gesture of reconciliation and prayed together the “Our Father.” They then moved around giving the “Kiss of Peace” to one another! Yes, the Peace of the Lord flowed into our hearts, ushering in so much joy!
With this joy, the second hour made us look back with profound gratitude at all the personal and communal blessings of the past year! “Psalm 138 - Hymn of a Grateful Heart” and the “Te Deum” reverberated within, expressing what we felt most deeply ... praising and thanking the Trinity for all their wondrous works!
At the final hour, the refrain: “To You, O Lord. I Lift Up My Soul, My God!”
captured our prayerful longings! We begged Him to teach us His ways, that we may faithfully respond to His everyday calling, with open hands and generous hearts.
We too entrusted in His hands whatever the future holds, for the good of the church, the service of others, and the glory of His name!
After adoration, at the chapel lobby, Mother and the Sisters again exchanged greetings, this time for the New Year! Everyone then happily proceeded to the refectory for our simple fraternal midnight snacks!
New Year’s Vigil
Three hours adoration! This was how the community welcomed the Year 2011! What better way could there be?
As though suspended in time, the Sisters fervently prayed in adoration before the Blessed Sacrament exposed. Three themes on “Forgiveness: forgiving and being forgiven,” Thanksgiving” and “Petitions for the New Year,” enabled us to enter into a rich encounter with the Lord.
During the first hour, we humbly begged forgiveness for personal, communal and all of mankind’s transgressions. This culminated to a high point, when the Sisters gathered around the altar with joined hands, in a gesture of reconciliation and prayed together the “Our Father.” They then moved around giving the “Kiss of Peace” to one another! Yes, the Peace of the Lord flowed into our hearts, ushering in so much joy!
With this joy, the second hour made us look back with profound gratitude at all the personal and communal blessings of the past year! “Psalm 138 - Hymn of a Grateful Heart” and the “Te Deum” reverberated within, expressing what we felt most deeply ... praising and thanking the Trinity for all their wondrous works!
At the final hour, the refrain: “To You, O Lord. I Lift Up My Soul, My God!”
captured our prayerful longings! We begged Him to teach us His ways, that we may faithfully respond to His everyday calling, with open hands and generous hearts.
We too entrusted in His hands whatever the future holds, for the good of the church, the service of others, and the glory of His name!
After adoration, at the chapel lobby, Mother and the Sisters again exchanged greetings, this time for the New Year! Everyone then happily proceeded to the refectory for our simple fraternal midnight snacks!
Sisters of St. Paul of Chartres
DECEMBER 2010
The love of Christ impels us to manifest His tenderness and love.
December 31 Events