Paulinian Echoes SPC Generalate Rome Palm Sunday 2009 My

Paulinian Echoes
SPC Generalate
Rome
Palm Sunday 2009
My dear Sisters,
We are moving very close towards Easter Sunday: the Lenten season has
prepared our hearts to receive God‟s many gifts with a new heart and a renewed
spirit. Today, Palm Sunday, the church invites us to acclaim Jesus Christ as
Lord; to contemplate the face of Him who was transfigured before the very eyes
of the disciples on Mount Thabor . Let us also contemplate the face of the Risen
Christ. Let us discover his presence in our lives as Consecrated persons.
Immediately after his resurrection, the Risen Lord manifested himself to
his disciples, going out to meet two of them, joining in their conversation and
walking with them on the road to Emmaus:“ „What are these things that you
are discussing as you walk along?‟…„Our own hope had been that he would be
the one to set Israel free.‟ they said.”1
It would take Christ‟s gentle and patient presence, the power of his Word
in explaining the Scriptures, and for him to sit at table with them, before the
disciples would recognize him in the breaking of bread. Thus with hearts on
fire they run back to Jerusalem, to announce to the brethren the good news of
their encounter with the Risen Lord.
In history, Consecrated Life appears as the continuation of a special
presence of the Risen Christ, “the light of humanity which shines out visibly
from the Church.”2 The world today expects us to be visible signs of his love,
capable of saying like St Paul: “The life that I now live in the flesh, I live in faith, in
the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me.”3
Today, how do we announce that the Risen Christ is alive and present to
a world living in anguish in the face of a serious financial crisis?
This present crisis could be an opportunity for our society if we begin to
understand that it is our development scheme which leaves a lot to be desired
…“ To surmount the global economic and social crisis that we are experiencing
now,” says Pope Benedict XVI, “we know that a free and responsible effort from
each one is necessary. In other words, we must look beyond our particular,
regional interests in order to have a united front in dealing with the difficulties
that attack all aspects of society especially among the working population.
We find many strong references to the spirit of collaboration in the Bible.
For example, in the book of Ecclesiasticus, we read: „For work to be profitable, two
are better than one.‟ When one falls, the other will raise him up. What about those
who have no one to help them stand up?
1
Lk 24: 17 ; 21
Lumen Gentium 1
3
Galatians 2: 20.
2
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It is therefore our wish that this present crisis will give rise
to a shared determination of building a new culture of
solidarity and responsible participation which are
indispensable conditions for us to forge together our world‟s
future.” 4
These recommendations of the Holy Father likewise apply to us, religious.
We too, need to examine ourselves on the question of “going beyond our own
personal interests… so as to develop a new culture of solidarity” in the reality of
our daily life.
We can only do that if, like the Disciples of Emmaus, we know how to
walk back up the road to Jerusalem, the road of conversion, “providing
in our communities spaces where the Gospel is lived, creating Eucharistic
communities which means making the Lord present through the witness of our
lives.”5. Every Superior makes it her concern to promote a fraternal life where
authentic charity leads us to “go beyond our own personal interests”, becoming
more self-giving and open to others in order “to forge together our world‟s
future.”
Our fraternal communion should bring about a greater openness to the
people with whom we work and live. Thus we strengthen our collaboration with
every one, paving the way for “a new culture of solidarity.”
How can we contemplate the face of the Risen Christ and make him
present in our day to day life?
The Word is the “ first source of all Christian spirituality.” 6 One
perceives this with the eyes of faith that comes from a familiarity with the Word,
in our sacramental and prayer life and, most of all, from a life of charity. This
familiarity is acquired starting from the entrance into the Novitiate, where the
novice follows Christ in the Gospel.”7
This familiarity with the Word of God is nurtured by a continuous
formation all throughout our life. It is a long experience of the fidelity of God
to which corresponds a desire for greater personal fidelity.”8 Therefore, let us
not hesitate to reread the Gospels assiduously so we can rediscover the spiritual
wealth of our own charism.
Indeed, God‟s Word communicated in the Scriptures is inexhaustible
and for this reason we frequently return to drink from it. “The Bible is more
than just a simple book; it is a long, spellbinding letter that God wrote to
humanity.9
Pope Benedict XVI tells us, “I would like to recommend the ancient
tradition of the Lectio Divina, the profound, faithful reading of the Holy
Scriptures accompanied by prayer.” Through these words he invites all
Christians to rediscover this oft-neglected treasure of the spiritual way of
4
Pope Benedict XVI: Address to the Italian Labor Unions , January 31, 2009.
B.L. no. 48 ; CA. 2007 page 5, § 1
6
B.L. no. 4 ;Vita Consecrata no.94
7
BL no. 60 ; CA 2007 p 3.
8
CA 2001 p 33.
9
Enzo Bianchi, Prior of the Monastic Community of Bosse in North-Western Italy.
5
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reading the Bible.10It is not simply a matter of hearing the
Word. We should listen to it with attention, with the
disposition of openness to the call to conversion that
comes with it11. This call resounds throughout the whole
Bible, God telling his people: “Hear O Israel…Listen!”12
The Father‟s voice was heard by Peter, James and John during the
Transfiguration of the Lord : “This is my beloved Son, listen to him.” 13
Why do we stress the importance of listening to the Word ?
In every relationship, listening is an essential element. Jesus illustrated
its importance in the Parable of the Sower. The one who receives the seeds on
fertile ground, that is, with an open heart, is the “person who hears the Word,
understands it and bears fruit.”14 Listening to God‟s Word means welcoming
it and putting it into practice. “Whoever hears these words I say and puts
them in practice is like a wise man who built his house on rock.”15
Listening to the Word of God is not only lending an attentive ear, it
means opening one’s heart to Him: “Lydia listened and the Lord opened
her heart.”16 God reminds us unceasingly, but he respects our freedom: “Hear
this… Listen, O my people… O that my people would heed me.” 17 True listening
to God‟s Word is impossible by our own effort. It is “the Spirit who makes our
prayer conform to that of Christ Jesus… and disposes us to listen to the
Word…He creates in the heart an interior silence conducive to the longing for
God.”18
Mary is the perfect model of listening to the Word with a humble heart.
“Mary kept all these things, reflecting them in her heart.”19Let us entrust all
our prayer intentions for the Church and for the world to Mary; let us ask her to
guide us to the path where we may meet the Risen Christ, Word of God and Gift
of Life.
The Sisters Assistants, Secretary and Treasurer join me in greeting you a
joyful, and holy feast of Easter.
Let me express once more my fraternal affection for you. I remain united
in prayer with you as we walk this Easter road that will lead us to meeting with
Christ.
Superior General
Pope Benedict XVI: Address to participants of the International Congress of ‘Dei Verbum’.
BL no. 45
12
Dt 6: 4 ; Amos 3:1 ; Jr 7:2 ; 10:1.
13
Mt 17: 5.
14
Mk 4:20 ; BL no. 45.
15
Mt 7: 24 ,26
16
Jer 6 : 10
17
Jn 8:43, 47
18
Acts 16: 14.
19
Lk 2: 19
10
11
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REDISCOVERING OUR MISSION IN INDONESIA
“Go out to all the nations, make disciples” these words of the
Lord reverberated within me like an echo last January 26, 2009 as our plane
hovered over the 17,500 islands of Indonesia prior to the landing.
This was the same call heard by the Sisters of the Philippine Province
and the very first six sisters who generously responded to the call at the
request of the Church of Indonesia 42 years ago. In October 1967, they arrived
in this country whose population is 98% Muslim. All foreign missionaries were
expelled in 1970 and our Sisters accepted to lose all in order to gain Christ – by
embracing the Indonesian nationality. They emptied themselves even to the
point of renouncing their own nationality in loving response to Christ‟s call
and invitation to follow him to the cross. The giving up of this precious part of
their identity enabled them to recognize the image of God in each Muslim
brother or sister.
The seed that was sown on these equatorial islands has grown and
now bears fruits. The Philippine Province not only gave missionaries but also
welcomed the young Indonesian sisters for their formation. Today, our
Indonesian Sisters have begun to assume positions of responsibility thus
assuring the continuity of the Mission in their own country.
Fledgling Mission in TIMOR LESTE
In the newly independent nation of Timor Leste, our Sisters live and
work among a population of deeply religious Catholics who have an ardent
thirst to know God and receive his Word. It is not surprising that many young
ladies aspire to become religious and seek to be admitted in the Congregation
of the Sisters of Saint Paul.
Started by our Filipina Sisters, and only five years after becoming a
Region, the formators in the Novitiate of Timor Leste have their hands full
with the candidates in the Novitiate, Postulancy and Aspirancy.
These coming months, as we continue our missionary visits, we shall
meet more Filipina missionaries in Peru, Colombia and Brazil where they
share life and mission with other missionaries coming from the countries of
Canada, France, Switzerland and Vietnam.
Let us give thanks to God for his call to the mission and for all those who
faithfully answer the call. Let us thank him for all our elderly Sisters who
proclaim the Kingdom and make it present through the prayers and sufferings
they offer for the Church, for the mission and for our Congregation.
Superior General
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BRAZIL,PERU-COLOMBIA
The thirteen Sisters of St Paul of
Chartres in Brazil are happy to
welcome Mother Myriam who visits
the Region from April 17 - 29, 2009.
Sr Maria Goretti LEE, Assistant
General accompanies Mother Myriam
in this trip. The Region has 13 Sisters.
From April 29 to May 12, Mother
Myriam and Sister Maria Goretti visit
the District of Peru Colombia. where
Welcome Mother Myriam
they will meet with the Sisters in five
Communities, who are mainly
engaged in education in the Fe y
Alegria Schools of the Jesuits. Other
Sisters do pastoral ministry and basic
health care. The
District‟s 23
Perpetually Professed Sisters, 3
Juniors and 4 Postulants eagerly
await this once-in-six-years-visit of
the Superior General.
HAITI, SWITZERLAND and CENTRAL AFRICA
Three SPC Districts Prepare for Visits of Assistants General
Mother Myriam KITCHAROEN ,
delegates Sister Monique GAUDRON,
3rd Assistant General, to visit three
Districts: The first destination is the
District of Haiti from May 15 to 28,
2009 followed by the District of
Switzerland from June 14 to 24, 2009.
In the summer, Sister Monique
GAUDRON will be accompanied by
Sister Maria Goretti LEE to visit the
District of Central Africa in July and
August 2009.
USA Summer Visitation and First Profession in Wyoming
The three houses of the District of
the USA are finalizing the itinerary
and activities of Mother Myriam
Kitcharoen who visits the District
from August 12 to 24, with Sr. Mary
Ann LAURIN, Assistant General who
hails from Michigan.
While in the United States,
Mother Myriam will make a brief visit
to the Novitiate in Wyoming, a house
directly under the Generalate. She
will receive the vows of the first
Vietnamese-American novice who
makes her first profession on August
15, 2009.
ROME: 22 Student Sisters from 10 Provinces
For the school year 2008-2009, 22
SPC Sisters are enrolled in various
Catholic Roman Catholic Universities
for studies in Theology, Spirituality,
Formation,
Catechetics,
Liturgy,
Religious Sciences and Canon Law.
Ten Provinces are represented:
Seoul-3, Daegu-2, France-1, Antilles
Guyane-1, Madagascar-3, Philippines-1,
Thailand-1, Danang-5, Mytho- 2, and
Saigon-3. Five Sisters have completed
their studies and have returned home.
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STATISTICS:3987Sisters, 568 Houses
As of December 31,
2008, 3987 Sisters
of Saint Paul of Chartres are in 568
communities in 35 countries.
In 2008, 75 Sisters made their First
Vows, 65 made their perpetual
profession and 175 novices are in 15
novitiates.
The General Council reappoints
the Superiors of 4 Provinces for a
second term of five years starting
April 23, 2009:
Sr Agathe PRADEL - Antilles-Guyane
Sr Veronica LEE – Daegu, Korea
Sr Marie Jacqueline HO – Hongkong
Sr Zeta Caridad RIVERO-Philippines
GENERAL COUNCIL Reappoints Provincials
THAILAND St Joseph-Bangna Blessing of New Building
The Sisters of St
Paul who own
and manage St
Joseph College
of Bangna in
Thailand invited
Mother Myriam at the blessing of the new
building on January 19, 2009. In the
picture, Mother Myriam is joined by
Sister Irene, Provincial Superior as she
presses the switch for the electronic
ribbon-cutting ceremony.
ANNO PAOLINO TELECONFERENCE in AUSTRALIA
A teleconference on St Paul
will be held on June 30th
for the closing of the
Pauline year. It can be
followed live by Catholic
communities
scattered
throughout the villages,
parishes
and
religious
institutes
of
Australia.
Sponsored and organised by the
Bishops‟ Conference with the support
of the Broken Bay Institute, the
conference‟s theme is „Paul: the man,
the mission and the message for
today‟. It will have an interactive
dimension with listeners invited to
take part directly through questions,
reflections
or
request
for
explanations. Scripture scholars and
media experts will be on hand to lead
the debate and offer their own
reflections. The Fides news agency
announced the initiative: the national
Church will be involved and linked up
for the first time either directly or
virtually for the Pauline year in
Australia.Source: www.annopaolino.org.
ANNO PAOLINO Concert on June 26, 2009
A Concert will be held at the Basilica of
St Paul Outside the Walls - a special
performance for the closing of the Pauline
Year.
Source:
www.annopaolino.org
CLOSING OF THE PAULINE YEAR
On Sunday, June 28, 2009 at 5pm,
at the Papal Basilica of St-Paul-Outside
the Walls, His Holiness Pope Benedict
XVI will preside at the Closing
Celebration of the Pauline Year during
the First Vespers of the Solemnity of
the apostles Peter and Paul.
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Source: www.annopaolino.org
Paulinian Echoes
Christ Will be Glorified by my Life or my Death
Philippians 1:12-25
I want you to realize, brothers,
that the circumstances of my
present life are helping rather than
hindering the advance of the Gospel.
My chains in Christ have become
well-known not only to all the
Praetorium but to everybody else,
and so most of the brothers in the
Lord have gained confidence from
my chains and are getting more and that this is what will save me with
more daring in announcing the your prayers and with the help of the
Message without any fear…
spirit of Jesus Christ, all in
accordance with my most confident
hope and trust… I shall go on, so that
now, as always, Christ will be
glorified in my body, whether by my
life or by my death. Life to me of
course, is Christ, but then death
would be a positive gain. On the
other hand again, if to be alive in the
body gives me an opportunity for
fruitful work, I do not know what I
should choose. I am caught in this
dilemma; I want to be gone and to
be with Christ, and this is by far the
stronger desire- and yet for your
sake, to stay alive in this body is a
more urgent need. This much I know
for certain, that I shall stay and
Christ is proclaimed and for stand by you all, to encourage your
that I am happy, and I shall go on advance and your joy in the faith.
being happy, too, because I know
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The Tomb of Saint Paul
Paul came to Rome in 61 AD for
his trial by the Roman court which
condemned him to death as a
Christian. The sentence was
carried out in a place called
„palude Salvia‟ close to Rome (later
known as the Three Fountains
after the three springs that gushed
up where the severed head of the
saint bounced three times on the
ground). His body was taken two
miles away from the place of his
martyrdom and laid in the burial area which a Christian woman named Lucina
owned on Via Ostiense and which was part of a pre-existing burial ground.
Though he was a Christian, the Apostle Paul could be buried in a Roman
necropolis because he was a Roman citizen. His tomb immediately became a
place of veneration and a memorial chamber was built above it where pilgrims
and faithful people came to pray during centuries of persecution.
The Tomb stone
1.37 meters below the modern
day papal altar is a marble
headstone (2.12 meters by 1.27
meters) made up of various
sections and bearing the
inscription
PAULO APOSTOLO MART...
The section inscribed with the
name PAULO has three holes,
one round and the other two
square shaped.
The Sarcophagus
Above the solid sarcophagus measuring 2.55 meters long by 1.25 meters wide by
0.97 meters high, the successive „confessional altars‟ have been built. During the
recent excavations a large window was removed below the papal altar in order
to allow the faithful to view the tomb of the Apostle. Source: www.annopaolino.org
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THE POPE’S TWENTIETH
AND FINAL CATECHESIS
FOR THE PAULINE YEAR
Dedicated to the Apostle‟s martyrdom and his
spiritual legacy down the centuries
Pope Benedict XVI concluded his
long series of catecheses – a total of
twenty– on the Apostle of the
Gentiles which he has been giving
each week throughout this Pauline
year.
His reflections during the general
audience of Wednesday 4th February
to the approximately 4.500 pilgrims
present in the Vatican focused first on
the historical evidence for the
martyrdom of St Paul and then on his
„extraordinary spiritual legacy‟ down
the centuries, as recounted by the
Fathers of the Church, from Origen to
Saint Augustine, from Luther on to
the philosophers of the past two
hundred years („in which the points of
convergence
between
Catholic
exegesis and Protestant exegesis have
increased‟, thereby leading to „great hope for the cause of ecumenism‟) and
finally to the „religious movements named after St Paul that have come into
being in modern times within the Catholic Church.‟ In particular the Pope cited
the Barnabites, the Paulists, the Pauline Family and the Company of St Paul.
„Essentially‟, the Holy Father concluded, „we still have before us the
luminous figure of an Apostle and of an extremely fruitful and profound
Christian thinker, from whose approach everyone can benefit..... Drawing
from him, as much from his apostolic example as from his doctrine, will
therefore be an incentive, if not a guarantee, for the strengthening of the
Christian identity in each one of us and for the rejuvenation of the entire
Church.‟ Source: www.annopaolino.org
.
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Idea contributed by two Novices – Philippine Province
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“What Greater Love”
To „lay down our lives for our friends‟
Father Bill Ashbaugh in his Lenten
homily challenged: “How can we „lay
down our lives for our friends‟ every
day.”
He continued: … “some
Christians began to find other ways to
live out the spirit of martyrdom. They
called it „white martyrdom‟ – in
contrast to bloody martyrdom – and
they embraced the ascetical practices
of fasting, praying and almsgiving…”
our triple practices during Lent.
He said, “Lent gives us an
opportunity to renew the spirit of
martyrdom. We often think of martyrs
as giving the ultimate sacrifice. And so
they do, „No greater love is there than
this, to lay down one‟s life for one‟s
friends.‟ (Jn. 15:13) But we can be
martyrs without having to shed
blood.”
The same idea was echoed most
recently during the spiritual retreat of
our SPC Sisters at our Vigil House,
Philippines on February 2009 when the
Retreat
Master,
Father
Tom
Kleinshmidt, OMV encouraged our
elderly Sisters to offer their daily
crosses that accompany the process of
aging with its multiple pains – bodily,
emotional, social, spiritual – in union
with the self-giving of Jesus as a form
of witness, a martyrdom.
My thoughts turn to a time when the
winds rose high and battered the ships
at sea. Life-boats were at hand and lifevests were distributed, but there were
not enough for everyone. A mother and
her infant were sinking beneath the
merciless waves.
According to an eye-witness, a Sister
gave up her life vest, giving it the
mother and child. Then she tried to
swim ashore but the rushing current
was too strong and sucked her in. Her
corpse was found only days later. The
eye-witness kept repeating - - - “she
could have saved herself; she had a
vest.”
She is our own SPC Sister – Sr
Paulina Santiago, a martyr, a
witness to Christ‟s own compassion for
the weak, for women and for children.
“What greater love than this, for one to
lay down his life for his friends.” This
is what Sister Paulina did.
I was in Rome when this happened.
Mere Monique Bertrand, Mother
General at that time declared her a
martyr,
for
the
cause
of
Obedience
and
Compassion.
Before I left, I found her letter on my
table letting me know of her schedule.
As always, she would end with: “never
mind, Sister, all for JESUS.”
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Coming home, I found
another letter which
she left for me before
sailing. She was reluctant to go for
home visit, and after presenting her
side to her local community, she opted
to “obey,” and so she sailed. ALL FOR
JESUS - - - perhaps, that was what she
whispered as she gave up her life-vest.
I believe that the Father gathered her in
His loving embrace.
One last sharing is that of a white
martyr, whose name I shall withhold as
I did not have the chance to ask her
permission due to the distance She is
one of our young Filipina
missionaries in a foreign country.
She writes:
“Dear Sister, I am so grateful
for your letters… Time really flies so
fast and life is short. After almost
____ months, it is as if I have just
arrived. The year 2007 has not yet
ended but I feel I‟ve had a fruitful
mission life. Many times I have said
that mission work is not easy but
equally rewarding.
I may always be hungry
because I cannot eat what our native
Sisters eat, but my heart remains
satisfied and full… Truly, I say that
mission life is a life of prayer, of faith
and of courage… all in God‟s and with
God‟s loving care.”
I firmly believe and have felt
God‟s loving Presence in me, especially
when difficulties and trials come.
Mission has made me stronger in faith,
each act I do is an act of prayer and
forgiveness.
I have become more
conscious of what it is to be a Religious,
more so, as a Sister of St. Paul in this
part of the world.
Sister, please continue to pray
for us missionaries.”
In contrast to Sr. Paulina, this
missionary continues to live with
suffering, with hunger, with work, but
again all in “God‟s loving Presence” in
her daily life. Both of them are called to
white martyrdom.
In conclusion: “White martyrdom”
is martyrdom without blood. It is a
total offering to God, a “dying” to the
world and its allurements. A white
martyr lives a life of heroic devotion for
Him alone, eagerly uniting that
devotion with Christ‟s sufferings.”
Lent may be an unwelcome
season if we look at the deprivations we
impose upon ourselves. It is the grace
of purification if we look at it as a
chance to be one with Christ, Who
entered humanity to bring us back in
communion with the Trinity.
It is a challenge to choose to fast and
do penance while others have no choice
but to endure inflicted pain, hunger and
thirst, because of unjust structures,
avarice, dire poverty. It is an invitation
to look after our suffering brethren
right here with us.
Any season is a season for white
martyrdom, and any age is an
opportunity to lift up our hearts to HIM
at the Eucharistic Table…At any age.
YES. My earliest recollection of white
martyrdom dates back to Kindergarten
and Grade School when we were told
that “We do not need to be burned at
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the stakes
and
be
killed
by
Indians like the Jesuit
martyrs.” We heard stories
of the Little Way of the Little
Flower; stories of St. Teresa
of Avila, and stories of Jesus
who said “Father forgive
them” as He died on the
Cross.
We were told that it is
enough that we pray, offer
our daily sacrifices and
mortifications for the missionaries.
Mortifications mean a delay of
satisfaction of thirst or hunger for at
least two minutes for the missionaries
and the poor in the poor regions.
Sacrifices equal giving up
some of our toys, clothes,
part of pocket money for the
poor children.
Praying
would mean visiting Jesus in
the Blessed Sacrament every
day and praying short
invocations.
As Sisters of St. Paul of
Chartres, white martyrdom
is nothing more than the
living out of our Paschal
Mystery.
Unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground
and dies, itself remains alone;
But if it dies, it will reap a rich harvest
- Sr Milagros Ycazas- PHILIPPINES
A Paschal Dialogue
Two of our veteran missionaries were engaged in a heart-to-heart conversation
while helping to cut vegetables in the kitchen. They were overheard saying:
Madre* 1 : Sister, as a missionary how do you live the Paschal Mystery?
Madre 2 (without blinking an eye): Oh, Sister - everyday! Every time I feel like
focusing on the negative values around me in my mission country, I feel
like carrying a heavy burden on my shoulders -- only to realize later on
that behind these are shining values that exceed my own!! How about you,
Sister?
Madre 1 (with eyes blinking): You know, Sister, when I came here, my vision
was to teach the Paschal life of Jesus to our Timorese brothers and
sisters. In fact, I am the one learning from them how to be long-suffering
to accept the crosses of life with deep faith, simple joy and strong hope!
* In Timor-Leste, Sisters are addressed as Madre.
_______________________________________________________________
We have Eternity to Look Forward to… ( from page 15)
I feel so blessed and grateful to have
been called in our Congregation with St.
Paul as the Patron. Inspired and moved
by his life‟s testimony of living out his
own paschal mystery, I also continually
beg for the grace to be faithful and
steadfast in my Sequela Christi even
amidst sufferings, learning to follow
Jesus Christ crucified.
Walking the path to holiness through
the paschal way makes me look forward
to the joy expressed by these words of St.
Paul: “If we have died with Him, we shall
also live with Him; if we persevere, we
shall also reign with Him.” (2 Tim. 2:1112).
A Novice - PHILIPPINES
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A Prisoner for 3 years in North Korea
Mother Beatrix
Arrested by the North Koreans in 1950 together with Mother
Beatrix, Provincial Superior of Korea at that time, Sister Eugenie,
Mistress of Novices
experienced the death march of 280
kilometers in the company of all foreign missionaries and
diplomats in Korea during the Korean war
Mother Beatrix, 76 years old died (shot by soldiers) along the
road, sick and wasted after 4 months spent from camp to camp
and walking with little food, no rest under all kinds of weather
conditions, summer, autumn, winter and spring. Sister Eugenie
witnessed the death of many of her co-prisoners. She survived and
was liberated, arriving in Paris in May 1953
The article below is a reprint of the conclusion of “ Three Years
of Captivity in North Korea by a Sister of St Paul” written
by Sr. Eugénie du Sacré-Coeur DEMEUSY.
Privations
is
the
lot
of deaths they have witnessed . All that
missionaries, why be astonished about must have made an effect on them
it? All those privations that we had to whereas all their interrogations and
endure during these three years of the brainwashing they subjected us to
captivity were not willfully done by the have never made us falter. May such
Koreans who themselves suffered extreme sufferings united with those
much. They were mostly due to the of Christ the Redeemer gain their
soldier who took us and gave us orders. conversion one day.
May the Lord forgive him for whatever
May we, Religious who read all
sufferings he unwittingly caused us. these happenings in the light of faith
The way he mistreated us did not in give thanks to the Lord for these three
any way diminish the love I have for years spent in captivity in North
Korea and my ardent desire to go Korea.
And, with full trust in
back there. My greatest joy upon my Providence, gratefully, - we say this
arrival in Paris was to know that I had for ourselves and for those who have
the blessing to return to Korea.
died there- we repeat the words that
During
our
stay
in
the
summarize
our
life
in
the
concentration camp, our guards and
concentration camp as well as our
commandants tried unceasingly to
whole life: “ the Cross here below, Joy
indoctrinate us, without
in heaven above
success. Did we for our
and
in
every
part
succeed
in
circumstance,
teaching them without
love.” What have
preaching? Only God
we to complain
knows. It is a fact that
about? Rather, let
they were observing us
us say:
always: our behavior, our
“Misericordias
endurance, our charity for Sr. Eugénie after her release
domini, in
one another, the heroic
aeternun cantabo!”
Page 14
Paulinian Echoes
We have Eternity to Look Forward to
“… Everyone deserted me. But the Lord stood
by me and gave me strength…
He will bring me safe to His heavenly
kingdom.” (2 Tim. 4:16-18)
and pains. St. Paul reminds me of the
priceless value of sacrifices and sufferings
when offered to God out of love. St.
Paul‟s advice to bear our hardships like a
good soldier of Jesus Christ, like an
athlete who receives the winner‟s crown
and like a farmer who works hard to
have the first share of the crop (2 Tim.
2:3-6) truly struck me. His singleness of
purpose even at the cost of pain for the
sake of Christ reverberates a call for me
to imitate him in his unwavering trust in
God‟s saving grace and in serenely and
St. Paul‟s second letter to Timothy
portrays himself as a prisoner in Rome
where his martyrdom is imminent My
heart sees St. Paul as a prisoner suffering
the pain of having been deserted by those
closest to him, compounded by the
poverty of having nothing in prison even
just to keep himself warm. In his letter to
Timothy, I see a physically weak, and
vulnerable apostle worn out
by innumerable hardships and
sufferings including rejection
of his own people, insults,
beatings, stoning, hunger,
shipwrecks, etc., but still
determined and burning with
zeal to proclaim Jesus Christ
and His Gospel.
The single-mindedness of
St. Paul is very evident. No
amount of suffering, could
ever cloud his focus: eternity
Novices cleaning the area along the
for himself and for others ( 2
creek
in Our Lady of Chartres Convent
Tim.
2:10).
Amidst
his
in Antipolo
difficulties
and
adverse
circumstances, his faith in
joyfully enduring present sufferings.
Jesus Christ and his hope for the crown
This makes me see more deeply
of righteousness that awaits him as he
the supernatural value of suffering. Truly,
finishes the race remain strong ( 2 Tim.
my little crosses and painful experiences
1:12). His complete trust in God through
of dying to myself or bending my will,
Jesus Christ was in itself a Gospel
find meaning only when I see them in
proclamation.
view of the Kingdom of God. After all, the
As a Novice, I have my share of
essence of asceticism, mortification,
little sufferings and difficulties , mostly
voluntary poverty and sacrifice is
arising from myself and my selfish
anchored not on earthly benefits but on
inclinations, as I struggle to live out the
the hope of everlasting life. The second
Gospel values of Jesus. Knowing St. Paul
letter of St. Paul to Timothy made me
through his letters helps me realize that
gave me a profound understanding that
my sufferings are but a speck compared
everything is meaningless without
to what he had been through for Christ‟s
eternity to look forward to.
sake (Acts 9:16). Yet at times, I feel
(please turn to page 13)
overwhelmed by these daily difficulties
Page 15
Paulinian Echoes
“Choose
On January 22, I was excited to
experience taking part in the 36th
Annual March for Life.
I was
encouraged by Sr. Manuela to take a
day off and was blessed by Fr. Anthony
to participate in the day. I went to
Verizon Center with five Catholic
students from American University. By
the time we arrived, there were many
young people in line waiting for the
opening of the Center. When the doors
opened at 7 a.m., we were able to get in
and find our seats. It was amazing to
see the young people enter in such a
short period of time and fill the center.
There was a big picture of Our Lady of
Guadalupe in the center of the altar. I
prayed to Mother Mary that every
activity today would go well and would
be peaceful.
There were several talks about
pro-life experiences. The message was
that our life is so precious no matter
what sickness and trial challenged our
life. Life is worth living and so my life
is worth living. From 8 to 9:30 we were
encouraged to go to confession to ready
ourselves to receive Jesus. Thousands
of young people prayed the Rosary and
meditated on the Luminous Mysteries.
It was powerful to pray together. At 10
a.m. mass began. Many bishops, priests,
and deacons processed toward the altar.
At the beginning of the mass,
Life!
Archbishop Wuerl acknowledged each
one of bishops and attendants. During
mass, Fr. Walsh gave the homily and
encouraged our vocation as a Christian
to follow the Lord Jesus where each of
us was located and to witness to others.
The liturgical music was beautiful
and meditative. Around noon the
mass was over and we were led to
walk towards the Mall. I got the
sticker “Pro Life” and the sign “Yes,
we can. Terminate Abortion.” The
weather was beautiful with bright
sunshine.
I saw the old, the young and even
children
with
parents
walking
peacefully and joyfully. They seemed
to celebrate life and to give voice to the
oppressed. Over the microphone we
were encouraged to “Choose Life!”
There were some people saying the
Rosary, some praying the Divine
Mercy
prayer,
some
shouting
and
other
walking
quietly with
signs of Pro
Life.
We
arrived
at
the Mall. I
saw
more
Page 16
Paulinian Echoes
people gathered here
for a ceremony for
Pro Life. After the
ceremony the big crowds moved
towards the Supreme Court. It was a
long wait to follow the line but nobody
pushed. Instead they looked excited
and joyful. Some shared cookies and
smiled at one another. Thousands of
people walked. On the way there were
the pictures of the victims of abortion
and killing babies in many forms.
Those reminded us “Stop Abortion!”
Finally we arrived at the
Supreme Court.
Some people
distributed red roses to the
attendants. I smelled the perfume of
roses in front of the Supreme Court.
That reminded me of Mother Mary
and her presence with us today.
I have learned a lot through this
experience. Life is precious; it is a gift
from God. We need to respect one
another and we need to protect
unborn babies. We are challenged to
“Choose Life!” Jesus is our life, our
way and our truth. He will lead us
and guide us each day. I believe he is
always walking ahead of us. Let us be
not afraid, let us choose Life each
moment.
Sr. Daria Moon, DISTRICT OF USA.
Life And Love Program TIMOR LESTE
Why are these Timorese children looking very up-beat? Because they have just
finished Sunday Catechism lessons with SPC novices and postulants,
satisfactorily ending the lessons with a big cup of choco-milk and nutribread!! All the goodies are made possible through the generosity of LIFE AND
LOVE of the Diocese of Suwon, Seoul, through the recommendation of Sr.
Gemma Lucie, Provincial Superior, and our Sisters of the Province of Seoul.
Kamsahamnida! Obrigado!
- Sr Marie Carmen – REGION OF TIMOR LESTE
Page 17
Paulinian Echoes
Excerpts from the Diocesan Review of Chartres :
Examples to Follow
They gave their whole lives to the Lord and to the poor:
Sr Paul de Marie : missionary in Madagascar from 1963 to 2008
Sr Cécile de Loyola : missionary in Madagascar and in Cameroon from 1955 to 1991.
Sister Cecile, you have been a
moved to see these two hundred
missionary, tell us about your first years
patients and their families. The chief
in Madagascar.
doctor told her: "You can come to the
In 1955, twelve sisters, French
and Vietnamese, were sent to start the
mission in Tuléar. Three months
after their arrival, having learned a
little Malagasy, the Sisters of St. Paul
took over the direction of the
Nazareth school. In my first grade
class, I could only accommodate 60
girls, but I had 150. Since I had two
young ladies with me, we formed
three groups. One group in the
classroom and two others held class
in the shade of tamarind trees, sitting
on the ground, slate in hand .... On
Saturdays, we visited the different
sectors of the town, accompanied by a
young lady, to have contact and
conversations with people. Soon,
young Malagasy ladies came to join
us such that we had to open a
Novitiate.
Did you know Sister Paul de Marie then?
Yes, already, in Chartres, when we
were young religious, if anyone asked
her name, she replied: "Sister Paul of
Tarsus." She would have liked to go
right away on a mission to take care of
the poor, as she wrote. In 1963, she was
asked
to
go
to
Madagascar.
At the hospital in Tuléar run by the
French military, she was a nurse in the
service of prisoners, always ardent to
seek out and treat the most vulnerable.
Very soon, she began to go along on
visits to the lepers in the village of
Ambika, 25 km from Tulear. She was
leper colony,” She did and she took
over the responsibility in 1983.
Highly organized, with the help of
funds
from
"Raoul
Follereau
Foundation," she has transformed the
village. She taught the more active
lepers how to do nursing care. She
built small buildings so that children
could study, then a chapel, gardens,
workshops, so that the healed lepers
had vocational skills when they go
home… Ambika became a place of
rebirth and joy. Since 1993, the center
also began treating the growing
number of tuberculosis patients.
She knew how to give thanks. Thus,
just before her death, she wrote to the
Scouts of Cluses who came to bring a
container of vitamin enriched food.
Worn out from work, she left Ambika
when she was 84 years old. She died on
22 November 2008, after 45 years of
life in Madagascar. Her funeral was
magnificent: big crowd of mourners
and numerous eulogies!
And you, Sister Cecile after your years of
teaching?
In 1964, I was appointed the
Provincial of Madagascar-coordination
of communities, formation of Sisters,
new constructions ...at the end of 1983,
I went to Cameroon. I returned to
France in 1991, spent 7 years in Voves,
then
to St. Elizabeth‟s until last
January, and now I am staying at the
Mother House in Chartres.
Page 18
Paulinian Echoes
Pauline Year Celebrations
in Canada
The two thousandth anniversary of
the birth and of the conversion of
their beloved Patron, PAUL, the
Apostle to the Nations, was celebrated
with piety and enthusiasm by all the
Sisters of Saint Paul of Canada.
It is thanks to Paul, the missionary
hors pair that we are present in
Canada. He had wanted to cover the
world of his time to announce the
Good News of Jesus Christ, and to
found communities for this reason at
the borders and at all centuries:
Antioch,
Athens,
Corinthians,
Levesville, Chartres, Antilles, Vietnam,
Korea,
Thailand,
Quebec,
and
Madagascar...
The multinational community of
Montreal celebrated the feast with
pomp…. thanks to the presence of
Sisters from Guadeloupe, Korea,
Vietnam, Madagascar, and Québec.
What‟s more, they also had the good
fortune of having, Sister Brigitte
Savage, the Provincial Superior with
them!
At
Grande-Vallée,
the
celebration was given a special accent
during the parish liturgy.
The Sisters of Pabos celebrated in
a style typical of Saint Paul- by
participating
actively
in
a
teleradiothon: “Funds to Aid the
handicapped.” From 10:00 a.m. to
8:00 p.m., they answered the
telephone, accommodating the people
who made donations, and calling
potential
donors….
They
also
participated in the Mass of Saint Paul
and prayed the Pauline Vespers.
At Grande-Rivière, it was
decided, in agreement with the parish
priest, that a special place will be
given to the great Apostle in the
Sunday liturgy. The theme of the
celebration was, “If I do not have
love…” The choir leaders put their
hearts into giving the Mass a Pauline
flavor. In his homily, Father Remi
emphasized the Apostle‟s tireless zeal
for announcing Jesus Christ. He also
took the opportunity to thank the
Sisters of Saint Paul for the work they
are dong in the parish, especially in
teaching catechism.
The two communities of Val
d’Espoir and Grande Rivière had
planned to come together to celebrate
a fraternal meal, but due to the
extreme cold, the car of Val d’Espoir
failed to start….
At Charny, the community
invited the parish priest for Mass and
a meal to follow. Very naturally, the
great subject of the conversation was
SAINT PAUL! Father Gabriel was
so interested that he asked to have a
special page on the life and writings of
this grand Apostle in the next parish
leaflet. A good text has already been
written. It concludes by calling to
mind the mission of the Sisters of
Saint Paul on the five continents
and an extract of our Capitular Acts
2007.
On this great day of the feast of
our patron, the Sisters of the
Page 19
(Continued on page 25)
Paulinian Echoes
Discovering St. Paul in Chartres,
With the Sisters of St Paul
This Saturday,
May 24, 2008, saw a
very animated
atmosphere at the
Mother House. It
was the Fraternal
Assembly, a weekend
consecrated to the
discovery of Saint
Paul.
We were a group
of 80 persons, lay
people and Sisters of
Saint Paul.
We
alternated
having
reflections in a group,
conferences given by
Sister Jean Noël and personal prayer.
In the evening, we watched a video
which helped us to situate Saint Paul
in his own epoch.
Meditating on the passages from
the Acts of the Apostles and the
letters of Saint Paul helped us to
understand our spirituality better.
Sunday Mass with the community was
a intense moment for the participants,
as was also the meditation on the
stained-glass windows in the chapel.
As we parted, no one said “goodbye,” instead there were enthusiastic
“see you again!”, a sure sign that each
one wanted to have more of these
encounters.
Following are several testimonies
received from the participants
Time of reflection… Times of
friendly encounter with the religious
and the other participants…. The
atmosphere was friendly. The music
and the singing were always well-
prepared and helpful
in the times given for
reflection and prayer.
This was a powerful
time for me, which
helps me to better
deal with everyday
life.
Thank you,
Sisters for being
present and active in
our
village,
our
parish,
and
our
Diocese - Michelle
One Sister asked me:
“Will you come to our
place, to discover St.
Paul?‟ I immediately
answered, “Yes.” For me this was a
time of reflection, of quiet and of
great joy, in the midst of the Sisters of
Saint Paul, who are very joyful.
“And therefore, because of this hope
that is in us, we are full of
assurance.”
- Suzanne
Invited by the Community of
Sisters to walk along with Saint Paul,
we received a very warm and joyful
welcome by the religious. Was this
the grace of the Holy Spirit? To read
and reread these Epistles, when
doubt assails and destabilizes us, we
receive once more the zest for life , of
living with Christ, in spite of all our
weaknesses.
St. Paul has written a superb
Epistle about love: “Love can do all.”
Like him, let us love Jesus with all
our strength, never becoming
disheartened, because He loves us.
(Continued on page 25)
Page 20
Paulinian Echoes
My „Special‟ Apostolic Mission
Three years ago, when Mother
Provincial invited me to go to China
for evangelization, the words of the
song “Here I am, Lord” were always in
my mind. Although Mother Provincial
did not pressure me in anyway, I
tried to find a job for myself at once,
as I knew that I am not living for man
but for God!
At that time the Director of the
Rehabilitation Center in Shek Kwu
Chow, Mr. Mak, was looking for
volunteers, so I gathered a few
volunteers both Catholics and nonCatholics, and we started to teach the
former drug-addicts basic computing;
Putonghua; English. In between we
also taught them to sing sacred songs,
sometimes told them Bible stories and
prayed with them. We treated them
like friends and they shared their sad
experiences with us. Nearly all of
them grew up in the poor estates
areas. Listening to their stories, I felt
like I was watching Hong Kong
Chinese films of the 60‟s. But, it was a
reality!
Due to their inferiority complex they
thought that Catholic was an upper
class religion and it was not for them.
So I had to help them see that I myself
am a committed Catholic and that it
had nothing to do with social class
During these three years, I saw
many of our friends relapse and
return to the Center. For one reason
or another they could not stay out of
drugs for a long period However,
there were quite a few successful
cases. For instance, there was a
mother who cried bitterly having to
send her young adult son to the
Center, but after 2 or 3 years, she
cried with joy to receive back her lost
son who is now studying part time in
a Polytechnic University, has a very
good girlfriend and now working as a
part-time clerk in the Center. We also
witnessed some of the rehabilitants
who had been received back by their
wives and children. We continue our
mission there to let them know that
the society will accept them.
The Director, Mr. Mak has seen
our enthusiasm and decided to ask
the inmates to transform an old
building into a small chapel for us. It
is named “The Catholic Holy Family
Chapel” and we hope that God‟s
infinite love and His own presence
will one day touch their hearts! “I was
in prison and you visited me.”(Matt.
25:26)
To actualize the Gospel
invitation, I became involved not only
as spiritual directress of one of the
groups, but I joined the ministry.
Once a
month, I go with the
volunteers to visit Ma Hang Prison in
Stanley. Before each visit, the
volunteers
prepare
themselves
through Bible studies, sharing and
prayers. We all hope to bring the
Good News to the prisoners. We
reserve some time to talk about the
Catholic religion and its doctrines. I
remember once after our talk, there
was a young adult who came to me
and told me that when he will be
released he will go to Chai Wan to
attend the Catechumenate class with
his wife. Later, at a Christmas party
with the “The Missionaries of Charity”
( continued on page 23)
Page 21
Paulinian Echoes
Relics of St. Therese Visit Stintzi College
One day, I heard that the relic of
Saint Therese of the Child Jesus was
coming to Cameroon in January 2009.
These relics are objects of piety and I
patiently waited for the day when I
can see and be able to touch the
objects that had once belonged to one
of the greatest Saints of the modern
times. For me, touching these relics is
just like touching Saint Therese
herself. Below are some of the
testimonies of
some students of
their lifetime they would ever see the
relics of a Saint. “These relics brought
inner peace. I was touched by the way
Saint Therese grew in holiness. Truly,
we should make more efforts so that
the Lord may hear our prayers.”
Others took it a sign that God calls
them to conversion. “ My faith has
become weak. The presence of the relics
in this College has nurtured and
strengthened it.”
Stintzi college and other people:
During her visit in Cameroon,
Saint Therese - through her relics made a stop at the Joseph Stintzi
College. It was an extraordinary event
for everyone. It was indeed a pleasant
surprise because we have already
received the relics in our parish. We
took it as a sign from God for all of us
at Stinzi College. Thus the “visit” was
marked by a disciplined student body
who listened attentively to the Priest
who briefly narrated the life of Saint
Therese. It was followed by joyful
singing.
It has been observed that everyone
was touched, Christians and nonChristians alike. So we hope that each
one of us may know how to live out
the grace received during this visit.
Some students believe that Joseph
Stinzi College was particularly blessed
because they never imagined that in
Page 22
(continued on page 24)
Paulinian Echoes
Friends of Saint Paul in Hong Kong
The friends of
St Paul in Hong
Kong was started
in 1990. It began
with 10 members
and today we
are 40. We are a
group of faithful
working in the
Institutions
related to the
Sisters of St Paul
of Chartres we
participate
in
their mission and share the fullness of
their spirituality. Under the spiritual
guidance of the Sisters we deepen our
Spirituality which we try to practice
in our mission of love in the family,
the parish and our workplace . We
have a prayer day and an annual
retreat. We also make pilgrimages
and hold regular meetings.
With St Paul we wish to be “all things
to all men.”
- Paul Lam, Chairman 2009-2010
______________________________________________
My „Special‟ Apostolic… continued from page 21
weak I make myself weak. I made
he came with his wife just to tell me
myself
all things to all men … for the
that
they
had
joined
the
sake
of
the Gospel, to have a share in its
Catechumenate ! Praise be to God!
blessings.” (I Cor. 9:22-23)
This “special” kind of apostolic
work does not belong to our
traditional work in schools or in
hospitals. It consists in going to the
far off places, in answer to the
people‟s needs. I have to be „aware‟
and „see‟ them, then go and do them.
Although in the mountain regions
or in the villages, conditions are
generally poor and the living standard
is very low, yet I feel that I have been
marked by the spirit of Marie Anne de
Tilly and the Sisters in Levesville,
with the spirit of simplicity, never
considering myself as important or
necessary. As St. Paul said, “For the
I feel that I am really blessed by
the fact that I can offer myself to God
and I live a meaningful life! “Here I
am Lord …I hear you calling in the
night. I‟ll go Lord, if you lead me. I‟ll
hold your people in my heart!”(from the
song: Here I am Lord) “God‟s spirit is in my
heart. He called me and set me apart. He
sent me to give the Good News to the
poor, tell prisoners that they are
prisoners no more… and go tell everyone
the news that the Kingdom of God has
come.” (from “Go Tell Everyone”).
Page 23
Sr Marie Stella YICK – HONGKONG
Paulinian Echoes
from the country. He is
the Bishop who in 1967
invited the Sisters of St
Paul to Banjarmasin to
start Suaka Insan, a
hospital serving all
peoples regardless of
their religion. After his
retirement, he chose to
reside in a parish close
to the SPC Novitiate in
Msgr.Demarteau: A Father to
Banjarbaru, the SPC
the Sisters of St Paul in Indonesia house, he says, which
is the joy of his heart.
Indeed, like a father he has supported
He is 92 years old, he spends his days
and guided the Sisters through the
in prayer and silence, mostly because
years. It is his joy to see the
he has lost his faculty of hearing. This
community grow- today there are 51
gentle, retired Bishop is the zealous
Indonesian Sisters and 6 Filipina
Dutch missionary who dedicated his
missionaries in 10 communitieslife for the Gospel in Indonesia.. He
assuring the mission‟s continuity.
was among the first foreign missionFor the Sisters, he continues to be a
aries to embrace Indonesian citizenbeloved
and revered spiritual father.
ship when foreigners were expelled
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Relics of St. Therese… continued from page 22
perseverance and commitment in my
faith journey.
A religious said: “The most awaited
An educator said “Having this
experience of being very close to the
Saint through her relics gave me a
clear honest view of my faith. I have
decided to make her my model in
day came when we received the relic of
St Therese in our parish. I was there and
I was moved to tears realizing how Saint
Therese lived her short life in love and
simplicity. I saw just how far I still need
to journey along these lines. I felt a
strong desire for that holiness in love
and simplicity and asked St Therese to
obtain that grace for me as well as a
deep love of the Church. It was indeed a
grace when a few days later, we learned
that the relics will be brought to our
College without our asking for it.
- Students and Educators in J. Stintzi College,
Page 24
CAMEROON
Paulinian Echoes
Pauline Celebrations - Canada…(Continued from page 19)
Maison St. Paul
celebration , was highlighted by Holy
assembled at the
Communion under two species.
Parish Church of Sainte-AnneDuring the afternoon, the
des-Monts. They, along with the
community was invited to take part in
Friends of St. Paul, served at the
a quiz, centered on the life of Saint
celebration of the Mass, which was
Paul.
presided over by Father M. Blanchard,
A very beautiful celebration of
pastor of Haute Gaspésie.
One
the Word brought a fervent touch to
participant shared biblical reflections
the closing of the festivities of this
to us and to the “tiny remnant” who
Sunday, January 25, 2009,of the
made it to church, because on this
jubilee year of Saint Paul, our
Sunday in January, a terrible snow
PATRON:
storm prevented people from leaving
their homes.
At the Provincial House of
Notre-Dame-de-la-Paix, the nine
o‟clock Mass was a vibrant moment of
thanksgiving. The lovely statue of
Saint Paul, surrounded by vigil lights,
was enthroned on a pedestal, facing
those assisting at the Mass.
The
Mass began with a procession and the
singing of “I know in whom I have
put my trust.” The liturgy unfolded
in a prayerful atmosphere, with songs
and readings appropriate for this
great Pauline feast.
The festive
GLORY TO OUR FATHER,
THE APOSTLE and SOLDIER OF
GOD.
YOUR ENTIRE FAMILY,
O SAINT PAUL,
ACCLAIMS YOU IN EVERY PLACE.
IN YOUR HEART, YOU CARRY
EACH ONE OF OUR HEARTS and
MAKE THEM GROW.
MAKE OUR SOULS STRONG,
GUIDE OUR PATHS TO VICTORY IN
HEAVEN.
- Sisters – PROVINCE DE CANADA
Fraternal Assembly in Chartres(from page 21)
This was a time of recollection, a
moment of faith, in joy.
- Annick
of personal prayer. I have entirely
imbibed this refrain:
The warm fraternal welcome of the
Sisters, the harmony of the places
reserved for prayer, the richness of
the sharing on the Word, the diversity
of the people present… I really liked
the evening prayer vigil, with the
procession in candle light, the beauty
of the songs, the times of silence and
“Jesus, the Christ, interior light, let
not my darkness speak to me. Jesus,
the Christ, interior light, grant that I
may welcome your love.”
It stays with me all the time and
helps me to live in the presence of
Christ and to welcome his Word.
- Edith
Page 25
Paulinian Echoes
Mission in Guiana and Antilles
The French Guiana which was the
first
foreign
mission
of
our
Congregation, remains for us today, a
land of mission.
Indeed, since 1970, at the request
of the Bishop, the Sisters in the
Province of Antilles Guyane, agreed to
go to Maripasoula. They were to serve
at a home for children, where, as at
the beginning, they were to strive " to
raise the human and spiritual level.”
Much has been done by the Sisters
who preceded us. With the simplicity,
love and daring that characterize the
daughters of the Apostle of Nations,
they have carried out their mission
despite the limited means at their
disposal at the time.
Today Maripasoula has had, as
elsewhere, some development, but
much still remains to be done.
This isolated town in western
French Guiana, is home to a vast
diversity of peoples, Creoles (of
Guiana, Sta Lucia, the Caribbean,
Haiti), Surinamese, Africans, Asians,
Europeans, Brazilians, Bonis or
Alukus, Amerindians. It has a
population of 4,241 inhabitants and
an area of 18,536 km2.
Maripasoula is located 300 km
from the capital, Cayenne, in French
Guiana. The border is the Maroni
River which separates Guiana from
Surinam, some 50 minutes by
motorboat from Cayenne.
Many small villages along the river
are also part of this country. They are:
New Wacapou, Elahi, Cayodé,
TwenkéTalhuen, Pidima, Antécume
Pata.
To get there, you must take the
river, and travel on canoes. We
sometimes have the opportunity to
get there and see the spiritual vacuum
that prevails there. Also, these people
fall prey to sects coming mostly from
America.
Our community is composed of
four West Indian Sisters. We provide
catechesis for the children of the
parish, two of our Sisters are in
charge of the choir. One Sister gives
pre-catechesis to little children,
initiating them to Christian and
community living. The elderly and
sick appreciate very much the visits of
the Sisters.
Our primary activity is the
education of young people at the
Home where we have at this time.
Page 26
Paulinian Echoes
about forty students
from 8 to 18 years of
age We must say that our work with
them is not always easy: outside the
normal problems associated with
adolescence, we have to deal with
different cultures. But with the help of
God‟s grace, we want to become "all
things to all people."
The Alukus
we taught how to read: "Sister, I'm
glad, I have always prayed to Jesus
that one day I could go to school and
learn to read and write."
These are the descendants of
former slaves who came to Guiana,
and who refused the camps to flee to
the heart of the Guyanese forest and
have retained their ancestral customs.
So this is a people who love freedom
and refuse anything that might seem
to them a form of constraint to such
freedom. Since attendance at school is
seen as part of this constraint, this
explains the high rate of illiteracy.
For the same reasons, our children
in school at Maripasoula, have
generally a very low academic level.
Many start schooling late and some
are left to themselves, without any
adult reference. When they return to
the Home after a few days spent with
their families, we have to start all over
again from square one.
So we find ourselves with
adolescents who still need to be
taught many basic things. What is
striking is their desire to know. Here
is a reflection of a 16 year old whom
First, we felt it necessary to learn
more about these two ethnic groups
that we receive at the Home: The
Alukus and the Amerindians.
They have a native decorative art
that is a common feature of their
houses, and that the young can
skillfully
reproduce. It
is called the
"Timbé."
Among
the
great
majority of
the people - even though they attend
the Catholic Church - there is a strong
dose of animism. They believe in a
superior force with whom they seek to
be in concordance to gain favors .
They speak of "Gadou.”
Their funeral rite is unique, and
their being baptized does not prevent
them from being buried according to
their customs.
Page 27
(to be continued )
Paulinian Echoes
Note: Sr. Jeanne Helene Sineau, our competent
and experienced archivist traces the history of
our Constitutions in a series of articles.
Part IV: Our Constitutions after the Second Vatican Council
We have reached the first stage of the
Special General Chapter of 1968 which
was entirely consecrated to the updating
of our Constitutions.(4) A. M. M. 4 G 20
- 16
On December 1, 1966, Mother Marie
Paul addressed herself to the entire
congregation once again. Let me give you
some excerpts of her circular letter:
“Dear Sisters,
After the big work of the
transcription of the manuscripts, the
translation, and lay out, we are ready to
present some texts to you which I need to
introduce.
In the packed copies that we are
sending, you will find:
1) Chapters 1-2 and the first half of
chapter 5 of the First Rule. These were
taken from the manuscript found
preserved in the Mother House of the
Sisters of Charity of Strasbourg.
2) A commentary on Chapters 1-2 of this
Rule taken from an undated
manuscript kept in our archives.
These texts should be studied in
community in the light of the Gospels
and the Epistles of St. Paul, with the
Council Documents. Thus, with a better
understanding of how our founders had
wanted the Sisters of Saint Paul to live
the Gospel among the men of their times,
we may come to discern what we ought
to do today.
This study is extremely important
because this should lead us to identify
the specific nature and spirit of the
Sisters of Saint Paul in Chapter 1 of the
new Constitutions.
3) A questionnaire that allows every one
to participate in the drafting of the
text of the Constitutions.
The first Chapter will contain the
conclusions of the study which is being
asked of you. The rest of the text will
make use of the serious work you have
done last year, in preparation for the
General Chapter. We shall simply ask
you if you approve that these texts will
be written in the Spirit of the General
Chapter of 1965.
But please take note that we need to
know the mind of everybody concerning
the Chapter on Poverty on the question
of the giving up of inheritance being
asked in n° 24 of the Motu proprio
„Ecclesiae Sanctae‟.
May I ask a great discipline on your
part, to follow the indications given on
the explanatory note about the manner
that the answer should be given so as to
facilitate the work of collating responses.
Most of all, please pray that this
work of the Congregation on itself may
allow us a deeper encounter with God
and once more receive from Him the
expression of His design for us.”
Page 28
(to be continued)
Paulinian Echoes
Here I Am, Lord!
February 2, 2009 is a day that we
will never forget. On that day, God
made a Covenant of Love with us
openly. In love, we vowed ourselves in
response.
The Profession Ceremony was held
at Christ the King Chapel. Adjutor
Bishop John Tong and other priests
offered the Eucharistic Celebration.
Many faithful took part and joined
our thanksgiving, witnessing to our
First Profession. There were also five
Sisters celebrating their Diamond,
Golden and Silver Jubilees of joining
the religious life. In them, we saw the
beauty of our consecrated life. We
were very nervous but very happy and
full of peace. The readings and songs
of the Mass expressed our feeling of
lowliness and our marvel at the work
of the Lord. Our First Profession is
the beginning of our consecrated life
which lasts through our whole life.
Only the Love of God and the
fraternal accompaniment of our
Sisters can sustain us and give us
strength to walk on to the end of this
journey.
We sincerely give thanks to the
Lord. We are very grateful to our
Provincial Superior, our Novice
Mistress and all our Sisters, for all
their love, care, acceptance and
guidance. They have provided us with
a warm community wherein we learn
and grow. May the Holy Spirit guide
us continuously that we will find our
only Treasure – Christ. May we love
everyone with the love of Christ, going
towards the Father.
Sr. Anna Felicie Nguyen Sr. Maria Celine Phan
PROVINCE OF HONGKONG
___________________
Mother Myriam
gives a crucifix to each of
the newly-professed
Sisters during the First
Profession Ceremony on
January 25, 2009
in Railaco,
Timor Leste
Page 29
Paulinian Echoes
Solemn Blessing of the Professed – Profession Ceremony
February 2, 2009 - Banjarbaru,Indonesia
FIRST PROFESSION
Danang, Vietnam : May 29, 2009
Sr Therese Le Thi Dong
Sr Marie Tu Thi Minh Chi
Sr Marie Nguyen Thi Luong Anh
Sr Elisabeth Ho Thi Kim Phung
Sr Marie Dang Thi Luyen
Sr Marie Ngo Thi Kim Dung
Sr Anne Le Uyen Phuong
Sr Marie Tran Thi Khuyen
Sr Therese Phan Thi Them
Sr Therese Dau Thi Hong Thien
Sr Marie Nguyen Thi Quoc Khanh
Sr Anne Nguyen Thi Nhung
Sr Anne Le Thi Ngoc Hau
Sr Marie Nguyen Thi Hoa
Sr Marie Phan Thi Khuyen
Sr Marie Huynh Ngoc Uyen
Sr Marie Nguyen Thi Thuy Mui
Sr Therese Nguyen Thi Thanh Thuy
Sr Agnès Bui Thi Ngoc Lien
Sr Marie Bui Thi Ngoc Anh
Sr Marthe Nguyen Thi Thanh Thuy
Sr Anne Nguyen Thuy Thuy Doan
Sr Marie Nguyen Thi Bao Khuyen
Saigon, Vietnam: July 14, 2009
Sr Anne VO Thuy Minh Nguyet
Sr Thérèse NGUYEN Thi Thien Kim
Sr Marie HOANG Thien Dung
Sr Anne NGUYEN Thi Cat
Sr Thérèse NGUYEN Thi Thanh Thao
Sr Marie LE Thi Thu Ha
Page 30
Sr Thérèse HO Thi Phuong Thuy
Sr Cecilia NGUYEN Ly Hong An
Sr Thérèse BUI Nguyen Vong Dang
Sr Marie LAI Thi Thu Trang
Sr Marie NGUYEN Thi Thanh Hang
Sr Thérèse NGUYEN Thi Kim Khue
Paulinian Echoes
PERPETUAL PROFESSION
Thailand May 5, 2009
Sister Benilda SOMJAN
Danang, Vietnam May 23 2009
Sr Agnès Nguyen Thi Bich Lien
Sr Marie Truong Thi Yen
Sr Anne Hoang Thi Luan
Sr Marie Dang Thi Thuy Giang
Sr Elisabeth Nguyen Thi Ly
Sr Marie Thai Thi Thanh Van
Sr Therese Dang Thi My Tho
Sr Marie Hoang Thi Han
Sr Anne Dinh Thi Soi
Sr Anne Dao Tho Hoa
Sr Marie Mguyen Thi Thanh Thuy
Sr Marie Dang Thi Chung
Sr Marthe Nguyen Thi Luy
Sr Marie Truong Thi Thom
Sr Cecile Pham Duong Quynh
Sr Marie Nguyen Thi Thanh
Sr Marie Nguyen Thi Xuan Thu
Sr Elisabeth Lam Thi Hong Phung
Sr Marie Nguyen Thi Le Tham
Sr Madeleine Nguyen Thi Mot
Saigon, Vietnam June 29, 2009
Sr Elisabeth Ly Thi Thanh Truc
Sr Agnès Nguyen Thi Kim Dung
Sr Marie Nguyen Thi Anh Thur
Sr Anne Huynh Thi Nhung
Sr Teresa Avila Tran Thi Mai Ly
Sr Lucie Pham Thi Thu Thuy
Sr Thérèse Nguyen Thi Thu Trang
Sr Thérèse Vo Thi Thu Ha
Sr Anne Nguyen Thi Bich Son
Sr Marie Nguyen Thi Mong Hang
Sr Agnès Nguyen Thi Thu Huong
Sr Marie Dinh Thi Tuoi
Sr Marie Nguyen Thi Ngoc Bich
Sr Thérèse Nguyen Tran Yen Quyen
Sr Marie Nguyen Thi Thanh Xuan
Sr Thérèse Tran Thi Nguyet
Sr Thérèse Tran Thi Kim Thur
Mytho, Vietnam June 29, 2009
Sr Thérèse NGUYEN Thi Thanh Thuy
Sr Marie DINH Thi Hong Van
Sr Marie NGUYEN Thi Thuong Phuong
Sr Marie PHAN Thi Hue
Sr Marie NGUYEN Thi Thuyet Ly
Sr Thérèse VO Thi Be Hai
Sr Marie LE Thuy Kieu
Sr Elisabeth DO Thien Huong
Sr Marie NGUYEN Thi Ngoc Diem
Sr Marie NGUYEN Thi Huong Tuoi
Sr Marie PHAM Thi Hong
Page 31
Paulinian Echoes
Going Home to the Father
A new season in eternity
ANTILLES GUYANE
March 13 .
Sr Cécilia du Sacré-Cœur JULIENNE, 87
CANADA
February 15
April 4
Sr Marie-Claire COTE, 85
Sr Marie-Germaine LEVESQUE, 91
SEOUL, KOREA
February 25
Sr Gemma Yung Sun MIN, 89
DAEGU, KOREA
February 6
April 27
Sr Lucie Huynh
thi thu Huyen,
48, of Danang,
Vietnam was on
her way to Mass
in Kontum
Sr Marie Jean Hye-kyong KIM, 81
Sr Marie Cécile Soon-Ok KIM, 73
FRANCE
January 9
January 11
January 16
January 28
January 31
March 18
March 20
March 24
Sr Andrée-Marie LECROSNIER, 88
Sr Jean Thérèse POUJOL, 91
Sr Paul Lucien MASSOL,92
Sr Thérèse de St François CHEVALIER,97
Sr Yves de Jésus OZIER-LA FONTAINE, 98
Sr Damien de Marie DOUHA, 93
Sr Marie Jacques DAVAREND, 95
Sr Yves Marie FRUCHARD,89
PHILIPPINES
January 7
January 9
January 13
February 3
February 11
Sr Mamerta of the Cross ROCERO,94
Sr Benedict of Jesus HILISAN, 97
Sr Maria Pura RAMOS, 93
Sr Rosaline de Marie ILDEFONSO, 86
Sr Mary Bonaventure LARA, 71
THAILAND
February 24
March 6
April 14
Sr Sophie de St Henri THUTHAVON, 92
Sr Rene Robert NOPHAVONGSE,100
Sr Clarisse de la Croix SIWADIT, 96
DANANG, VIETNAM
January 6
January 20
Sr Marie Clément NGUYEN Thi Sen, 90
Sr Lucie HUYNH Thi Thu Huyen *(accident), 48
SAIGON, VIETNAM
January 25
February 9
March 24
Sr Thérèse de la Croix LE Thi Be,77
with another
Sister who was
driving the
motorbike.
A car hit them,
the two Sisters
fell to the
pavement.
Sr. Lucie was
seriously
wounded and
she died from
her injuries.
May she rest in
peace.
Sr Théophane de Jesús NGUYEN Thi Nhung, 71
Sr Dominique de Jésus DUONG Thi Su, 91
We wholeheartedly thank all the Sisters who have contributed to the Paulinian
Echoes. Articles, poems and news items- especially with accompanying pictures are
most welcome. We are waiting for the contributions from other Provinces, Districts
and Regions .
– The Editorial Staff
Page 32