30/09/2018 - France

News: Week 6 from Antoinette

Bless the Lord my soul!

It is with these words of the psalm that I come to you at the end of this week to share our journey thus far. We bless the Lord for his goodness and love. After three weeks of Marist pilgrimage, we acknowledge that our heritage is rich, inspiring and very simple. It is alive and well-kept!

Our last week in France was a quiet one. We made two visits: one at La Capucinière, where the first Marist Fathers made their vows – we were blessed to be there on the very day of the anniversary; the other was at Lamartine School – where the first Marist Fathers’ community lived, including Peter Chanel who was the director of the school before leaving for Oceania.

Most of our time was spent in prayer, reflection and gathering the treasure received. On the morning of the 26^th we had a powerful sharing where each one shared her personal experience of this pilgrimage. We then went to the tomb of Jeanne-Marie to say goodbye. To conclude our pilgrimage we planted a vine as a symbol of the call to us to “offer the wine of joy forever”.

We thank Teri for her generosity and big heart! She provided us with everything we needed. Our Sisters in France gave our pilgrimage a magic touch. We are grateful to have met them – their joy says it all!! We will cherish the personal encounter we had with each Sister.

This experience has exposed us, opened us up to something precious – to intercultural Marist life. We now move on more Marist and more confident for our future as a Congregation. So, the pilgrimage of France may be over, but it continues in our hearts and lives.

Since then we have returned to Via Aurelia where with the General House community welcomed us warmly. The week concluded with two days from Maryanne on the Spirituality of Stewardship. I leave you with these words of our foundress:

Our Lord alone can satisfy our hearts which must live and yearn for him only. (CMJ 85.1)

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