Newbridge, Ireland
On Saturday afternoon, 4th February, over 50 members of the Family of PBN gathered in the Holy Family School for the official launch of the bi-centenary celebration.
Claire began by stating that the main purpose of the gathering was to launch the opening of the bi-centenary celebration. She said how good it was to see that four groups of the Family were represented here this afternoon. She also reminded us that at this time we were united with members of a much wider Family throughout the world and being in communion with our world- wide Family makes us who we are.
She said that the way we will celebrate this bi-centenary is by living the gift of who we are as members of one Family, a Family that reaches out to our world -wide family. It was also emphasised that in gathering today to be celebrating two hundred years was a grace filled occasion and that the Founder himself would be very proud of all that has been lived and achieved over the last 200 years.
But the question we ask is, how will we celebrate? Over the next three years we will work, pray and reflect together through deepening the richness of our Charism and trying to live it with courage and enthusiasm.
We then read our Bi-Centenary prayer. Claire read the first part as reflection inviting us to stop and ponder on the words. The second page we prayed together.
Later in the afternoon we enjoyed a chat and a cup of tea together.