We gathered in the prayer room at 5.45 pm where the picture of the Founder had been decorated. The General Council led us prayerfully in the celebration.
Let us celebrate…
We gathered in the prayer room at 5.45 pm where the picture of the Founder had been decorated. The
General Council led us prayerfully in the celebration. As we informed you earlier, the celebration had a triple purpose:
Ø TO WELCOME EACH OTHER as a community. Together we form a sacred community of life whose source is our Trinitarian God, who is Love-Communion.
Ø TO CELEBRATE the start of our journey together in the service of the mission entrusted to us.
Ø TO RECEIVE the crosses which remind us that we inherit a common story, written day by day, which has roots deep in the Paschal Mystery.
The M. Carmen Vilardell drew our attention to the theme of
I am who I alone am.
The Mystery of God in our lives, in history, in the whole of Creation was reflected in an inspiring Powerpoint presentation.
Creation is ceaselessly in the process of becoming, and in this becoming, our Planet Earth holds within it “all the potential necessary to become our home, our house, a global village, a place of relationships and alliances.” (José Cristo Rey Paredes, CMF, La Vida Consagrada en perspectiva ecológica)
After the reflection, a symbolic new invitation was given to enter into the dance of relationships, celebrating the beginning of a new stage. That means we are not starting from scratch, because our life and our story are connected to the life and the story of those who have gone before us.
“A CALL WHICH DYNAMIZES US AND INSPIRES US TO MOVE OUT”
Life is not static. It changes, and it changes us; it shifts, and compels us to shift. Our life-story is marked by the changes which oblige us to “move out” from the known and open us to what is new. We are always on the move.
The word of God:
“Yahweh said to Abraham: Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you… So Abram went, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him… and they set forth to go to the
land of Canaan.”
DECIDING TO SET OUT, AND TO TRUST IN GOD
Once more, we were invited to walk in faith, to free ourselves from our chains, trusting in a God who is faithful and who fulfils his promises, who accompanies us on our way and renews our strength.
In their desire to be faithful to our roots, like Abraham, like Pierre Bienvenu Noailles, and following his example, the Early Mothers and all those who have gone before us trusted God at every moment, and in every circumstance. They relied on GOD ALONE, their only rock, the source of their strength. The word: I AM THE One who is … there is only I who am … I will be with you always…
LEAVING IN ORDER TO FOLLOW JESUS, AND TO BE SENT OUT BY HIM
We have not undertaken this journey for our own sakes; our way is indicated by the voice of the One who says: “Follow me!” inviting us to walk with him…
The new
General Council received the Crosses which have been passed down from Council to Council throughout the history of our Family. The Crosses were presented to each one by Françoise AUBIN, who symbolised in her person the previous General Council and all those to whom the crosses had been confided for the duration of their mandate.
The meaning of the Cross is the offering of a life, an act of love. Jesus gives himself totally, out of love for the Father, and love for the whole of Creation. It is from this gift of self-offering in love, even unto death, that LIFE is born.
The Cross brings us right to the heart of our own Consecration. Like Jesus, we are consecrated, because all of creation is holy. In this covenant mystery,
“We live out the offering of our whole being by letting ourselves be transformed and renewed by the love of God and of our brothers and sisters. With Jesus, Mary and Joseph, we learn to live no longer for ourselves, but for God Alone in the service of the Kingdom. We rely on God’s faithfulness sure of his love, his light and his strength” (Constitutions 9)
Response of the Council members:“The Cross we receive today makes us a community on mission; it invites us to go forward, and to put all our energy into carrying out the mission entrusted to us.”
