Agatha, Rosemary and Sarah, three of our novices in Nigeria, recall some recent encounters they had with people and how they have been challenged to think about how they are living out the call of our General Chapter Statement.

As part of our California Regional Discernment Day September 26th, Sr. Joyce Meyer gave us a talk about the challenges facing leadership.   Joyce reminded us that each of us is a leader.  Here is some of the wisdom that Joyce shared with us.  For the future, those in leadership face three main challenges:

The opening Mass of the 16th Plenary Session of ACWECA took place on 17th August 2014 at the Cathedral of the Child Jesus, Lusaka, Zambia under the theme: “Go out, be not afraid, and serve”. Prior to the Mass the Cathedral grounds were filled with women religious from all Dioceses of Zambia, along with women religious from each of the countries of East and Central Africa: Eritrea, Ethiopia, Republic of Sudan, South Sudan, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania and Malawi.

Five students from fourth and fifth year, who are already part of a Pledge Club in school (abstaining from alcohol until 18 years of age and never doing drugs) joined the Dublin Diocesan Youth Pilgrimage to Taize in July 2014.  This was a first time for the students and they enjoyed their experience immensely.  This is what two students wrote about their pilgrimage:

In 1964, the year 2014 was an eternity away, almost unimaginable!
Yet here I am in 2014 now a golden jubilarian shaped by fifty years of ups and downs but above all still in love with God and God’s people.  Jubilees are wonderful occasions.  They deserve to be celebrated not only for the celebrants but for everybody else as well.

The United Nations has called an urgent climate meeting in Paris on 23rd September with all major world leaders.  The leaders need our encouragement to forge an agreement with common sense steps to end dirty energy that will help the world to build a hopeful, clean and green future.

Each year our Congregation celebrates the Feast of the Assumption (15th August) as our Patronal Feast Day.  This year sisters gathered in their communities in different parts of the world to mark this special day in different ways.  In Dublin almost 100 sisters gathered in Sandymount, at the invitation of the General Leadership Team. 

The English/Scottish Province has been reflecting on how they can implement the Chapter document ‘Companions at a New Table’. In their discussions one concern that has emerged quite strongly is that of people who are isolated in our society. That is why it was particularly relevant for a group of sisters to attend the launch of a new initiative at St Joseph’s Hospice in Hackney, entitled ‘Compassionate Neighbours’.  READ MORE...

Here we have two poems written by Sr Ellen Galvin and offered for your enjoyment and reflection:

It has been observed that persons with disabilities are being discriminated against and denied their rights when it comes to issues of employment, election, marriage, empowerment etc., because society seems to look at physical appearance before considering self-worth and what the individual can offer.