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Thanksgiving 2019

As the earth longs for rain, my soul needs God, my heart waits for God, my mind waits for God, day and night the challenges present themselves, but I put my trust in the Lord, and I walk to do his will. His love and grace sustain me, into the fortress where my Savior lives that protects me and calms my soul.

The goodness of the Lord made me walk here, He put before me a chosen life, in everything I give you thanks, Lord. He presents Himself abundantly in the grace of each day, in small and great miracles, He makes me look beyond the circumstances! Of fears and failures.

To believe in the grace of God and to know that everything comes from Him that gives me deliverance and growth. It teaches me the difference between living by grace and passing through grace.

Living everything I receive from life as grace is a gift, a gift! Cheerful or sometimes sad it is important to realize that there is always a form of communication from God in everything that happens to us.

When we pass through grace without recognizing who we are, we will easily lose communication with God and stagnate in time and space, and we run the risk of thinking that we are the center of the world.

So, I pray for this in thanksgiving, for the daily graces of my life.

For by grace you are saved through faith; and this does not come from you; it is the gift of God.
(Ephesians 2:8).

Lord, thank you for the gift of grace, which makes me humble and prepares me for the next day….

And he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. I will gladly glory in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me (2 Corinthians 12:9).

I thank you, Lord, for your mercy which sustains me, because I easily abandon you and I need you so that I do not fall…

Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ; through whom we also have an entrance by faith to this grace in which we stand; and we glory in hope of the glory of God (Romans 5:1-2).

I also come to thank you for the peace that your Spirit pours out on me and calms my heart and all my senses….

What shall we say then? Shall we remain in sin, so that grace may be more abundant? Not at all! We who are dead to sin, how can we still live in it? (Romans 6:1-2).

May I, Lord, walk and live in your grace, and may the walk with you transform all my being.
For sin will have no dominion over you, for you are not under the law, but evil under grace (Romans 6.14).

For under your shadow I put all my history and all that I am.

For what? shall we sin because we are not under the law, but under grace? not at all!
(Romans 6:15).

You know all about me, weaknesses, acts, omissions, fears, longings and desires. I am made up of you…in your image.

But the law came that offense might abound; but where sin abounded, grace abounded; that as sin reigned in death, so grace might reign for righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
(Romans 5:20-21).

And I take possession of the abundance of your…

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we saw his glory, as the glory of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth (John 1.14).

For now, we are one, because by grace the Lord dwells in me.

And we all receive of his fullness, with grace upon grace (John 1.16).
Amen.

Erika Santos, novice NDS
St. John in Montana community

Letter from St. John in Montana, 06/2019

Dear Sisters and Brothers,

The months of May and June have been filled with many different activities. Sr. Maureen continued with the course on Human and Faith development and also guided us in a four day retreat,

Sr. Patricia Watson came to visit us in the novitiate and shared with us her knowledge on dialogue and encounter with the other.

The CNF Team came for the meeting and following this, we went as a community for five days to Galilee walking in the footsteps of Jesus.The novices had prepared excellent information booklets on the various places we visited from the crusader stronghold of Acco to Nazareth which is the largest Arab speaking city in Israel. Being the place where Jesus lived his childhood, adolescence and adulthood, it attracts many pilgrims and tourists. Only some years ago there were found houses, baths and tombs dating from Roman times. In 2009, the Israeli archaeologist, Yardenna Alexandre excavated remains in Nazareth which date from the time of Jesus in the early Roman period. He told reporters, “The discovery is of the utmost importance since it reveals for the very first time a house from the Jewish village of “Nazareth.”

During our week of pilgrimage, we stayed at Tabgah with the Benedictine monks and lived a very simple way of community and prayer life. Another highlight was the Golan Heights with its beauty and splendor of vegetation. It is wonderful to see it in the springtime.

Ann Brittain and Mary Luc shared with the novices the Vows of Celibacy, Poverty and Obedience. We celebrated the feast of Shavuot and Pentecost at the beginning of June with Anne Catherine sharing her knowledge with us of the historical and spiritual aspects of these two feasts. Rabbi Levi helped us to realize that the breath of God, is not only the source of life but also the sustainer of life.

Our next event was the feast of John the Baptist he wore a garment made of camel-hair with a leather loin-cloth round his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. Today in Israel some special restaurants serve honey-spiced locusts and if you question the Kosher regulation read: Leviticus 11:22 which says that locusts are a kosher food. Of all these winged insects you may eat only the following: those with the sort of legs above their feet which enable them to leap over the ground. These are the ones that you may eat: the various kinds of migratory locust, the various kinds of solham locust, hargol locust and hagab locust.

After so many events and ups and downs with Hellen also leaving the Novitiate community, we are back on our regular schedule of encountering God, ourselves and others in our daily duties and activities. We wish you all a summer full of happy days and a wonderful time of holidays where you can live deeply by slowing down and noticing the other in a creative way.

Greetings and blessings from Juliana, for the Novitiate Community

Fr Mary Alphonse

Sharing a vocation

During the month of May, we celebrated as a Sion community three events which remind us of the importance of the priesthood, not only for the church but also for the world.

“Every high priest is selected from among the people and is appointed to represent the people in matters related to God,… He is able to deal gently with those who are going astray since he himself is subject to weakness. This is why he has to offer sacrifices for his own sins, as well as for the sins of the people.” Hebrews 5, 1-3

On May 6 we commemorated the 135th anniversary of the death of Alfons Ratisbonne, one of our founders. Who, after the apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary became a Christian and later a priest. He was from that moment the main collaborator in the new work of his brother Teodoro. Alphonse was a more resolute character. His was the inspiring and energetic vision for the foundation in Jerusalem.

During this same celebration presided over by Leopoldo Girelli, brother CRISTÓVÃO OLIVEIRA SILVA received the ministries of the lectorate and acolyte in order to continue his path towards the priesthood.

Also on May 16 in the church of Our Lady of the Ark of the Covenant in Abu Gosh, there was the priestly ordination of Benedetto Di Bitonto, by Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa; for the Vicariate of Saint James, dedicated to Hebrew-speaking Catholics. This was a moment of great joy and universal sharing since it was attended not only by his family: parents and friends but also by people who came from abroad, priests of the Latin Patriarchate and seminarians of Beit Jala, religious men, and women of different congregations , families from the communities of migrant Coptic monks and Jewish friends.

Why the priesthood is a gift from God for the church and the world?

During his ordination, the Priest receives the power to act in the person of Jesus Christ. Then, when pronouncing words such as “Because this is my Body” or “I absolve you from your sins,” it is Christ who acts through him, to pour out the spiritual benefits over souls.

They are chosen to be other Christs on earth and God’s light for others, not only in what they do but in who they are.

We know that they are not selected by personal qualities as a capacity for dialogue or listening (which many of them develop with great effort) because Jesus chose his disciples who were not perfect, who had many mistakes. But certainly, the logic and the call of God goes beyond the superficial. This condition of human frailty did not limit them in undertaking the mission that the Lord entrusted to them and so that God’s will works wonders through them. At the same time, these men seek to give in the midst of their weakness the best of themselves in their service every day.

For this reason, we must understand how important it is for that priest, who can be a source of hope and a manifestation of the presence of Christ in a world that is currently so disturbed and confused. Our prayer, companionship, and support ae needed. We are also part of this ministry.

Helen B, Novice
St. John in Montanta community

Back to Galilee

We again had the opportunity to visit Galilee for a few days. This time we were accompanied not only by the rest of the Novitiate Community but also by the sisters of the Formation Team of the Congregation. It was simply wonderful to be able to share with all of them.

Although within our itinerary were of course, places like Nazareth and Tabgha, which we had visited previously, it was so interesting to be able to view new archeological sites, which are significant from an historical, non-religious point of view.

On the first day we visited the city of Akko or Acre, a historical place where the preservation of some archaeological sites is extraordinary; it has been awarded heritage status by UNESCO precisely because of the degree of conservation and maintenance both by the authorities and the town population. This status also includes the care of visitors because tourism is currently one of their main sources of income. It was exciting to go through the tunnels built by the crusaders and to listen to the history of these amazing places.

Over the following days we made stop-overs in Capernaum, Magdala, Primacy of Peter and Nazareth, places that are of particular significance and relevance to us as Christians.

So impressive are the ruins of Nimrod that, despite it being the hottest day during our trip, some of us took on the task of going as far as possible up the incredible fortification, to the view -point at the top. What a wonderful silent storyline! Between its walls and stairs lie subterranean spaces (which I didn’t have enough courage to visit). You can imagine how each day developed in this fortress; and, of course, you can enjoy the wonderful surrounding panorama.

In order to freshen up a bit, we had the time to take a walk in the Natural Reserve of Banias, following the waters of the beautiful river, through exuberant vegetation that offered us surprises worthy of many photographs.

As well as this, we had the opportunity to make an unplanned visit to Domus Galilee, an international training center located on the Mount of Beatitudes and directed mainly by the Neocatechumenates. It is a place open to be visited by tourists and where we were granted the guidance of one of the resident seminarians who kindly led us through each space, providing us with detailed explanations and answering all our questions. A beautiful place without a doubt, where the work of volunteers, employees, and seminarians is combined.

On our third day, we were able to enjoy a quick visit to Tiberias to have our lunch. Here some of the sisters were eager to try the famous “fish of San Pedro”; this restaurant has a really beautiful view of the Lake of Galilee, where you can see different species of fish swimming below in the waters.

However, one of the places that impressed me the most, because of its meaning, was Mount Tabor; magnificent views accompanied us as we climbed and even more awaited us at the top. Despite extreme heat, for those who are not used to it, it was magnificent. Once there, we were able to be in the church with a silence that I have experienced seldom in these sacred sites, though I have visited many. There my sensations were different; the place invited me to meditate and reflect. It is simply beautiful. Now I can understand, a little, how the whole mountain contributed to that extraordinary moment of the disciples with Jesus during his transfiguration.

We thank the Lord for this incomparable experience of collaboration between us and all who shared our journey. We remember the communities of Benedictine brothers and sisters in Tabgha, where we stayed and shared the Eucharist. Of course, the time to reflect and pray together every evening as a Sion community was a precious experience.

Helen B, Novice
St. John in Montana community

The Pact of Turkenstein

During the French Revolution, the wave of anger against the Catholic Church rapidly took shape. The Legislative Assembly (1791), the Revolution’s second parliament, was even more extreme than the first. Thus divorce was also legalized.

The clergy, which was not included in the constitutional contract, was declared to be unworthy of trust. In August 1792, a decree against them was announced by which they were exiled.

All fraternities and welfare organizations were suppressed. The religious communities that worked in hospitals and that taught were suppressed. Thus, the poor were robbed of education for their children and of Christian love of neighbour, of care for the sick, of the Church’s mission for the sick and the handicapped.

By the Pact of Turkenstein in 1797, its participants dedicated themselves to counteracting these limitations. On Friday, June 23, 1797, on the feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, a pact was signed, a seed from which Sion grew. The three participants, Louise Humann, Theresia Breck and the later bishop of Mainz, Joseph Ludwig Colmar, dedicated themselves to the Christian education of young people and to the care of the sick. The Turkenstein Pact is later the basis for Theodore Ratisbonne who founded Notre Dame de Sion, the work of which in the beginning was the education and care of Christians who were orphans. They placed this work under the protection of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

The Pact of Turkenstein was concluded during the last days of the French Revolution, a time in which the faithful suffered very much at the hands of the revolutionaries. The persecution of the priests who had not taken an oath on the constitution brought much suffering, death, and exile. The practice of the Catholic faith remained forbidden, while great cathedrals continued to be impounded or destroyed. The free practice of religion was guaranteed by Bonaparte in 1799 at the capitulation. Although the Napoleonic era brought a gradual end to the terrors of persecution by the revolutionaries, it took a long time for the pain and suffering in the Church to get better.

Many years later, in the spirit of the Pact of Turkenstein, Louise Humann, who lived in Strasbourg, opened her house to a group of philosophy students. Among these young people were Louis Bautin, the later founder of the Sisters of St. Louis, and Theodore Ratisbonne, the founder of Notre Dame de Sion. Louise Humann became the group‘s spiritual mother and was particularly important for Theodore‘s journey of faith; she baptized him on Holy Saturday, April 14, 1827, after a long journey in search of faith.

Piece of God

“For behold, the winter is past; the rain is over, and it is gone. The flowers appear on the ground, the time has come for the birds to sing, and the voice of the turtle dove is heard in our land.” (Song of Songs 2: 11-12)

The summer arrived in Ein Karem full of joy, with many colures in flowers, the clouds more timid, sometimes appear almost as transparent as a curtain opening a sky blue, navy, turquoise, all shades. In the balance of life, I always miss some sacred minutes looking at the changing colures of the sky.

The day dawns yellow and goes to sleep with the red colour of the sunset. The other day I heard someone say that here is paradise, I do not know if it is. But I would say: Ein Karem is a piece of God in nature giving life to my life.

The fruit trees are also giving the air of grace! Small clusters of grapefruit form like a fetus in the mothers’ womb. The pomegranates with their red fruits hidden in the foliage are growing.

Ah! and has a caramel-coloured fruit that I do not even know the name says, it’s delicious is everywhere. Walking in the afternoon I find them giving off to me a wonderful aroma and a unique flavour. Speaking of aromas, what can l say of the roses that are so lush and rich in the garden?

They dance in the wind, in the air, in the atmosphere, they are really beautiful and so, colourful a feast for eyes, and for the soul a cure. I love to see them every day especially in the morning Sometimes I drink my coffee with the Roses, they are delicate and sensitive.

I scatter them throughout the house, into vases different shapes, and with loose petals. Roses exude love!

Awakened with the singing of the birds in different songs, an orchestra of several voices in a single tuning they enchant any ear One day I went to put the trash of the house outside, and in the middle of the way I was surprised with noise of a tapping touch. I stopped and saw a beautiful woodpecker working in her new home and looking for food for her young.

The butterflies and bees also come in search of food in the flowers and if we watch closely, we can see each one has a different way of feeding.

Now the wind is no longer the same, the one that brings the summer is a fresh and calm breath, the lightness of the wind at this time changes the season, the temperature and life that passes so fast, that now I wish it were slower. I wish summer had no wings, but legs so it would walk and not fly.

All of this beauty that we see here on Earth. An earth dried now by the sun. Deep in their stories and roots, land where everything was destroyed and rebuilt in stones, memory and nature.

Here I am witnessing this singular beauty of a new season, of a new colour.
Erika Santos, NDS