“Henei ma tov umanaim
Shevet achim gam yachad
Sinai ma tov umanaim
Shevet achim gam yachad”

It was in this atmosphere of union and love that we, the family of Sion welcomed 2017.
Sisters, brothers, volunteers and friends (Franciscan priest and a group from the Canção Nova community) came together in the novitiate house to celebrate with us, novices, our first and special New Year’s Eve in Ein Karem.
We started our night with a lovely prayer, followed with two questions to help us to reflect about the year that is finishing:

“What would you like to thank God for this year? And what are your hopes or wishes for the next year?”

We had a time of petitions and thanksgiving. Some of us thanked God for the people who were a light on our way, some thanked for the wonderful experiences that we had during 2016 and some just asked for a new year better that 2016 with more love, peace and hope for the nations.

We had a very delicious meal, desserts, games and dance in order to wait for the New Year.
On January 1st we, the Jerusalem community went to Sr Rose Teresa’s community to celebrate, as a Sion community of Jerusalem, the New Year, Sr Marie-Luc’s birthday and to enjoy the company of each other.

Lúcia de Fátima NDS, Novice
Congregational Novitiate Ein Karem, Jerusalem