Month: April 2017

Our arrival in Linz

Maria and Andrea arrived in Austria. We had a warm welcome by Andreas and Barbara. We had an opportunity to visit Fr. Werner’s collection of music instruments and sang some songs which where recorded for his video project about his work as a musician. Fr. Werner interviewed us about the charism and the work of the sisters. Then we were invited for lunch in his community with a delicious typical Austrian sweet dish as main course („rice of love“ – „Reisauflauf“).  

Maria & Andrea on stage

„Cuanto gozo me dio al oir: vamos a la casa de Dios!“ „I was glad when they said to me, Let us go into the house of the Lord!“ Religious Song about holy Communion and Holiness Life written by Fr. Werner Hebeisen SJ; sung by Andrea and Maria, novices of Notre Dame de Sion; in Linz An Indonesian religious song about Gratefulness of the richness and beauty of land and creature. Refrain: „All of this because of the gift of almighty God”

Resurrection is the “spaces” God offers to us

Br. Élio, NDS shared with us his knowledge about the Resurrection on Monday Easter. He invited us to think about our tradition of faith from the biblical texts and Jewish interpretation. It is important to keep these dynamics between Synagogue and House of Study, one feeds the other and one should not take the place of the other, they have life only together. The Jewish religious universe is constituted from the world of the Synagogue which is the space where we manifest our life of faith, life of prayer, religious festivities (Yom Kippur, Shavuot, Passover, etc.) and religious acts (circumcision, Bar and Bat Mitzvah, weddings, etc.). The community of faith or individual observes and leads the liturgical world according to tradition, the habits and practices already received. In the same space, but with another purpose is the House of Study (Beit haMidrash), it is the place and the space of the search of God’s Word, where there are questions and trying to understand better, that is open to all. This quest is constant, it does …

Happy Easter 2017

“I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live.” (John 11, 25) We had a beautiful mass at the Easter Vigil at Ecce Homo presided by Msgr. Michael L. Fitzgerald, an African missionary (“White Father”) with some diocesan and religious priests concelebrating. We started on the terrace with the blessing of the New Fire and the Paschal Candle. Issa, a Muslim who works with the sisters lit the fire. For many year Issa’s father, Fahkri who had also worked with the sisters would always light the fire, so it has become a tradition. It was a lovely night and we processed from the terrace to the Basilica following the Pascal Candle and singing “Christ be our light.” We participated in the celebration with singing, dancing and some actions while the psalms were sung. Then we had refreshments after the mass. The next day, we had a mass on the terrace at 7 o’clock in the morning. We enjoyed the sunrise and sharing a delicious breakfast with the …

Good Friday 2017

During the Holy week, we went to Ecce Homo to celebrate the Paschal Triduum. This was our second experience living this special week in the Holy Land. It is incredible how after we visited some of the holy places the reading of Scriptures became alive and deeper in our heart and minds. Besides, this time in Ecce Homo was so wonderful because of the sharing with ConecSion; Sr. Leah and Beth from Philippines, Wafaa from Egypt, Cida D. Joshelia, Cida A. from Brazil and all the Ecce Homo community, Sr. Margaret Zdunich from Canada and Sr. Clare from the CLT, volunteers and friends. Our Sion family was a big and an enthusiastic group. It made the preparation and celebration of the liturgies full of life and joy. On Good Friday early in the morning at 5:45 we walked the “Way of the Cross”. It was beautiful to see many groups from everywhere walking to the Holy Sepulcher following the way of the Cross. People were expressing their personal and communitarian intensions with so much faith …