Year: 2018

New beginnings!

Published by Andreas

On September 9th, I landed in Tel Aviv with various emotions, because I did not know what questions I was going to be asked about my visa, when I came through Immigration. In fact, I need not have worried, because everything was fine. I had a warm welcome. Sister Juliana and Erika were waiting for me at the airport. I was so happy to meet Erika again after we had been in different places for a while. The journey from Tel Aviv to Ein Karem seemed short to me, because I was so excited to reach the Ein Karem Community! This community is going to be my home for the next two years. I like it here. The place is quiet, surrounded by beautiful flowers and there are a variety of birds which add to a great sense of harmony with nature. Ein Karem is an amazing village, peaceful and also full of history. All the time that I walk in this village I feel as if Mary, our Mother, is walking with me, like …

New Generations of Mesoamerica!

Published by Andreas

We, Alejandra, Andrea, Clara and Nancy went to Guatemala to participate in the First Congress of New Generations of the Mesoamerican Region from July 27th to 29th. We were 80 religious men and women from various congregations and countries and we gathered to share the richness of the call to consecrated life. We enjoyed it a lot sharing and meeting new people from different charisms and cultures. Also we faced the realities of our own countries, especially the situation in Nicaragua which helped us to realize that God is walking with us in our realities. Our motto was “New Generation looking for a Mesoamerican´s identity” and during the three days of the congress we worked with the methodology – “See, Judge and Act”. Each day we began with a lectio divina and we also had Eucharist to strengthen us and start the day full of joy, enthusiasm and energy. On the first day, we had presentations of each – Conferences from Costa Rica, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala and Mexico. They were about their work, …

A Biblical “necklace” – what’s about?

Published by Juliana

To make a necklace (harizah), a midrash says you must first know how to pierce a hole in a pearl, then how to use the proper thread in order to string together the pearls to one necklace. The aim of making a necklace, harizah, is to manifest the divine origin of the Torah and to stress the unity of the Tenakh, (the unity of Revelation), the project of God. The pearls are found in the Torah, the Prophets (Neviim), and the Writings (Khetuvim). These pearls make present that the project of God is not ended. P.T.Hagigah 2,77b Making a necklace reveals the divine origin of the whole of Scripture (Torah, Prophets, and Holy Writings), their unity, and their permanent relevance. My Father, Abuyah , was one of the great personalities of Jerusalem. When the day arrived for my circumcision, he invited all the great personalities of Jerusalem and installed them in a house.As for Rabbi Eliezer and Rabbi Yehoshua, he placed them in another house. When the guests had finished eating and drinking, they started …

“I myself will go with you”

Published by Andreas

Readings of the Bible: Psalm 139 Exodus 33-12-23 Luke 5:1-11 We are celebrating this solemn profession of Sr Wafaa on the eve of the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul. This gives our celebration even greater solemnity, as it sets it within the context of the Church. The step that you are taking today, Wafaa, confirming your original commitment made some years ago, giving it a definitive character, is not for yourself alone, but for the benefit of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Sion, and ultimately for the benefit of the Universal Church.

An egyptian sister’s final vows

Published by Andreas

Sr. Wafaa Shehata NDS grew up in the village of El Berba in the diocese of Minya in Upper Egypt. During the time when Sr. Juliana and Sr. Darlene lived in Berba, she was the first young women finding her way to the congregation of “Notre Dame de Sion”. After her novitiate in Egypt accompanied by Sr. Juliana and her first vows in celebrated in her home village, she came the Jerusalem and stays with the St. Mary’s community in Ecce Homo. Here she works in the guesthouse and also is in contact with the arab speaking Christian communities. On Thursday June 28th she celebrated her commitment to final vows in the Basilica of Ecce Homo.

Guatemala reflection by Melinda

Published by Andreas

It was a week like no other. So many facets of my life came together in one place, at the same time, connecting and coexisting in such a beautiful way. In March of this year I once again traveled with my husband to San Andrés Itzapa, Guatemala. Our home parish, St. Thomas More, has been in a relationship with the Carmelite Sisters of the Holy Family and the residents of San Andres for 30 years. Phil and I have been taking Notre Dame de Sion High School students on Guatemala Spring Break Mission trips for the past 6 years.

Guatemala reflection by Sr. Alejandra and Sr. Clara

Published by Andreas

We would like to take a moment to reflect on our trip in March to San Andrés Itzapa, Chimaltenango, to be with the delegation of Sion students from Kansas City. We feel truly grateful for the opportunity to have this experience. We feel that it has been a blessing to respond to the Spirit by bringing our enthusiasm and spirituality to the beautiful country of Guatemala.