Another Jewish celebration which commemorates the salvation of the Persian Jews from Haman’s plan to exterminate them in the ancient Achaemenid Empire (First Persian Empire founded in the 6th century BC by Cyrus) as it is written in the Book of Esther. Studying the origin of Purim with Sr. Anne Catherine, and updating the context of biblical history to our reality. Purim speaks to us about the care of human beings (defects and qualities), faith, hope and unity. It also gives us a great lesson about knowing how to wait on God and hear what God is saying. Queen Esther knew how to wait for the right moment to speak, and the king knew how to listen to his wife. Esther also knew how to unite her people in prayer and fasting and to ask God for the salvation of the Jews when it seemed they were condemned. I learned some things that are present in religious life as I read this book. For example: The Beauty of Esther comes from God and she uses …

Dear Brothers and Sisters, By the beginning of February, the two leadership teams of Notre Dame de Sion shared on how to be Sion in our collaboration and partnership and the living and sharing of the Sisters and Brothers together here at Ein Karem. We, the group living in EK consist of the Apostolic Sisters Community, the Brothers’ Community and the Novitiate Community an we explore together of how we can envision Sion’s Charism and in living Sion’s identityby living togetherness. On the World Day for the Sick the whole Novitiate Community went with the union of Religious to participate in the Sunday Eucharist held in the Holy Family Church in Ramallah. The blessing of rain continued pouring down on us during this visit which was a celebration of both engagement and joy with the Catholic Church of Ramallah. The Parish had prepared a delicious lunch for us and between the rain and dry moments, we explored a little of the city and very soon we were taking shelter in one of the many pastry …