RELIGIOUS OF JESUS AND MARY US PROVINCE

BRIDGES July 29, 2016

ONE APOSTOLIC BODY - RJM in Pakistan

AT OUR REQUEST, MARIAM WROTE UP THIS ACCOUNT OF HER 50 YEARS IN PAKISTAN. IT’S WORTH NOTING THAT SHE IS THE FOUNDRESS OF THE MISSIONS SHE DESCRIBES IN ISLAMABAD, SHAD BAGH - LAHORE, AND TOBA TEK SINGH.

Fifty years ago when I left for the mission in Pakistan, I was extremely naive and ignorant as to the nature of the mission and the reality of the small Christian community engulfed by a new Muslim majority population. The history of the Great Migration at the time of the partition tells the sad tale of hatred inspired killings on both sides. I learned of this history only after arriving in Lahore in January, 1966, where I was greeted by Sr. Mary Gertrude, the Foundress of the desert J.M. Mission. I spent some months learning the Urdu language and in September arrived in Mariakhel with Sisters Bethany and Mary Leonard who were running the Dispensary for both the people of the village as well as numerous Muslim patients from miles around. The recently settled Christian village of Mariakhel, was literally dug out of the sand dunes of the Thal Desert. I was to work with Middle Class level students in the parish school. It was in reality a “Hedge School” as there were two classrooms available for children of classes Prep to 6. The majority of the students sat in the shadow of hedges and trees planted in the grounds. In time the school grew to a building providing classrooms for the students up to Class 8. The school is now a Jesus and Mary Convent Government Recognized High School allowing the students to sit for Education Board examination in the 9th and 10th Classes.

It was and is evident that the main mission of the RJM’s in this country must focus on education. At that time, Pakistan had an extremely low literacy rate. To date the rate is still quite low. For Christians to succeed in the effort to rise above economic challenges, they need to have the self-confidence to stand firm in the face of marginalization, oppression and open persecution, education that will instill Christian values as guides in personal choices, as well as lead the children to face reality with a critical mind. For this reason the Province Mission Statement has a double pronged aim: * To assist in the building up of the Christian Community through education. * To promote Inter-faith dialogue of life through Values- based education.

With these aims before us, the Province moved into the newly established Capital, Islamabad, in the 1970’s, first opening an English medium school at the invitation of the Inter-Nuncio so as to provide Christian education to children from the growing foreign community. This was run by Irish missionaries and a Muslim Staff giving great impetus to our desire for meaningful Christian Muslim dialogue. In time, with the building of a Catholic Church, the need to bring the scattered Christian community together as a united parish was greatly felt. At that time, in the 1980’s, there were 18 different Christian Bastis (slum areas) scattered around the city and its surrounding areas. We established a J.M. community that would make this the focus of its ministry. Beginning with Parish Visitation and opening Head-Start type school located in several slum areas, the sisters gained the confidence of the Christian community, learned first-hand the struggles these families faced daily and their deep desire that their children would have an opportunity for a better future than they had with little or no education. So, with the cooperation of the Mill Hill parish priests and a grant to provide a Ford Transit vehicle, the scattered groups were brought together to form the beginnings of Our Lady of Fatima School. This was located in the Hall of the newly constructed Church with 6 ft. high partition dividing the classes. In time, the school moved to a newly constructed building located on a plot of ground near the Church. With this move from the Church to a school building, an opening for the admission of non-Christian students was made. The number remains small to this day but we are happy that both prongs of the Apostolic Mission aim can now be fulfilled.

Mariakhel

Shad Bagh

Toba Tek Singh

Murree

On July 18, the MD/DC region gathered at 13th Street for our farewell prayer and supper for Mariam Norick. The celebration was made more

wonderful by the greetings that came to Mariam from all over the province.

Another call was made to the Province - to open a school in one of the most under-developed areas of the mega-city of Lahore- Shadbagh. This new mission put a new demanding face on the struggles of the poor in Pakistan. The J.M. community worked closely with the Columban Fathers to develop this mission, both through the school and pastoral work in the many Bastis that were served by the newly created Parish. Here the sisters found themselves in very close proximity to Muslim neighbors, many of the Wahhabi Sect. In the beginning efforts to obtain a house for a Convent met with only refusals once the seller discovered the buyer was Christian. In the end the Convent was built on the School plot near the under-construction school. The Columban Fathers were active in Inter-faith outreach and soon Muslim students were applying for admission to the school. The school and the fact of living amidst Muslims have offered many opportunities for both communities to grow in understanding and acceptance of one another.

A new call came from a Diocese where J.M. had no presence - Faisalabad. This time it was to open an English-Medium school in a District Headquarters of southern Punjab - Toba Tek Singh. The Pastor, Fr. Bonnie Mendes was focused on Social Development and considered English Education as a must for allowing poor Christians to be on a more equal footing with the Muslim majority in the task of Development. Because this type of school charges higher fees to be able to attract more qualified staff, Christian students need assistance with regard to fees. But, there was another matter that needed consideration. Many of the women in the Christian community worked as domestics in the homes of Muslims. In some cases children from these homes were admitted to the school as were the Christian children of these women. It was of greatest importance that the Staff be oriented to the need of giving an example of acceptance and tolerance of each and every student. Many of the teachers were Muslim and were dealing with Christians for the first time. Many prejudices and pre-conceived notions had to be dealt with. Helping the Staff imbibe the spirit of St. Claudine, and make the values of tolerance and acceptance of the innate beauty of each child is an on-going effort. This school continues to grow and expand in the all-important work of Christian-Muslim dialogue in an area rife with Fundamentalism as well as forming children capable of being living examples of the fruit of such dialogue.

Returning to Islamabad 30 years after sowing the seed of education through the efforts of Fatima School, I now meet parents bringing their children to follow their footsteps along the path of edu-cation. It is gratifying to see that education HAS and IS changing the lives of the students, giving them opportunities their parents never had. And for this we can only say: HOW GOOD GOD IS! - Mariam Norick, RJM

SR. ROSE and SR. NAZARETH HELP WOULD-BE REFUGEES

Here in Haiti, an island country, mostly surrounded by water, efforts to leave every-thing they know and set sail for a better life are ongoing.

Recently , Sr. Rose and Sr. Nazareth got a call to say a number of would-be refugees had been washed ashore nearby and were being held at the local police station.

They went to visit the people there and to bring some food, assuming they would be hungry and exhausted after their ordeal. The Sisters are no newcomers to stories of attempted escapes by sea to other islands in the Caribbean where many hope to find a better life than that here in Haiti. They have met people who have attempted escape numerous times; people who have been lucky to survive the attempts.

Despite their lack of success in getting away to a better land and a perceived better life, these people know they are lucky to be still alive. During their attempts many of them have experienced injury themselves and have also seen many of their counterparts drown or been eaten by the sharks in the Atlantic Ocean.

What met the Sisters at the police station was a group of Cubans and a larger group of Haitians who had been washed ashore due to winds. The Cubans were ‘big, strong men’ with some chance of survival; the Haitians were thin, weak and distraught.

When I asked the Sisters what was likely to happen to these people now, they said they would expect the Cubans to be sent back to Cuba while the Haitians would also just go back to their old life…Until some of them would attempt the sea-crossing again, perhaps to the Bahamas.

Haitians have huge difficulty accessing a Visa to enter the US - a dream held by many - even a holiday Visa. For the most part they are trapped here in their own country where resources and opportunities are so lacking or simply non-existent for the average Haitian.

They are hard workers and their life is not easy. They walk miles and miles in terrific heat just to get the basics of life and do the basic necessities for life – collect water, go to the market to buy and sell their home-grown produce, send their children to school and eek out a living in whatever way they can.

They have no State support for education, health or disability. If they have no money, they simply go hungry. This is certainly one country in the Western world where obesity is not an issue, despite the fact that it probably produces more sugar than many other countries.

Here in Jean Rabel and its surroundings, sugar-cane grows everywhere. Small landholdings grow the crop right alongside the wall of their homes. Some people produce rum from the crop and once there is a good harvest they can make some decent money. But in this land of intense heat and precarious hurricanes a good harvest is never guaranteed.

If I were Haitian, who knows, would I attempt escape in a rickety boat for the hope of a better life somewhere else? I think I might!

- Anne Heffernan, year-long Viatores Christi volunteer Excerpted from her “Heffernan Files” blog, http://theheffernanfiles.com/2016/07/refugees-illegal immigrants-people-fleeing-their-country-for-a-better-life/ (picture courtesy of Haiti-Liberte newspaper, online at http://bit.ly/29wH7NZ)

US AMBASSADOR VISITS MOTHER M. CECILIA, RJM

SR. MARGE RECENTLY RECEIVED THE FOLLOWING LETTER FROM SRS. M. CECILIA GAUDETTE, RJM, AND MARY BERCHMANS, RJM

Mother Cecilia is well, thank God in spite of the heat of the past days.

She received a surprise visit from her great niece from the States, and her husband - a lovely couple. The girl loves her AUNTIE very much and had come to see her 8 years ago with her sister, who married a Chinese doctor and now has two lovely little Chinese girls, 5 and 3 years old. Mother Cecilia is thrilled to think that she has Chinese nieces.

She also received another surprise visit last Friday. On Thursday they called from the US Embassy to the Holy See, saying Ambassador Kenneth F. Hackett and his wife, Joan, wanted to come and visit M. Cecilia - since May 12th she is the oldest living American, because the African-American lady who was 116 died that day. They called and said: Beginning today, M. Cecilia has become the oldest living American and the 8th oldest in the world.

The Ambassador and his wife came the next day and brought her a big chocolate cake, because they had not been able to come in March for her birthday. Lovely people, so kind and thoughtful. I was impressed by their simplicity, kindness and love for M. Cecilia.

I am enclosing an article written by Robert Perreault, a man from Manchester and friend of M. Cecilia, who has for many years has written for the Manchester diocesan magazine, Parable. He’s just written about M. Cecilia, and maybe you will like it. Maybe you can share it with the sisters. Thank you.

Keep well Mother, take care and let us pray for our poor world, the Lord gave it to us so beautiful and we are destroying it. Terrible in Nice, terrible in Dacca, terrible in Turkey, terrible in Dallas, etc. God have mercy on us all.

Love and prayers, from M. Cecilia and Mary Berchmans, RJM Click here for the online version of the article about M. Cecilia: http://www.catholicnh. org/parable/inside/chere-mere/

THE JOURNEY MAKES US ONE

On July 31, as we continue the journey that is making us one, one Region of the Americas, we will conclude our mutual prayer relationship with the province of Mexico-Cuba. We are also aware that Sunday will be the transition day of provincial governments, from Sr. Paola Clerico, RJM and her council to Sr. Concepcion Garcia and her council. Be assured of gratitude and prayers for each and all on both leadership teams!

That same day our province begins our mutual prayer relationship with and for the province of Colombia-Ecuador, a relationship that will continue until February 3, 2017.

TAKE ACTION - Urge Congress to Support Refugee Protection Act

Global displacement has reached a record-high, with more than 65 million people forced to leave their homes as a result of persecution, conflict, generalized violence, or human rights violations. That’s one in every 113 people, an average of 24 people forced to flee every minute.

Jesuit Refugee Service/USA is working to address this challenge by meeting the educational, psychosocial, health and emergency needs of over 720,000 refugees and other forcibly displaced persons in more than 45 countries.

Last week, Congress introduced The Refugee Protection Act of 2016, which will help restore the United States to its rightful role as a safe and welcoming home for those suffering persecution around the world.

This bill aims to repeal some of the most significant barriers that refugees and asylum seekers face in their search for safety and protection. It would also increase protection for children and families, and those suffering gender-based persecution.

You can help protect the lives of those fleeing war, persecution, and conflict by contacting your policymakers and asking them to co-sponsor The Refugee Protection Act of 2016. Click here or go to http://cqrcengage.com/jesuit/app/write-a-letter?0&engagementId=231633&ep=AAAAC2 Flc0NpcGhlcjAxhpwGuQIdoCCvs23qnYeHHKGLO-bvfYJZiyffRGJWigZHCdT5zoHvM7fnFVdTxbda to urge your policymakers to cosponsor the Refugee Protection Act of 2016, which will bolster and update the nation’s laws to promote a fair and efficient asylum and refugee process.

Let them know that the U.S. must commit to ensuring that refugees who arrive on our shores have the opportunity to build new lives in a country willing to embrace them.

Praised Forever Be Jesus and Mary

PRAYERS ARE REQUESTED FOR…

Deb Ward, who has been diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease). Deb is a friend of Anne Magner, RJM.

Drake Stolba, who has been diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. Drake is the 8-year-old great-nephew of Janet Stolba, RJM, the son of her nephew Justin, and the grandson of her brother Edward.

WE ALSO PRAY FOR THE ALL THE NEEDS OF OUR RJM SISTERS.

SR. MARIAM NORICK VISITS MARILLAC Here Sr. Gertrude Lavoie, RJM, (left) stands with Sr. Mariam Norick, RJM, on the occasion of Sr. Mariam’s July visit at Marillac.

FROM THE PROVINCE OFFICE

July 24 - August 1 Sr. Rosemary directing retreat at Mariandale Center in Ossining, NY

Wellesley Hills, Massachusetts