The Holy Family of Bordeauxin Britain and Ireland

Glory to God alone in Jesus Christ through Mary and Saint Joseph

September 2017 Volume 3 Issue 7

In this Issue

1 Editorial

2 Message from Gemma

3 Now is the time

4 On Holy Ground

6 Lost Luggage

7 Asylum Seekers in Ireland

8 Accompanying Asylum Seekersin Newbridge

10 Rock Ferry remembers

11 Outing to Llandudno A Bradford walkabout

12 My London Experience

13 Upcoming Events Lay Associates AGM, Ireland, Sept. 2017 - Incoming Committee Members: L. to R. Rose Sullivan, IreneKavanagh, Brigid Larkin, Maria McLernon, Esther Keogh (Outgoing President), Damian Doyle with Srs.

Gemma Corbett (Prov. Leader), Lil Meagher (National Leader)

The World Day of Prayer for Creation, on 1 September, was instituted by PopeFrancis in 2015, the year Laudato si was published. The Orthodox Church hascommemorated it since 1989 and this year Pope Francis and Ecumenical

Patriarch Bartholomew issued a joint message for the day, inviting all people of goodwill to pray and reflect on how to live simply and sustainably.

The day marks the beginning of Creation Time which ends on 4 October, the feast ofSt. Francis. It is a time to reflect prayerfully on the state of our world, contemplateits beauty, and become more aware of the ecological crises that threaten it and itsinhabitants. Pope and Patriarch call on those in positions of responsibility in allspheres to “respond to the plea of millions and support the consensus of the worldfor the healing of our wounded creation”.

In the past months it was forcefully brought home to us how the effects of recurringnatural disasters, particularly hurricanes, have been exacerbated by climate change.The US will rebuild what has been devastated but people in areas that do not havethe resources to rebuild, and where land is no longer able to sustain life because ofdrought and deforestation, have no alternative but to move to other lands. Globalwarming is both a cause and an effect of the displacement and impoverishment ofpeople.

As Pope Francis says: “…there can be no sincere and enduring resolution to thechallenge of the ecological crisis and climate change unless the response is concertedand collective, unless the responsibility is shared and accountable, unless we givepriority to solidarity and service”.

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It is strange how, as we growolder, time seems to speed up.The days, the months, the years

fly by, leaving us perhaps withfeelings of regret that we may nothave achieved all that we wanted toachieve and that perhaps we havenot used our time as profitably aswe could. Paul told the Ephesians:“Look carefully how you walk, not asunwise but as wise, making the bestuse of the time” (Eph 5: 15-16).

May we continue our journey in thefootsteps of Jesus, as wise people,seizing those moments, thoseopportunities that time gives us todo our part in working towards thefulfillment of God’s plan for God’speople. Those moments – kairosmoments – are presented to usevery day. “The Lord says: In theappointed time, I have listened toyou and in a day of salvation I havehelped you. Behold now in theappointed time, behold now is theday of salvation” (2 Cor. 6:2).

The ancient Greeks had two wordsfor time: chronos and kairos.Chronos refers to clock time - timethat can be measured in seconds,minutes, hours. Words such aschronological and anachronism havetheir roots in chronos. Chronos issequential and quantitative.

Kairos, on the other hand isqualitative. Kairos refers to a specialmoment, to the right moment, theopportune moment, the perfectmoment, the moment when the Ho-ly Spirit is moving and acting andcalling us also to act.  “It is acharged, significant moment during

which the Spirit is prepared to deliv-er the power of God in order to bringdynamic transformation to a personor situation.” (Kairos Moments: PhilipNoordmans.,2017)

In 1986, a group of South Africantheologians produced a documententitled “The Kairos Document”challenging the Apartheidgovernment in South Africa andcalling for change. It began: “Thetime has come. The moment of truthhas arrived. This is the KAIROS, themoment of grace and opportunity,the favourable time in which Godissues a challenge to decisive ac-tion.” The Document is pervadedwith a strong sense that the timewas ripe for change and that unlessthe opportunity was seized, the losswould be immeasurable, not onlyfor South Africa but for the wholeChurch. The fate of South Africabalanced on a knife’s edge, andaction was needed to change thepath of history. And as we knowchange did come. Apartheid wasdismantled and democracy wasborn.

But Kairos need not be as dramaticas that. It can be a small moment inthe life of an individual or a group –a moment that leads to a shift inmentality or a change of directionthat brings new life and energy. Weall have kairos moments in our ownlives.

There are numerous Kairos times inthe New Testament when Goderupted into our world in new andpowerful ways. The most obvious

one is ofcourse,the birthof Jesus:“And while they were there, the timecame for her baby to be born” (Luke2:6). Later when Jesus inauguratedhis ministry, he proclaimed: “Thetime has come; the kingdom of Godhas come near. Repent and believethe good news!” (Mark 1:15). Jesuswas alerting people to the Spirit’spresence in a new and powerful wayand the Spirit’s call to action forchange.

We, in the Holy Family have had andstill have our Kairos moments. Wasnot our last General Chapter such amoment, when we committedourselves to listen deeply to thereality of our world; to allow thatreality to speak to us and so letourselves be challenged to live in a“state of exodus” in solidarity withall those who are obliged to be “onthe move” ? And could this time ofpreparation for the celebration of200 years of service to the world inthe Holy Family be a kairos moment?

The challenge for us is to stay alertso as to be tuned in to thosemoments when the Spirit is hoveringnear, urging us to speak and act inobedience and faith to God’sinvitation to “act justly, lovetenderly and walk humbly with ourGod (Micah 6:8).

THE TIME HAS COME

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Now is the time

Now is the time to know

That all that you do is sacred.

Now, why not consider

A lasting truce with yourself and God?

Now is the time to understand

That all your ideas of right and wrong

Were just a child’s training wheels

To be laid aside

When you can finally live

with veracity and love.

Now is the time for the world to know

That every thought and action is sacred.

That this is the time

For you to compute the impossibility

That there is anything

But Grace.

Now is the season to know

That everything you do

Is Sacred.

(Persian lyric poet Hafiz)

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I was one of the privileged sisters who respondedto an invitation to attend a Renewal session inMartillac in May. Seventeen participants were

still in Formation and 5 renewed vows in Martillac.Some would make final vows on returning to theirnative country. We were encouraged to come (eventhough not in the formation category!) by the wordsof Pope Francis:

“By changing our way of looking at the world, wecan look with gratitude at the road already covered,to begin to listen to what the Spirit is asking of ustoday, asking ourselves if Jesus is really our first andonly love, so that we may embrace the future withhope”.

Along with Jean and Chandani, Iattended all the sessions provided byMary and her Team of able helpers:Genevieve, Adela and Jeevan. Also wehad talented help from MargaretBradley who assisted all of us with herart and handicrafts to appreciate anddeepen our understanding of thelectures given.

To see our Indian sisters do theirtraditional liturgical dance was reallybeautiful, and to hear our African sistersfrom the Congo, Cameroon, Rwanda, Lesotho andSouth Africa sing and play their drums was trulyawe-inspiring. Every day we had Mass which wasusually accompanied by beautiful singing from ourContemplative sisters. I was truly amazed at thepurity of tone and rhythm which was flawless.Another ceremony saw the local Cardinal officiate.

In this multi-cultural setting, one came to appreciatethe original Dream of the Founder who was inspiredto begin the Holy Family Association. The image of

the tree with birds of every colour, of every countryeach one with its own song, but singing as one voice,came to mind, while the presence of the beautifulcountryside, the avenue he built with us in mind wasbeing re-told to a new group of sisters today inMartillac.

Our contemporary lectures covered a whole rangeof topics which would be useful for all and meritedrevisiting by those of a different vintage, includingwork on Discernment, the Principles of the Universe,Exodus, Consecration for Mission and the InteriorLife to name a few. Each lecture was followed byreflection and a quality sharing in the various

language groups. Manyreflected on their particularjourney, sharing theirdifficulties in their work sphereand in their country where, dueto politics, freedom of religionwas not present, and wherepersecution in covert and overtforms was practised. Isolationof some young sisters, wasmentioned seeing as one sisteronly was in formation.

During our time we visitedBordeaux, “walking in the

footsteps of the Founder”; our booklet was a greathelp to us. For many this was their first experienceof the places and churches associated with ourFounder’s life. We had Mass from a very youngFrench priest in St. Eulalie. Reminiscent of theFounder? We also went to Lourdes with a very earlystart in the morning. Everyone was delighted to visitthe grotto, and the Basilica above, where there wasagain a multi-cultural celebration of Mass. Somefirst-timers went to the houses where Bernadettehad lived, and witnessed first-hand her poverty.

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After numerous blessings, aweary party departed Lourdesarriving back home late butvery happy.

The Mass on PentecostSunday was awe-inspiring.The “list” of different nationswho heard the first sermon bySt. Peter was replaced by asimilar list of nationalitiespresent in the Congregation,each one answering in hernative tongue. Eighteennationalities responded. Also,the singing of the Veni Creatorwas very nostalgic.

There is a wide outreach, ofcourse, in Martillac to themany participants who comefor direction and guidance intheir journey, and many groups from the localparishes and diocese. We owe a lot to the Sisterswho manage the premises so well. Visits to theIsland were many, and we enjoyed our pilgrimagesthere immensely, remembering all in ourcommunities before the Founder’s statue and in theChapel to Our Lady of all Graces.

A family spirit prevailed and whatimpressed us most were the hightributes paid to our missionarysisters in the past who had helpedand taught abroad in the variousplaces. What a legacy they had leftin these young women so willingto dedicate their lives to the sameone who had inspired them to act.There was a cultural presentation

of each one’s situation in her respective country.

This was documented, andapparently well presented!Another similar event but verydifferent in content was ourevening of cultural enter-tainment! A Pakistani sisterperformed her cultural dancefor the second time on theIsland the next day.

One of the highlights was a rarevisit to our Contemplativecommunity. We were wellreceived. Srs. Melanie andBernadette introduced all of theCommunity, and theparticipants did likewise. Sr.Teresa McElhone was in goodform and chatted to all of usfrom our Province. They nowhave six sisters from abroad,from Africa and Sri-Lanka. Some

sisters are in formation.

The wholegroup wastotally diversebut rich in theirc u l t u r a lheritage; therewas a strongsense of“belonging” to

Holy Family, and a wish to deepen their valueswithin the context of their commitment. There wasmuch mutual enrichment in this place ofinternationality. It was interesting to observe howmany future vocations are from the southernhemisphere whereas so few from Europe.

Sandra Harrington, Woodford

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Well! Here I am at Stanstead airport, allneatly packed and ready to fly toMartillac. I’ve been looking forward to

my journey for ages. My owner has left me, carefullylabelled, in the hands of a receptionist at thecheck-in desk, and now I’m going pell-mell downthe chute to the aircraft. Somehow I seem to havebecome separated from my luggage companion—we travelled together fromAberdare, you know. Nevermind, we’ll soon meet up inBordeaux.

Now we’re travelling over theChannel towards France - notmuch of a view from the hold -can spot the Eiffel Tower and theRiver Seine — soon be atBordeaux. Looks like mountainsin the distance - but no sight orsound of landing gear! That’s odd - looks like we’reover the Pyrenees. Why? And those mountains inthe distance look like the Alps!

Oh boy , we’re landing at Ciampino Airport – lots ofstrangers speaking a foreign language. Is it Rome?Everyone seems so excited about me, but there’sno sign of my owner and where’s my luggage labelgone to? Good job I’m made of stern stuff – you

have to be in my job! - I travel quite a bit you know,but usually end up at my destination.

Lying in state for 3 days now – apparently a nationalholiday in some countries but very trying for me. Iknow I wanted to see Pope Francis but not this way!What about all the essential goods I’m carrying –for daily life - how’s my owner coping without me?

They say she’s resilient, but there’s alimit. Will we ever meet again?

Hey there’s someone coming to inspectme. They’re putting me back on theaircraft - I hope it’s the right one thistime. Alps again - now the Pyrenees.Well! Would you know, we are landingin BORDEAUX. Glory be to God Alone!

They have to sign lots of forms aboutme - talk about being displaced.

Now on a luggage carrier to “La Solitude”, Martillac.I’m welcomed by an ecstatic owner and excitedsisters, all admiring my shiny top and wonderingwhere I’ve been. What a story I could tell them!

Next time I think I’ll travel business class!

Sandra Harrington, Woodford

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Asylum seekers in Ireland are accommodatedby the State in residential institutions undera system known as Direct Provision. Direct

Provision is intended to provide for the welfare ofasylum seekers and theirfamilies as they await decisionson their asylum application. It‘directly provides’ essentialservices, medical care,accommodation and boardwith three meals a day.

The Direct Provision system isoverseen by the Reception andIntegration Agency (RIA), abody of the Department ofJustice. However, the majorityof the 35 centres around the country are privatelyowned and operated, and the standards ofaccommodation and living conditions vary widely.

When the Direct Provision system was establishedin 2000, it was described as an ‘interim’ solution tothe high numbers of asylum seekers entering theState in search of protection. But due to anunwieldy system, the majority of asylum seekersspend over 4 years in Direct Provision waiting for

their application to be processed and many waiteven as long as 10 years.

During this time, they live in a state of enforcedidleness; they cannotwork, (but this is set tochange), and in mostcentres, they cannotcook for themselves butare forced to eat in acanteen which onlyoperates at certaintimes of the day.Hundreds of childrenhave been born intoDirect Provision and do

not know any other life but institutionalised living.

In some cases, the lives of residents are governedby unnecessarily restrictive rules which can feel toresidents like living in an ‘open prison’. Lack ofprivacy is a significant issue. Single residents sharea room with several other adults, and in manycentres, parents live in one room with theirchildren. Facilities such as bathrooms are oftenshared.

The present situation

Ireland is one of only two EU member statesto ban  asylum seekers  from working, theother country being Lithuania. (As a general

rule, the UK, soon to leave the EU, does notallow asylum seekers to work. But they canapply for permission to fill a shortage vacancyif they have been waiting for over 12 monthsfor an initial decision on their asylum claim.) InMalta and Bulgaria, asylum seekers may worka year after their application has been lodged;in Poland, the Netherlands, Italy and Belgiumthis wait is six months. In Austria, they must

wait three months and in Sweden people canwork the day after their application is lodged.

In May this year, the Irish Supreme Courtruled unanimously in a case taken by aBurmese man, who had spent eight yearsin direct provision, that the lawspreventing him working in Ireland beforehis status was decided wereunconstitutional. The government nowhas until November to come up with aresponse to implement the Court ruling.

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In October 2016, a group from Newbridge ParishCommunity, led by Holy Family Sister EileenMurphy, began linking with Asylum seekers who

live in the Eyre Powell Hotel, a Direct ProvisionCentre, in Newbridge. Over 70 people, includingabout 10 children, are accommodated there.

They come from 15 countries on 4 continents, andwidely different worlds, bringing with them theirown

▪ History▪ Language▪ Cultures▪ Customs

They come from a variety of educationalbackgrounds and life experiences. Among them,there are

▪ Painters▪ Nurses▪ Photographers▪ Bakers▪ Electricians▪ Teachers▪ Students

One can only imagine the rich contribution theycould make to Irish society.

Adults in DP receive a weekly cash allowance of€21.60. They are not allowed to work - as alreadystated - or go to higher education.They are provided with three meals a day but arenot allowed to cook their own meals, thoughchanges in this regard are being introduced in somecentres.

They share a room and keep all their belongings inone cupboard.

They don’t know whether they will be there monthsor years.

It began in October 2016 when residents wereinvited to a coffee morning in the Parish Centre.Since then, on the first Friday of every month agroup of parishioners and asylum seekers meetfor coffee and a chat in the Parish Centre.

Eyre Powell residents were also invited to join ourParish Community for different events during theyear.

They include:

Easter Coffee morning, Row 2 from left Srs. Joan Roddy DMJ, EstherDelaney, and Eileen Murphy, Row 1, 1�� from R

A Parish Social

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There were visits to the cinema, a day trip toGlendalough.

A really big event was the Kildare and LeighlinDiocesan Family Picnic Day.

On the last Sunday of August, well over 4,000 peoplefrom all over the diocese gathered at PunchestownRacecourse for the first ever Diocesan Family PicnicDay, as a preparation for next year’s World Meetingof Families.

Families were asked to bring along their own picnicwith a bit of extra food for a sharing table for thosewho maybe don’t have enough to eat. Eileen Murphy, Sonas Chríost

A

Walking

Group

was

set

up

A special invitation was issued to the families livingin the two direct provision centres in the diocese,in Newbridge and Portlaoise, and also the refugeecentre in Monasterevin. Bishop Nulty said that thediocese would be putting together special basketsfor these families.

If you would like more information about theevent, click here.

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After one of their monthly meetings, and with thoughts of the bicentenary very much inmind, our Lay Associates suggested that they and the sisters get together as one familyand share our past history as Holy Family. This was a time also to give thanks for our pastand look forward with hope to the future.

The Holy Family Convent in Rock Ferry is amodern building with facilities for elderlysisters and a beautiful modern chapel It

stands on the site of the old convent which housedthe novitiate for manyyears. It was in thecommunity room of thismodern building that agroup of lay associatesjoined the resident sistersfor a trip down memorylane on a bright Saturdayafternoon in July.

To jog all our memoriesthere were photographs:school photographs fromthe Woodlands spanning 15years beginning in 1955,black and white photos of processions and firstcommunions, albums of trips made by layassociates to other convents, photos from SouthAfrica, more recent coloured photographs takenin the present convent. I think the plan had beento start with a prayer. However, the photossparked conversations in an instant and the familychatter started without any official opening.

The room was buzzing with conversation as sistersfrom the past were identified and stories told.

There was much laughter and conversationsstarting with “Do you remember when…?'The photographs reminded us of the way thesisters’ habit changed over the years and, in

conversation, thehabit worn by thosewho travelledoverseas. Journeysto Sri Lanka(Ceylon) by boat inthe 1950's, to thePhilippines. Wetravelled the worldin those few hours.

Finally, it was timefor tea; we were dryfrom all the talking.At this point we did

pause for prayer, to thank God for being familytogether, for the joy and laughter.

For us, as lay associates, it was a wonderfulreminder of the strength, courage and faithfulnessof these women who dedicated themselves tobringing the Good News, and being good news, topeople in need. This was an afternoon thateverybody thoroughly enjoyed. We will do it again.

Maureen Bowsley, Lay Associate, Rock Ferry

We remember

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On 28 June, we set out for Llandudno by coach at 10.30 am.This was a very special day as many were hoping for a blowof sea air. Spirits were high although the day was dull and

showery. When we arrived, we went to the restaurant for lunchwhere all relaxed and enjoyed their meal.

Our next destination was the shops. Coveredwith shower macs we set out, as usual, toget some souvenirs of our trip. To oursurprise, a few were eager through wind andrain to be wheeled for a blow to the seafront.

After a very happy day we returned to thecoach for our homeward journey.Before this trip we were conscious that Sr.Ita was not well so Mary Catherine and some of our carers did notcome.

Once again, we thank our staff for their meticulous arrangements beforehand without whichour day would not be so relaxed and happy. We also thank our coach driver for his very gentlecare and attention to detail. We will now be waiting for our next surprise. Our prayers forfine weather may not have been answered but we still had a wonderful and enjoyable day.

Teresa Edwards, Bradford, on a walkaboutwith some Muslim women learners

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I arrived in London in October 2016. Althoughmy English is still limited, I would like to ex-press my thoughts and feelings about my time

in London. I want also to express my gratitude forall the Sisters have done for me. My experienceshave enriched my life as a sister of the Holy Family.

At the beginning I was very embarrassed becauseeverything (country, people, transportation,weather and habit) was new and different frommine. But slowly this fear disappeared due to thewarm welcome that I received in AberdareGardens community and at St GeorgesInternational School. I havereceived welcoming cards fromsome communities; thisencouraged me to get over myworry.

I felt at home because I met herethe spirit of the Holy Family, thesame spirit that is common to usall. I experienced our being family,our diversity in the community.Meeting the sisters during differ-ent encounters, their carefulness,attitude of inclusivity, and theirpresence made me feel a memberof this big family of PBN. Despitethe diminishing number and ad-vancing age of the sisters in this unit, I found lifeeverywhere, and I discovered that every memberbears within her a light which is rooted in our

spirituality in the light of the emerg-ing world view.

This encouraged me to discover thevalue inside me and to trust myself,to become more confident. I havelived the gift of being a family withdifferent cultures, thoughts and ages.Extended leadership, equality and re-spect for each, living without discrim-ination, impressed me. Theseattitudes helped me to respect every-one in her uniqueness and let go ofcultural conflict, fear of taking risksand failure. They also stirred withinme a deeper responsibility in the for-

mation of new members.

Sr. Dolcita Kalema, DR Congo

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UPCOMING EVENTS

October 2017

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 2 3 4St. Francis of

AssisiCreation Time

ends

5 6 7Cluster Meeting

Leeds&Brad-fordAberdare Gdns

Clane

8 9

ClusterMeeting

Rock Ferry &Wrexham

10

World MentalHealth Day

11 12 13 14

15 16

World FoodDay

17 18EU

Anti-HumanTrafficking Day

19 20 21

22 23 24

United NationsDay

25 26 27Birthday of

P.B. Noailles1793

28

29

InternationalInternet Day

30 31