I COULD DANCE FOR JOY!

Today here in Soropadan, Yogyakarta we held a meeting for people who are interested in becoming Companions in Mission – people who feel called to live our charism and spirituality alongside us. We have been inviting people and collecting names for the last couple of months. It is our intention to begin the programme on 25th October. We invited all those who were interested in joining the programme and who were free to come and join us this afternoon for an introductory meeting. Nineteen people joined us and several more would like to join the programme but were not free this afternoon. The group was made up people from a diversity of backgrounds, their ages ranged from 29 -70. Four FCJs are involved in leading this group: Agnes, Dewi, Rachel and I. Meanwhile, the rest of Soropadan community supported us by helping with practicalities, like making tea and washing up.

I was touched by the enthusiasm of those who came to the meeting, at their deep hunger for spirituality and at their appreciation of our Society and at their willingness to walk in companionship with us in mission, in service of God. I am certain that this is the beginning of something new for us here and that we will all be enriched by this new way of expressing our FCJ charism. I found there were many new things for me too, including a fresh way of looking at our spirituality and charism. I am delighted to have suddenly gained so many new companions! As part of the closing prayer we sang a hymn and the group held hands and began a simple dance. I felt like dancing then and I truly feel like dancing now – with sheer joy at a beautiful day.

Making a Retreat

I wrote recently that I was going to have some time of retreat. Well, I made an 8 day retreat in Wales… it was in an absolutely beautiful setting, surrounded by the Welsh mountains and looking out across the valley to the sea. In the evenings I could watch the sunset over the water.

So, what is a retreat like?

Each day began with a time of personal prayer before I met with the person who was ‘directing’ my retreat. The purpose of this meeting is generally to give you an opportunity to talk about your prayer, the things that you are reflecting on, and the connections you are making with the rest of your life. The director helps you to look at all of that and sort of sift out what is important. The rest of the day was spent in silence, with times of prayer, reflection, walking and even an opportunity for some art! In the evening after Eucharist and a meal we had an opportunity for prayer before the Blessed Sacrament during which all the people who were making a retreat were invited to pray silently for each other.

Why make a retreat?

For me, retreat time helps me to put some of the ups and downs of normal life into the wider context of the choice I have made to be an FCJ, a faithful companion of Jesus. It helps me to recognise again that God can speak to me in any situation if I am open and willing to listen.

YOU ARE MY COMPANION – MEITA’S PROFESSION OF VOWS AS AN FCJ

When an FCJ makes her vows it is always a time of great joy and celebration and Meita’s first vows on Saturday 15th of August certainly lived up to expectations! Several months of careful planning and preparation preceded what turned out to be a weekend full of celebration. All FCJs currently living in Yogyakarta were present as well as Barbara, our Provincial and Afra who is local leader of FCJ Ende, the community to which Meita is missioned.

On Friday 14th of August in a simple ceremony Meita was formally welcomed into the Society by Barbara. This service included a dance to the hymn “Take and Receive” during which Meita expressed the depth of her self-offering through movement. The vow ceremony took place in the late afternoon of the 15th of August. It was beautiful in all respects. In addition to the FCJs, Meita’s family and friends and some of our neighbours gathered in Soropadan for the occasion. Fr Paulus Wiryono Priyotamtama, SJ, said the Mass. The choir was made up of members of our basic ecclesial community and they sang not only with joy but with love and affection. When the time of her profession came Meita made her vows in a gentle yet confident voice. The vows were received by Barbara and the witnesses were Margaret O’ Donohue and Clare Hand.

After the service we celebrated with a delicious Indonesian meal. Many of the guests enjoyed their food while sitting in the garden in the cool of the evening. The following day the FCJs came together at 8am for Meita’s missioning which was followed by breakfast. We sat together after the meal and celebrated with Meita as she read the many cards and messages of support and good wishes she had received from FCJs around the world. What a wonderful weekend…and how lovely to celebrate Meita’s commitment to serve God as an FCJ.

Maltese Festa – Viva San Pietru!

I was recently back in my home town on Malta for the week of the village festa. This is a week of celebrations centred on Saint Peter, who is the patron saint of my village, Birzebbuga. His life is celebrated with music, fireworks, decoration in the streets, family reunions and a general feeling of celebration throughout our little fishing village.

One of the most moving events is when one of the statues (yes we have at least 4!) is brought on a boat across the bay. Other fishing and pleasure boats of parishioners accompany this boat and the brass band welcomes St Peter on the shore with lively marches. It is a lovely moment when we remember that Peter was a fisherman like so many of our ancestors in Birzebbuga.

The festa reaches it climax on Sunday with a solemn mass in the church after which the main statue of Saint Peter makes a tour of the main streets of the village. It is always a sad moment when the statue returns back to the church and after a final firework display goes inside to rest till next year.

One of the reasons that I love Saint Peter so much is that I can relate to him. He is portrayed as flawed and very human in the scriptures. Yet his love of Jesus wins the day in the end. I pray this for myself and for all my fellow Birzebbugin. May our love of Jesus never be dampened by our failings, and may it sustain us wherever life leads us. Viva San Pietru!

by Maryanne fcJ

Retreat Time

In the next few days I will be beginning my annual retreat. When I explained this to some of my colleagues at work they were fascinated by the idea – for some the thought of being silent for a period of time is very challenging, for others the supposed inactivity makes them a bit fearful…

Their questions and reactions made me stop and think about retreat time again – I always look forward to retreats even though they can at times be a challenge – in silence for a long period without distractions you do find yourself brought face to face with yourself, with God, with your own faith or hesitations… and yet retreat can also be a time of peace, rest , affirmation and getting in touch more deeply with God’s love and care…  I am really looking forward to mine!

“Each day the people must go out and collect their ration for the day” Ex 16: 4

I was very struck by the phrase which forms the title of this piece when I heard it read aloud in Mass last Sunday and I have carried it in my heart ever since.  In the passage from Exodus it is God who is speaking and who is instructing the Israelites on how to collect the Manna that was provided for them on their journey through the desert. I was very taken by the idea that the Israelites were only to collect enough for the day.  What was needed for the next day would be provided in due time.  I believe that this phrase has something to teach me about the way to live my life.  It seems to me as if it is a Biblical version of the phrase “Live simply that others may simply live”.  I have tried very consciously this week to only take my “ration for the day”…Not to add that extra tasty portion of food to my plate, not to use those extra litres of hot water, not to be careless in my use of electricity and I have tried not to grasp on to things that I don’t really need…I have made only a few small efforts – but it is helping me to be a little more sensitive to living more simply.  Perhaps others have ideas they might like to share with us…

Excluding no-one and no thing

 Over recent weeks there have been lots of simple moments that have reminded me of the following quote from our Chapter documents:

“Companionship urges us to communion, embracing all persons and all things, excluding no-one and no thing from our love and compassion. It urges us to witness to gentleness and reconciliation in a growing culture of violence. It urges us to collaboration and mutuality.”

 Witnessing to reconciliation can be a real challenge, it is often easy to see how others ‘could be reconciled’, but much more difficult in a situation that affects us personally. It is often much easier to hold onto our position (which is of course the right one!), rather than be willing to take a step towards healing a rift. If we know that to be true on a simple personal level, is it any wonder that it is true in much more serious conflicts, where more hurt and damage needs to be healed?  

Just a reminder that you can read the whole text of the  Chapter Decree from the 2008 FCJ General Chapter on the website, we would love to hear your reflections / thoughts and insights.

A Touching Funeral

Early yesterday morning we heard of the death of the grandmother of one of sisters. Ibu Theresia was 91, and she died peacefully in her sleep after a long illness. Several of us joined Rosa in her village for the funeral later that same day. There were many beautiful things about the funeral; I will share just a few of them with you.

Firstly, as we went to the open coffin to pray I was struck by how peaceful Ibu Theresia looked. It must have been a great comfort to her to spend the last years of her life surrounded by her large extended family and with children, grandchildren and great grandchildren around her. Secondly, I was touched by how natural death seemed in that setting. Ibu Theresia’s work was done. Her large family is strong and united; they are committed Catholics and active in many areas of church life. Whilst there was sadness yesterday, there was also a feeling of completion. As we celebrated Mass some of Ibu Theresia’s smallest great grand children played contentedly in front of her coffin.

The celebrant, a Jesuit priest, is Rosa’s brother. In his sermon he spoke of how Ibu Theresia would spend days on end walking from village to village selling goods in order to provide for her family. Often she would sleep in the open on someone’s terrace. This was the third thing that struck me – the love and strength of character that enabled Ibu Theresia to work so hard for her family. No wonder she was so deeply loved.

Finally, I was moved by the great crowd of mourners – the whole village turned out for her funeral. It was deeply touching to see as many Muslims as Catholics at the Mass. Here people of different faiths live peacefully side by side and are true neighbours to each other. I found this a beautiful example of inter-faith living, interfaith witness.

I was never fortunate enough to meet Ibu Theresia in life but at her death I discovered a little of the richness and the beauty of her life. I learned a great deal yesterday about life lived well for others.