FCJ Sisters' Blog

TYAS’ 30 DAY RETREAT – IMMERSED IN THE LOVE OF GOD…

clarefcj — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 05:07:29 +0000

Tyas is now well into the early days of her retreat and deep in prayer on the love of God. How wonderful it is that God has such limitless unconditional love for us…I pray that we can all immerse ourselves in God’s love – and share that love with others. Thank you for your prayers…We keep you in ours…

TYAS’ THIRTY DAY RETREAT – TWO DAYS TO GO!

clarefcj — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 00:01:33 +0000

Tyas is now well into the preparation for her thirty day retreat – known as disposition days. In just two days’ time she will begin the actual retreat. Let us pray that God will richly bless Tyas and guide me as I direct her through this time of grace. We will keep you constantly in our prayers at this time.

TYAS’ THIRTY DAY RETREAT…

clarefcj — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 06:03:04 +0000

In a few day’s time Tyas will be beginning the Spiritual Exercises of St Ignatius. This retreat will take thirty days or so. We will begin with several disposition days during which Tyas will gradually move into greater and greater silence and immerse herself deeply in the love of God. We will then move into the first week of the Spiritual Exercises. To make this retreat is an enormous undertaking and we would be so grateful if you would keep Tyas in your prayers at this special time.

A DEATH IN THE VILLAGE…

clarefcj — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 00:01:51 +0000

Sadly one of our neighbours died suddenly a few days ago. The death was all the more shocking because the man involved was only 48 and seemed in the best of health. He died of an illness that is easily curable – but it wasn’t detected until after his death…How deeply deeply distressing…

We went to be with the family and to wait for the funeral and burial. I had tears in my eyes as I watched the burial procession walk solemnly to the cemetery to the accompaniment of Islamic prayers. I was glad to be there to support the family even though I wished I could do more to ease their pain.

The Daily ‘Yes’

anouskafcj — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 18:53:41 +0000

On January 3rd, Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus, our FCJ Society around the world celebrated the ‘Yes’ that Sisca made to Jesus as she professed her final vows in the Society. As a sister in Temporary Profession I am coming to an ever deeper understanding of the importance of that daily ‘Yes’ which we make, not just on the day of our vows, as wonderful as that is, but everyday.

At this time in and around my community there is a lot of change. One Provincial Leader has just finished her term of office,and our new Provincial Leader has just moved here to begin hers. Our former Local Leader will be beginning a new mission soon in Calgary and we will welcome another. As I live amid this change I stand in awe at the ‘Yes’ that each of these women have made, on the day of their vows and each and every day since, for some that is over fifty years. But what astounds me is that they are free enough, and so rooted in God to say ‘Yes’ again, for service in our Society, wherever that may lead them. They are true examples of missionary women and for that I thank them. I thank God for their faith, their generosity, their courage and confidence, and their inner freedom, which has enabled each of them to say ‘Yes’. I pray that in this time of change they will know ever more deeply the companionship of Jesus, the ultimate faithful companion.

The Church’s Need for Saints

anouskafcj — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 18:50:02 +0000

The foundress of the FCJ Sisters, Marie Madeleine was declared Venerable in 1971, and we continue to pray through her intercession, in the hope that one day she will be declared a saint. Why is this important?

In my Ecclesiology class today, I was struck by a quote from my Professor, John Dadosky when he said:

“More so than any other person by virtue of their office/role in the Church, it is the saints who change the Church. It’s amazing to consider how much change one saint can affect.”

When I heard this, I thought ‘and isn’t that true, Marie Madeleine did change the Church, not only in her foundation of a new religious order, but by the very fact that she lived as God’s faithful instrument and said ‘yes’ to God’. Let us thank God for her, and continue to pray through her intercession for all those people who have been commended to our prayer.

I MAKE FOREVER TO YOU…

clarefcj — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 11:14:47 +0000

On January 3rd Sisca made her final vows in a deeply moving ceremony. All the FCJs in our Province were there as well as our Companions in Mission and many friends from Melbourne and even further afield. The ceremony was beautiful and very joyful. Sisca has vowed to be an FCJ for life. Her commitment is a reminder to us all to be faithful to our own commitment to serve God and God’s people.

Time Lovers or Clock Watchers

anouskafcj — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 22:11:02 +0000

Waiting for the New Year to arrive seemed to take so long this year, with my first New Year’s greeting coming at 8.30amon the 31^st December. It was a text sent from my sister who lives in New Zealand and although I still had a whole day of waiting ahead of me, she had indeed entered the New Year.

As the day continued I was in contact with people in various countries and with family and friends back home in the UK. New Years greetings arrived five hours before I had even thought about entering 2012. Being from the UK I had never experienced different time zones in the same country so when as a community, gathered here in Toronto, we celebrated the arrival of 2012, the Western Provinces were still anticipating the arrival of the New Year some two hours later.

On New Years Day we gathered for community prayer and I was really struck by a verse of a New Year Blessing Prayer written by Edward Hays. It read:
Bless our clocks and watches
            You who kindly direct us
to observe the passing of minutes and hours.
May they make us aware of the miracle
            of each second of life we experience.
May these our ticking servants
            help us not to miss that which is important,
            while You keep us from machine-like routine.
May we ever be free from being clock watchers
            and instead become time lovers. ¹

As we live this first week of a New Year, I hope and pray that I can truly become a lover of time, and more importantly the opportunities that come my way in this New Year. I hope also not to become so enslaved by ‘our ticking servants’ that I miss the gift of the present. May 2012 be a time of real blessing for you and all you love.

1. Prayers for the Domestic Church, Edward Hays, page 93

SISCA’S FINAL VOWS TOMORROW!

clarefcj — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 10:55:59 +0000

This evening we had a beautiful thanksgiving prayer on the eve of Sisca’s final vows. Fifty of us joined Sisca in prayer as we gave thanks for her life and vocation. For me the most moving part of the prayer was when each member of the Province anointed her with fragrant oil and said a prayer for her. I shed a few tears at this point and so did more than a few others. Let us hope that tomorrow will be simply lovely and a day to remember for Sisca and for all of us. How exciting to think that in a few hours time Sisca will give herself to God forever!

SISCA’S FINAL VOWS…

clarefcj — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 00:01:58 +0000

At 2.30pm on 3rd January 2012 here in Australia Sisca will make her Final Vows. What a wonderful way to finish our Province Assembly. When Sisca makes her vows it will remind us all of our own vows and it encourages to live our FCJ lives with even more enthusiasma and joy. As Christians we are all committed to following Christ. May we all be inspired by Sisca’s choice to live our Christian lives more fully…