Sr Liz joins new DC community in Taizé
This
weekend was a very joyful occasion as the Provincial Council of
France-South established a new local community of three Sisters on
the peaceful hillside of Taizé. On Saturday evening Sr. Alice,
Provincial,
along with Provincial Councillors Sr. Monique Forgeat,
Sr. Agnes and Sr. Micheline, set out with Sr. Liz Ferrie
(from the Province of Great Britain) and Sr. Azeb (an Eritrean
Sister from the Province of Naples). They joined Sr. Maria-Ruth who
has been serving in the infirmary at Taizé for the last 10 years.
They stopped at Chatillon sur Chalaronne which was part of the
beginning of this time of foundation, as Sr. Maria-Ruth has been a
member of this community. A time of prayer in the chapel in the
house where Saint Vincent once lived marked the first stage of these
festivities. The group then spent some time in Ars so that the two
new Sisters, both of whom have already helped out at Taizé with Sr.
Maria-Ruth during the busy seasons, could pause a moment in the
little parish where St. Jean-Marie Vianney dedicated his whole life
to sharing his faith with his contemporaries. They shared a meal
along with much humour, as each one put her language skills to the
test amidst a great deal of laughter.
On Sunday morning, the little group strolled along the Chatillon
market place, a peaceful place during the Sunday morning hours.
Arriving at Taizé at 9 o’clock, they met with the assistant Brother
and another worker in front of the little Romanesque church which
had been the place for prayer during the first years of the
Brothers’ presence on this hillside. At the entry to the church, the
simple tomb surmounted by a cross bearing the name “Brother Roger”
introduced them into the atmosphere of this setting that welcomes
from 3000 to 5000 young people every week from May to November
coming from all over Europe. They come to journey with Christ and to
find new life: either in groups for a weekend or for a week to draw
closer to the One who has shown us through his Word that God is a
merciful Father.
They were then led to the little house near the Romanesque church in
which the community has lived since last summer. As they await other
arrangements, they will be living in two settings: a common living
space near the youth centre (two will be sleeping there as well)
while the third will have a bedroom on the other side of the hill.
After this, the Provincial Council and the Brother who is the
Assistant of their community met to discuss the final details
relating to the set-up for the Sisters’ mission. Then all met in the
Reconciliation Chapel for the Eucharist presided over by Bishop
Riviere, who had come especially for the occasion to welcome the
Sisters. He was accompanied by Cardinal Panafieu, who had preached a
retreat to the priests of the diocese the week before.
This
Eucharistic celebration introduced all to the special ambience of
this place where 300 young people had come for the weekend. This
time of grace and peace continued with a meeting with Brother Alois
in the room where Brother Roger had lived, a place of simplicity and
beauty. He reminded us that this endeavour has come to fruition
after a rather extensive period of time: the first request was made
by Brother Roger to Mother Guillemin when he asked for Daughters of
Charity to oversee the infirmary.
The group then headed to the refectory where almost 70 people had
come to share the meal with the community. The Cardinal offered a
brief blessing to begin the simple and delicious meal that began in
an atmosphere of silence. Then words began to flow and hearts
continued to open in a peaceful time of exchange. Brother Alois
concluded the meal by inviting the Cardinal and Sister Alice to say
a few words. The Cardinal began with a touch of humour in revealing
his advancing age to us, all the while inviting us to consider with
a sense of peace the mystery of the Church which continues to bear
the sign of Jesus: it is when the Church is poor and lacking in
means that it bears witness to its master: Jesus. Then Sister Alice
expressed her hope that the charism of Saint Vincent would continue
to be present, expressing God’s mercy through the gentle service of
health care.
Following this was a more extensive time spent with the bishop. It
was an opportunity for him to tell the Sisters once more that he
hopes that they will live out their charism through their community
life, in the rhythm of their spiritual life as the Sisters of St.
Andrew do (those who serve in accompaniment of the youth) and the
Ursuline Sisters (who serve the young people from Slavic nations).
He reminded them that the parable of Taizé is expressed by the fact
that there is little separation between what is said and what is
done. Each one should remember that all are called to live their
charism without a sense of superiority nor of renunciation, but
rather in understanding one another, keeping in mind the idea of
“me” and “you”. This perspective encourages all to live in unity
rather than from the sense of “yours” and “mine”, which is a
divisive way of self affirmation. He reminded them that they are
Daughters of Charity: present in a place to which they have been
called and with attention to the local Church, something the Company
already understands how to put into practice.
Afterwards, the group went back to their community to hear some
final advice from Sr. Alice given to the Sisters through the
conference of Saint Vincent to the Sisters who were sent to the
country on October 22, 1650. They discussed some concrete details
such as the relationship between this little foundation and the
community at Chatillon to which they are connected. Then Sr.
Maria-Ruth showed some slides that she had collected over the years
of the various Sisters who had come to visit or to help during the
summers.
We once again sang of our gratitude to God with “Forever I will sing
the mercy of the Lord.” We then shared a delicious soup together
before setting out for our respective homes. We were happy to have
been part of this marathon day, experiencing the sense of peace and
knowing that the Sisters here, in their caring service to all the
pilgrims who come to Taizé, will add their voices to the parable of
reconciliation that has been told on this hillside for the last 60
years.
This event was shared by Bernard Massarini CM