Good Shepherd News

No. 215 September 2008

Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd

Visit: www.buonpastoreint.org

As ICA America ends

New understanding of culture begins; delegates strengthened to carry out mission

(Continued on page 2)

Like the beautiful tapestry that carries details rich in symbols and meaning, the Intercontinen-tal Assembly for America conclu-ded on September 21 in Quito, Ecuador, with participants’ lives woven together by love, solidari-ty and zeal for mission. The two-week assembly gat-hered participants from North, Central and Latin America, mem-bers of the Congregational Lea-dership Team, guests and re-source persons. Guests included Sr. Angela Fahy, congregational leader of the Sisters of Our Lady of Charity, who expressed her sentiment of being “at home with the Good Shepherd Sisters.”

Being held for the first time, the Intercontinental Assembly of America is the preparation for the General Chapter, now refe-rred to as Congregational Chap-ter 2009 that will be held June 13-July 9, 2009 in Angers, Fran-ce. Other intercontinental assem-blies are scheduled for Europe RIMOA (October 17-31) and Asia-Pacific (November 14-28).

The contemplatives had the Contemplative Intercontinental Assembly from August 22-September 5 where nine sis-ters were elected delegates to

the Chapter. Five elected con-templatives attended the ICA America, while two will attend ICA Europe/RIMOA in France and two representing ICA Asia/Pacific will be in Thailand.

Topics discussed were Restruc-turing, Article One, the govern-ment section of the Integrated Constitutions, the journey of en-richment of RGS and OLC, and the priorities that ICA America will bring to the Congregational

Mission Sending. During the Eucharistic celebration, ICA America delegates who will participate in the 2009 Congregational Chapter were offered a light candle, blessed and together with the other sisters prayed for a meaningful Chapter.

What’s Inside

Excerpts from the Intercontinental Assembly: America Pages 1-7

Argentina/Uruguay: Girls’ Home in Jujuy Pages 8-9

Northeast Asia: Our Energies for Mission Page 9

Portugal: In the land of ‘Jericho’ Page 10

Spirituality Center: Reflection on Congregational Chapter Theme

Pages 11-12

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What’s Inside

Good Shepherd News

Most of the articles in this edition of Good Shepherd News were excerpts from the ICA America that was held in Quito Ecuador. Good Shepherd Sisters from North America, Central America and South America were together to dis-cuss important topics that concern the congregation. Elected contemplative delegates to the Congregaio-nal Chapter also partcipated in the event.

What started as an ICA of the Americas, concluded with the with the delegates convinced that they form just one America— ICA America. The discussions and the sharing have all helped the delegates go beyond “local, provincial, country, continental boundaries.” the experience, as articulated by Sr. Brigid Lawlor in her Closing Remarks, “was a joyous

one and not a burden to us.”

As the ICA is being held, Good Shepherd Sisters are updated on the events, and at the same time zealous in the mission that they are called to do in the different units.

The Province of Argentina/Uruguay and the Province of Portugal share about the apostolate for women and children, while the Province of Northeast Asia emphasized that it is God who gathers us and gives us energy for the mission. The Spirituality Center also continues to journey with the congregation in offering reflections on the theme of the Congregational Chapter — Weavers of Compassion and Reconciliation in Global Soli-darity.

Chapter. A conference presented by Sr. Marie Chin that emphasi-zed on the transformative nature of culture offered challenges to the participants.

As the Listeners’ Report, “Moments of Grace” articulated, “we felt great movements of the Spirit in our discussions, our litur-gies and most importantly, in the direction of the Shepherd’s call.” The report noted that the dele-gates “experienced a strong movement towards forming a new entity with the Sisters of Our Lady of Charity, bringing to-gether the rich histories, values and the zeal which reflects our common origin, in the spirituality and the teachings of St. John Eudes and St. Mary Euphrasia.” Concrete steps on how the mes-sage of ICA America will be shared to the Sisters in the differ-ent provinces, were shared in plenary. Emails and contact numbers were exchanged to pave the way for greater collabo-ration among units especially in the areas of prevention of human trafficking and promotion of eco-

nomic justice.

In her Closing Remarks, Sr. Brigid Lawlor lauded the unity forged during the Assembly, it is, she said, a message “that we can get beyond our local, provincial, country, continental boundaries— and it has proven to be a joyous experience and not a burden to us.” Sr. Brigid also thanked everyone who made the ICA America an en-counter to remember. She called on Sr. Maria Augusta Arellano, provincial of Ecuador, and announced that in the name of everyone who helped the ICA America, the congrega-tion was giving US $1,000 as a contribution for Ecuador’s pro-ject to build an infirmary.

ICA AMERICA ...

(Continued from page 1)

Sr. Marta Ceballos, ICA America chairperson, also announced that from the pockets of the dele-gates, US $ 500 was raised for the international Contemplative Community in Angola. During the Eucharistic Celebra-tion, Fr. Efren Santacruz CJM, reiterated that solidarity entails creative fidelity, the path is to-wards reconciliation and com-passion which needs creative fidelity. x After the Mass, when balloons were set free, delegates and guests gath-ered to drink a toast of gratitude to those who have been part of ICA America and to offer wishes to each one. Cheers!!! (RK)

In this Issue: Intercontinental Assembly (ICA) in Quito: One America

Visit to a museum of Equatorian art; prayer highlights silence in Maya rite.

ICA America Listeners’ Report (Excerpt)

(Excerpt from the Closing Remarks of Sr. Brigid Lawlor, congregational leader, of the Intercontinental Assembly of America on September 21, 2008) When we began I asked you to look around the room and notice the beauty of the diversity of cultures among us.We have done more than look aorund the room! We have held significant coversations with one antoher. We have coped with language differences. We have communicated. We have formed new friendships and renewed old ones. Challenged by Sr. Marie Chin, we have come to new understanding of the importance of culture as a means of claiming our religious identity as Good Shepherd Sisters. Throughout our dialogue with one another on topics of importance to us, we have become strengthened in our ability to carry forward our mission. Yes, America will weave messages at the Congregational Chapter that will carry forward for six years. Perhaps even more importantly, we have given ourselves, as Americans, a message. This message is that we can get beyond our local, provincial, country, continental boundaries— and it has proven to be a joyous experience and not a burden to us... we are united as Good Shepherdesses, and we are America.

Closing Remarks - ICA America Sr. Brigid Lawlor

From left, Sr. Angela Fahy OLC, Fr. Efren Santacruz CJM and Sr. Brigid Lawlor RGS

The Gift of Culture We have deepened our respect for one another’s culture, discovering the richness and the influ-ences this has on our individual identities. We found a common thread woven into the fabric of our cultural identity in loving devotion to Mary. We are fully aware that such differences present great challenges but none so great as to limit our pro-found desire to build on the deep relationships al-ready formed, in order to carry forward the mission of the Good Shepherd together. Visions for Mission In solidarity with our Contemplative Sisters, and with great joy, we affirmed the implications of Arti-cle 1, highlighting the place for the Contemplative Sisters at all levels, especially the establishment of a Contemplative Congregational Council. All pre-sent experienced this moment of grace, as the pro-phetic vision of St. Mary Euphrasia. The apostolic Sisters spoke as one voice when they said, Your dreams are our dreams. We cannot exist without you, nor you without us. We are one Congregation. We experienced a strong movement towards form-ing a new entity with the Sisters of Our Lady of Charity, bringing together the rich histories, values and the zeal which reflects our common origin, in the spirituality and the teachings of St. John Eudes and St. Mary Euphrasia, who were present danc-ing in unity with us. This moment of grace reminds us that we are on a journey that promises new life for our Mission. The wider definition of our various partnerships with lay associates, although diverse in culture, offer profound vitality to our Mission. Honoring our heritage of sharing the charism with the laity and based on the values and experiences they bring, we want to broaden and deepen our commitment to Good Shepherd Partnership. The Moments of Grace that we have known have been profound and Spirit filled. Among all the Sis-ters the response has been a deep desire to con-tinue to move with the Spirit to ensure new life for the Mission, in whatever structures we are called for to carry it forward. We have opened our hearts to embrace the directions of ICA and left behind our personal preferences, yielding all for the sake of Mission. Confident that these moments of grace will unite us and make us one America, we journey to the Congregational Chapter with open hearts to embrace the whole world. “We want a place for everyone at the table.”

x Quito, September 21, 2008

X

(The Listeners’ Group is composed of Srs. Carol Beairsto, Claudia Palacio and Julia Villalba. )

LISTENERS’ GROUP. From left, Julia Villaba, Carol Beairsto and Claudia Palacio.

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“What really matters is that we allow God to challenge us through our reading of the signs to invest in God’s future. We cannot not heed God’s spirit, actively present in our world and defining God’s mission” as it fer-ments, disturbs and calls faithful hearts to be a part of the larger process of compassion and soli-darity that is irrupting all over the world and running to catch up with the spirit.” Marie Chin RSM, concluded the three-day conference given to the delegates of the Interconti-nental Assembly of America with the above words as the delega-tes reflected on the theme, “Weavers of Compasión and Re-conciliation in Global Solidarity.” The ICA America is being held as part of the preparation for the 2009 Congregational Chapter that will be held in Angers, Fran-

ce from June 13– July 9, 2009 in Angers, France. Day 1 Marie began her talk, with the theme of the Congregational Chapter, identifying the impor-tance of the reflection to the delegates being women who have consecrated themselves to God. “We long to go deeper into our lives, to uncover God’s

reality and God’s desire for us...” She articulated the challenge to wome religious to discover that “we can be partners in the hea-ling of our modern pluralistic world” and how women can ”stand in global solidarity with the sacred, with our earth, our world and its suffering peoples.” Day 2 Because of the impact of culture, and the challenges posed when one culture encounters another, Marie, who was asked questions and clarifications after the first day’s sessions decided to inclu-de on the second day the topic, “Religious Life as a Culture”. In explaining to the delegates, Marie said that religious life sha-pes our values, attitudes, beha-viours, criteria of judgment, points of interest, lifestyle, even our spirituality— how we percei-ve and respond to God! It is the search for God and thus religious

Year of Foundation

USA 1843 CANADÀ 1844 CHILE 1855 ECUADOR 1871 PERÙ 1871 URUGUAY 1876 ARGENTINA 1885 COLOMBIA 1890 BOLIVIA 1891 BRASIL 1892 MEXICO 1900 CENTRO AMÈRICA 1911 PARAGUAY 1918 VENEZUELA 1925

Restructuring

Argentina/ Uruguay 2006 Bolivia/Chile 2008 Southeast Latin America 2008

1843...1844...1855… St. Mary Euphrasia sent her daughters to America, beginning with the United States, followed by Ca-nada in the North and eventua-lly Chile in the South. Even af-ter her death, SME’s words, “Your zeal must embrace the whole world,” continued to ins-pire Good Shepherd Sisters to respond to the needs of girls and women in various coun-tries in America.

On September 8, the opening day of the Intercontinental As-sembly of America, the delega-tes traced the journey of the flou-rishing of the Good Shepherd congregation in the continent.

Sr. Brigid Lawlor, congregational leader, who welcomed the dele-gates representing North, South and Central America, emphasi-zed that America is “home of ancient indigenous cultures, home to histories of colonization and slavery, home of migration,” and “ home to a diversity of world cultures and races.” The gathering takes an added significance as ICA America is being held in Ecuador, the midd-le of the world. ICA America Update No. 1

ICA America x Delegates hope to strengthen unity for mission

ICA America delegates challenged by transformative nature of culture

(Continued on page 5)

Photo left, tracing the journey

From left, Srs. Brigid Lawlor, Marie Chin and Yvette Arnold

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Email addresses for Good Shepherd Sisters

At the homepage of the website www.buonpastoreint.org is a section where emails may be availed of. Any Good Shepherd Sister who has an email address with GSS WEB may type her own registered name and password and send an email or receive communication from sisters and friends. Unlike other groups, like Yahoo, Hotmail which deactivate an email address that has not been used for several months, GSS WEB does not delete the email address of a sister, unless requested. It is for life. To get an address, Interested sisters, may get in touch with Sr. Christine Mearns at this email address: roma.gss@gssweb.org

GSS WEB (Click here)

CICA/ICA

Contemplative Intercontinental Assembly (CICA) August 22-September 5, 2008

Quito, Ecuador

Intercontinental Assembly -America September 8-22, 2008

Quito, Ecuador

Intercontinental Assembly—Europe/RIMOA October 17-31, 2008

Angers, France

Intercontinental Assembly - Asia/Pacific November 14-28, 2008

Pattaya, Thailand

ICA AMERICA...

(Continued from page 4)

life has been “able to counter the dominant culture, living clear messages, having something to say to the world and making a significant difference.” She iden-tified the four cultures in Reli-gious life as: Essentialist, Exis-tentialist, Liberation and Femi-nist. Marie also used three metaphors to read the signs of the time, using the English words, reign, rein and rain. To continue the day, the ICA de-legates were asked to reflect and report on the stories in the con-gregation within units, to name the values and convictions as a unit and to identify the shadows of the congregation and the unit. Day 3 On the third day, Marie Chin, used the metaphor of Rain, as described by Isaiah, rain that comes from the sky, waters the earth and does not return to hea-ven until it does what it is told to do. Religious communities are being called, she reiterated, to a new consciousness that is emer-ging in the world— right rela-tionships, harmony with all crea-tion, wholeness and integration, sharing and partnership. Delega-tes discussed and reflected on the challenges before them. A dance that united the prayers of communities, the congregation and the world concluded the ses-sions.

In the evening of September 12, a Cultural Night was held. ICA America Update No. 2

UNITED FOR PEACE. During the Cultural Night on September 12, Good Shepherd Sisters hold a prayer for peace, led by the Sisters from Colombia.

Sr. Rosaria Baxter and Mercy de Leon of Mid North America make final stitches on the ICA America woven cloth.

Contemplative Corner

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Five contemplative delegates to the 2009 Congregational Chap-ter reported on September 14 their experiences during the re-cently concluded Contemplative Intercontinental Assembly. The five form part of the nine contemplatives who were elected by apostolic and contemplatives representing units from all over the world during the CICA. They include Srs. Jude Ellen Golumbi-eski and Sr. Edith Olaguer of North America and Srs. Cynthia Bone, Reyna Escobar and Enith Pangul of Latin America. Entitled, “Moments of Grace,” the report, done using images captu-red in powerpoint presentation, was shared by the five delegates whose profound experiences during the assembly was felt by the ICA delegates. Among the topics shared were the implica-tions of Article 1 on the contem-plative and the apostolic sisters, Justice and Peace, and the go-vernment section of the Constitu-tions. During the discussions, both the contemplatives and apostolic sisters also expressed their joy about the development of the contemplative sisters in the congregation. Apostolic sis-ters affirmed what has been

achieved in CICA. In the afternoon, Sr. Brigid Lawlor, answered questions from the sisters about Article 1. Later, Srs. Evelyn Fergus and Jude Ellen Golumbieski, both members of the Constitutions Commission, talked about the

For CICA/ICA Updates, visit: www.buonpastoreint.org

Contemplatives report to the ICA America delegates experiences and the work of CICA

Contemplatives. From left, Srs. Jude Ellen Golumbieski, Reina Escobar, Enith Pangul, Cynthia Bone and Edith Olaguer

work on the Constitutions, espe-cially on the government section. All three of them answered ques-tions from the delegates regar-ding the Integrated Constitutions. ICA America Update No. 3

The Statues of St. Mary Euphrasia and St. John Eudes, at the Hall where the ICA America is held.

Prayers of SME and SJE

Sharing

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Constitutions, Process GS/OLC, restructuring and laity discussed in ICA

Fired with the zeal of St. John Eudes and St. Mary Euphrasia, the delegates to the Inteconti-nental Assembly of America dis-cussed the Integrated Constitu-tions, the Journey of Enrichment of the Good Shepherd Sisters and the Sisters of Our Lady of Charity, restructuring and the laity on September 15 and 16. Srs. Jude Ellen Golumbieski CGS and Evelyn Fergus of the Congregational Leadership, both members of the Constitutions Commission, reviewed with the delegates the Integrated Consti-tutions, specifically the govern-ment section. Together with Sr. Brigid Lawlor, the congregational leader, they explained the impli-cations of Article One, particular-ly on the contemplative sisters. The present Constitutions of the contemplatives does not have a government section while the Integrated Constitutions carry specific articles and statutues that concern the contemplatives, including possiblity of a contem-plative being elected as congre-gational leader. Statute 122.2 of the Integrated Constitutions says that if elected congregational leader, it is necessary for the contemplative “to adopt an apos-tolic way of life for the duration of

her mandate.” Major changes in the Articles and Statutes of the Constitutions were studied by the delegates. The government section also clearly states that in the provin-cial and congregational levels, there could be both the aposto-lic and contemplative councils and each council deals with the concerns of the particular lifes-tyle. Questions were raised regarding units with only one contemplative community. The congregation is also looking into the possibility of having a

regional contemplative council composed of contemplatives from several units each having only one contemplative commu-nity. After discussions and clarifica-tions on the Constitutions, the delegates approved the recom-mendation of having a contem-plative congregational council. The government section, was, likewise approved unanimously. Journey of Enrichment of Good Shepherd Sisters and the Sisters of Our Lady of Charity One topic that delegates found very interesting was the Process of Unification with the Sisters of Our Lady of Charity. Sr. Brigid Lawlor introduced to the delega-tes, Sr. Angela Fahy, congrega-tional leader of the OLCs, who has been invited to the ICA Ame-rica. With Sr. Armelle Dehen-nault, member of the Good Shepherd Congregational Lea-der-ship Team, they presented the journey and the unfolding of events in the two congregations since 2003. ICA America Update No. 4

ICA America delegates raise their green cards approving the government section of the Constitutions and the contemplative council.

Srs. Jude Ellen Golumbieski (left) and Evelyn Fergus, present the other members of the Constitutions Committee using powerpoint slides— Srs. Odile Laugier, Gudadalupe Bautista, Bernadette Fox and Brigid Lawlor.

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Province of Argentina/Uruguay

GIRL’S HOME, Good Shepherd Institute,

Jujuy

The socio-economic and political realities of Argentina to which the Province of Jujuy, being in the north of the country, do not have access, has required that a par-ticular sector of the population be provided the basic services they need. This special sector is the population of adolescent girls who for various reasons like situations of social danger, are remanded by the Juvenile courts, or who live in areas where they are deprived of basic services like health and education. Some live in distant areas where there are motives for entering our Home to respond to their situa-tion and their life problems. They are admitted to our Institu-tion and we thus reaffirm the commitment of the Good Shep-herd Sisters and the lay people in our congregation to continue the work begun over a hundred years ago to “promote the forma-tion, education and integral ori-entation of girls and youth.” This service provides not only a place to live in but also the “tools” or skills needed to improve them-selves and to overcome the situation which brought them to the Home in the first place. After graduation we try to link them back to their families, if any, or provide them with help to resolve conflict situations. At present there are more than 40 girls aged 12 to 18 in the Home. They receive not only social services but also life skills training (both formal and infor-mal) to enable them to return to mainstream society better equipped to face their life prob-lems.

The Institution strives for “the formation and integral develop-ment of Woman” so that when they leave the Home, they can integrate themselves in society and participate in their own life projects. During the year these work-shops are given: computer training, music, gardening, handicrafts, cooking, cutting and sewing. These skill-training workshops are supple-mented with spiritual accompa-niment: catechetics and re-treats. Part of our principal objective is not only formation but also the social and affective aid that would reconnect our teenagers to their families, so important in initiating their journey towards a change of life. Thus all our ministrations are given together with all the staff which forms part of the Institu-tion, from the simplest task to the most complex, reaching their completion at the moment

of accomplishing our task of serving the youth with their spe-cial needs. This apostolate was begun May 30, 1889 in the presence of Bishop Padilla who installed the Good Shepherd Sisters in a tem-porary house rented by the bishop. Later he donated the land on which to build a new church and a home destined to admit girls from the whole prov-ince. Msgr. Padilla was the foun-der of four Good Shepherd homes in Argentina: Tucuman, Jujuy, Salta, and Catamarca. For more than four years now, the community has had the ex-perience of welcoming some stu-dents from France. They spend part of their studies here, and in an intercultural exchange, enable our girls to improve their knowl-edge of the visitors’ language as well as of ours. The visiting stu-dents also participate in our cul-tural festivals like the celebration of “Mother Earth” or “La

The youth with Sr. Dolores Valles

Mountains of different colors, typical landscape in Jujuy

(Continued on page 10)

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Province of Northeast Asia z

Energies for Our Mission Our God brings us together To follow Christ our Good Shep-herd. We come from many cultures With our strengths and our failures. But in love is our communion; In peace is our reconciliation These are Faith in action And energies for our mission. We are bearers and givers of life With and for our neighbors We are weavers of compassion In our broken world. So in love is our communion; In peace is our reconciliation These are faith in action And energies for our mission The Gospel calls us To cross-over, to leave familiar shores Let us have the heart of our God To be one with those in need. Then in love is our communion; In peace is our reconciliation. These are faith in action And energies for our mission. Praise to our Father; Praise to Christ our Brother; Praise to the Holy Spirit As we journey together. Sr. Aida Casambre Hong Kong

Pachamama.” It is a rite in which we thank the earth for all its gifts (work, health and other blessings), invoking our ances-tors as witnesses to our suc-cess. This ritual which underlines the value of our beliefs is cele-brated in the Home every year in August. Our visitors also participate in the National Fes-tival of Students in September, at the beginning of Spring.

The work of the Good Shepherd in its development reflects a work of commitment centered on the human person, considering the youth not just as recipients of food and shelter, but as actors in their own lives, capable of proc-essing information in the history of their individual lives and with the potential for personal reflec-tion to generate their own life projects. - Sr. Irma del Valle Gallo Argentina

GIRLS’ HOME... (Continued from page 8)

Photo, above, young students during a celebration.

The youth near the statue of St. Mary Euphrasia

Above, students during a regional festival.

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We are an inserted community of three sisters in a poor district of a suburb of Lisbon. We have been here since 1988 and realize that it is a privilege to live among the poor and, with them, to help them go forward and defend their lives. The reality that surrounds us has many resem-blances with the land of Jericho where salvation and grace have not passed in vain. The Good Shepherd wants to be here today through us, as in the past, through the Samaritan, to pick up from the ground, to heal and to pay the account. As in the roads to Jericho, we find here many people with stories of wounded hearts: children and old persons bearing very deep pain due to violence and injustice; the worn-out faces of im-migrants, of exploited women and children, hu-miliated faces, of children traumatized in body and spirit, of people who cry out for compassion and creative love which they could not find ex-cept in God alone and will be transmitted through our little acts which will never be news in the pages of newspapers but which will never be dispensable or useless. In our condition of weakness, grace finds favorable ground to trust utterly in Him who has no need of our agreement to act through our poverty and our hum-ble footsteps in order to enable the seeds of a liber-ated life to grow. Signs of another Presence From the time the 3 sisters started to live in the area,

Province of Portugal

In the land of “Jericho” in a tent just like the poor, the winds of change be-gan to be felt in the life and structures of the place. A street map was made, names were given to the roads, the local inhabitants were registered and a support service organized. Among those who lived or worked there, arose a murmur: “Our district is no longer the same as before.” And to those who, in some fear, came to associate themselves with us to increase the services ren-dered, those already there invite them to try atti-tudes of rapport. Then they would tell everyone that they are joining the Good Shepherd Sisters. After that the entire district belonged to them as a space to traverse without any problem. It is quite evident that it is not our own strength that asserts itself but rather the Incarnation of the Word of God that extends itself here, hidden in the lives of those who are the leaven of a New Kingdom. Doesn’t this district provide a place for the Bread of Life proclaimed every Sunday in the Eucharist? Does He not remain present among us just as He did long ago in the womb of Mary, hidden in the simple bread that appeases hunger and which gives us the strength of love and the certainty of transformation? The Infinite present in these per-ishable realities ploughs in us and in others the traits of Living Hope and which makes us feel and believe that within this place, there also dwells the mystery of God, silent and humble, armed only with the power of love which gives but never im-poses itself, to destroy the forces which trample underfoot and kill. And if a Samaritan. . . The need and the urge to do a lot go against the fragility of our communal reality. But Hope affirms and superimposes on our weakness through the witnessing of our associates whose hearts are touched and whose souls are impassioned by the causes of the poor. The individual volunteers as well as the organizations linked with us make pos-sible the continuation and multiplication of commit-ment and service, actions which no longer sur-prise, but which convince, like those of the Samari-tan, in caring for and paying for the treatment of those wounded by life. Thus we maintain the following services for the people: Meetings for catechesis, reflection, and prayer every week. Visits to the sick and the aged, giving them the

(Continued on page 11)

Sr. Gabriela Botelho, province leader of Portugal, with Sr. Ana Maria Gomes, former general councillor, during the Provincial Chapter of Portugal in May 2008.

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comfort of our interest, inspiring them to grow in trust in the infinite mercy of Jesus the Good Shep-herd, and bringing them the support of the Holy Eucharist; Orienting and developing the most needy families. An economist and a couple (both movie directors) facilitate the activities of the Ludotheque twice a week, leading the activities for street children aged 6 to 10. An association called “Roots” utilizes the space to “Look at the Future” with computer workshops for children and teenagers aged 10 to 18. Their main goal is to get the children back to school or to inter-est them in becoming apprentices for a profession. A volunteer psychologist comes every Thursday to provide psychosocial support. A music teacher, salaried by the Mayor’s office, leads a music class for children and adults once a

week. We soon expect the “K’cidade” group to teach sports in the afternoons. In this way and with our experiences, we are weav-ing, little by little, the love of mercy and compas-sion with these people, believing that by intertwin-ing all these activities, grace will show them that evil does not have complete sway over all things and that neither suffering nor death has the final word. --Sr. Rosa Virginia Barbosa Portugal

JERICHO... (Continued from page 10)

Spirituality Center c

COMPASSION

Reflection No. 4 on the Congregational Chapter theme

“My soul was moved with com-passion, for God knows how dear you are to us; the four of you have fought the good fight, and remained faithful in the fire of tribulation.” Thus wrote Sr. Mary Euphrasia, in October 1827 from Tours to the Superior of Valence, the day after M. Berger, a priest from Valence had visited the monas-teries of Our Lady of Char-ity. The priest described in detail the condition of the house and how overwhelmed with work, were the Sisters. So we continue with our reflec-tion on the theme of our Congre-gational Chapter. St. Mary Eu-phrasia has two conferences on our apostolate where she talks about compassion in so many words. The more our penitents are spiritually sick, the more in-terest we should take in them; and the more they tend to fall, the more compassion must we have for them[2]. In another Let-

ter, she says: “My own heart is moved with compassion at the thought of all that you have endured; oh yes, my daughter, as you say, it is a bitter sacri-fice, you are our cherished Xa-viers.”[3] How are we to begin to know more about COMPASSION? Any dictionary could easily give you a definition of compas-sion. They uniformly read that the word comes from the Latin stem “com” = together, with, and "patior" = to suffer, to

feel. There are two keys here: interconnectedness, and that of emotion and ac-tion. Compassion always in-cludes and contemplates the other. It is a quality that brings people together. It is in effect “divine respect”… Exodus 33:19 And the LORD said, "I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the LORD, in your pres-ence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.” 2 Kings 13:23 But the LORD was gracious to them and had compassion and showed concern for them because of his covenant with

(Continued on page 12)

Visit:

www.buonpastoreint.org

2008

Good Shepherd News

While each unit is encouraged to send articles anytime during the year, we have planned that there

are specific editions when each unit is asked to submit an article so

that at the end of the year all the units have been part of Good

Shepherd News. Please send articles on or

before the 5th of each month. Here is the suggested schedule:

January CLT, Commissions

Highlights/News from 2007, North East Asia

February Religious Life, Netherlands, Bogota,

Bolivia/Chile, Great Britain March

Southeast of Latin America (Recife/Paraguay/BeloHorizonte)

Kenya, Senegal, Peru April

France/Belgium/Hungary Mexico, Egypt/Sudan,

May Portugal, Angola, Mozambique, Lebanon/Syria, Central America

Spain

June Philippines, South Africa, Austria/

Switzerland/Czech Republic, Canada

July Germany, Australia/Aotearoa/New

Zealand, Japan, Singapore/Malaysia

August Intercontinental Assembly

for Contemplatives- Ecuador (Aug 22-Sept 5)

Mid North America, Ecuador, India/Nepal

September Intercontinental Assembly for the Americas- Ecuador (Sept. 8-22), Argentina/Uruguay, New York,

Medellin

October Intercontinental Assembly for

Europe and RIMOA- France (Oct 17-31), Ireland/Ethiopia, Mother House,

The Isles

November Intercontinental Assembly for Asia-

Pacific – Thailand (Nov 14-28), Indonesia, East Asia, Other News

December CLT, Commissions

Italy/Malta, Sri Lanka/Pakistan, Other News

Good Shepherd News

Special thanks to the following for the translation:

Srs. Gisèle Lalonde, Canada; Adriana Perez, Mexico; Digna Maria Rivas, Central America; Ana Lucia Sanabria, Central America;

Guadalupe Bautista, Philippines; Rosario Ortiz, Spain; Laura Solis, Central America; Delia Rodriguez, Peru; Mary James Wilson,

Philippines; Ms. Claire Alessandri and Mr. Michel Ferrer, France.

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Invitation Please send articles, photos with captions for Good Shepherd News to:

REGINA KUIZON Casa Generalizia, Suore del Buon Pastore,

Via Raffaello Sardiello 20- 00165 Roma, Italia Email: ginargs@buonpastoreint.org / regina.kuizon@gssweb.org

SPIRITUALITY CENTER ... (Continued from page 11)

Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. To this day he has been unwilling to destroy them or banish them from his presence. 2 Chronicles 30:9 "For if you return to the LORD, your brothers and your sons will find compassion before those who led them captive and will return to this land. For the LORD your God is gracious and compassionate, and will not turn His face away from you if you return to Him." In the New Testament, it is a quality of Jesus Himself, but there is added, another dimension of healing to make the presence of God felt in their midst.

Matthew 15:32 Jesus called his disciples to him and said, "I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, or they may collapse on the way." Mark 1:41 Moved with compassion, Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, "I am willing; be cleansed." Luke 7:13 When the Lord saw her, He felt compassion for her, and said to her, "Do not weep." (For the full text of the Reflection, visit www.buonpastoreint.org)

Participants and resource persons of the ICA America