Mother Myriam’s Message : December 2009 1 Letter , Formation Center in Vietnam, Visit to Laos

Pictures of Visit to Laos in the inside cover

SPC News Dispatch

7 Saigon, Philippines, Haiti, Colombia, 8 Generalate, Indonesia, Peru, Central Africa 9 Asia, Korea, Rome, Hongkong

Inbox: Word of God

10 Thessalonians 3:12-4:2

10 Homily of Pope Benedict XVI on the first Sunday of Advent

Special Feature : Sisters of St. Paul of Chartres in Africa 15 Central African Republic 17 Madagascar 19 Cameroon

Missionary Horizons 21 Culture and Communication- Ira Hutchison, USA 23 Let us Announce the Good News of Jesus- Sr Marcelle Roussy, CANADA

24 Pilgrimage to Hanoi- Danang Sisters, VIETNAM 25 Our Disabled Friends in Fives- Sisters of Lille, FRANCE 26 Celebrating 25 Years of Mission in Australia– Sr. Catherine Wong 27 International Reflexology Congress – Sr Jeanne Cattin, PERU

Crossroads of SPC History 29 Our Constitutions Part VI -Sr Jeanne Hélène Sineau, archivist

New Seasons 30 Hongkong : New Novices ;PERU : Perpetual Vows : Sr SoledadOrtiz 30 First Profession 31 Perpetual Vows

32 Going Home to the Father

IN THIS ISSUE

No. 164 Christmas 2009

PAULINIAN ECHOES

Review of the Sisters of St. Paul of Chartres Suore di San Paolo di Chartres

Via della Vignaccia 193, 00163, Roma, Italia Web site: stpaulrome.com

Cover & graphics: Sr. Whilma G. Catolos, SPC - Brazil

VViissiitt ooff

MMootthheerr MMyyrriiaamm aanndd SSiisstteerr SSaaiinntt JJeeaann

CChhrriissttmmaass iinn tthhee FFrreenncchh CCaarriibbbbeeaann IIssllaannddss

Tradition of the Chante Nwel

During the period from Advent to Christmas the « Chanté Nowel » begins. Neighbors, friends and family like to gather together in one house. They come bringing. Their food to be shared. Then to the sound of drums or improvised musical instruments we sing, freely mixing Creole with French lyrics especially at the refrain which is marked by ad-libbing and wacky styles that go like « Nowel o, nowel o, saw mandén moin, man ké baw ». Noêl, Noêl ce que tu me demandes, jet e le donnera.i (noel oh noel what you ask for I will give.”

It is a feast so we laugh and we sing with glee , tease and joke. Harmony comes forth from this joyful disharmony. The musicians see to it that the songs are interpreted accordingly. On Christmas eve, right after the midnight mass, the groups go from house to house to celebrate the Lord’s nativity by sharing food and drink for the joy of sharing.

Unfortunately, today we have observed that the « Chanté Nowel » have become expensive gatherings where everything is bought from the gift shops – leaving nothing spontaneous. Thus one no longer brings along his home-made sausage and shrubb (a drink with orange peel soaked in rum and served especially at Christmas); even the cue notes are given by an orchestra and we no longer dance the chacha nor play the syak (musical instrument).

On the other hand there are groups who know exactly how to bring the « Tradysion Nwel epi yo » and who go to sing and give joy to the disabled persons and the poor.

-Sister Mathilde, MARTINIQUE

Cameroon Crib

Manger from Central Africa

Madagascar Crib

christmas

to LLaaooss