- Date of publication 12-06-2005 Each year during Perrine’s triduum Sisters and Associates from each of the four local groups gather in Edmonton to re-dedicate themselves following in the footsteps of Jesus according to the intuition and charism of their beloved foundress, Perrine Thulard……..
Our day together began with a time of informal visiting over coffee and snacks generously provided by the Bonnyville group of associates. The atmosphere is always one of real joy as everyone arrives, catches up on the news and shares insights..........
We began the more formal part of our time together with a warm welcome and a few highlights from Mary Ellen followed by a long moment of prayer during which we celebrated our dedication in the footsteps of Jesus in the particular manner of Perrine. This year those making their dedication for the first time were invited to come forward, receive a small candle lit from the Christ candle and then express in their own words the essence of this gift of being nourished by our solid, scripturally based uncomplicated spirituality for everyday living. They then placed their lit candle on the sunflower cloth of the centre of beauty forming a wonderful path of light! After those celebrating their dedication for the first time had placed their lights, the remainder of those present also received a small candle lit from the Christ candle placing them, in turn, on the path of light creating a truly wondrous sight!! We turned down the overhead lights taking time just to enjoy the beauty of our path of light created as one by one we lit our small candles from the Christ candle and joined our light with those of all the others! The Fort Saskatchewan and Bonnyville associate groups generously helped in the preparation of our prayer celebration. Mary Ellen had brought back a copy of the power point presentation put together by Clare Kelly, the provincial in the English province, during her recent visit with our sisters in Peru. This presentation was thoroughly enjoyed by everyone!
We enjoyed a simple catered meal as we continued visiting with each other. During the afternoon following Mary Ellen’s insightful update from the September meeting of the 'Counsel of the Congregation' in England we discussed plans for the coming year exchanging ideas, preferences and insights as well as naming the various volunteers….in view of the production of Canada’s associate page in Internews, for example.
The Canadian associates hold very dear to their hearts the well-being and success of the congregation’s missions and pray in a special way for those in initial formation. Pictures help to make the various projects in Africa or Peru more concrete and interesting. Available photos of those sisters in initial formation also make these young women, their commitment and mission ever more real and tangible.
There are many folks among us with talents that so enhance the life of the group: photography skills, ingenious creativity in album making, creativity in putting together the various prayer times and finding just the right items to make our celebrations so meaningful and of course baking delicious snacks......to name but a few!
As we said good-bye we were aware of the enthusiasm and life-giving energy among us. It is such a blessing to sense support, generosity, enthusiasm and experience something of the Gospel coming to life among us in our day!
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