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Paulinian Echoes

Mary, “Mother of the Word of God” and “Mother of Faith”1

My dear Sisters,

Today we celebrate the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary. God sent the

angel Gabriel who greeted her thus: “Rejoice, full of grace, the Lord is with you.”2

Mary, a model of faith, is one of the principal figures of Advent and Christmas by her attentive listening, her docility to the Word of God, by the quality of the waiting and welcome that she accorded to the Lord in her own life.

Mary’s response is an act of faith: she believed in the Word and made herself available for God’s service: “I am the servant of the Lord, be it done to me according to your word.” 3 She truly believed that “nothing is impossible to God.”4

Some time later, after the Angel’s annunciation, Mary visited her cousin Elizabeth who received her in her house with these words: “ Blessed is she who believed that the promise made her by the Lord would be fulfilled.” 5. In Mary we find the model of a deep faith and a complete trust.” 6

Like Mary, blessed indeed are we who have heard Christ’s call and have followed him without knowing where this adventure would lead us. Society as a whole, the Church and Religious life in general are going through very difficult times at present. Do we feel spurred on by a passion for Christ with a similar zeal to make him known through the proclamation of his Gospel?

1 Verbum Domini,27

2 Lk 1:28.

3 Lk 1:38

4 Lk 1: 37

5 Lk 1: 45

6 B.L. # 5

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Our faith is often put to the test by our own experiences of hardships and darkness that the world is actually going through. Sometimes they make us turn away from Him who alone could give us life: Jesus Christ. It is impossible for us to remain in religious life, or to be Christians or to remain in the Church without an attachment to

Christ, he who is the Word of God and who has given us divine life; he who transfigures the face of the earth and makes all things new ( Rev.

21:5). Those who have faith have already possessed life.

Through his Holiness Pope Benedict XVI, the Church has the mission to sustain the faith of the faithful and to proclaim God’s word. The Holy Father invites us to go back to what is essential: Faith in Christ - and he announced to the pilgrims gathered at St Peter’s Square on October 16, 2011 that the “Year of Faith” will be launched on October 11, 2012.

“I consider that it is appropriate to recall the beauty and centrality of the faith, the need to reinforce it and to deepen it at the personal and the community level and to do so in a perspective that is not so much celebratory as missionary, with a view precisely to the mission ad gentes and the New Evangelization.”7 This is such a beautiful task to be undertaken, while giving rise to questions and responses from within us:

Each one of us is invited to begin reading attentively the Apostolic Letter “ Porta Fedei” The Door of Faith, to prepare ourselves to live fervently this year of grace. This letter is addressed to all the faithful. May its announcement stir a very special impact in the hearts of consecrated persons.

Who could best journey with us in this spiritual experience if not the Blessed Virgin Mary and St Paul? Both could guide us and give us the courage of faith, the fortitude and the trust that could overcome all obstacles from within and around us.

- The Holy Father calls our attention to the beauty and the centrality of faith.

The “Door of Faith”, says the Holy Father, is a lifetime path; it is meant to give a renewed impetus to the mission by leading men and women to a life of relationship with Christ. What then is faith? For Christians, it is a gift of God that we receive at baptism, a gift of an encounter with Jesus Christ as a living person, a heart to heart meeting in prayer. The Christian faith is above all a spiritual experience under the action of the Holy Spirit as Jesus declared to Peter after the latter’s profession of Faith:”You are the Christ, the Son of the living God!” Jesus told him, “ Blessed are you, Simon, son of John. It was not flesh and blood that revealed this to you but my Father in heaven.”8 St. Paul himself says: “No one can say ‘Jesus is Lord’ unless he is under the influence of the Holy Spirit.”9

Faith is not only a very personal encounter with God, it is also the gift to recognize

his visitations through the events in our life or through the signs that he gives us. The God we believe in is the God who revealed himself in history, starting from Abraham – a man justified by faith- and who continues to reveal himself in his Church. The Christ who makes known his presence during our intimate moments of prayer, is truly the very same

7 Pope Benedict XVI . Message after the Angelus Prayer, 16 October 2011.

8 Mt 16 : 16-17

9 1 Cor : 12,3

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Jesus Christ who was born in Bethlehem; who died in Jerusalem and who, for several times, manifested himself to his apostles after his resurrection. The Christian faith therefore is a belief, a commitment to a Person who entered in our human history. “It is a treasure which already gives us an experience of the plenitude, the twofold experience of Easter and Pentecost though still obscure.” 10

God manifests himself in every person’s life. For Mary, it was during her hidden life in Nazareth. For Saul’s vocation, it happened on the road to Damascus where he was struck down by a light from heaven and heard Christ’s voice:”Saul, Saul why do you persecute me?” “Who are you, Lord?” “I am Jesus whom you persecute.” 11

From then on, Paul’s life would be transformed by this encounter with the Risen Christ. His life would find its foundation in Christ and the aim of his teachings was the faith in Christ, the justification of the Christian soul. In his heart, he will always hear “I am Jesus…”, the same Risen Christ who appeared to him and he “runs the race in order to win the prize for he himself had been seized by Christ.”12 And nothing held him back. He became the indefatigable voyager, creating new communities. Nothing stopped him, neither persecutions nor dangers, nor even death “for the love of Christ impels us.” (2 Cor 5:14) “Woe to me if I do not preach the Gospel.”13

- Pope Benedict XVI reminds us of the necessity to strengthen our faith.

The Church is holy, but within, it is made up of sinners. Thus it is called to purify itself, to constantly follow the slow and gradual path of penance and conversion.14 The year of faith is an invitation to authentic conversion and renewal in the Lord. According to the degree of one’s free and voluntary sense of responsibility, the person’s thoughts, feelings, mentality and behavior are gradually purified and transformed along the path that is never totally finished in this life.15

An intense reflection on faith is necessary to allow us to help those who believe in Christ to renew their firm belief in the Gospel most especially during this particular moment of changes in society that we experience now. 16

For us, consecrated persons, a direct contact with the Word of God is fundamentally important. The frequent reading of the Gospels is indispensable in knowing Jesus Christ, the Word through whom God speaks to us in the Gospels. Ignorance of the Gospel is ignorance of Jesus Christ: St Paul forcefully reminds us in the letter to the Philippians, “I consider everything as loss because of the supreme advantage of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.”17

It is from the gospels that we draw the indispensable nourishment for our spiritual life daily. When we open ourselves to receive the Word of God, we make ourselves disposed to its message of conversion.18

10

Capitular Acts 2007 page 19 11

Acts 9:1-20 12

Phil 3:12 13

1 Cor. 9:16 14

Pope Benedict XVI, 2011. Apostolic Letter The Door of Faith no6

15 Ibid.

16 Pope Benedict XVI, 2011. Apostolic Letter The Door of Faith no

8 17

Phil. 3: 8 18

cf BL # 45

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Faith draws its strength and vigor in finding God’s love in the ordinariness of daily life. The experience of this love that is received and communicated as grace and joy, makes the faith grow. Therefore faith grows and becomes strong with each act of faith. In this continuous process, one needs to entrust oneself completely into the hands of love that becomes ever greater because it comes from God.19

- The Holy Father invites us as well to deepen our faith on the personal and community level in the perspective of evangelization.

The year of Faith is also a favorable time to receive the breath of the Holy Spirit so as to give a renewed momentum to the mission of Christ in the Church for an improved proclamation of the Good News.

According to the Holy Father, the Mission has not changed and consequently, there should be no change in the enthusiasm and the courage that inspired the Apostles and the first disciples. The Holy Spirit who moved them to open wide the doors of the cenacle and established them as evangelizers is the same Spirit that moves the Church toward a renewed proclamation of hope to the peoples of our time.

Today, having been inwardly stirred by the spiritual experience of encountering the Risen Christ, we the Sisters of St. Paul, are called upon by the Lord to continue walking in his footsteps along the Gospel road. Today, Christ is once again sending us to evangelize our brothers and sisters…let us therefore renew our missionary horizons.20

“With steadfast faith and firm hope, the apostle goes ahead in spite of obstacles and never tires of announcing Jesus Christ.” 21

Pope Benedict XVI points out that “secularization had left a heavy mark even in the countries which were formerly of old Christian traditions”. It is manifested as a “crisis of Christian life” and calls for a new evangelization as a response, a gospel proclamation making use of new approaches.”

This crisis is characterized by an exclusion of God in the lives of persons, with a total indifference to the faith and even an attempt to marginalize it in public life. In the face of this crisis, Pope Benedict XVI insists on an adequate formation for the new generations and invites to a “style of life” which gives a witness of authentic credibility to believers. Moreover, the Holy Father reminds us that the Church could not evangelize unless its witness remains faithful to Jesus Christ, that is, a witnessing accompanied by poverty, detachment and freedom in the face of world authorities.

As persons consecrated to Christ, how do these reminders of the Pope regarding the credible announcement of the Word of God concern us and challenge us personally? In his Apostolic Exhortation “Verbum Domini”, Pope Benedict XVI reaffirms the “need in our day for a decisive commitment to the Mission, with missionary outreach being a clear sign of the maturity of an ecclesial community.” 22

19

Pope Benedict XVI, 2011. Apostolic Letter The Door of Faith no 7

20 Cf Capitular Acts 2007 pages 3 , 11

21 BL # 52 ; 2 Cor 6: 4-10

22 Pope Benedict XVI. 2011. Apostolic Exhortation: Verbum Domini N° 95

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How would you define “a decisive commitment to the Mission”? What is your reaction to what the Letter of the Pope says about the need for “Mission ad gentes”?

Dear Sisters, God is calling our attention. Through this Apostolic Exhortation, it is God who speaks to us with a Word of love, his living Word that gives us new life. He is the Way the Truth and the Life. Let us listen to him as we entrust our supplication to Mary.

O Virgin Mary, Mother of Christ and Mother of humankind, you were given to us as our Model and our Mother, and you keep watch over our Congregation since its humble foundation in Levesville. You who have believed that nothing is impossible with God, obtain for us a deep faith and a complete trust that made you the Mother of Him who is God’s “Yes”. Teach us to be like you, to be attentive to the Word of God; and grant that through the signs of the times we will know how to recognize Christ Jesus the Savior, receive him in our life and announce him to our brothers and Sisters. Our Sisters Assistants, our Sisters Secretary and Bursar join me in greeting you all

A

Merry Christmas,

A Good and Happy Year 2012,

with Peace and Joy

in the service of the LLLord !

My dear Sisters, please be assured of my prayer and fraternal affection. Superior General

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CAYENNE : International Meeting in 2012 Mother Myriam Kitcharoen, Superior General convenes all the major superiors of the Congregation to an International Meeting in Cayenne, French Guiana, on April 11-21, 2012. This extraordinary gathering of 25 Superiors is a preliminary stage involving work with the Sisters of the General Government in preparation for the General Chapter in 2013. At the same time, the representatives of the Congregation will commemorate the 285th anniversary of the arrival of the first SPC missionaries to the French Guiana in 1727. Preparations for the historic event are keeping the Sisters of the Province busy preparing the venue at the Spiritual Center of St. Therese of Lisieux.

ROME :18 SPC Students in the Generalate for the year 2011-2012 Seven new students coming from 6 Provinces and Districts were welcomed by Sister Wilfreda and her Sisters into the Generalate community for the school year 2011-2012 . The new students are: Sr Joanna from Daegu, Korea, Sr Marie Yen from Saigon, Sr Therese Minh from Mytho, Sr Elisabeth from Indonesia, Sr Anne Christine from the Philippines, Sr Clarisse and Sr Claire from Madagascar. They join 11 other students who have arrived in the previous years. Majority of the students are enrolled in Angelicum for Religious Studies in English while others study in the Urbaniana and Gregorian Universities where Italian is the medium of instruction.

APPOINTMENTS : New appointments in Danang and Brazil Sister Hélène Gatien has been reappointed as the Regional Superior of Brazil for a third term of three years. On November 13, 2011 the General Council appointed Sister Marie Nguyen Xuan Lang as the new Provincial Superior of Danang, Vietnam for a first term of 5 years. Sister Marie Xuan Lang was a former Formator and Assistant Provincial.

Sr Helene Sr Marie Xuan Lang

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PHILIPPINES : 100 Years in 100 Voices One hundred singing voices broke out in joyful praise and thanks to God during a Concert on November 21, 2011 that concluded a year-long celebration of the 100 years of SPC formation in the Philippine Province. The performers, accompanists, musical directors and composers of majority of the musical numbers were all Sisters of St. Paul of Chartres in all levels of formation. Held at the Fleur-de –lis auditorium of St Paul’s University, the Sisters performed before hundreds of spectators. It was a fitting thanksgiving for the 100 years of grace of vocations, as well as a tribute to those who have contributed to the formation through the years.

NEPAL : Mother General Visits New Foundations in Nepal Mother Myriam Kitcharoen, Superior General, visited the two newly-opened houses in Nepal from November 6 to 30, 2011. During this visit, she signed the contract of agreement between the Congregation and the Apostolic Vicariate of Nepal represented by Bishop Anthony Sharma. Mother Myriam was accompanied by Sr. Maria Goretti LEE. The two Provincial Superiors of Korea joined them in their visit to Pokhara and Katmandu communities where they saw the actual needs of the Mission. (see article on pages 39-40 ).

ROME : International Juniorate NewsSister Elisabeth Situngkir, an Indonesian Junior is the latest addition to the International Juniorate at the Generalate in Rome. A practicing architect prior to becoming a religious, she now studies Spirituality at the Dominican University of Angelicum together with Sister Teresa Kaetkew of Thailand, and Sr Zennie Lan Phuong, from Michigan USA. The three Juniors will renew their vows together on January 25, 2012. They are accompanied spiritually and guided by Sr Maria Lourdes CASAS, Directress of Formation. Sister Josefa, a Junior from Brazil, had to return home in July 2011 to take care of her sick mother.

MISSION AD GENTES : 4 volunteers from MadagascarFour Sisters from Madagascar arrived in Rome on December 13, 2011 . Having volunteered for the foreign missions, Sisters Noella, Noeline and Marie-Jeanne are now having their missionary formation and are participating in the community life at the Generalate prior to their send-off to different mission countries. Sr Marie Clara, the 4th missionary, went directly to her new community in Torpignattara. She speaks Italian fluently, having lived in Italy for some years as a student .

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CCChhhrrriiissstttmmmaaasss aaattt ttthhheee “““CCCaaasssaaa GGGeeennneeerrraaallliiizzziiiaaa”””

TTrraaddiittiioonn,, pprraayyeerrss,, ccoolloorrss aanndd jjooyyffuull aattmmoosspphheerree aallll lent a special holiday

flavor to community life experience in the Generalate,, aa CChhrriissttmmaass wwhhiicchh wwaass ““ddiiffffeerreenntt”” aanndd rriicchh iinn mmeeaanniinngg.. Indeed, Christmas 2011 was an experience of the colors and flavors of the various cultures shared, given and received through the self-gift of each one and expressed in our prayer and faith sharing. In a sense, we have touched concretely the Incarnation mystery of Him who came to dwell among us and share our human condition.(see next page)

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The beautiful tradition of the “Christmas angels” started on the very first Sunday of Advent when each one became a “prayer angel” for another Sister throughout the advent season. It was to be revealed on Christmas day after the Christmas feast together with the Torpignattara Sisters. The feeling of Christmas was in the air through the decorations and the Crib in the chapel, lovingly prepared by Sr Bernadette. This year, the nativity scene depicted the Holy Family under a tent. A treasured tradition

too, the midnight mass was the high point of the liturgical celebration begun earlier on at the basement: first a vigil, then the candle procession to the chapel. The voices of the young Sisters in the choir blended with “older voices”.

For the first time, on Christmas Eve, a meal was served to the personnel of the Casa including the workers hired for building repairs. It was a touching moment of service and sharing.

The season’s joyful atmosphere was evident in the laughter, astonishment, and simple joy at the moment of the revelation of the Christmas angels.

On December 29, the ambiance of joy continued as all community members were

invited to a game, “finding the child Jesus” where the winning team represented the Holy Family. Then, 8 days after Christmas, the community shared a recreative moment in a bingo party with games and dance intermissions.We all won something useful for winter.

And for Epiphany, a well-known Casa tradition unfolded, revealing the magi and shepherds in Oriental costumes. It was a beautiful, if amusing expression of God’s manifestation to the nations: the Gospel transforms us and banishes the barriers of our divisions.

Crèche à la Chapel

Christmas meal for our friends

Happy is the heart who seeks Jesus

Epiphany:”Kings, queen, nobles and citizens” of the Casa

Christmas dinner

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Five Ingredients for Christian Joy

As this year draws to a close, Europe is

undergoing an economic and financial crisis… some fundamental questions emerge from this crisis: where is the light that is capable of illuminating our perception not merely with general ideas, but with concrete imperatives? Where is the force that draws the will upwards? These are questions that must be answered by our proclamation of the Gospel, by the new evangelization, so that message may become event, so that proclamation may lead to life. Again and again, at World Youth Days, a new, more youthful form of Christianity can be seen, something I would describe under five headings:

1. Firstly, there is a new experience of catholicity, of the Church’s universality. This is what struck the young people quite

directly: we come from every continent, and

although we have never met, we know one another. We speak different languages, we have different

ways of life and different cultural

backgrounds, yet we are

immediately united as one great family.

2. This is the genuinely Christian attitude: the generosity to put oneself at the disposal of others – a readiness to give oneself that is ultimately derived from an encounter with Christ, who gave himself for us.

3. A third element is adoration. Adoration is primarily an act of faith – the act of faith as such. God is not just some hypothesis… He is present. And if he is present, then I bow down before him.

4. God’s forgiveness: Here we recognize that we need forgiveness over and over again, and that forgiveness brings responsibility. Therefore we need the humility that constantly asks God for forgiveness.

5. Finally, I would like to speak of one last feature, namely joy. Where does it come from? How is it to be explained? In my view, it is this certainty, based on faith: I am wanted; I have a task in history; I am accepted, I am loved. Only faith gives me the conviction: it is good that I exist. It is good to be a human being- even in hard times. Faith makes one happy from deep within.

- Address of His Holiness Benedict XVI on the occasion of the Christmas greetings

to the Roman Curia, 22 December 2011

The Word was the true light which enlightens everyone…

And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and we saw his glory, the glory as of the Father’s only Son, full of grace and truth.

- John 1: 9, 14

http://www.vatican.va/gmg/documents/index.html

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The Christmas of a “Primitive Ignoramus” in Religion

“My Conversion”, by Paul Claudel

… I have completely forgotten about religion and where it was concerned, I

was as ignorant as a primitive person at that time. I received the first light of truth upon reading the books of a great poet, Arthur Rimbaud to whom I owe an eternal debt of gratitude, and who had a major part in shaping my thoughts. Reading his “Enlightenments” and a few months after, “A Season in Hell” was a most important event for me. For the first time, these books were able to create a crack in my materialistic prison and gave me a lively and almost physical sense of the supernatural. However, my usual state of despair and feelings of being suffocated remained the same.

This was the miserable child that I was, when I went to the cathedral Notre Dame of Paris on December 25 1886 in order to be at the Christmas liturgical celebrations. I was starting to write then, and it seemed to me that in the Catholic ceremonies- which I looked upon with excessive amateurishness - I would find something appropriate to excite me and a subject matter to write about, on decadent practices. It was in these dispositions that, elbowed out and pushed by the crowd, I followed the solemn High mass with little interest. Later, having nothing better to do, I went back to the cathedral for vespers.

The choir boys in their white tunics and the minor seminarians of St Nicholas de du Chardonnet who joined with them were singing -what I was to learn later as the Magnificat. I myself was standing in the crowd, close to the second pillar at the entrance of the sanctuary , on the right side of the sacristy.

It was then that it happened, the event which would govern my whole life. In an instant, my heart was touched and I believed. I believed with such force of conviction, with such an upheaval of my entire being , with a deep faith, so powerful and with a certitude that does not leave any space of doubt, such that since then, all the books, all reasoning, all adversities of an agitated life could never shake my faith nor even touch it – to tell the very truth. All of a sudden, I had this poignant awareness of the innocence, of the eternal childhood of God, which to me was an ineffable revelation.

- Source : ZENIT (1913) Paul Claudel, Contacts et circonstances, Œuvres en Prose Gallimard, La Pléiade, pp.1009-1010

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The Sisters of St. Paul of Chartres in Asia

In the previous issues, the Paulinian Echoes has presented a Special Feature of

the Sisters of St. Paul of Chartres in the different continents: America, Africa, Europe and Oceania. Only the vast continent of Asia has not been featured yet. Asia is home to the majority of the houses and apostolic works of the Congregation. By this sheer overwhelming count, it is not possible to feature SPC Asia in a single issue because it involves 3,492 Sisters in 9 provinces, 2 Districts and one Region spread out in 15 Asian countries. Paulinian Echoes will proceed with the presentation of all the Asian Provinces in its Special Features in the next 6 issues . The Provinces, Districts and Regions will be featured according to its SPC population. We cordially invite our readers to follow our Documentation in the Special Features in the order below:

170 Vietnam : 3 Provinces ; 1 District 171 2 Provinces in Korea : Seoul; Daegu 172 Province of the Philippines 173 Province of Thailand 174 Provinces of Japan and Hong Kong 175 District of Indonesia ; Region of

Timor Leste

SPC VIETNAM In Vietnam, the presence of the Sisters of Saint Paul of Chartres dates back to 152 years. The abundance of vocations has contributed to the growth of the Congregation into 3 Provinces and 1 District. This is the grace resulting from the opening of the Novitiate in Saigon in 1866 which accepted aspirants from Vietnam and from other parts of Asia.

In the North, close to the Chinese border is the District of Hanoi. At the central portion of the country are established the many communities of the Province of Danang. The oldest Vietnamese Province of Saigon is in the former capital, where the first French missionaries established themselves in 1860.

Farther South is another Vietnamese Province : Mytho, with its foundations in the Region close to the Mekong Delta. All together, the three Provinces and one District have 129 houses, 4 novitiates and 1, 279 Sisters.

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Founded in 1860, twelve years after Hong Kong, Saigon is the second

foundation of the Congregation in Asia and the first in the land of Vietnam. With its rich history, deeply marked by the paschal mystery and its missionary experience, the Province is full of hope and faith for the future, most especially after the 2010 celebration of its 150th anniversary of missionary presence in the country.

Today, Saigon Province has 37 houses. With 345 Sisters of Perpetual Vows, 71 Juniors, 33 novices and 21 postulants, it has vast opportunities to spread Gods Kingdom through its multiple works of charity among the poor and the marginalized people in society. The Sisters work with dedication in the name of Jesus Christ and following the example given by Mother Benjamin. Many Sisters are involved and committed in three apostolic areas: education, medical-social assistance, pastoral ministry.

The Sisters likewise make themselves available for the work of evangelization among adults in response to the invitation of some Bishops.

Present-day Saigon is known as Ho Chi Minh Ville. In 1859, Mgr Dominique Lefebvre, Apostolic Delegate to “Occidental Cochinchina”, requested the Hong Kong SPC missionaries, to send Sisters to Saigon. It was a difficult period in the history of Vietnam. There were countless poor people, orphans, war victims – the sick and the wounded. Many suffered from hunger, cholera and poverty.

On May 20, 1860, Mother Benjamin, Superior of Hong Kong, sent the first two Sisters to Saigon : Sister Marie de la Nativité LARUE and Sister Saint Lizier BELLONGUE.

In 1861, Mother Benjamin, became the Principal Superior of the Far East Region, with its seat in Saigon where she stayed until her death on May 20, 1884. She established stability and inspired growth in the region, opening more foundations in other Asian countries – a move which others continued even after her death. These communities are: Hakodate (1878), Tokyo(1881), Seoul (1888), Bangkok (1898), Laos and Dumaguete in the Philippines (1904).

Mother Benjamin

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Saigon Provincialate

At that time, Saigon was the principal community for the Regional government of the Congregation in the Far East. The other foundations in Asia were attached to the Saigon leadership until they acquired the status of a Province when they become directly under the authority of the Superior General in France.

Today, the Province of Saigon serves the local population including the ethnic minorities. The Sisters are present in 7 dioceses: of Dalat,

Banmethuot, the Archdiocese of Saigon, Phu- Cuong , Xuan Loc, Phan Thiet and Ba Ria.

Medical –Social Assistance

The following are the Medical-social assistance services given by the SPC Saigon :

- Health care in public rural community hospitals and infirmaries .

- Coordination with the diocesan pastoral commission and with other Congregations for the care of AIDS patients in Trong Diem center in Binh Phuoc Province, north of Saigon. This is a government center for AIDS victims abandoned by their families.

- Free surgeries for cardiac and optical cases for poor families; Acupuncture treatment at the Provincial House and in other public dispensaries. - Since 1975, the Sisters collaborate with the government through health services given in the former St Paul Clinic, now belonging to the government and transformed into an ophthalmological center. Education

Gifted with the vocation of Educators, the Sisters are actively engaged both in formal and informal education in the following places :

- In Lai Thieu, in Phu Son and in Dalat where three SPC communities dedicate themselves to the education of the ethnic minorities from pre-school up to tertiary levels of education, complete with follow-up when they qualify for studies in universities in Saigon. The girls who pursue University studies in Saigon are given board and lodging in three dormitories for young ladies namely: St Paul dormitory in the first District, in Tan Dinh for the 3rd District and in the Thiên Anh Binh Thanh District, since most of the big

Religious men and women volunteers

at the AIDS Center in Trong Diem, Binh Phuoc

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Colleges are located in the center of Saigon.

- In the orphanages of Thi Nghe, Binh Thanh District, the former home for the aged and orphanage of Phu My is now a center for the physically and mentally handicapped persons of all age groups. Those who are beyond cure will stay in the center for the rest of their life while those who have chances or a tiny hope of being cured are transferred to Bao Loc, in the Diocese of Da Lat. There, in another center, they are taught how to work in the garden, initiated in the plantation of coffee, vegetables and fruit trees as well as raising of rabbits, poultry, etc.

They are given catechism instruction ; lessons in reading and writing ; English lessons adapted to their physical and mental capacities as handicapped persons.

- The center for the Deaf-Mutes in Lái Thieu Diocese of Phu Cuong, one of our oldest foundations teach the Deaf mute youths to read and write and how to go to school like other regular student s.

- In the second school for Deaf-Mutes Anh Minh, located in Thi Nghe, the students can avail of the secondary level of education.

- In Giadinhin in the suburbs of Saigon, the SPC run a Home for a dozen of physically handicapped girls. The Sisters assist them, teaching them simple domestic chores and skills such as cooking, and making flowers out of paper and silk cloth, etc.

Pastoral Ministry

The Pastoral ministry of the Province of Saigon is organized through the different pastoral centers of the Congregation as well as the work done in collaboration with other Congregations and associations :

- the Inter-Provincial Center of Formation for Religious where the Junior SPC sisters of Saigon, Danang, Mytho and Hanoi pursue their Religious and theological formation with the help of Religious and Diocesan priests.

- Pastoral work in partnership with our SPC Korean Sisters and Salesian priests to help Vietnamese women married to local men in South Korea.

- Accepting mission work in other SPC provinces such as France, Korea, Brazil, Italy, and Ukraine.

- Pastoral work at the Diocesan level for the formation of Diocesan pastoral leaders and catechists in collaboration with the Diocesan Pastoral commission.

- Catechetical work among the youth in parishes.

- Pastoral and evangelization work among migrants in cooperation with other Congregations ; Home for single mothers.

The Province of Saigon has solemnly celebrated its 150th anniversary of foundation in the year 2010(1860-2010). The Sisters are grateful for this Jubilee year which was celebrated with the presence of all the major Superiors of the Congregation from all over the world.

- SPC Saigon

Saint-Paul Boarding School

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When the sun rises, darkness

disappears. The early difficulties of the first stages of evangelization now all belong to the past and have given place to the light of re-evangelization.

After the hidden period- when the seed was buried in the ground- our mission has received recognition since 2003. Invited by the Bishop, our two Sisters Sister Catherine Le Thi Su and Sister Marie Doan Thi Dao are working with the Jesuits in the Diocese of Xuan Loc for the formation of future missionaries of evangelization .

To date, they have given a total of 57 seminars of formation to 4500 participants, 50% of whom came from the neighboring dioceses. One third of the participants were religious men and women and the rest came from the diocese of Xuan Loc. Each year they hold 8 to 9 formation seminars lasting for two weeks.

The first week covers the following areas : Practice of finding the texts in the Bible ; Guided Meditation; Discernment and Prayer ; Shared prayer ; Daily personal meditation; sharing on the Word of God ; Action response .

The Mission of Evangelization and Re-evangelization

Second Week Program includes :

Meditation adapted to a given evangelical situation ; skill in understanding the Gospel ; Gospel sharing in 5 stages of 9 steps ; a three-day retreat.

Each year, a higher level of formation is offered to those who desire to follow Jesus; those who thirst for evangelization and are working for the mission of evangelization. The founder of this mission approach is Father Pierre Pham Huu Lai SJ. For the

evangelization workers, he conceptualized and developed this formation program which is adapted to the needs of persons and situations in the modern society. We admire his prayer life experience and his experience of evangelization work.

The aim of this formation is to teach the Christians how to pray with the Word of God, to form groups who live and witness of the Word.

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Thus enriched and shaped by God’s Word, they are ready to be sent every-

where to give witness of their faith and evangelize while living the state of life of their choice. Another aim of this formation is to bring about improvement in the quality of Christian life where many Christians do not know how to pray or are not used to meditate on the Word of God and to be deeply touched by it so as to live it out. Some pray, but do not know how to use the Bible nor consider knowing the Word of God as indispensable in their lives. Most of all, they lack sufficient knowledge of the Word of God to be able to catechize.

From a positive point of view, the seminar is also intended for persons who thirst for the Word of God; for those who desire to be transformed to become more Christ like and to work for evangelization.

Here are some conversion stories:

One person, who for 25 years has lived with hatred for his father who abandoned him and his mother: after this formation, he was touched by the Word of God and has since then

reconciled with his father.

Another person who could no longer bear to live with her husband and who used to ask God to call back her husband to the heavenly dwelling place, has now found real joy after being enlightened by the Word of God.

Still another person who experienced so many failures in his work and fell seriously ill. After studying the Word of God, he came to a realization that all his losses were precious occasions to discover God in his life.

We are truly moved before such number of conversions. This is a great grace of God and a joy to have a foretaste of God’s marvels. Having seen for ourselves the conversions of persons to whom we have announced God’s Word, we too, grow in our faith and trust in His grace.

This teaching experience makes me become sure of one thing: the more we encounter God in prayer, the more we are transformed. The methodology is nothing but a simple means to help others.

- Sister Marie DAO, Saigon

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Saint Paul Boarding School

The Saint Paul Boarding

School was established by Mother Maria de St. Jean in 2000, the jubilee year of the Church in Vietnam. Living in a Church founded with the blood of martyrs, is a pride for Vietnamese Catholics and they want to live worthy of the long religious legacy of their ancestors. However, in a hedonistic and consumer society, young people are easy preys to endless enticements of evil as evidenced by the decline of morals like living in couple without the benefit of marriage, drug addiction, abortions.

St. Paul Boarding School was created to provide a healthy environment for young ladies, a peaceful place where they can study well, and at the same time deepen their moral, cultural, and artistic formation in order to become mature and productive members of the Church and society.

The students of St. Paul always try to walk in the footsteps of their Divine Master, Jesus. With the theme for 2011-2012, “Students of St. Paul study with Jesus,” the boarders of St. Paul begin their school year with enthusiasm .

Being located at the heart of the city of Saigon, St. Paul Boarding School gives students more opportunities to choose and avail of courses appropriate to their desired specializations, thus acquire the competence in the intellectual professional and artistic fields. They also have the possibility of studying foreign languages such as English, French, etc.

There are currently 215 students in the St. Paul Boarding School coming from the countryside from as far north as Hanoi and as far south as Ca-Mau. They are gathered here without any distinction of religion or ethnicity. They study in colleges or universities in the city, and some are enrolled in graduate studies.

It is the objective of the Boarding School to form intellectuals for society and for the Catholic Church, and to promote vocations. Thus, outside of classes in the universities, the Sisters teach them catechism and etiquette every Sunday at the Boarding School. To nourish their spiritual life, a group retreat is offered during Advent and Lent. They also study subjects related to health and to life with Catholic professionals and doctors.

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Each evening at 9:30 p.m. they pray the Evening

Prayer together, listen to the Word of God and meditate on it on Saturdays. They have regular masses within the Boarding School itself.

The student boarders are very active and creative; they participate eagerly in summer programs at the SPC missions in Ca Mau, Kuntum, and in Cambodia, desirous to share their general knowledge with the poor illiterate children. In this way they actualize the spirit of St. Paul, “to be all to all.”

Indeed, they not only transmit their knowledge to the illiterate children, but they also serve them meals, teach them songs, dances and games so that the children of the rural areas may have an atmosphere that is pleasant and favorable for their social, physical and intellectual development.

In every place where the Saint Paul students go, there is found joy, friendship and sharing.

The love and support of one another are always given emphasis in the life at the boarding school.

This community is the second family of the students who are far from their homes.

To help the poor students and the orphans financially, so as to improve their conditions, the Sisters guide the students to use pieces of crystal to make jewelry or rosaries. They also learn artificial flower arrangements. Sales from these articles are used to provide the poor girls and ladies with more nutritious meals for better results in their studies. – SPC Saigon

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SPC Danang: God’s Fidelity and Goodness for 50 years

If we believe that each person has his own destiny, we might say without hesitation

that the destiny of the Congregation of the Sisters of Saint Paul of Chartres in general and that of the Province of Danang in particular, is the Mystery of the death and resurrection of Christ. This is the spirituality that our Congregation has lived out in time and space and in it we discover our own identity.

The Province of Danang was born out of the “death” of its mother-Province, Hanoi. Yes, it came about with the turn of events that resulted in the division of Vietnam into two

after the signing of the Geneva Treaty on July 20, 1954. Our country experienced great sufferings due to the separation of families and countrymen.

The Church in Vietnam, just like our Province of Danang, was not spared from these historically brutal separations in the country.

Mother Renee de Jesus, the Superior General in 1954, immediately came to be with our Sisters- who were caught in the painful process - to make urgent decisions under the circumstances. Since all Christians were allowed to keep their faith, all our Sisters in Hanoi decided to leave, but like Abraham, not knowing where to go. It was absolutely a must that everyone: aspirants, novices, young professed and sisters of Perpetual vows –should leave their “Saint Mary Cradle” to seek refuge in Danang! A tiny number of 19 volunteers stayed behind in Hanoi, including Mother Jeanne du Sacre-Coeur, the Provincial Superior.

Moving out to Danang in 1954 : the small community of the Sacred Heart School in Yen Bay street, Danang- founded in 1903, found itself suddenly grown in size even as it

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humbly remained in the shadow of the Parish of Danang. It

was then necessary to expand so it can accommodate the influx of religious and refugees coming from the north of Vietnam.

Since Hanoi was cut off in isolation and that the large part of the Province was now in central Vietnam, a Superior had to be appointed. In August 1954, Sister Ange de Saint Paul Dié Armance was officially appointed by the General Council as Pro-Provincial Superior of Danang from 1954 to 1960.

With this new responsibility, Mother Ange de Saint Paul courageously tried her best using all her gifts of organization, her creative initiatives, and most of all, her big heart full of charity - to live up to the challenges of the new status of Danang.

Everything was difficult at the start, but with God’s grace, the number of religious gradually kept on growing. Acting on her great vision for the future, Mother Ange acquired a large piece of land of 58 hectares close to the Plage of My Khe, 5 kilometers away from the Sacred Heart School. It is there that she built the Novitiate in 1960 and farther on near the sea, she constructed the buildings for our old Sisters, for the pre-aspirants and an orphanage to give shelter to all the abandoned children.

In her great love for the Congregation, Mother Ange – in planning for the future of the Province - took care of the many young women who were in search of their true vocation. The Province of Danang increased considerably in number.

In addition to all these activities, Mother Ange never forgot all the apostolic services such as those in the hospitals and dispensaries as well as

classes for embroidery and piano lessons. It must be noted that Mother Ange gave much importance to the Formation of the Sisters: a big house – the Stella Maris Novitiate was built on the sand dunes.

The General Chapter of 1959 obtained the authorization from the Sacred Congregation for the erection of the new Province of Danang. So it was that on February 3, 1960, the big community of Danang became the Province of Danang and since then its community life became- in a sense - truly rooted to this land.

Circa 1959: Reaching out to the Highlands ’ Ethnic Tribes

Our Sisters moved across the hills, cutting through tropical forests and

Stella Maris Novitiate

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mountains to reach the highlands, into the villages of the Ethnic tribes. These are descendants of mountain peoples, living simply out of the fruits of their fertile lands and who were disposed to receive the good seed of the Gospel. It is there that our Sisters learned how to be “all to all” in a real sense (1 Cor 9:22). And from the High Plateaux, they moved on to the regions of Cham, Go Den, Phan Rang and Thap Cham – all those regions just waiting to be evangelized.

Our dear Mother Ange indeed proved herself a true “knight” in the Missionary field of action, her heart burning with love for Christ and for souls. Her ardently zealous heart was that of a mother to all the abandoned children. Impelled by her faith and charity, she spent her entire youth in the service of the mission in Vietnam. We could never forget the beautiful example of her consecrated life, which was completely offered to Christ, in serving the poor and the little ones of God’s Kingdom.

On February 22, 1969, Sister Marie Rose Nguyen Kim Nguyet, Directress of the School of Thanh Tam, was appointed Provincial Superior, taking the place of Mother Ange of St. Paul. The future of the country and that of the Church at the time was to be shaped by Human education – intellectual and spiritual, that will result from the renewed

campaign for intellectual for-

mation and teaching. Sister

Marie - Rose worked hard to promote this revival of edu-cation in all our schools. The teaching

of Catechism on the other hand, developed with the return of Sr. Louis Gonzague who introduced a catechetical program for the Diocese.

However, just as the heaven is higher than the earth, likewise God’s thoughts are beyond human understanding. The events of 1975 came unexpectedly like the cutting of a tree while still in its development! All our schools, pre-school, primary and secondary, our orphanages, and dispensaries were confiscated and transformed into national establishments by the government. Our hearts were bleeding with affliction as we watched all our 17 communities close one after another! Our hospitals and schools were no longer ours . Even our Novitiate and Pre-Aspirancy were closed. What future awaited us?

Once again, we cried out: What are we to do, Lord?

We needed a new strength, but how? The Lord alone knew. It was not the time for us to indulge in self-pity. Through the dark night of faith, we sought to know God’s will. Manual work was to be the only available means for us. We had to gain our food by the sweat of our brow like all other laborers. Was this the moment of grace that God was showing us for the formation of our Sisters? How does one learn and understand what it is to be poor, to be in

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want and to know hunger and thirst by experience? We had to learn and understand how

to adjust ourselves to every-thing and to everyone. Our former Secondary School became the cottage industry shop for the production of bamboo blinds and other activities. Naturally, with their intelligence and artistry, our Sisters handcrafted precious, beautifully finished products under the label “Thanh Tam” which became popular and famous in the country and abroad. In this workshop, our Sisters were able to give employment to hundreds of local young men and women and their families. It was from this very workplace too, that life in the pre-Aspirancy and the Novitiate begun to spring anew.

Despite difficulties, the tiny sparks of hope came back to rekindle our confidence. It was a harbinger of a new dawn that was about to break forth! In 1984 we started to have new vocations – sent from Hanoi- and that helped to increase the number of vocations for Danang! Deo Gratias for his love is forever!

Our fortress of strength was the recitation of the Holy Rosary that was unbroken from 7 am to 7 pm. In the silence of their hearts the Sisters hoped to return to their mission and were expectedly waiting with attention for the

favorable days to come. In 1988, by the grace of the political openness of the government, the Sisters gained confidence to ask and obtain the permission to open pre-schools. Majority of the first pupils were children of the communist officers and government employees. In the Highlands, the Sisters returned, dressed in civil attire, to take care of the lepers among the ethnic minorities.

In 1992, after 23 years, Mother Marie Rose asked to be relieved of her responsibility due to her poor health. She has guided the Province of Danang very well through the most difficult period of its life and she did it with a firm faith and great wisdom. It was sheer courage to have continued accepting vocations despite the danger.

In 1992, Sister Saint Jean TRAN was appointed Provincial Superior. During this time, circumstances were more favorable for our apostolate. The Sisters progressively went back to the mission of education and catechesis. Our cottage industry workshop had to give place to the classrooms. After such a long time of prohibition, the work of evangelization could not wait to be launched anew. With the 1995 General Chapter we fully embraced “Education of faith; Evangelical love of the poor; Building fraternal

communities.” Groups of animators were trained to be facilitators and formators of future catechists, helping them to be firm in their faith in view of the mission ad gentes. They were also taught to be attentive to poverty in all its forms. All the ministries of charity regained their former vitality.

A woman of foresight, Sr. Saint Jean took advantage of the favorable time to make sure that each Sister’s interior life be strengthened so she will be ready to move into a new

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society and proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ. Thus she prepared Sisters with potentials for future responsibilities. She organized Seminars on Lectio Divina and the spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius. Answering the appeals of the parishes, communities were opened like in Quang Nam. Then some Sisters cautiously went back to their communities in North Vietnam.

Sister Marie Madeleine was named Provincial Superior of Danang in 2001. The government had an even more open political agenda and, with the rapid means of communications among other advance-ments, the pastoral apostolate and its formation became easier. This was the time for renewal in Consecrated life, a deepening of the life of prayer and building Eucharistic communities to help the Sisters become mystics and prophets for today’s world.

Since 2002, we have “put out into the deep” through the sending of missionaries to far-off missions. Within the country, we continued to send Sisters to North Vietnam and in the High Plateaux. Communities were put up to respond to the needs of the Church and society.

March 1, 2010 marked the creation of the new District of Hanoi. The Province of

Danang, ever grateful to its “mother Province”, gave back to Hanoi what it has received from it: 92 Sisters who hail from the North returned to their original Region to take over and resume the interrupted mission of the former Province of Hanoi. The old “cradle” of Saint Marie regained its life and strength.

In 2010 the Sisters of the Province of Danang celebrated with joy the 50th anniversary of the Province’s life.

Let us give thanks to God for his love and faithfulness throughout our journey of 50 years. The breath of the Spirit invites us today to turn towards northern-central Vietnam, to the Diocese of Vinh, a land thirsting for the Good News and still forsaken to this day. It is there where we are called to live our creative fidelity and vibrant hope.

We move forward… where to… and for how long? We really don’t know, but “with steadfast faith and firm hope she (the apostle) goes ahead in spite of obstacles and never tires of announcing Jesus Christ” )BL #52.

Sisters of Danang Province

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Braving the Highlands of Vietnam

We joyfully give thanks

to God for the grace of being called to serve here, in this far-off area of the Diocese of Kontum: mission territory in the High Plateaux. In response to the invitation of Mgr. Paul Seitz Kim-who asked for the presence of the Sisters of St. Paul in his Diocese, the Sisters arrived in 1958 where they opened schools and boarding schools for the young children of the ethnic minority, the Kinhs and other mountain tribes.

The first mission group who dared the unknown had a very good start, by the grace of God. It took some time to adjust fully into the new environment, new

culture and traditions without forgetting the need to learn the language. “Put out into the deep and cast your nets…” “The love of Christ impels us” and gives us the strength to take the plunge into the beautiful mission entrusted to us.

On the other hand, we are likewise called to “read attentively” that which is written in the souls of the 54 ethnic minorities of Vietnam. It is now more than 50 years that this mission territory has known and been in developed by the Sisters of St Paul of Chartres through education in the faith and life in general in the physical and spiritual dimensions.

Today, younger groups of Sisters continue the mission: The first objective is to orient ourselves towards the small

villages and distant areas that are most inaccessible, gather the people into small groups and instruct them. Learning from our experience, we begin to think about the children and the youth who later would take over the responsibility of educating their own people. It is for this reason that we begun to build special boarding schools for the ethnic children and youth of school age until the tertiary level of education. There, they receive schooling and are helped to enroll in the school of the Kinhs.

They learn music, sewing, cooking. They are guided and instructed how to organize life in the family and how to work effectively. They learn how to pray and entrust themselves to God. Despite the distance, rain or shine, the Sisters ford streams and climb hills to faithfully reach the villages every weekend for the Catechism, the study and sharing of the

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Word of God while at the same time bringing food and medicines , and care for the lepers. The Sisters also teach the women methods of making their plantation yield a greater harvest. In the far-flung hamlets, we have established 6 “Mission Posts” with a simple lodging for us to have a place to spend the night on occasions when we are benighted and are obliged to stay in the village.

At the same time, we are active in the Diocesan level through the formation of catechists and the “Yaophu”, or catechists who lead the Celebration of the Word of God in places where there are no priests.

The second objective is to expand the mission area through the education of the young ladies in the mountains: 70 to 80 per year. The Sisters gather the girls from distant villages and send them to the public schools until they reach the academic level of the Kinhs who are in their class; every Sister teaches a subject area to provide a holistic education and form them in the “Christian civilization”, guiding them to live with the dignity of the children of God. We receive many words of appreciation from the young girls who show their gratitude to the Sisters for having loved them, guided them in their

studies and their spiritual life.

Teresa Y Hoa, one of the students boarders, wrote her impressions: “I am thankful that I have lived in this boarding school of St Therese of Kontum. Here I

become a member of a big family where there is charity; I am in a group of 70 girls, and I wish to have a good education. I am really happy to be closer to God through our time of prayer… I have improved in my studies through the care and attention of the Sisters. They are initiating us to religious vocation, that is why among us, there are already some of my friends who are in the Provincial House of Danang preparing themselves to become Sisters of St. Paul.

One day they will return to their native village to serve and to proclaim the Word of God. With the example of the Sisters’ life, I hope that I and the others

will know how to become useful to our family, to our people and to ourselves when we return to our village. We ask God to protect the Sisters and to grant them abundant graces and strength to continue spreading the Good News of Christ in our place, the Highlands of Vietnam.”

-Sisters of Danang

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The Beginnings of the Province of Mytho

The Province of Mytho was detached

from the Province of Saigon in 1964. On March 19 of this year, Mother Marie-Paul BORD Superior General appointed Sister Pétronille Marie NGUYEN THI THAO as the first Provincial Superior of My Tho. The Holy See’s Decree, signed on the same date, gave approval to this new Province.

At the moment of its foundation, Mytho Province numbered 131 Sisters in 8 Houses, 4 of which belonged to the Diocese of My Tho and 4 were in the Diocese of Vinh Long. Out of the 131 Sisters, there were 60 who were between 50 to 75 years of age.

Most of these Sisters worked in hospitals, day care centers , orphanages,

and dispensaries. They took care of the sick and the elderly persons while the rest of the Sisters were in the field of education, teaching in the four primary schools. The lack of competent personnel, the meager resources, rendered the task difficult for Mother Pétronille. It was necessary to construct the chapel, the Provincialate and the buildings needed for the formation of the young Sisters and a Home for the retired and old Sisters.

God’s grace helped Mother Pétronille achieve all these projects within a period of 10 years. She made use of her gifts of eloquence and energy, with her realistic pragmatism to lead the Province and bring it growth and development in all aspects. From 1964 to 1975, the Province of MyTho continued to send the young

Sisters to Saigon to make their Novitiate and Juniorate there.

The Provincial House is located in the City of Mytho, in the Province of Tien Giang a region in the plain of Mekong called the western Region. With its rivers and canals, the region is favorable to transports and navigation. Its 700 kilometers of coastline is an important factor in the development of the Region’s maritime trade and tourism industry.

Maison Provinciale-Mytho

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Before long, the number of houses multiplied and the white habit of the Sisters became a familiar sight in hospitals, in schools, in orphanages and most especially known to the poor, the children and the outcasts of society.

However, the turbulent events of 1975 changed all that - we lost everything: Schools, dispensaries, day-care centers and nursery schools. We had to rise above the situation to persevere in fidelity to our consecration. In the spirit of daring and dynamism like St Paul, only a few Sisters remained in the city. The others moved out to the rural areas, where they formed small communities and worked with their hands: tilling the soil, raising hogs and poultry. Living among the poor brought them great joy. They shared with the poor whatever small benefits they gained from the work of their hands. Above all, they were happy to bring God’s love to the people. Despite their worries, and multiple occupations in the struggle to survive, the Sisters never neglected their pastoral

activities which for them was their principal role and apostolic mission, their religious vocation.

Religious Personnel Data 2011

Today, there are almost 200 Sisters in the Province of Mytho. The Sisters have 26 houses and 5 mission posts and are present in four Dioceses: My Tho, Vinh Long, Long Xuyen and Can Tho .

God has blessed the Province with many vocations for the mission : there are

138 Perpetually professed Sisters; 47 Sisters of Temporary Vows – ten of whom are in Saigon for their theological studies at the SPC Inter-Provincial House of Formation; 25 Novices; 10 Postu-lants and 12 Aspirants.

We believe that our 100 Sisters who have already returned to the Father’s House are the spiritual support and strength of the Province as it serves the pilgrim Church.

150 years of SPC Mission in the Diocese of My Tho

Apostolic Activities

Given the political situation of the country, the apostolate of the Sisters are regulated by what is authorized or tolerated mostly in the field of education and pastoral –religious activities.

Education In less than 28 years after the 1975 event, the government allowed us to open pre-schools. We are obliged to teach in line with the program of the state. With no schools nor classrooms left, Sisters held classes inside basements, old garages, and verandas, etc. In addition to their material worries, the Sisters have to bear with

socio-ideological and religious difficulties. Gradually, the situation improved and the Sisters were authorized to build classrooms to accommodate the growing number of pupils.

SSrr AAuugguussttiinn ((cceenntteerr)) wwiitthh hheerr CCoouunncciill

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People who are mostly non-Christians, including policemen,

like to entrust their children to our Sisters. In 2011, we had the joy of receiving more than 1,900 children in our nursery and Kindergarten and welcomed 95 handicapped children in the center for deaf –mutes.(Children affected by agent orange used during the war- still in the atmosphere).

The school is the most favorable milieu for our apostolate. Prevented to speak about God, the Sisters proclaim the Gospel by their presence and attitude. Every parent and pupil is an object of their apostolic mission. For poor families, the

Sisters reduce or totally do away with payment of school fees and provide the children with school supplies.

They likewise have a good relationship with the teachers and the parents, most of whom are non-Christians. The people are kindly disposed to the Sisters. On Christmas eve, many of them come for the celebration of prayer and songs and join the procession for the Mass with the community. Once in a while, a parent or a

teacher asks to be catechized and to receive baptism.

Pastoral Activities

With their weekdays being devoted to school children, it is during Sundays that the Sisters go out to the 15 parishes to devote their time for Pastoral activities.

They organize themselves according to activities : preparing the liturgy ; practicing the choir, teaching catechism to children and catechumens and preparation for the sacraments. They also help in the distribution of communion.

Early at dawn, rain or shine, a dozen of young Sisters leave by two’s on bicycles in the direction of small parishes 20 to 40 kilometers away. They lead and coordinate the parish activities and bring communion to the people. On the other hand, older Sisters guide the 2nd year Novices to participate in the pastoral activities at the Cathedral of Mytho by helping in the

sacristy, preparing the altar, teaching catechism and distributing communion. They also go to visit the elderly in their homes, bringing them holy Communion and preparing them to receive the Sacrament of the Sick. – SPC Mytho

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History of the Sisters of St. Paul in Hanoi

In December 1883, in response to the

request of Doctor Harmand, our Reverend Mother Benjamin Le Noël de Groussy sent six Sisters from the south of Vietnam to minister to the sick in two hospitals of the French govern-

ment in Hanoi and Hai Phong.

There, the Sisters started working in badly equipped infirmaries, taking care of the wounded and sick soldiers. They devoted themselves to the work so passionately that they were named “Soldiers of the combat of Love.”

Not so long after the arrival of the first six Sisters, Hanoi witnessed the growth of these missionary Sisters both in number and in apostolate. The establishment of the Provincial House of Hanoi in 1891 marked a new turn in its history. Sainte-Marie became not only the Mother House, but also the Novitiate to form the native vocations.

Hanoi Province developed rapidly. Many hospitals, health centers, schools, orphanages, hospices, dormitories, and sewing centers were built to meet the demands of the society.

Undoubtedly, for the Sisters, it is difficult to forget certain events which left deeply painful traces in their memory. One of them was the dismissal of the SPC Sisters from the government hospitals which took place in 1904 due to the passing of the French secularization laws.

Nevertheless, the Sisters left with their faith and hope intact as on the day they first arrived... Undiscouraged, they

concentrated their effort and energy on the education of the children and in helping the poor.

The other event which is most painful in the history of the SPC in Hanoi was the Division of Vietnam into two in 1954, in

accordance with the Geneva Convention. Consequently, most of the Sisters moved to Danang. Only 19 Sisters, 8 of them Europeans, voluntarily stayed in Hanoi,

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living and working as witnesses - in silence.

Hanoi, which had seemed to sink into oblivion, began to change since the visit of the Superior Provincial of Danang, Sister Marie Rose, in 1991. Since then, the reparations to some damaged houses and new constructions were done. A sign of a promising future for Hanoi was gradually visible with the establishment of two houses for the youth at Sainte-Marie and Hang Bot where many young girls who were interested in religious life came to live. New communities were founded one after another.

The Sisters tried to carry out, whenever possible, their normal activities such as: distribution of soup for the poor, kindergarten classes, home visitations and assisting people living in distant places, organization of vigils in parishes. A new life was brought forth by the lively and effective presence of the Sisters in the north of Vietnam.

On December 26, 2009, the Sisters in Hanoi joyfully received the good news from the Generalate in Rome informing of the decision of Mother General Myriam Kitcharoen and her Council to re-establish the District of Hanoi.

Hanoi, on this same date in December 126 years ago, witnessed the arrival of the first Sisters. Today, once more, it sees the rebirth of the District after a long winter of 55 years. Moved by great joy, the Sisters originally from Hanoi returned to their home land to rebuild the District. At the present, the District of Hanoi has 18 houses with 99 Sisters, 50 of them are juniors. Though being very young and facing a lot of difficulties in starting from nothing, all of the Sisters of the District resolve to be united in one heart and one mind to fulfill their mission in this part of

the country since they firmly believe that

“The LORD is my shepherd; there is nothing I lack… Even when I walk through a dark valley, I fear no harm for you are at my side.” (Ps 23, 1-4).

Spring time is fast returning to the north of Vietnam! With many young Sisters, 20 aspirants and a lot of young girls at the moment, the SPC of Hanoi go forward in thanksgiving, joy and trust in God for “the Mighty One has done great things for them.”

- Sr. Anne Huyen Hanoi District, Vietnam

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SPC Hanoi : Impelled by Christ’s Love

In the afternoon of November 20, an

autumn day in Hanoi, the community of Sainte-Marie was extraordinarily cheerful because of the laughter, the performances and the dances of the children of Anh Duong Kindergarten on the occasion of the Vietnamese Teachers’ Day.

In 2008 the government officially gave the permission to open this private kindergarten, the biggest kindergarten of the District under the direction of the Sisters. Its staff of 8 teachers takes care of 120 children. The school is quite well equipped, and the school personnel are

constantly trying to improve the quality of their teaching. Currently, their goals are to enlarge the space for the children and to

improve the professional knowledge of the teachers.

Today, Anh Duong Kindergarten officially rekindles the fire of the mission of education which used to be the main concern of the SPC in the early years of their presence in Hanoi.

The District of Hanoi is rising to new life - out of the seeds sown silently more than 50 years ago. With the District’s re-establishment on March 1, 2010, the Sisters returned to the north of Vietnam to bring to a realization the dream of the Congregation in Hanoi.

It is the same Spirituality and Charism, the same Spirit and love received from the roots of the Congregation in Levesville, which is now being rekindled: the fire of education as the Book of Life puts it: “Our first mission is to raise the human and spiritual level of the people by teaching young girls, visiting the poor

and the sick.” (BL Introduction) .

Twelve communities and six mission posts of the District are starting anew in love and hope with the Kindergarten schools that opened in mission places such as: Hang Bot, Cat Thue, Phu cat, Khoan Vy, Vong Phan; as well as in the Highlands of Cao Bang and Lang Son.

Several of the Kindergarten schools pupils are children of the officials in Hanoi, but “the love of Christ impels us.” So that burning with love for Christ, and impelled to walk in the footsteps of Saint Paul, our Patron, the Sisters, silent but strong, humble but brave, receive the gifts of God with simplicity,

confidence and trust, since “self-effacement does not rule out the tranquil daring of those who trust in God alone.” (BL 3)

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In the poor regions of the countryside, the Sisters prove to be faithful to the spirit but creative in adaptation “serving the needs of mankind with a special love for the most neglected” (BL 7).

Besides teaching in kindergarten, the Sisters also give tutorial lessons in computer skills, piano and organ lessons for children of different age levels. All these activities are aimed at developing the knowledge and spiritual level of the children.

As prophets of God today, the Sisters’ main concern is always the pastoral work of faith education . They engage more and more in catechetical instruction in the parishes and providing pastoral activities for the youth.

Strengthening family life and marriages are also important in the eyes of the Sisters, who want to help families to be conscious of the presence of God in all aspects of their lives. The Sisters also dream of opening a school for the handicapped, an integrated kindergarten school so that the handicapped children can have access to a “normal” education.

Today, here and now, the Sisters are conscious of the mission that the Congregation entrusts to them: “to renew our missionary dynamism, recapture the audacity of our predecessors by being ourselves, creative and flexible.” (AC 2001) They are reliving the experience of Father Louis Chauvet, the Founder, and of the first young girls in Beauce. The spirit of Levesville continues to light up all the paths of service of the Sisters.

– Sisters of Hanoi, Vietnam

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Our Experience of the East Japan Earthquake By Sr. Marie Antonie AOKI, SPC

In the wake of the Great East Japan

Earthquake last March in 2011, we were very much encouraged by the great kindness of Mother General and the Sisters of St. Paul of Chartres all over the world. We are sincerely thankful to have received your many prayers and donations which have been used to support the victims.

Here in the Morioka convent (with 7 Sisters), the Sendai Izumi convent (7), and the Sendai Murasakiyama convent (11), all the Sisters have been fine because our three convents, a college, and schools are located sufficiently far from the coast and the effects of radiation in Fukushima.

But, I would like to report to you about Sendai Shirayuri Gakuen High School, which is in Miyagi Prefecture, the most damaged area of our three SPC educational sites.

As you surely know from the media reports, at 2:46 pm on March 11, a massive earthquake occurred off the Pacific coast of Eastern Japan.

This 9.0 magnitude quake, the most powerful in Japanese seismographic history, sent tremors ranging in intensity throughout the northern Hokkaido region down to the southern area of Kyushu.

About 40 minutes later, a massive tsunami generated by the quake crashed into the Pacific coastal regions of north-eastern Japan leaving a trail of destruction in its path. In cities and port towns throughout Iwate, Miyagi, and Fukushima Prefectures, over twenty thousand citizens lost their lives as cars and buildings were washed away and instantly turned into rubble by a wall of black water.

Over an hour after the earthquake hit, the after shocks seemed to quiet down. Outside, it was such a

cold evening with gently falling snow.

Paulinian Echoes

On top of all these immense losses, the people of the Tohoku region next had to confront an invisible enemy, radiation,

from the Fukushima Nuclear Power Station. As you know from the news reports, radiation spread as far as Tokyo and adjacent prefectures, and the power outage led to massive confusion for commuters and stoppage of public transportation facilities. Many people had to spend the night at their workplaces or schools.

That afternoon (March 11th), the girls of our high school were still in class when the earthquake struck. Our students hid under their desks to avoid fragments of flying glass and falling ceiling tiles. The gigantic earthquake continued for about three minutes, followed by aftershocks for a prolonged time. About 90 minutes later, we confirmed that every one of about 900 people in our school were safe. That night, about 250 pupils and over 50 staff stayed at school because of the collapse in

transportation services. There was no electricity and thus no lights outdoors, just a beautiful moon and stars to illuminate the dark city. We had never seen such a beautiful night sky. A lot of rice- balls, crackers, fruit, and drinks were kindly brought to the pupils by neighbors of the school. Under the dim candle light, they ate them while sharing with others. I was moved to see this and recalled the words, “We don’t have enough when we fight over things, but we have more than enough when we are willing to share.”

Unbelievably bad news from the radio continued to arrive through the night as hundreds of bodies were washed back ashore by the gigantic tsunami. It was so awful for us that deep silence fell into the staff room. The next day the relatives of a 16-year-old student came to the school to take her home; her mother and sister had been victims of the tsunami.

The Library

The ceiling of our Gymnasium

Paulinian Echoes

As the results of the quake were widely made public, Japan was filled with great sorrow and the hardest conditions. As for our Sendai Shirayuri Gakuen, sadly we lost a student who was about to enter our school in April. She and her mother were both killed in a car hit by the tsunami. A number of our students’ family members and relatives also died or remain missing, and/or their parents’ homes and workplaces were seriously damaged or swept away. Our school’s facilities such as the auditorium, several of the gymnasiums, and the bell tower were also heavily damaged. Thereafter, the school was closed for several weeks.

As a result of basic utilities being cut, only a little food could be bought in town, and only after standing in lines for hours outside shops. Frequent visits to designated evacuation sites were needed to obtain fresh water. There was no gasoline available, so cars could not be used. These were days which made everyone realize how precious our “normal lifestyle” truly is. At our convent, while the shortage of water was always difficult, we were truly grateful that everything turned out all right due to donations of food and other provisions.

On April 18, the school opened, and our children and students came to school with all kinds of thoughts and impressions. There were so many sad stories, but even more heart-warming ones.

The cold wind blowing across the world’s borders and oceans seemed to unite people and bring hope to everyone in Japan. There were lots of people saying, “Pray for Japan,” “Ganbare, Nippon!” and “Cheer up!” Courageous rescue teams from around the world converged on the disaster areas and rescued many people, despite the danger.

Beyond our expectations, many of our sister schools and friends from other countries sent us gifts and letters. Even impoverished countries donated money to us. We strongly felt that we were all “connected” to each other. And we have been thinking deeply about God’s aid in a time of need. How good of Him to reply to the prayers of the people!

A message from a Korean to a Japanese friend was very impressive. It said, “You’re the only country in the world to have fallen victim to nuclear attacks. You lost the Second World War. Every year there are typhoons. Earthquakes happen. You’re even struck by tsunamis. You’re just a tiny island nation, but you wouldn’t be Japan if you didn’t get up again every time. Stay strong, stay very strong.”

I felt a deep sense of respect for him. “This huge quake caused total destruction in some areas, but Japan made a remarkable

and complete recovery.” That’s how we want this event to be recorded in the history books of the future.

Catholic Sendai Diocese set up the “New Creation” plan in April 2011 in order to stand together with the numerous victims. St. Paul says, “Whoever is in Christ is a new creation” (2 Cor.5:17). The Sendai Diocese Support Center is our major ministry, and the whole diocese

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Paulinian Echoes

promotes its activities. We as a Church desire to confirm that “we are one in the Lord,” and walk toward an even better creation, with the same spirit of Christ in our hearts.

As for the SPC Sisters, we thought about what we should do and what we could do. Now in our community, the Sisters sometimes visit the parish base camps, and pray at mass with other Christians, listen to or talk with quake-affected people, or provide material goods in collaboration with other volunteers.

Repair of our broken facilities was finished by the end of September.

We started the second semester on October 3. The Sendai city area is vibrant again, and a sense of normality has been restored at our school. However, as of November 30, the number of dead and missing in Tohoku still stands at 19,447, while some tens of thousands of evacuees remain.

To conclude this report, we would like to ask all of the SPC members to continue to pray for Japan, and express our heartfelt gratitude for your prayers and strong support. Truly, thank you very much.

May God bless you all.

At this Japanese language class in Lyon, France, students write kind messages of

support for students of our school

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Girls at Sendai Shirayuri Gakuen are very happy

and encouraged by the messages from France.

Paulinian Echoes

In this photograph, you can see only one man with Mother Myriam, Superior General

and our four Korean Sisters. He is Mgr Anthony Sharma, the only Bishop of Nepal, a country of 7, 371 Catholics in a population of 29,519,114 inhabitants with 80% Hindus. In 2007, he received the Episcopal ordination, the first Nepalese ever to become a Bishop. Coming from a Hindu family, he studied with the Jesuits in India. As the Bishop of the Apostolic Vicariate of Nepal, Mgr, Sharma was given the responsibility, by the Holy Father Pope Benoit XVI, to guide the “little flock” of this Mission established since 1983. He was the one who invited the SPC to do mission work in Nepal.

Conversion to the Christian Religion is Illegal

The above statement is surprising, but it is true. Indeed, in Nepal, the law prohibits conversion to the Christian religion. What work then could the missionaries do ? Arriving in Pokhara in 2009, and in Katmandu in 2010, the Sisters of the Province of Seoul proclaim the Gospel by their many apostolic activities. They knew where to find the poor in the slums, and very simply, they went there to serve the sick and the suffering. In the field of education, they created a special program to upgrade the educational level of the poor children so that they can pass the qualifying examination to enroll in the Jesuit High School and College. With their efforts to improve the human level of the poorest people, the Sisters of St. Paul were able to win the trust, the friendship and respect of the Nepalese. With kindness and love, they do their missionary work in spite of the prohibition to convert to Catholicism. But in their hearts they know that it is God who touches the heart.

Àt St Paul’s Happy Home, the children from the slums of Pokhara receive a free meal and study help. Above, the Mobile Clinic brings basic health

services to the poor.

Paulinian Echoes

Mother Myriam, Sr. Maria Goretti and Sisters visit the site of the future Clinic in Pokhara. The Annapurna peak of the Himalayas can be seen in the background.

Attention to the neglected and who have no access to health care: Mobile Clinic with Sister Martha PAK and Sister Seraphina CHOI

Sisters Lydia, Sophia and Gemma-Lucie take charge of the social assistance project of Xavier Collège. The poor children participate in free remedial classes held in the classrooms 2 hours before classes start. This remedial class will later qualify them for admission in the Jesuit College.

Paulinian Echoes

Rasha SHOMALI

Participation in the Mission of Education in Bethlehem

Through the “Suore di San Paolo

Scholarship Fund,” Mother Myriam Kitcharoen, Superior General, affirms the support of the Congregation for the Mission of education of Bethlehem University. The graduates express their gratitude.

Dear Sr. Myriam, I would like to thank the Sisters of St. Paul of Chartres, Italy for their commitment and support to Bethlehem University and its educational mission in the Holy Land through the Suore di San Paoo di Chartres Annual Scholarship.

Our graduate student Rasha Shomali - who received your most generous scholarship in the Spring 2011 semester, January-June 2011 and in the Fall 2011 semester, September-December 2011 - is very grateful for your support and she is now trying her best to get a job and support her family.

Please find attached a thank you letter from Rasha Shomali where she tells you more about herself and her life.

Merna Elias Bannoura who received the Suore Di San Paulo Di Charter Annual Scholarship in the Spring 2011 semester, graduated with honors in June 2011. Merna would like to share with you the attached picture of her and her parents during her graduation. May God bless you always. Gratefully, Shahinda Nassar Shahinda I. Gregory Nassar Development Office

I am writing to thank you for your generous support to me through the Suore di San Paolo di Chartres Annual Scholarship.

I was thrilled to learn of my selection for this scholarship and I am deeply appreciative of your support. My name is Rasha Shomali. I am married and I have two children (a girl and a boy). I am proud to inform you that I am graduating in June 2012. The Fall 2011 semester was my last semester at this wonderful University. I’m looking forward to my graduation day from the prestigious Faculty of Business Administration at Bethlehem University.

Thank you again for your generosity and support. I am now trying my best to get a job. So, I am spreading my curriculum vitae everywhere, hoping to get some attention and get a decent job. I will always be grateful for your help.

Yours sincerely,

Rasha Shomali

Bethlehem University

BETHLEHEM UNIVERSITY

جامعـــة بيـــت لحـــم

Office of the Vice President for Development

مكتب نائب الرئيس للتطوير

Merna Elias Bannoura with her parents

Rasha Shomali

Paulinian Echoes

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Indonesia : January 25, 2012

Sr Bernadette SEA Sr Maria Yosefa Domingga DATON

Seoul, Korea : February 2, 2012 Sr Isabella Noel Jeong Hui CHA Sr Bernadetta Gyeong Im SEO Sr Theresa Jian Xia SUN Sr Marie Joseph Yun Mi KIM Sr Marie Celina Yu Suk CHOI Sr Christine Jeong Nam KIM

Sr Agatha In Hwa PARK Sr Anna Paul Song Gyeom KIM Sr Maria Chun Min HOU Sr Elisabeth Seton Yun Ha SEO Sr Lucia Yeong Hui HONG Sr Maxima Sang Hyo CHO

Daegu, Korea : February 2, 2012

Sr Clara Hyung-dul PARK Sr Theresa Theresa KIM Sr Theresa Hyun-sil LEE Sr Enda Hyo-ju BAEK

Sr Martha Ji-hyun PARK Sr Theresa Min-Jeong KIM Sr Bona Eun-kyeong O

Philippines: February 2, 2012 Sr Mary Joy COSTUDIO Sr Mary Eileen Grace SUACILLO Sr Maria Honorata PALOMAR

Sr Marie Josephine SOMBRERO Sr Mary Rochelle PINANGONANG

Sr Maria Theresa Andrea MALLILLIN

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Indonesia : January 25, 2012

Sr Yuspina RANTE Sr Yuliana SONDOK Sr Venisuela FLORA NIAN

Peru-Colombia : January 25, 2012

Sr Maria Ana GUZMAN FLORES Sr Mayela Melchorita FAJARDO QUISPE Sr. Diana Carolina PICON MERIÑO

Timor Leste: February 2, 2012 Sr Maria Madalena TJONG Sr Veronica SOARES

Sr Agrifina MENDONÇA Sr Petronela SOARES

Seoul, Korea : February 2, 2012 Sr Crescentia Yeong Nam KIM Sr Stella Su Jin LEE Sr Susanna Seon Hwa SIN

Sr Hellen-Jean Kyeong Seon LEE Sr Cecilia JANG

Daegu Korea : February 2, 2012 Sr Jeanne d’Arc Myeong-suk JANG Sr Sophia Geun-yeong JO Sr Clara Kyung-seon KWON

Sr Pia So –yeon JU Sr Veronica Ha-na PAK

Philippines: February 2, 2012 Sr Ophelia PAZ Sr Recel CACHUELA Sr Marivic CORDERO Sr Katrina BOTER

Sr Maria Cerelina GALEA Sr Christy Joy SALIMBAGAT Sr Maria Kristina BERGONIA

Paulinian Echoes

GGOOIINNGG HHOOMMEE TTOO TTHHEE FFAATTHHEERR

A new season begins in eternity

Antilles-Guyane

September 19 Sr Suzanne de Marie PLOCOSTE, 90 58 years Rel. Prof. December 7 Sr Sainte Jeanne BASTE, 96 69 years Rel. Prof.

Hong Kong

October 23 Sr Marietta de St Paul MA, 94 67 years Rel. Prof.

Japan

October 4 Sr Emmanuel SASAKI, 89 66 years Rel. Prof.

Seoul Korea

November 6 Sr Agatha HONG Mi Pyo,68 33 years Rel. Prof. December 2 Sr Veronica KIM Martha, 85 56 years Rel. Prof.

Daegu Korea

September 21 Sr Jean-Therese HEU Jeung –Ja, 81 57 years Rel. Prof. September 21 Sr François d’Assise LEE Bong Soon, 90 69 years Rel. Prof.

Philippines

October 7 Sr Rose Mary LOPEZ, 95 73 years Rel. Prof. October 14 Sr Maria Lourdes BATERINA,65 41 years Rel. Prof. October 30 Sr Ellen du Rosaire PEREZ, 85 57 years Rel. Prof.

Mytho Vietnam

October 11 Sr Amélie de St Pierre NGUYEN Thi Hoa,87 63 years Rel. Prof. December 31 Sr. Renée de Marie NGUYEN Thi Kiem, 87 64 years Rel. Prof.

Saigon Vietnam

October 30 Sr Marie Victorine NGUYEN Thi Hiep, 96 72 years Rel. Prof.

Paulinian Echoes

Book Excerpts : “ Deux mètres carrés” Part 2 by David Sauleman pages 345-351

The author, a Jew, pays tribute to a Sister of Saint Paul

whom he had known during World War II

Under the circumstances, I prayed like any twelve year –old child. Obviously, there was no way for me to pray in the synagogue, besides, I didn’t know whether there was one in Houdan at that time. In the evening of the Kippur, knowing well that I fasted since the previous day Denise, the daughter of the family, instead of giving me my meal, said, “You, little Yid, since you are fasting today, you’ll skip supper.”I extended my fasting till the next day. Later, when I learned what happened to my parents, I wondered who was listening to my prayers.

Maurice, my brother, joined me by mid-August 1943. He was not treated any better than me. We were maltreated, badly cared for and starved while the family C. ate well, denying themselves of nothing. Denise behaved in a sadistic way towards Maurice whom she dealt with cruel beatings. Consequently, the two of us got sick. In December 1943, I was hospitalized due to my weakened condition. I was undernourished, had pulmonary problems and scabies. During my hospitalization, I was able to notify Louise Tabak about the situation, and I think that she was the one who alerted the UGIF for Maurice to be taken and hospitalized and for Mme Suze to come and fetch me later.

In January 1944, a nurse of the UGIF came to fetch Maurice who was too skinny having been underfed like me. Whereas he walked around very well when we were with our Mama, after a few months in Houdan, he could hardly walk and would often fall. His legs were too frail to hold him up. Maurice had to stay several months in the Children’s Hospital in Paris.

I did not see my brother until 1945, in the house of Maurice Tabak, the brother of Louise. Maurice Tabak and his companion, Berthe, took him from another hospital, the Herold hospital in Paris where he was transferred and hidden by the UGIF. When the Allies arrived in 1944, the Tabaks took

my brother with them to hide in Mondoubleau, Loir et Cher. During this whole period, the only place - since that horrible night of the raid on November 5, 1942 – where I found some human warmth, was in the hospital of Houdan. In this unsafe shelter, a religious nurse, Sister Saint Edme, treated me with affection. She was very active and firm, the patients were afraid of her, whereas she was very gentle with me. She found ways to hide me from the local authorities (there were many Germans in this hospital: the military, Doctors and patients) and cared for me with kindness and attention. As far as I can remember, Sr Saint Edme was very young compared to the other Sisters. They all wore this enormous white headdress called the cornette which was a lot wider than their head from all sides. I have already seen these ladies in black before, but this is the first time that I actually lived in a milieu of practicing Catholics. The rules of this religion surprised me. For the least reason, the Sisters made the sign of the cross. It was habitual to see them kneeling before a statue. Upon entering the chapel, they dip their hand in the water of a font, make the sign of the cross and after genuflecting, they would kneel again at the prie-Dieu. Then, they would sing in a language I have never heard before – latin.On the walls of the chapel, were paintings of the faces of saints which shocked me, as I was shocked to hear that God had a son. Statues, images in a place of prayer violated the commandments. Compared to the sobriety of our Jewish vestments at prayers, the Catholic religion baffled me.

Moreover, my parents were arrested and I was in hiding due to my religion; it was so strange for me to learn from Sister Saint Edme that the “baby Jesus” had Jewish parents and that he himself was a Jew. How can a 12- year old child understand how some people can persecute the Jews simply because they were Jews and at the same time venerate a God who was a Jew? (to be continued)

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