On Sunday, September 24, we began our "Conversations of the Heart" monthly gatherings. Our opening prayer was "Celebrating Creation" in the spirit of the Month of Prayer for the Care of the Earth from September 1 – October 4 introduced by Pope Francis.
Following our time of contemplative prayer, we reflected and shared on our experience of Chapter in July. Many commented on the sense of peace, joy, and deep listening that pervaded our gathering, as well as on our discernment for leadership. It was felt that the process of preparation initiated by the Chapter Planning Committee enabled us to enter fully into our table conversations.
Celebration! At de Sève Residence, on September 21 and 22, it was Diamond Jubilee Celebration time! Though Fall was waiting at the door, Summer with its sunshine and flowers, brightened our community gatherings. On the Thursday evening, Sisters Marie Azzarello and Françoise Boisvert, following the inspiration of Sister Joan Foliot and questions from us all, created a 'self portrait' one block at a time, of their lives lived from novitiate days to the present. Such rich, deep, sharing 'painted a picture' of the wise, generous women they are today. On Friday evening, we gave thanks to our loving God at Eucharist for these Diamond years. Sisters Anne Marie Lynch, Patricia Simpson and Doreen Zeppetini, diamonds too, were with us as were Sisters Joyce Roberts and Susan Cleevely. A festive two gatherings they were, with much joy and gratitude.
The day after the Las Vegas shooting a first grader came to school with a few pages, carefully printed in the best first grade script she could manage. On the first page she had written, “Guns are not toys. I do not play with toy guns.” And she had her picture attached to it. On the second page was written “Kids don’t let kids play with guns.” The third page was a request for a toy gun turn in at her school.
Children unfortunately understand violence, some first hand and some by hearing their parents speaking about it. Every child in the United States absorbed, in one way or another, the tragedy of Las Vegas through their families and the news.