Some highlights of our life together....

Gathering of the Professed of Temporary Vows of the Province of Peru

"Our life together is a gift and a process

that invites us to constant transformation

and, for that reason, always involves a challenge for us."

Life Unfolding, Offering the Gift

Here are five photos of recent "significant moments" in the life of

our communities, provinces, or regions in different parts of the world.

Sacred Heart at the UN

From April 16-20, 2018, several RSCJ formed a delegation to attend

the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues in New York.

Representing the Society of the Sacred Heart were: Imma De Stefanis (USC), Reyna Gonzalez (USC), Betzabeth Villanueva (PER), Sheila Smith (USC), Silvana Ferez (ARU), Chihiro Yamamoto (JPN), and Kathy Conan (USC, not pictured). Our delegation supported a group of Indigenous peoples from the Amazon (Peru, Brazil, and Ecuador), who had come to speak for the rights of water, land, and their peoples, who are all experiencing the devastating impacts of mining. It was a very rich and informative week. The RSCJ delegation who attended reflected together on the experience and decided to follow-up with each other and to plan further action.

** Text by Sheila Smith rscj; photos from the RSCJ's FB pages

Province of Argentina-Uruguay

"Leaving" Ituzaingó… the people of the parish of Santa Cecilia,

the place that gave life in the last fifteen years to the "Nazareth" period of our formation!

On 8th April we said our farewell to this beloved community during a very moving Eucharist. All the rscj of the ARU province, especially those of us who lived there, and those for whom it was where they had their initiation into religious life… our hearts are full of gratitude for all that we have been able to give and receive, for all that we learned together during these years: how to be a Christian community, to enjoy building the Kingdom with the littlest ones of “Copa de Leche*,” to accompany one another in difficult times, and to celebrate the joy of the Kingdom together!

The community gave us some words that we will, with humility, forever hold dear: “Thank you for the security of your patient listening, your welcoming embrace, your life-giving words, for being with us at all the right moments, your hearts open to include everyone without judgments, for sharing life. Thank you for teaching us and helping us to BECOME COMMUNITY.”

There is no doubt that the relationships, the bonds that grew during these years, will never end!

** "Copa de Leche" is a socio-educative project of ARU.

**From the FB webpage of the Province of Argentina-Uruguay

Province of Spain
The Central Team visited the Province of Spain from the 31st of March to the 20th of April 2018.

The visit had two itineraries: Sister Barbara Dawson, Superior General, and Marie-Jeanne Elonga, General Councilor, visited the houses of our older sisters, and some other communities. General Councilors Daphne Sequiera, Monica Esquivel and Isabelle Lagneau visited all the other communities. In this way they all met with every religious, with the enthusiasm and mutual enrichment which that engendered. They were also able to experience a flavor of the life of the areas in which the communities are inserted, and some ministries.

Topics of conversation that were pursued included: new horizons, the path already taken regarding new ways of organizing ourselves… always with a note of gratitude and confidence in this moment we are living.

** From the website of the Province of Spain

Province of Chile

Some highlights in March and April: the gathering of Mujeres Iglesia ("Women Church"); the morning clean up on Earth Day; the entrance of Alicia Carro to the novitiate; and the Eucharist to celebrate the bicentennial of Philippine Duchesne.

** From the FB webpage of RSCJ Chile

Province of England-Wales

European Post-44 Gathering

In the province of England and Wales, there is a generational support group for all those born after 1944. For our meeting in January 2018, we invited some European RSCJ who fall into the same peer group. Twenty RSCJ, 10 of whom are from the ENW province, came to the gathering.

One phrase used at the meeting, which resonated with many, is that Europe is the “air we breathe.” As RSCJ, we are inter-linked, sharing the concerns and joys of each province because we share the air we breathe, our common identity as Europeans.

This had been planned as an initial reflection and conversation to help foster networks of relationship amongst RSCJ across Europe, support each other in mission, and reflect on what values we want to live as RSCJ in this region. It was also a gathering full of fun and laughter.

** From the website of the ENW Province. Click here to read the original article.