Probanist Jeniffer Mutiso rscj recounts her journey to Joigny to rediscover the humble beginnings of St. Madeleine Sophie Barat and the spirit that continues to inspire the Sacred Heart family.
There are places that do not just tell a story- they speak to the heart. Joigny is one of them. When I set foot in this quiet French town, nestled along the Yonne River, I felt an unspoken invitation to slow down, to breathe deeply, and to listen. It was as if the very air carried whispers of the past- of faith, simplicity and love that once blossomed within the heart of a young girl named Madeleine Sophie Barat. I had come seeking her story, but what I found was something even more profound: a renewed encounter with the grace that still flows from her beginnings.
When I arrived in Joigny, I felt as though I was stepping into a living memory, a sacred place where time itself holds its breath. The town was quiet, its narrow streets lined with old stone houses that seemed to whisper stories from past centuries. Yet among them stands one home that holds something more than history; it holds the heart of our beginnings. In this home, we were warmly welcomed by the RSCJ’s who lovingly tends this sacred place. Their gentleness, hospitality and quiet joy reflected the very spirit of Sophie herself. They shared with us the history of this sacred place which invited us to tour the interior, to go on an interior pilgrimage.
Walking through the doorway of the house where Saint Madeleine Sophie Barat was born, I felt a deep stillness settle within me. It was not just an old home; it was a cradle of grace. Every corner seemed to echo with the presence of the young Sophie; a girl whose dreams were formed in simplicity, whose soul was tenderly shaped by faith, and whose heart was already being prepared for a great mission of love.
As I stood in her small room, I found myself imagining her quiet moments of prayer, her eagerness to learn, her inner struggles, and her growing desire to live for God. The simplicity of the space reminded me that holiness often takes root in silence, in the ordinary rhythms of daily life. It was deeply moving to realize that from this humble home, a global mission of the Heart was born, one that continues to touch lives across generations and continents.
One of the most striking memories that remains with me from Joigny is the sight of the vineyards that surround the town. Stretching over the gentle hills, they seem to hold the rhythm of life itself; silent, patient and deeply rooted in the earth. As I looked over those rows of vines, I felt I was looking at a living parable of what it means to grow in faith.
Their quiet beauty invited me to pause, to breathe and to pray. I thought of Jesus’ words in John 15: “I am the vine, you are the branches… Remain in me, as I remain in you.”
There, among the vines, I felt something stir deeply within; a reminder that my own life, like these vineyards, is a place where God continues to work quietly and faithfully. The vines spoke of pruning and growth, of patience and fruitfulness. I felt invited to remain rooted in Christ, to trust the work of God in me and to let His love bear fruit through the simplicity of daily life. Standing there, I understood why Jesus often spoke of vines and branches. The vineyard teaches us that growth takes time, that fruitfulness comes only after pruning, and that every branch must remain connected to the vine; to the Source of life.
The visit to Joigny was not just a journey but a pilgrimage of the heart. In that sacred place where grace first took root in St. Madeleine Sophie Barat, I rediscovered the quiet strength of love that still calls us, each in our own way, to make the Heart of Jesus known and loved.
Jeniffer Mutiso rscj
Section |International News
Province |Uganda/Kenya
