Diciembre 2019
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Newsletter - December 2019 Nº 35 CONTIGO In-depth Discover how Christmas is News celebrated at the Sisters Find out about the most important Hospitallers centres in Italy. news from our Provinces in recent months. Up close Learn more about the #Committed Congregation’s current process Meet Fegue MBA Féline Claire, a of updating and revising the young volunteer at our centre in Constitution. Yaoundé (Cameroon). 1 In-depth HAPPY CHRISTMAS! Christmas is the most beautiful time of year Christmas is the most beautiful time of year, a celebration of light and colour for children of all ages to rejoice in the birth of Jesus. Throughout Italy, the streets are illuminated and the houses decorated for the occasion. There is an atmosphere of peace and love. hristmas is the most beautiful time of year, holidays, in general, can be a time of sadness and a celebration of light and colour for children longing for a past that no longer exists, and that is of all ages to rejoice in the birth of Jesus. precisely why there are so many activities: singing CThroughout the season, at all the Sisters Hospita- troupes, who come to delight us, youth groups that llers centres in Italy, there is a sense of peace and organise shows, folk ensembles, and a lively bingo love. session. At the Albese centre Both the community of Sisters at the clinic and the At the Casa di Cura San Benedetto clinic in Albe- patients celebrate the novena in a very meaningful se, Christmas is celebrated on a Saturday in De- and special way. There is also a Christmas Mass, at- cember when the Sisters, co-workers, patients and tended by many members of the Hospitaller com- their families gather for lunch. After the meal, the munity. Everyone gathers to celebrate the joyful attendees play games, exchange gifts and, most birth of the Baby Jesus and of the man who would importantly, have a wonderful time sharing unfor- bring peace, serenity, and hope. gettable moments. On Christmas Day, in addition to celebrating the We are aware that for some of our patients, the Eucharist, the whole clinic gathers to share a deli- 2 In-depth cious lunch, complete with Panettone (a traditional a dance of warm and festive lights. Occasionally, a Milanese cake), accompanied by a glass of spar- former resident drops in to escape the solitude and kling wine. enjoy our company during the holiday. Christmas at Villa Miramare is truly inviting. At the Nettuno centre At the Villa Miramare clinic in Nettuno, the Christ- At the Ascoli Piceno centre mas spirit is boundless and familiar, because be- At the Villa San Giuseppe centre in Ascoli Piceno, yond being a rest home, our centre is first and fo- Christmas has a distinct feel. Like all centres in the remost a “home” for residents. And like any homes, Province, the patients prepare decorations for the the preparations are very festive, making Christmas whole residence in collaboration with volunteers, a joyful experience that combines both religious educators, and co-workers. Special attention is paid and solemn occasions. to the creation of small nativity scenes that are later displayed throughout the units and departments, The activities of educators focus on making or- including the administrative wing. naments to decorate the Christmas trees, nativity scenes, and gifts for volunteers and other visitors For the last three years, we have celebrated the who drop in throughout the season. Many the- Feast of St. Joseph during the Christmas season. At med events are scheduled for December, including this event, held in the centre’s auditorium, the pa- bingo for residents and their families, exhibitions, tients, Sisters, and co-workers gather to enjoy a fun performances by students from the neighbouring time with hearts full of joy. The festivities include schools, meetings with various youth groups from a jury that selects the winner(s) of the best song nearby parishes, and finally, excursions to see the performance. nativity scenes, attend concerts, and stroll through the traditional Christmas markets. During this time The New Year of year, some residents spend a few days at home At the end of the Christmas season, we celebrate with their loved ones. the New Year, an occasion marked by much fanfare in Italy. Nowadays, many people opt to celebrate in On Christmas Eve, the Sisters, residents, and public squares (rather than nightclubs), where live co-workers gather for a family-like dinner. The entertainment and sparkling wine are on offer to home is bursting with joy at every turn; Christmas ring in the New Year. decorations flood the units and departments with 3 In-depth All the Sisters Hospitallers centres in Italy organise parties and games to conclude the holiday celebration Even at our centres, the residents who stay awake until midnight to watch the fireworks from their windows, as is the custom, toast the New Year with the hope that the year ahead will be better than the last. On 1 January, according to tradition, a plate of lentils is eaten after Mass because “those who eat lentils on New Year’s Day will have wealth and prosperity all year long.” After the New Year, all the Sisters Hospitallers cen- tres in Italy organise parties and games to conclude the holiday celebration and, little by little, things return to normal. The visit of the Magi to the Christ Child, known liturgically as the Epiphany, conclu- We thank the Lord because, even today, when des the Christmas season with a flourish. There is a Christmas has become commercialised, we still ma- touch of sadness when the holidays draw to a clo- nage to enjoy a profound experience, in keeping se: the lights go out, the decorations are removed, with the religious traditions of those who came be- and life begins again. But in the heart of everyone fore us, because Christmas always marks the start remains the memory of joy and anticipation for the of a new day, a day of Christ within our midst. year to come. Happy Christmas! 4 Up close Léontine Judith Ngo Mbock Second General Councillor and coordinator of the Constitutional Review Commission. “For the Congregation, the process of revising and updating our Constitutions is a time of grace, communion, celebration, and gratitude for the great gift that is the Hospitaller charism” Sister Léontine Judith Ngo Mbock, second General and the Institution? Councillor and coordinator of the Constitutional E For the Congregation, the process of revising and Review Commission explains the details of the updating our Constitutions is a time of grace, com- process that is so important to our Congregation. munion, celebration, and gratitude for the great gift that is the Hospitaller charism, delivered to us Why review the Constitutions now? so that we may “experience, safeguard, explore, and Reviewing and updating the Constitutions is not develop it constantly” (Constitutions 1995, no. 9). a new event in the Congregation. Over the years, since Vatican II called for ”aggiornamento” (brin- From that perspective, it is also a responsibility of ging up to date), our Congregation has revised and faithfulness to the spirit of our Founders, which adapted its “Rule of Life” to suit the times. demands of us creativity, conversion, and paths of revitalisation. It is an opportunity to return to the Given that the need for adaptation is more global source and drink from the spring of the Hospitaller at the moment, at the 24th Plenary Council we re- charism, to embrace the church and the world of cognised the opportunity to begin the process for today, as well as the judgement and experience of the following reasons: all the Sisters of the Congregation. - To welcome reflection, already underway, on the What is the end goal, according to the proposal identity and mission of the consecrated life in the presented at the 21st General Chapter? church and in the world. As General Superior, Sister Anabela Carneiro re- minds us in Circular no. 38, the goal of the review - To deepen our charism and spirituality, embracing aims, “not only to make certain changes in order to perspectives that can enrich the experience of the adapt our legislation to reality, but to ‘revisit’ our consecrated life and the Hospitaller mission. Book of Life in order that — illuminated by the Spirit, the source of all charisms, and accompanied by our - To open up to cultural diversity, the universal va- Founders — we revitalise our vocational identity as lues of the charism, enculturation, and multicultu- women devoted to Jesus, witnesses of his compas- ralism. sion and mercy toward the sick and all who suffer.” What does reviewing the Hospitaller Constitu- The approach is simple: to reflect on enlightenment tions mean specifically for the Congregation in the biblical texts, on the charismatic and spiritual 5 Up close experience of our Founders, on work phase in the Provinces. ters on the Commission, many of the magisterium of the Church, whom have extensive experien- on our personal and communal - June - October 2020: amend- ce in the Hospitaller lifestyle and lives in light of the history of ment of the Constitutional text examining charismatic issues mercy and compassion that God by the Commission. in depth. I feel a closeness and weaves in each of us. Through communion with each Sister of these efforts, the Sisters contri- - November 2020: dispatch of the Congregation in this process. bute their opinions on the Cons- the new Constitutional text to titutional matters under exami- the communities to be re-read. The messages that reach us from nation. all over the world are very en- - 20 January 2021: sending of couraging and hopeful: they fill After being assessed by the each community’s proposals to us with gratitude for what God is Commission and by experts, the the Commission.