Julie Billiart: Refuge & Refugee

Opening Song: Companions on the Journey Carey Landry We are companions on the journey, breaking bread and sharing life; and in the love we bear is the hope we share for we believe in the love of our God, we believe in the love of our God. No longer strangers to each other; no longer strangers in God’s house; we are fed and we are nourished by the strength of those who care, by the strength of those who care. We have been gifted with each other, and we are called by the Word of the Lord: to act with justice, to love tenderly, and to walk humbly with our God, to walk humbly with our God. Readings from our Heritage: 1. Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother by night, and went to Egypt, and remained there until the death of Herod. Matthew 2: 13-15

2. But her time in Cuvilly was limited and in 1791 she was forced to flee to Compiegne to escape the anger of the revolutionaries because she was accused of harbouring non-juring priests, who included her beloved Père Dangicourt, and of inciting others to do likewise. Julie remained hidden from the revolutionaries in Compiegne for three years. Myra Poole :Prayer, Protest, Power p. 21

3. Jesus said, “The foxes have lairs, the birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” Luke 9:57-58

4. They thought they could see the hand of God in what was happening. It had to be God moving the bishop to act this way—so Julie thought. …God had led them to Amiens and at Amiens they would remain as long as they could. As a matter of fact, a few days before Julie received orders to leave, she said to Father Cottu: “I will never leave here, Father, unless the bishop sends me away.” “He will never do that,” was the response. And yet a few days afterwards in a written dismissal that is exactly what he did do. Memoirs of Mother Frances Blin de Bourdon, p. 51

Psalm Response: -- antiphonally I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. I sought the Lord, and he answered me, and delivered me from all my fears This poor soul cried, and was heard by the Lord, and was saved from every trouble. O taste and see that the Lord is good; happy are those who take refuge in him. When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears, and rescues them from all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted, and saves the crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord rescues them from them all. The Lord redeems the life of his servants; none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned. from Psalm 34 Quiet Reflection time:

Sharing time: When or where in my life have I felt in prison or as a refugee ... physically, emotionally, spiritually ...? How did I respond then ... how could I/would I respond today? How have or in what ways have I open my heart to the perils of the immigration problems of today?

How do I think that St. Julie would respond to today's concerns for refugees and/or the plight of immigrants from oppressed areas? Closing prayer: A Commitment to the needs of our Day: Individual voices read from Earth Charter and Scripture – all respond with statement from Chapter Acts

1. Build democratic societies that are just, participatory, sustainable, and peaceful. Earth Charter #3

2. For the Lord, your God … has no favorites, accepts no bribes; executes justice for the orphan and the widow, and befriends the alien, feeding and clothing him. So you too must befriend the alien, for you were once aliens yourselves in the land of Egypt. Deuteronomy 10:18-19 All: Impelled by Julie’s passion that everyone experience the goodness of God, we commit ourselves to help to create a more just and loving world. Chapter Acts #3

3. Recognize the ignored, protect the vulnerable, serve those who suffer, and enable them to develop their capacities and to pursue their aspirations. Earth Charter #9c

4. When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not be so thorough that you reap the field to its very edge, nor shall you glean the stray ears of grain. Likewise, you shall not pick your vineyard bare, nor gather up the grapes that have fallen. These things you shall leave for the poor and the alien. Leviticus 19:10 All: Modeling the friendship of Julie and Françoise which crossed social boundaries, we commit ourselves to create a model for right relationships within the global society. Chapter Acts #7

5. Uphold the right of all, without discrimination, to a natural and social environment supportive of human dignity, bodily health, and spiritual well-being, with special attention to the rights of indigenous peoples and minorities. Earth Charter #12

6. Strangers shall stand ready to pasture your flocks, foreigners shall be your farmers and vinedressers. Isaiah 61:5 All: Let us share without counting the cost and organize ourselves to move forward together in mission. Chapter Acts, p. 5

Closing Song: Companions on the Journey Carey Landry We are companions on the journey, breaking bread and sharing life; and in the love we bear is the hope we share for we believe in the love of our God, we believe in the love of our God. We will seek and we shall find; we will knock and the door will be opened; we will ask and it shall be given, for we believe in the love of our God, we believe in the love of our God. We are made for the glory of our God, to walk side by side with hope in our hearts, for we believe in the love of our God, we believe in the love of our God. Celebrating N tre Dame