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Nº 12. May 2015

“Look to the past with gratitude, live the present with passion and embrace the future with hope” ( Francis, message of the Year of Consecrated Life)

The Sisters Hospitallers and the Brothers of St have brought the centenary of the “passing into life” of St to a close

Closing Eucharist of the Centenary of the death of St Benedict Menni

From 22 to 24 April, around 350 people from everywhere in the world where there is a Hospitaller presence gathered together in Ciempozuelos (), the place where the restoration of the order was consolidated and our institution was founded. Sisters, brothers, users, collaborators and residents of the town jointly ce- lebrated the closing of the centenary of the death of St Benedict Menni.

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Wednesday, 22 April The welcome ceremony for the pilgrims was held on 22 April in the function room of our mother house, where the Mayoress of Ciempo- zuelos, María Ángeles Herrera, together with the Provincial Superiors, María Rosario Iranzo, a Sister Hospitaller, and José Antonio Soria, a Bro- ther of St John of God, welcomed all the atten- dees.

In her speech, María Ángeles Herrera highligh- ted how proud everyone in Ciempozuelos is of St Benedict Menni for his dedication to the mu- Provincial Superiors with the Mayoress of Ciempozuelos nicipality and for his legacy. That is why he was named the town’s co-patron and adopted son in 2008 and the Council recognised Ciem- pozuelos as a Hospitaller Town in 2009.

The event ended with a concert of various mu- sical styles, in which the Ciempozuelos music band, performed internationally well-known co- vers. It was thoroughly enjoyed by everyone in attendance.

Thursday morning, 23 April embrace the future with hope”. “...not to forget this The day started with a Eucharist in the church in the complex of Jesús Etayo asked us not year’s celebrations the Brothers of St John of God in to forget this year’s celebrations Ciempozuelos, presided over by and experiences and for Benedict and experiences the Bishop José Luis Redrado, OH Menni’s spirit to live on among us and for Benedict and for us to continue finding so- The Superior Generals’ lutions for the sick and needy. Menni’s spirit to live Greeting on among us ...” Next, in the function room, the Conference talks Superior Generals welcomed par- The morning continued with con- ticipants to these days of mee- ference talks given by Brother Luis ting, cohabitation and reflection Valero, who discussed “St Bene- Hospitallers despite the spiritual on the figure of St Benedict dict Menni, 1867–1912. Contribu- and structural crisis of the age Menni. tions to St John of God and the limited resources availa- Hospitality”, and Sister María Con- ble to him. A short break was fo- In her greeting, Anabela Carneiro, cepción Ochotorena, who presen- llowed by a roundtable of the Superior General of the Sis- ted “Father Benedict Menni, the hospitality testimonies, coordina- ters Hospitallers pointed out the life behind the heart”. Both high- ted by Brother Julián Sánchez, in happy coincidence of this cente- lighted the role this Hospitaller which representatives of both nary with the Year of Consecrated saint played during the second institutions participated. The Life. She invited us to take on half of the nineteenth century and morning ended with a fraternal board Pope Francis’s proposal “to they remembered his strength meal in the gardens of the com- look to the past with gratitude, and dedication to the foundation plex. live the present with passion and of the Congregation of Sisters

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HOSPITALITY TESTIMONIES

“Everything I have experienced fills me with gratitude to the Lord for calling me to be and live from and for Hospitality”

people as a volunteer. When the go back there sometime?” doors of the Benito Menni Men- tal Health Care Complex opened My question was answered a for us, what we saw there, the month later; we went back thin- welcome we received from the king that there would be no Sisters, and the people who lived third time… But it was when I there, had a huge impact on me. entered the centre’s church that I remember that when I arrived, Maria Jesús (one of the centre’s I was convinced that I wanted to users), sitting in her wheelchair, do something for others, based and even though she found on my Christian faith, but God speaking extremely difficult (she Ana María Domene was just an idea, something I only moved her hand), with eyes had been taught, rather than an that expressed everything that I arrived in San Boi (, essential experience for me. her voice was not able to do, Spain) 26 years ago with two When I returned home, I asked and after only seeing me once friends with a desire to help God: “Do you think that I could before, called me by my name:

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“Ana”. That was the moment when I felt “They conveyed the va- God’s presence in a way that I had never felt before. Jesus’s words “Whatever you lues that Benedict Menni did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did to me” were lived for and demonstra- embodied in her. ted with his actions” Picking up the Gospel and reading the passage on the Good Samaritan after this My story is about a life experience was like entering into a dialo- project, about seeking a gue with someone I could touch and see; place in this world. During and especially, as far as I was concerned, my search, I have tried to these people became living temples of follow the values that I God, despite their difficulties, limitations think are important for and diseases. helping others. That is why I studied medicine, Life of service Paula María Álvarez and I specialised in family My experience of Hospitality is rooted strongly in fertile land that has been wa- and community medicine. I wanted to be alongside tered by the life of service of those who people, accompany them in health, in sickness, in came before me and who discovered in happiness and in sadness. I was fascinated by pa- John of God, Benedict Menni, Maria Jo- lliative care; its philosophy spoke of human values, sefa Recio and Maria Angustias Giménez, and that’s how I learnt that it was important not a path to follow; not only have we conti- only to cure diseases, but, above all, to CARE for pe- nued to follow this path, we are also con- ople in all aspects of their lives and accompany fident that others will do so in the future. them through difficult moments, such as when they are dying. Today, looking back, aware of everything I have experienced, I can say that I never This is how I learnt how important values such as doubted His call; if I am here with you empathy, solidarity, listening, accompanying, res- today, it is because He and He alone has pect, and closeness were. It is important for the sustained my life. Because I too have felt practice of my profession to be steeped in these va- hurt and on the edge of the path. He has lues. healed my wounds, has washed my feet, has given me His weapons, a washbowl In March 2007 I had the opportunity to work in a with water, a towel, and a Mother, Our Sisters Hospitallers centre. This was a great revela- Lady of the Sacred Heart. tion for me, because there they practised a value as important as HOSPITALITY. It was a value in capital Everything I have experienced fills me letters, encompassing all the values required to care with gratitude to the Lord for calling me for people. Everything fascinated me: the welcome to be and live from and for Hospitality, I received and which I saw others receive, the pro- and I experience this Hospitality as a fessionalism they displayed in their work (a perfect source and spring of compassion rising combination of technical quality and humanity) and up from the depths of His Heart: “a boun- the living example of the Sisters, who were the role dless heart”. model of this great hospitality, and who conveyed the values that Benedict Menni lived for and de- monstrated with his actions.

Ana María Domene Paula María Álvarez Manzanares Sister Hospitaller A collaborator with Sisters Hospitallers

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“Today society demands something new from us; it is time to renew and update hospitality”

lack Father Menni’s bravery to “Se hoje voltasse carve a path for hospitality in the twenty-first century? He knew a nascer, voltaria how to read God’s steps in his life, to find a solution to the a ser Irmão de needs of the moment, yet how São João de difficult it is for us to have more flexible structures that enable us Deus” to reach every last member of society. Undoubtedly problems and drawbacks will arise, but we brothers and sisters, sharing my Eduardo Ribes are called to walk impetuously, faith and my life. I always say with our gaze set on God and on that I’m in love with community humanity, with secure fearless life, and that doesn’t mean that Rather than my personal testi- steps, God will always be by our there are no difficulties, mo- mony I would like to share side. As Jesus says in the Gospel ments of weakness, of crisis, some aspects that concern me “I will be with you every day, until but that desire to build, to grow as a Brother and how to relate the end of the world”. in fraternity always rises back to the spirit of Father Menni, up to the surface. which I hope will be significant Another of Father Menni’s vir- from the point of view of hos- tues that impresses me was his • A life of faith, both commu- pitality. ability to cross frontiers and take nity and personal. This is where the charism of hospitality to dif- I believe our future is at stake. I Firstly, I was wondering about ferent continents. Today many of am more and more convinced the number of events both our brothers still lack the basic that people can tell from a dis- congregations have celebrated needs to survive and I believe we tance if we are men and for this reason and I asked have the moral and institutional women of God, if the compas- myself: “Is this going to be just responsibility to spread aware- sion we try to live our lives by another centenary?” If this mo- ness of the current of hospitality as a charism is what marks us ment does not involve a beyond our bounds. We are al- out as people, or as mere change that leads us to reig- ways able to do a little more empty words. nite our passion and further than we do; we just have two explore our lives as Hospita- snap out of this lethargy and • Our mission: the charism of llers, they will all end up being stagnation to dedicate part of hospitality, as an expression of superficial events. our time to collaborating and this faith that I wish to share thinking about hospitality uni- with everyone around me. In Father Menni’s bravery versally. the same way that Father Today society demands some- Menni lived, who always thing new from us; it is time to Three basic pillars thought of Jesus as compassion renew and update hospitality. I believe three basic pillars un- in his experience of faith. We have to take steps to get derpin my life: closer to the reality of our suf- We cannot rest until we are fering world. Surely we do not • Community life, meeting my hospitable to the core.

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“Whatever you did for one of the least of ciety. these brothers and sisters of mine, you did to me”. (Matthew 25:40) I will finish by using the words that I once heard an older brother say: “If I were born for a se- If we view these moments as an opportunity cond time, I would be a brother of St John of to grow and explore, and if we are open to God again” giving this centenary continuity and to taking full advantage of the joy of compassion, we can continue to lavish hospitality, since today Eduardo Ribes we have a lot to give to the Church and to so- Brother of St John of God

“I am a father of two girls. After them, this has been the most intense and important experience I have had”

I work for the NGO Juan Ciu- Juan Ciudad ONGD sent to dad, one of the tools that OH the country on 25 August. has in Spain to work on deve- There were three people in lopment cooperation issues. the team, one Brother of St We work with the centres that John of God, Justino Iz- OH has in other countries, es- quierdo, one Missionary Sister pecially in Africa and of the Immaculate Concep- America. tion, María Ángeles Llopart and myself as a layperson. I In 2014, the Ebola epidemic had been to this hospital se- was affecting West African veral times since 2007, so I Roberto Lorenzo countries, especially Guinea, knew the city and the people Liberia and Sierra Leone. The there. OH has hospitals in Sierra The hospital’s maternity ward Leone and Liberia. In Liberia, Our first objective was to re- reopened on 24 November. during the first days of Au- present the institution in the gust, Ebola caused the death hospital and in the difficult si- I am a father of two girls. After of three Brothers of St John of tuation that the city found it- them, this has been the most God (the entire community) self in. This objective then intense and important expe- and one sister of the Missio- expanded to form the basis rience I have had. I approa- nary Sisters of the Immacu- for the reopening of the hos- ched this as a personal late Conception, who are pital, which included cleaning opportunity and I am very working together. The Libe- and disinfection, training of grateful to have had the op- rian government ordered the personnel and working toge- portunity of experiencing so- closure of Saint Joseph’s Ca- ther with other organisations. mething like this. tholic Hospital on 1 August. I stayed there for three Roberto Lorenzo I was part of the team that months until 17 November. A collaborator of HSJD

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Thursday evening, 23 April One of the most anticipated moments of the day began at six o’clock in the evening when the attendees, gathered in the function room of the complex of the Sisters Hospitallers to enjoy a play based on the fi- gure of St Benedict Menni.

But first two celebrated pilgrims, a married couple who had come from , relations of St Benedict Menni (Guiseppe Vada and Rosanna Ce- olin), went up on stage to greet the attendees. They expressed how happy and emotional they were to experience that moment as it hel- ped them to understand the work and legacy of this great saint.

The first piece was performed by the Purísima Concepción Foundation of . It was entitled “Dreams and Pathways… 100% Hospitality”. Combining several arts, a group of students and users, together with teachers and volunteers, ventured to experience, express and share the great work of St Benedict Menni with an instrumental band called “Music from Within” and two puppet shows “Benedict and Company”.

Next, patients and collaborators of the two Ciempozuelos Hospitaller complexes gave the second performance of the evening, which repre- sented some passages of the life of St Benedict Menni.

Both performances were full of joy, creativity and companionship; they were thoroughly enjoyed by the attendees who found them a truly me- morable experience.

Monolith reminder of the centenary When the performances were over the pilgrims made their way to the gardens of the Chapel of the Virgen del Consuelo. The Superior Gene- ral and the Mayoress of this Hospitaller town uncovered a monolith as a permanent reminder of this centenary. The president of the Brother- hood of Consolation gave Sister Anabela records proving that the Fa- ther belonged to this Brotherhood.

“St Benedict was part of the Association of Devotees of Our Lady of Con- solation, the patron of Ciempozuelos, from 1890. Ten years later, in 1900, he became the commissioner and member of the governing body of this association, as stated in the records in the files of this Brotherhood (re- cords dated 22 October 1890, and the year 1900)” the Mayoress explai- ned in her speech.

Prayer Vigil When night fell, a prayer vigil took place during which some people presented their Hospitality testimonies. Gradually, in the Lord’s pre- sence, the attendees lit their candles; thus, everyone made a small con- tribution so that the warm light of hospitality could illuminate both the church in the complex and all the people gathered there.

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Friday, 24 April “Since we have been able to To conclude the closing events of the centenary, a solemn Eucharist was held in the church of the Sis- explore the figure of a ters Hospitallers, presided over by the Bishop of Ge- tafe, Joaquín María López de Andújar. man, who, “moved by a l ove that knows no bounds, There we asked the Lord, through our founders, for our institutions to continue marking the presence that knows not how of the face of God’s compassion through the exer- cise of hospitality. For Him to make us daring and to say enough”, made creative so we can attend to the most vulnerable hospitality a palpable reality and needy in our neighbourhoods. at the service of the sick During the ceremony, a choir, formed by sisters and collaborators, performed a selection of Hospitaller and needy, the “living images” songs composed by Sister Francisca Hernández on of Jesus” the occasion of the centenary; they were accompa- nied on the organ by Brother Ramón Castejón. since we have been able to explore the figure of a One of the highlights of the Eucharist was when man, who, “moved by a love that knows no bounds, mention was made of the brothers and sisters ce- that knows not how to say enough”, made hospitality lebrating 25, 50 and 75 years in the religious pro- a palpable reality at the service of the sick and needy, fession. Those present then renewed their vows. the “living images of Jesus”.

A Boundless Heart Let us walk with St Benedict Menni and allow his Under the theme “ST BENEDICT MENNI: A BOUN- spirit to encourage us to be prophets of hospitality DLESS HEART”, this has been a very special mea- worldwide! ningful year for the entire Hospitaller Community,

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HOSPITALLER SONGS A BOUNDLESS HEART (F. Hernández) A boundless heart travelling through life. A heart that is always ready HOSPITALITY (F. Hernández) to do the bidding of the voice of God. Hospitality, Hospitality 1. Son of the Church, faithful priest, Today as yesterday and always Herald of Christ, always at His feet. 1. Since Abraham 2. Nothing daunts you, you always trust welcomed three strangers, in He who guides your great mission. God has visited us in human form. 3. Christ hurries you along the path, for Faith is concealed in the helpless. 2. If a Samaritanis going to pass by your side,do not take a diffe- 4. You gave your life as did our Lord rent path; God is in him. drinking from His chalice until the end. 3. When God comes to us 5. From your rest in Glorious Christ in a thousand forms, bless the Charism of Hospitality. let us be open to Him with love. 6. Together with those that suffer, with all the Church. We give glory to the Father for your charity.

A OUR MOTHER (F. Hernández)

Our Mother of the Sacred Heart, who pleads for those that turn to you, do not abandon us,bestow us with your favour.

1. Christ has appointed you the keeper of His Heart. OUR MOTHER.Open the never- ending springof His Redemption.

2. The work of the Spirit and your Son,the Congregation, YOU, THE MOTHER, open the gates and bless our land with Hospitality.

9 Prayer to ST. BENEDICT MENNI

Oh God of infinite mercy, it is with great happiness that we thank you for the gift of hospitality, on the centenary of the death of St. Benedict Menni.

In your compassionate love he discovered the power of charity. His faith in Jesus Christ led him to dedicate his life to the poor and the sick, and the power of the Holy Spirit made him pilgrim and prophet of hospitality.

On the occasion of his intercession, we ask for the poor and the sick to find relief from their suffering, comfort from their pain and the recovery of their health.

Please help those who carry out the Hospitaller mission to offer their humble and committed service, showing the compassion of Christ and the merciful Truth.

We ask you, Father, who together with the Son and the Holy Spirit, are love itself. Amen.

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