Celebration of the Jubilees of Sisters Lydie and Michèle

« REJOICE, SHOUT FOR JOY! ACCLAIM THE THRICE HOLY GOD »

On this 27th of August, we are happy to celebrate together the jubilees of our two sisters :

Sister Michèle's golden jubilee takes us back to the time of the Mysterium Christi Federation, on June 29, 1975, when she celebrated her first commitment in Saint Quentin.

Sister Lydie's Silver Jubilee broadens our horizons, from Ambatolampy in Madagascar where she made her first vows, on August 14, 2002, to Chile where she accomplished a good part of her mission, which she continues today in Europe.

Our two Sisters have woven a covenant with Christ, with the Congregation and with the Church. Before us, they will renew the offering of their lives.Together with all the sisters of the European Delegation and all those celebrating their jubilee this year, we join in their thanksgiving. (Introductory remarks by Sister Guénolée, Déléguée)

JUBILATE! SHOUT FOR JOY!

I, Sister Michèle Marchant, give thanks to God in a very special way this year, for my 50 years of consecration to God. He nourished me, supported me, and made me live his paschal mystery with him every day.

I also give thanks for all the fraternal sisters with whom I have shared prayer, community life and apostolic commitments.

I give thanks again for the 400th anniversary of the Sisters of the Cross who became Sisters of Christ.  Through their teaching and their promotion of women among the people of Saint-Quentin, through their passage through the trials of the French Revolution, industrialization, the laws of separation of Church and State, their care of the wounded during wars, the Sisters of the Cross leave us a magnificent example of spiritual freedom and apostolic audacity.

We celebrated this anniversary with the young people and adults of St John of La Croix and the Sisters of Christ who came for this occasion.

Our congregation became the Sisters of Christ almost 50 years ago. For this renewal and our mission to be Witnesses of Jesus Christ, Artisan of Unity, I give thanks once again.

God has given so much. With His Son and His Spirit, He gave everything of Himself.

Sister Michèle Marchant 

 

GRATEFULNESS, JOY and LIFE that fill my heart as I celebrate 25 YEARS OF RELIGIOUS LIFE. I have lived my vocation to the consecrated life with my personal quotes: "Be always joyful. Pray without ceasing, express your gratitude in every circumstance, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus" (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).

Lord, here I am before you! With joy we celebrate the 25th anniversary of religious life. With all my heart, I thank you for the gift of life and for your call that you have given me. With you, day after day, I recognize that this is a vocation that requires availability, a generous and faithful response. In reality, you are the one who is faithful thanks to your unconditional love. Thank you, Lord, for your faithfulness in me, for the gifts you have given me, for the joy of living because everything is grace.

Lord! how could I not praise you? You are love, light, life, the source of my joy, yes, everything comes from you. I thank you for all the people I have met during these years, and I am grateful for each and every one of you: from Madagascar, Chile, Bolivia, France, Rome ... Thank you, Lord, for all the people I have accompanied, of different nationalities, ages, cultures, histories, lives, at the same time, they have the same dignity before you. Thank you, Lord, for all the sisters of the communities, for all that we have lived together, for my training classes from the postulancy to the novitiate, we are always united and difference is our wealth. I am amazed by your presence in each and every one of you.

Today, I am in the community of Epernon. I thank you for each of my sisters, for the volunteers, for our mission at the Priory and for the companions of the Christian Life Community (CLC) whom I accompany. Lord, thanks to your infinite love and unconditional mercy, my life is happy. I offer you everything, bless all of it. Thank you, Lord! Sister Rasoarimalala Marcelline Lydie