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Newsletter from Grandchamp 2007"Do not fear..." |
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Daring to trust To the people of God going through the trials of exile and for whom the future seems hopeless, the prophet comes to recall the presence of the One who remains faithful to the Covenant: « Do not fear! You are mine. When you pass through the waters I will be with you » (Isaiah 43). God does not abandon his people in torment, he journeys with them and wants to turn their attention towards the future that He is preparing, towards what is springing forth. « Do not fear. » Thus still today, God comes near to each human being, and the Bible says it as many times as there are days in a year, as Brother Francis reminded us recently in a homily. God seeks to draw near to us at the heart of what wants to turn us in on ourselves and to shut us in the dark. The dark can be that of preoccupations, discouragement, anxiety for the future, trials in every guise, whether on our personal journey, or those of our communities, of the Church or of today’s world. God wants to awaken our trust and to direct us towards what speaks, sometimes almost imperceptibly, of Life to us.
A way ‘of revealing the newness that religious life can bring when people are listening to the Spirit…and are daring the unpredictable.1 A poverty accepted, welcomed, can become the place where new ways are prepared, where a true solidarity comes to life being a reflection of the communion that is in God. Solitude and Solidarity, this was theme of our Council and it continues toaccompany us. What solitude, …and what solidarity? Every human being needs a space for solitude to find themselves again away from the multiple demands of the daily routine. It may be by finding refreshment in the beauty of nature, becoming more oneself, for prayer, for being creative. Every human being also experiences at some time the weight of solitude, that is evident on the faces of people in the streets of our towns, old people feeling isolated, or young people in search of meaning. Solitude can sometimes be tragic when linked to a testing time, a bereavement, a break-up, an illness, being single without wanting to be. Sooner or later, life events confront us with our existential solitude – that which reveals to us our own death – an with our radical poverty which if we accept it, opens us to the tenderness of God. Solitude and Solidarity: The Christian life does not lift us above the human condition. On the contrary, it plunges us into it, and makes us share the joys and sorrows common to all. Solidarity also expresses itself at different levels, in large and small gestures. It is shown in a listening ear; in being present at the side of one who is going through a testing time; in being with the destitute; sharing our material goods; or in prayer which allows us to entrust to God’s goodness the suffering of so many people. It is also in the commitment of those who struggle for a fairer and more human world and for respect of the creation.
Solitude and Solidarity: Dorothy of Gaza gives us an illustration of it. This desert father describes a circle depicting the world with God at the centre, the spokes represent the different ways or forms of living that human beings have. « The closer they get to God the closer they get to each other, and the more they get closer to each other, the closer they get to God. » He adds that it is the same principle with going farther apart. So at the heart of our lives, there is always that call to contemplate Jesus, the Christ. He used to go off alone to the mountain to pray, and come back to his disciples and to the crowds with the compassionate look of his Father, and with a heart overflowing with his love. All his life was this long respiratory rhythm, a continual movement between presence to God and presence to other people, the one calling him to the other. In following him, we can seek solitude or welcome the solitude that is imposed on us by events, and choose to live it with Him. As it did for Jesus, solitude will always have two sides to it, at times it will be a privileged place where, in the light of a Presence, the covenant is renewed. At times it will be a place of testing where we no longer understand how God is leading us, or what he expects of us, the place where our perseverance and faithfulness are deepened. Let ourselves be drawn into the secret of his solitude and the depth of his solidarity: He who remained ONE with the Father and ONE with us right to the end. It is in Him, the Christ who died and was resurrected, that our human solidarities are rooted. Jesus the Christ has opened the way for us. He goes before us in the light of Easter and in every human being enables us to welcome a sister, a brother. So we can go forward with him, trusting that his presence will never leave us. Sister Pierrette 1 Vivre des solidarités nouvelles: pratique de l’inter-congrégations. Commission Episcopale de la vie consacrée I am not afraid anymore from our friend Julia in Guatemala I didn’t only experience ‘normal’ fear in the face of repression and terrorism, in a country controlled by a military dictatorship; I was completely subject to a terror that penetrated my whole being - my mind, my emotions and right to the marrow of my bones. I was saturated by stories and testimonies of kidnappings, disappearances, deaths and torture, which were engraved deep in my consciousness. My leaving, and then my journey from fear to trust, from an obsession with judging to the freedom of being able to forgive, would not have been possible if the Holy Spirit had not opened up in me an insatiable thirst for peace and for forgiveness. The Spirit opened my eyes, and I was able to see that there was my deepest need. That was the first step. All I could do was to pray: ‘Father, teach me to forgive as you forgave, to love as you love; by your grace, Father, help me!’ Reading psychology books, practicing meditation, plus a course in ‘transpersonal’ psychology, all helped too. This constant search has become a lengthy journey in learning, which will not be over until He finally calls me into His presence. It isn’t a question of forgetting or of denying evil, but of making my own that compassion through which God, the Father of mercy, forgives and calls to conversion. That alone can heal, bring peace and remove fear, at every moment. Violent people act in and through ignorance. To insult someone, or to kill or harm the body, does not destroy true life. I am more than my physical body. I know that the One who dwells in me also dwells deep down in the most perverse human being, even though that person might be unaware. We are ‘one’ in Him who gives us life, in whom we move and have our being. There, there is no place for fear. Love Himself has made me like Him. I cannot be peaceful and free from fear unless I open myself up to that love with Christ who overcame torture and death. His grace is enough. From fear to solidarity from our sisters Maatje and Veronika in Israël/Palestine We live here in a conflict-region and what we hear in the news is often scaring. This has also an impact on our daily life and our living together. It questions us: How can we be a sign of the love which dwells in the heart of God, love for all human beings? In this context of violence and injustice the confrontation with fear, with my own fear is constant. And yet, it is precisely on this piece of earth that the words: "Fear not" and "Do not be afraid..." have been said many times by God's messengers: angels, prophets, and by Jesus himself. You can't command your fear, but the exhortation is always accompanied by the assurance of a Presence: "The Lord is with you", "I am with you always, until the end of the world". To the extent in which I can open myself to this obliging divine Presence, who wishes a life in fullness for me and for all, I can take on my own fears and work them through, no lonhger project them on the others, on the sister with whom I share daily life - community life is an excellent field of exercise!! Only then will I be able to open myself for others, hear their suffering and also their fears, get a sense of solidarity. Precisely this is what some israeli and palestinien combatants have discovered. They used their weapons against each other, until the moment in which they realised that that took them nowhere. Then they put down their weapons and started talking with each other. They searched how to fight together the power of evil, their common ennemy. They meet with their families, they went public and their movement "Combatants for Peace" has a growing impact. That is "..a newthing that breaks from the bud.." ( Isaia 43/19 ). These are people who went the way from fear to solidarity. And there are many more of these "sprouting buds" in this country. They are rarely spoken of in the media, but they keep hope alive! From fear to trust in the interreligious dialogue from sister Françoise “Be like the fish in the spiritual ocean.” (Roumi, a grand Sufi master ) Current events drive us to fear the differences in culture and cult. And the Gospel tells us “Do not fear, only trust”. So we are invited to go against the current, not the current of events or of modernity, but of fear in all its forms. We are called to be rooted in trust. For some years now we have had the privilege of welcoming a small group of Sufis for their prayer. We are plunged into a very unusual world. Where we have no landmarks. “Dialogue lived thus requires us to come out of ourselves, in an ‘exodus towards the other’ believing that the other is also preoccupied with a similar quest for God”, said brother Christian de Chergé. This coming out of ourselves towards the other opens us to what is unexpected and surprising. On the way to openness, it is good to allow ourselves to be amazed by the greatness and the diversity of the Most High. For this dialogue, it is important to be rooted in one’s convictions. A tree with good roots can spread out its branches to welcome a multitude of birds. So the air can ring out with a new song that brings peace to the time and the moment. Some echoes of our life this year Our two annual community meetings are always powerful times wich renew our trust and thanksgiving. The Probation, that started on February 2nd, Christ’s Presentation in the Temple, allowed us to touch on ethical, medical questions, in particular, and a reflection on old age with Dr Th. Collaud, a doctor and a theologian. A day of Bible drama with the Rev Jean-Claude Schwab helped us to approach a Gospel text in a very lively way! The Council meeting, punctuated with several celebrations ended up in the light of the Transfiguration on the 6th August. Julia was able to be with us this year, and her presence was a special joy to us. Brother François took us deeper into the theme of the Council ‘Solitude and Solidarity’, expressing it in terms of ‘step back and step out’ in the fine retreat he gave us. We worked for half a day with Cosette Odier, chaplain at a great hospital, on ‘letting go’. In the spring, sister Pierrette was able to take a month of silent retreat in the orthodox monastery of St Silouane, supported by the beauty of the offices in Lent. In September she took part in the third European Ecumenical Gathering in Sibiu, Romania, which had as theme: ‘The Light of Christ shines in all people.’ She made a small contribution in a forum on ‘spirituality’ on ‘the heart as the place for listening to and welcoming the Word of God’. Commitment within our spiritual family: 3 people made a commitment in the Servants of Unity, and 8 in the Third Order of Unity (TOU) which has extended the cords of its tent with the promises of the first members from Benin. Timothy Mikpedo and Basile Fanonougbo made their commitment in Grandchamp in the Colloquium in April. It was a very moving event made more so by the presence of Simon Kossi Dossou, Moderator of the Protestant Methodist Church in Benin (EPMB). A month later, s. Pierrette, s. Catherine, Klara Kuenzler, who is in charge of the TOU, Evelyne Roulet and the Rev. Jean-Louis Eplattenier flew to Benin. On the 11th May, during their retreat held in the magnificent setting of the Monastery of the Benedictine sisters in Toffo, Emile Fagla, Samuel Djakpa, Richard Mikpedo, David Doussoumi and Emmanuel Olobieye in their turn made their commitment. This they did in the presence of some members of their families, of the president of the EPMB and of two of their colleagues, of two benedictine sisters and their chaplain, Father Serge. It was a really simple celebration but oh how vibrant, joyful and full of light! Catherine Zuber-de Dardel made her commitment in Grandchamp at the retreat in October. The big liturgical feasts have been marked by intense and well-attended retreats! Rev Michel Cornuz gave the Easter retreat, Lytta Basset the one at Pentecost and Brother Pierre-Yves of Taizé the one at All Saints day. We welcomed an international group from l’Arche, community of Jean Vanier, for a retreat of several days, Adventist theological students, ministers’ wives from Wurttemberg… and many other groups and guests. It was a joy to see Simone Pacot again who came to take a meeting for nuns with Pierre-Yves Brandt. Some missions and meetings : - s. Pascale took part in the meeting of the community department in Grimmialp, at the commmunity of the sisters of Steppenblute; she also spoke at Tamié at the meeting of the ACAT in the north Alps region. - s. Vreni faithfully joined the EPHREM group meeting at the Community of the Sisters of Versailles for their annual retreat and meeting. – s. Birgit was present one day at the grand gathering ‘Together for Europe’ in Stuttgart. - s. Sabine discovered the Corrymeela Community (Northern Ireland) where the international conference for Church and Peace took place. - s. Janny was able to go to Brescia for the european retreat and meeting of the Fraternity of the Suffering Servant. - s. Minke gave a lecture ‘Nature and meditation’ in Belgium; she was at Bose for the International Ecumenical Congress: ‘The Transfigured Christ in the Orthodox Spiritual Tradition”; - Jean-Louis L’Eplattenier in the spring and s. Siong in November returned to visit the sisters of Mamre in Madagascar. - s. Christel and s. Dorothea accompanied a new retreat for ministers in Ratzeburg, near Lubeck. Visits and encounters - It is always moving to see again and again so many faces, and to feel these bonds of longstanding friendship, of communion – we think especially of Laurien from Rwanda, of the Father de Jaer, of Barbel Wartenberg-Potter, the Lutheran Bishop of Nordelbien and of Dr Jorn Halbe after their stay in South Africa…the unexpected but much appreciated meeting with the Chinese Master Wang Zhizhong, former teacher of martial arts in Peking. We expect with great joy Emile Shoufani’s visit on the 3rd December! “Vers une gratuité féconde” - After participating in a roundtable at Milan in 2004 s. Minke was asked by s. Gianfranca of the Pauline Editions to write her testimony and to share the fruit of her long ecumenical experience as she saw it in her ministry as Prioress. S.Minke got immersed in this project with great enthusiasm and after two years of much work, a book came out. This was possible thanks to the invaluable help of Marie-Laure, one of the community’s friend, and to several short stays at Eygalières, at the Maigrauge and at Bose communities where they were welcome and given the right space for their work. The book with a preface by s. Lorraine Casa CND of Montreal and Brother Enzo Bianchi, will be published in Italian for the week of prayer for Christian Unity. Sonnenhof - The group of sisters continues to be on the move since several changes lead to adjustments to the daily programme. S. Hiltje came back to Grandchamp after Easter; this autumn a little exchange for a few months: s. Dorothea at Grandchamp and s. Elisabeth at Sonnenhof. Thesisters are always amazed at the readiness and friendship of ministers who come for retreats and celebrations and at the faithfulness of so many guests. It was a joy for them to welcome many new faces and to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the existence of their group with the members of the DOE’97 (third Order of Unity). Alger – s. Renée and s. Anne-Geneviève went back to their daily lives after a slightly longer stop at Grandchamp than usual. Both the country and the Church are going through difficult times. They have great support from groups for sharing like the Ribat and the women’s group that have met at S. Renée’s for twenty years. Another support comes from the fidelity of friends both christians and muslims: as believers, the grace of being able to share in confidence, depth and friendship, and to carry each other and practise together looking hopefully at the country, being strengthened in the trust of faith. Ste Elisabeth (Israël) - s. Maatje and s. Veronika went back in September leaving s. Claire-Irène in Grandchamp. Their neighbourhood is different now after Illana’s departure as she was such a long-standing friend, and Dina’s arrival whose presence is so valuable as she also has been during her long stays in Grandchamp. Woudsend - s. Christiane and Maria have slightly modified the way they welcome groups: ‘There are somenew, younger faces especially in the Flearstift group. Thanks to the new system of having smaller groups, the place of conversation has become bigger. It is wonderful to see people of different generations dialoguing and we receive so much from this way of listening to, and learning from each other”. Daring to trust day after day – We discover with wonder, in both joys and pain the manna offered to us day by day: which is all that we are given to live, to receive and to share across sometimes great fragilities and our own limited means. We give thanks for all the support, all the material and practical help that we receive. We think in particular of the volunteers who come successively all the year through, of Bernard and of Henriette ... – we give thanks for your friendship and your prayer. We can go forward, surrounded and carried by a cloud of witnesses, the reality of the communion of saints: sisters and brothers who were dear to us have gone to be in the light of God. There was s. Elisabeth a former prioress of Pomeyrol who as a German opened up their vocation to the dimension of reconciliation. S. Fides of the community of Immshausen who had lived for a time with our sister Jacoba in Israel. Wies van Dijk of the TOU from the Netherlands. Father Aubry, our neighbour and the Rev. Ecklin, two brothers who were both filled with the same passion for unity and with whom we have long travelled. They left a deep mark on the ecumenical life of our region, and far beyond. Brother Eric of Taizé, one of the brothers at the beginning of the community and an artist, he made, amongst others, the stained glass windows in the church of the Reconciliation . We were moved by the passing of Andre Chouraqui, that great craftsman in Judeo-christian dialogue; he had been to Grandchamp in the 60’s. We are on the eve of the European Meeting for young people organised by the Taizé brothers in Geneva, in a new stage of the pilgrimage of trust on the earth: it is a great challenge in the ecclesiastical and ecumenical context of Geneva, in our world assaulted by violence and fear. It is also an important stage for Taizé sixty years after the beginnings with Brother Roger and a few brothers, precisely in Geneva. The preparation of this great event has given rise to great enthusiasm, to meetings between different parishes, both protestant and catholic, and has mobilised many people including people on the edge of the church. There is no doubt that theSpirit that has already breathed onto this adventure will continue to light up centres of hope and peace. Trusting in the One who comes travelling with us, the Emmanuel, we wish you a space of peace and silence to welcome this mystery. Happy Christmas ! Your sisters of Grandchamp
On the Website www.grandchamp.org you will find our programme for 2008, as well as our reading lists.
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Communauté de Grandchamp 2015 Areuse Suisse
www.grandchamp.org CCP 20-2358-6 |
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