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"Blessed the one
whose hope takes root
deep, deep in Me.
A waterfall, soft
as ghost's footfall
rewards the root
planted firm – ever green.
Hope on, hope on
in due time, yes
plenteous, My harvest."
Jeremiah 17: 7-8

Translation: Daniel Berrigan

CANADA/USA PROVINCIAL CHAPTER

In preparation for the General Chapter, the Provincial Chapter was held near Toronto, October 30 – November 2, 2009. Our hopes and key congregational issues, prepared in advance were shared, discussed and developed.

Our hopes were:

• to be open to the spirit where we have to let go, change, die and to resurrect in our ways and structures.
• to be bold and courageous to make choices to respond to the pressing needs of our world that call out to our charism
• to be open to let go of present realities to free us to act on our choices

Among the key issues discussed:

• Jerusalem – giving more priority to the center of our charism
• Community – looking at new ways
• Reconfiguration – restructuring in view of numbers, aging, cultures for the sake of presence and energy of our charism in the world
• Charism and the World – interpreting the signs of the times through the gift of our charism
• Vocation and Formation – expanding inter-provincial and International collaboration and development
• Communication – increasing the use of technological resources, a tool that enables us in our relation to each other and to the world

Sisters who will be attending the General Chapter are: Jackie Chenard, ex-officio member; Mary Babic, Kay MacDonald, Marge Zdunich and Elizabeth Losinski, elected delegates.

We invite you to pray with us in preparation for and during the General Chapter:

EXCERPTS FROM THE HOMILY AT THE PROVINCIAL CHAPTER MASS
Given by Father Murray Watson priest of the Diocese of London, Ontario

The key theme, I see everywhere in the preparation materials of the Chapter is the Latin line engraved on your ring : In Sion firmata sum, “In Sion I am firmly established. That phrase taken from chapter 24 of Sirach has been at the heart of your community almost from its foundations. You are firmly established –rooted-anchored in Zion-, that is, Jerusalem. And it is not merely that your two principal houses asr in Jerusalem and Ein Kerem. There is something greater, deeper, more profound!

To say that you are “firmly established in Zion” is more just than the deed to a piece of property in that holiest and most fractious of cities. It is not about legal incorporation or physical land-ownership. To be rooted in Zion is, I believe, to be, on the level of your hearts and souls, deeply and forever connected to that city and, even more importantly, to its peoples. It means that you have a link to Jerusalem in a way no other religious community does—not as an accident of history, but as a part of the very core of your
charism. To the best of my knowledge, no other religious community in Catholicism has the city of Jerusalem built into its very identity. That alone makes you unique.

But it also implies a responsibility. If you are grounded, rooted, anchored in Zion—in Jerusalem—then you are also those who, in your everyday lives, wherever you may be, and whatever else you may do, must have a particular attentiveness to Jerusalem, to what is happening there between Israelis and Palestinians, between Christians, Muslims and Jews. You are called, to use evangelical terminology, to “carry Jerusalem as a burden laid on your heart,” to consider the religious, political and social complexities of that city as part of your own life, even if you are living half a world away, in ministries that may have little directly to do with Jerusalem. But to be a true Sister of Sion, to be truly “firmata in Sion,” is to allow Jerusalem, its joys and sadnesses, to intrude on your life—to follow its news with interest, to carry its people in your prayer and devotions. If you are firmata in Sion, then the words of Psalm 137 apply to you in a particular way: “If I forget you, O Jerusalem, let my right hand wither! Let my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth, if I do not remember you, if I do not set Jerusalem above my highest joy”. For a Sister of Sion, Jerusalem—Zion—must always be a mental, spiritual and emotional priority … to stay in touch with your Sisters there, to support the work of your Holy Land communities, to make Jerusalem, in very basic, concrete ways, a reality in your lives in a way that it is not in the life of any other community.

And into that commitment to the real, historical Zion come the words of the Beatitudes tonight. Many of them hold significance for you, but I would like to focus in on just one of them: “Blessed are the peacemakers”. It is perhaps bitterly ironic that we are listening to those words on the same weekend that Israelis are marking the 14th anniversary of the assassination of Yitzhak Rabin, arguably one of the greatest peacemakers in recent Middle Eastern history. And yet, as history and faith remind us, no single human being—not only the greatest diplomat—can truly make peace. Peace, first and foremost, is a gift of God … a gift, sadly, that Jerusalem has so often been deprived of in its long history. Despite our greatest efforts, no one of us can really make peace.

But maybe “peacemaker” isn't the only, or the best, translation. The Latin says “Beati pacifici”—Blessed are the peaceful ones, the ones who radiate peace, who live peace. And a couple of French translations have a rendering that I'm particularly fond of: Bienheureux les artisans de la paix—Blessed are the artisans of peace … the ones who, with creativity and an eye for beauty, are able to shape peace, are able to mould peace, are able to take the actions that enable peace to flourish. The French reminds us that the building-up of peace is more of an art than a science. It does not yield to equations or formulas. It does, however, yield to the gentle, seasoned hand of a craftsperson, of someone who slowly, deliberately and gently works to craft peace. Perhaps we cannot make peace, but we can certainly be artisans of peace and we must be.

And I believe that those two passages—In Sion firmata sum, and “Bienheureux les artisans de la paix”—unite in your community today in a particularly necessary and focussed way. As you look to your General Chapter, I think it is more important than ever that you be firmly rooted in Jerusalem, and in all that it represents, and that you commit, as individuals, as local communities, as a community generally, to explore the ways in which you can be artisans de la paix, people whose gentle contributions can pave the way for peace in all its dimensions, but especially peace in the Holy Land. How can you help to water the seeds of peace that others are sowing, and that are growing—slowly, sometimes tentatively and uncertainly—in Jerusalem and elsewhere in Israel and Palestine? How can you leverage your personal gifts and influence, and the collective experience and gifts of the Soeurs de Notre-Dame-de-Sion, to be agents of peace, for whom Jerusalem must always be a focal point and a central emphasis? What would enable you to be more fully engaged in the struggle for peace, at this critical time? How can Zion—and its twisting, turning streets rich with the smells of coffee, spices, incense and roast meats—be more consciously a part of your daily life? And how can your daily life be more a part of Zion?

For “In Sion firmata sum” is about more than just where you were historically established, where you were “made firm”. Because the Latin firmus also means “strong, steadfast, enduring, powerful”. Zion is for you all a source of strength, vitality and power, just as the ancient Israelites believed it to be. It is a city like no other, and you are blessed to have a privileged connectedness to it that makes you unique and special, an opportunity to be “artisans of peace” in a city, and a land, that so badly needs such artisans. In all the Star Wars movies, the great blessing was always “The Force be with you”. My wish for you, instead, is that “Zion may be with you,” and that that relationship bear fruit, not merely for those who live in that blessed and tortured land, but for all humanity.

CONNECSION

A Graced Time for Sion Younger Members Last Summer in Jerusalem

Leah ( Ofelia) de la Torre shared her thoughts:
“The meeting that we had in Jerusalem has brought me to a wider awareness of our realities as we journey in this life in our tasks/ministries and in places we are in. It was wonderful and great! This meeting has brought different experiences, realities and emotions. Our life as a group has huge obligation and aspiring for change of the world. Compassion to the other especially to the poor and needy, who experienced the absence of justice and the absence of peace.

The language that each one posseses was never an obstacle to echo the meaning that is full of color. Each experience of the sisters and people that were shared has become strength, inspiration and challenge to me who is a new member of the congregation. It deepen my knowledge of the congregation's charism that linked with each Sion in the world. The topics that were discussed about community life truly valued each member.”

Therese Fitzgerald from Ireland commented:
“We spent time discussing our charism and how it might find expression in response to the needs of the 21st century. We thought it would be important to work on building even stronger links between the Sisters, Contemplatives and Religious of Sion over the coming years. We felt this would be enriching not only for each of us personally but it would also benefit our ministries and the impact we have as Sion. In terms of communicating with each other, the importance of learning another language also arose although this remains a struggle for some of us.”

AMAZING OPPORTUNITIES IN TORONTO
FOR STUDY & REFLECTION

Sion House of Welcome and Blessing, 18 Oakmount Rd. Toronto

One Evening Only:
Sabbath Rest – January 29 – Marge Zdunich

Sabbath - “Be Still Know the Joy of Rest” - April 19 – Lucy Thorson

Evening Series:
On the Way to Easter
February18, 25; March 4 ,11, 18 – Elizabeth Losinski

“T'Shuva” Forgiveness
February 24, March 3 – Marge Zdunich

Catholics Going Green
April 14, 21, 28; May 5, 12,19. Elizabeth Losinski

Jewish Roots of Christian Feasts
April 29; May 6 – Marge Zdunich

Retreat Days:
Prayerful Knitting: The Prayer Shawl Experience February 6, 13 – Elizabeth Losinski

Woolly Prayer – Spinning As Creative Meditation
March 6 - Elizabeth Losinski

Lenten Retreat
March 20 – Joyce Sinnett

Pentecost Retreat
April 15 – Joyce Sinnett - Reservations:
call early: 416 - 769 – 8805 Email: nds15oak@bell.net

ADULT INTERFAITH EDUCATION SERIES on JUDAISM will be launched April 14th to May 5th at Scarboro Foreign Missions. For further information contact Lucy Thorson at lthorson@scarbotomissions.ca

The Series is entitled Exploring JEWISH ETHICS and topics will be:

1. Jewish Ethics and FAMILY LIFE
   What Jewish Ethics has to say about family life & its influence on society.
   by Rabbi Baruch Frydman-Kohl , Senior Rabbi of Beth Tzedec Congregation, Toronto
2. Mussar: My Daily ETHICAL FITNESS program
   Judaism teaches that Ethical behavior HEALS THE WORLD.
   by Dr. Rachael Turkiencz , Founder and Executive Director of Rachael's Centre
3. MARCH OF REMEMBRANCE AND HOPE
   Opening the Door to MUTUAL Understanding.
   by Carla Wittes, Vice President, Programs - Canadian Centre for Diversity
4. Tikkun Olam - REPAIRING THE WORLD
   by Avrum Rosensweig
   Director of Ve'ahavta ( And you shall love your neighbor...,Canadian Humanitarian Relief Organization.

EUROPEAN SISTERS OF SION INVITED TO HEW (HOLOCAUST EDUCATION WEEK) TORONTO

Audrey Gerwing is co-chair of the Catholic Jewish Dialogue ofToronto committee for Holocaust Education Week and related activities. She was asked if we had any sisters of Sion who could talk about rescue of Jews during the war. She immediately talked to Anne Denise Rinckwald from our European Province, now living in Poland with Ania Bodzinska and Kasia Kowalska, to talk about Sion's rescue of Jews in France during the war. She also asked Ania to come and talk about the new relationship with the Jewish People in Poland since WW2 ended and the fall of communism in 1989.

They spoke at St Gabriel's RC church and were co-sponsored by Temple Har Zion. The evening was animated by the audience which numbered around 250 people in all. Anne Denise spoke first of the 4 sisters of Sion that were named as “Righteous Among the Gentiles” for their rescue of Jews in France during the war. It was a most moving story and would have been enough just for our own benefit and history!

Ania followed with an exposé of Jewish-Christian relations in Poland since the fall of communism in 1989. This was followed by a lively exchange between the audience and the speakers.

On the following Friday evening, Anne Denise and Ania joined our Toronto area for supper and a conversation with Sion and friends of Sion held at Oakmount Sion. That evening they shared their stories of coming to know Sion and how they are today impacted by our charism especially living in Poland at this time in history.

We were delighted and grateful to have had them here – a testimony to the collaboration that is being lived within our own congregation at this moment of our history.

CELIA DEUTSCH WRITES ABOUT HER VISIT TO SION IN HALLE, GERMANY

I spent Dec. 30-Jan. 3 in Halle, before going on to London for the meeting of the Congregation team for Jewish-Christian relations. There are four sisters in the community there, living in two locations. One (Rosemarie) works as a psychiatrist in a large mental health facility. The others (Anna, Mechthild, Clemens) are involved in ecumenical and interfaith activities as well as various forms of pastoral ministry (bereavement ministry, prayer groups, home-visiting). It was my first time in the former German Democratic Republic. There are still the signs of the former political and economic systems, in the bleakness of the buildings from that era. While the gap between east and west Germany is gradually diminishing, east Germany still has a very high rate of unemployment. Fortunately, the state provides for the basics (food, housing, medicine and education) for the unemployed. Nonetheless, Rosemarie told me that the social problems associated with unemployment are prevalent. Those include domestic abuse, depression, substance addictions.

The Christian community of Halle is predominantly Lutheran. In fact, Halle is in the middle of the territory associated with the lives of Martin Luther, Katarina Von Bora, and the early Reformers. The sisters took me to visit Wittenberg, where Luther's protest began the Reformation and where he spent so much of the remainder of his life. Rosemarie and I also went to Eisleben, where he was born and to Helfta, site of the monastery of Gertrude the Great and Mechthild of Magdeburg and Mechthild of Hageborn. It was all very moving.

It was a brief few days, marked primarily by the experience of renewing friendships with sisters of Sion I have known for many years. It was also marked by the experience of being in the midst of so much history that continues to mark us religiously, politically and socially.

SION HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS LEAD
IN NEW INTERFAITH YOUTH CORE

Kay Walkup, Dean of Students, serves on the advisory committee. Youths of all faiths will work together on worthwhile common projects to help build community and get to know each other.

Eboo Patel, 34, a young Muslim and Founder of the Interfaith Youth Core was the keynote speaker at Kansas City Festival of Faiths in November. He also spoke to Kansas City youth at Sion High School. Patel has chosen Kansas City as one of the cities he wants to expand his youth core. Today the Youth Core is on 6 continents and want to train 25,000 interfaith leaders and set up shop on 500 college campuses in the next five years.

SION STUDENTS TO SHARE IN
MINISTRIES WITH SISTERS IN MARCH

During spring break, three students will join with Sisters Mary Ellen Coombe and Stephanie Schmidts in Chicago. They will be involved in a number of interreligious activities with Mary Ellen and participate in an inner city tutor mentor program with Stephanie. Two students will travel to Winnipeg, Canada to share in the ministries of Rossbrook House whose mission is” No child who does not want to be alone, should ever have to be”. Three Sisters of Sion there are Sisters Margaret Hughes, Bernadette O'Reilly and Maria Vigna.

CANADIAN NEWS FROM SR. GINA SCISSIONS

The Child Trafficking Bill C 268 was already passed by the House of Commons to amend the Criminal Code to reflect the severity of the crime involved in trafficking persons under the age of eighteen with stiff consequences. However, it is still sitting in the Senate because of the “prorogue” or shut down of Parliament. Hopefully, this will end soon and the bill will also be passed by the Senate

The police and RCMP have been in training all year to watch for victims being brought into the country to Vancouver during the Olympics which begins on February 12. This has been a huge problem during previous worldwide events and so particular emphasis on trafficking has been made.

Eradicating Human Trafficking: Statement in Illinois

Excerpt from the Statement of Catholic Bishops in Illinois and Leadership Conference of Women Religious Leaders (LCWR) of Illinois: Eradicating Human Trafficking:

“We, the Catholic bishops, women religious and the Catholic laity of Illinois, are committed to ending this modern form of slavery. We ask God to bless all our efforts to develop a comprehensive approach to human trafficking that eliminates the root causes, supports the survivors and actively seeks to assist them in healing from this horrendous crime.”

The statement also suggests some ways to become involved.
Publicize the National Human Trafficking hotline for victims assistance -888 373-7888
Become educated and aware of the issue
Support those already courageously assisting survivors
Join the Illinois Rescue and Restore annual Outreach Day www.rescueandrestore.com
Pray for human trafficking victims worldwide.

Long Time Tutor in Sister Stephanie Schmidts' program uncovers a Worldwide Traffiking Ring

Sheriff Tom Dart, known to Sister Stephanie for his years of involvement in her tutor mentor program uncovered a worldwide trafficking ring in Chicago.

The operators of the ring confiscated the passports of three Thai women , demanded $60,000 for their return and forced them into prostitution in several large cities. They were picked up by a limousine at New York airport. They knew only first names of a few operators. The women have received help and been returned to their country. The case is under federal investigation in New York, Chicago, San Francisco, and Texas.

EDUCATE WITH THE HOPE OF A SOWER, THE PATIENCE OF A PLOUGHMAN, AND THE LOVE OF THE CREATOR

Alice Munninghoff, Head of the Sion Schools, Kansas City, who attended the worldwide meeting of 17 Sion Schools held in July 2009 in Strasbourg, France. Alice cited a few key points of Sister Benedict's concluding remarks in her newsletter, Sion Today,(fall 2009 issue) for the Sion school community.

“Our responsibility as Sion educators is to transmit hope of reconciliation and peace. When the congregation was founded Father Theodore and Father Alphonse wanted their schools to be accessible to all Christians, Jews, Muslims, to all believers, rich or poor.

Listening is vital to handing down traditions. It compels us to look inward. We must help students to commune with themselves quietly, to search and listen to the Holy Spirit within themselves, to learn to have an inner spiritual life and to wed mediation with actions.

At Sion, we are called to awaken our students' minds to multiculturalism, to hospitality towards others, to fight exclusion in all its shapes and forms, including racism and anti-Semitism. Interculturalism and interreligious dialogue is critical to a Sion education. We must prepare our students whatever their cultural and religious background to create a more just world, to work together for the good of all … to cross borders…to build bridges…to fulfill our Sion vocation: to speed the biblical promises of peace and justice.”

To see the full text at www.ndsion.edu/siontoday.pdf

SASKATOON SEMINAR ON FATHER THEODORE,
FOUNDER OF SION SISTERS

Approximately thirty people braved the Saskatchewan blizzard on Saturday, January 23rd, to attend the seminar on Fr. Theodore Ratisbonne, Founder of the Sisters of Sion. Elizabeth Losinski, a Sister of Sion, from Toronto.gave the presentation at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Saskatoon.

Theodore Ratisbonne was born into a wealthy, secular Jewish family in Strasbourg, France, in 1802.

His parents were kind and compassionate and established several schools for the poor. Theodore eventually became the Director for those schools.

In the course of his early teens, his beloved mother died. He went through a period of desolation, trying to find the meaning of life. While at the university, he met a woman, Louise Humann who became his spiritual mentor and a mother figure for him. She was very well educated and profoundly spiritual. She taught Theodore his Jewish heritage through the Hebrew Scriptures .Eventually, he was baptized a Catholic and ordained a priest. He became a much sought after homilist and spiritual director.

At that time, there were many poor children and orphans. Human trafficking was a reality as it is today.Theodore established schools for these children. Women assisted him and eventually formed a religious community, the Sisters of Sion.

Theodore's dream was to have schools with Jews, Muslim, Christians together. He was particularly aware of the lack of educational opportunities for girls and of their vulnerability, He wanted the children to have a deep appreciation of their own faith and culture as well as a deep respect for the beliefs and practices of others He encouraged his sisters to value the dignity and rights of each child and stressed the importance of educating the whole person. Above all, Sion sisters were to "teach from the heart".

What struck those who attended the seminar was Theodore's deep inspiration He was far ahead of his times, a light in the Church especially the empowerment of women, his love and respect for people of all faiths, and his desire that Christians, Jews and Muslims study together and learn to appreciate their differences. Therefore the Sisters of Sion established schools wherever they went offering their education for children of all faiths in many countries.

The seminar concluded with a prayer which remembered the events of January 20th,1842, when Mary, appeared to Alphonse Ratisbonne, Theodore's younger brother. Theodore understood this event as a sign from God to continue the work which he had begun. Alphonse became a priest also and went on to join his brother in the work of Sion.

Copenhagen Climate Change Conference held in Denmark

UNANIMA is focusing on clean water and the right of clean water for all living beings on the planet. UNANIMA will spend the next three Board meetings on developing this project.

For more information
www.unanima-international.org

Our Lady of Refuge Parish, Brooklyn with a large Haitian Community

Sisters Celia Deutsch and Sylvia Obrigewitsch and parishioners of Our Lady of Refuge Parish have been helping many Haitian families. Many in the parish have lost relatives or are anxiously waiting for news about their loved ones, or are welcoming family members in distress from Haiti. They are collecting money and other basic items. Also they are finding people to assist with grief counseling and whatever is needed during this crisis situation.

Montreal Celebrating Sion's Feast and Yolande Rachel's Birthday

Montreal's four Sion sisters gathered to celebrate Sion's Feast prior to January 20th and also celebrate Yolande Rachel's 79th Birthday. There were wishes, songs, prayers and much laughter as stories were shared and a wonderful cake eaten. It was a sparkling fine day.

Sharing with Alice Godin and Terry Horvath in Edmonton

Over Christmas, Sr Stephanie Schmidts spent an afternoon and evening with Sisters Terry Horvath and Alice Godin. Stephanie took the opportunity to show the DVD Documentary: Interrupted Lives: Catholic Sisters under European Communism. Women religious in Central and Eastern Europe kept their faith alive as “secret sisters” for more than forty years during communist rule despite threats of torture , exile and imprisonment. After viewing Terry decided to share the film with the sisters in Edmonton as many of their orders were featured in the film. Going back to Chicago, Stephanie thought to do the same. To order a copy of the film: call toll free: 800- 235-8722 or go to www.usccbpublishing.org.

PROVINCE OF CANADA/USA AND GENERAL LEADERSHIP IN ROME MADE DONATIONS FOR THE CANADIAN MUSEUM FOR HUMAN RIGHTS, WINNIPEG

Recently, the province of Canada/USA made a donation to the
Canadian Museum for Human Rights. This was matched by a
donation from the General Leadership Team on behalf of the
whole Congregation.

The purpose of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights is to explore the subject of human rights, with special but not exclusive reference to Canada, in order to enhance the public's understanding of human rights, to promote respect for others and to encourage reflection and dialogue. The Canadian Museum for Human Rights, presently under construction in Winnipeg ,is envisioned as a national and international destination—a centre of learning where Canadians and people from around the world can engage in discussion and commit to taking action against hate and oppression.

In a letter accompanying our donation, we endorsed the intention of the Museum to have permanent exhibits on the Shoah and on the history and consequences of enforced residential schools for Aboriginal children in Canada. In the letter of thanks for our donation, Gail Asper, the force behind the Museum, wrote:

“Within the Holocaust exhibit or zone, the atrocities of the Second World War are introduced in the context of human rights. Here we will see what happens when rights are denied and unlimited power imposed – how this began with the rise of the Nazis and how they instituted a systematic process that denied civil and political rights, destroyed cultural and community life, and left Jews and other victims decitizenized, dehumanized and defenceless. The Holocaust is presented as a turning point in history that helped to spur the human rights revolution which will be explored and resulted in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the universality of rights.

The Aboriginal exhibit will reveal Canada's treament of the Aboriginal Peoples. Stories about treaties, the struggle for recognition, survival and coexistence will be communicated. Topics such as Aboriginal concepts of peace and justice, residential schools and Bill C-31 will be explored. One example will be the Residential School story. Visitors will enter a stage set that evokes an aboriginal residential school dormitory and find they can listen in on the “dreams” of children asleep in their beds – hearing of their longing for home and their missing parents, of lessons in a confusing language and dreams of escape.”

On January 26, 2010, the Museum invited citizens in Winnipeg to give input on their dreams and hopes for the Museum. Margaret and Bernadette presented on the topics of the Shoah and Residential Schools. We were interviewed by a panel including David Matas, a well-known lawyer who is a champion of human rights, particularly for refugees. We were touched by the depth of their listening and questioning. We found ourselves drawn to a deep reflection on the way that our Jewish Christian charism has called us to solidarity and justice with Aboriginal peoples here in Winnipeg. It was clear that the panel was fascinated by this link and wanted to know more. After the assigned half-hour, we were invited to be videotaped to draw the conversation further. It was a moving and powerful experience for both of us.

Information about the Canadian Museum for Human Rights can be found at their website: www.humanrightsmuseum.ca

ICCJ – International Council of Christian and Jews

The 2010 ICCJ Conference: Children of Abraham – Bridging the Divides will be held in Istanbul, Turkey, June 20 – 24. Istanbul has a long history of the three Abrahamic religions. It is considered a “cultural bridge” apanning Europe and Asia.

For more information: www.iccj.org

EDUCATION THROUGH THE
EYES OF THEODORE RATISBONNE

On January 4, 2010, Elizabeth Losinski gave a workshop on Theodore Ratisbonne with the staff of Ecole Bilingue Notre Dame de Sion in Montreal. The focus was on his view of education. The morning started with a power point situating him in the context of his time, showing the various influences on his life, and indicating some of his values.

The teachers then worked in groups with various texts from the writings of Theodore being attentive to what values the words revealed. As all of the texts were different, many different values were listed and shared.

After sharing their work with the whole group, the staff was asked the following: If Theodore were to visit the school what would he congratulate you on and in what areas might he ask you to grow? Out of this, the staff chose a number of points that they wished to commit themselves to for the rest of the year.

Elizabeth was impressed with how quickly the energy in the room rose and how well everyone participated. The staff was very happy with the morning and spoke of how important it was to have this kind of reflection in order to be nourished and to build community.

BOOK REVIEWS

Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson

Greg Mortenson, a mountaineer, failed in his climb of K2 and was rescued and brought back to life in an impoverished Pakistan village. He promised he would return and build a school for them, especially for girls. This is the story of his adventure and troubles in trying to build one school with no money and in such a desolate treacherous place. In the end, he builds fifty- five schools.

Stones into Schools by Greg Mortenson

Just off the press is Greg Mortenson's latest book: Stones into Schools. He takes the next step, revealing how to promote peace there – stone by stone, school by school, one child at a time. “You can drop bombs, surge troops, build roads or put in electricity, but unless girls are educated, a society will never change.” he said.

Acts of Faith by Eboo Patel

Dr. Eboo Patel struggles to forge his identity as a Muslim, an Indian and an American. In the process, he developed a deep reverence for what all faiths have in common, and founded an interfaith movement for young people. He argues in his book how educating a new generation to reject religious intolerance and work together for the
common good is the only way. He wants to stop young people from “fighting, killing and dying to the soundtrack of prayer. …If (religion) is going to be a bridge of cooperation, we need to inspire and train a generation of interfaith bridgebuilders”. Nationally, Patel is the front man for Obama's administration's renewed focus on interfaith relations.

LENTEN REFLECTIONS
by Elizabeth Losinski nds

Theodore Ratisbonne, founder of the Sisters of Our Lady of Sion, often spoke about prayer either to laity or to the Sion community. He describes it as a conversation. “Prayer is the communication of our heart with God … to pray is to speak; to pray is to listen; to pray is to receive, to give, to love, to hope, to be moved. … To pray is to love… to glance at Him with love.”

His recommendation was essentially biblical and centred on the presence of Christ in one's heart. Thus, he advised to take as a starting point the Word of God. He spoke of it as a 'listening'- as an answer to God's call based on the 'Shema' i.e. 'Listen, Israel…' (Deuteronomy 6:4-5) Theodore's frequent use of the Shema was also his way of expressing how prayer is rooted in the Bible. “You love with all your heart, all your strength, and all your mind.”

During Lent, the Sunday Readings are especially rich in calling us to a deep reflection on our relationship to Christ and on our principles. Lent is the time to turn back to God's ways. What follows are the Sunday Gospels cited followed by a few reflections based on Theodore's teaching on prayer and a life of faith lived concretely.

FIRST LENT: Luke 4:1-13
'… Jesus filled with the holy Spirit… led by the Spirit… to be tempted for forty days.'

Temptations that cut to the core of one's being. The desert with little to distract. Three temptations that challenge Jesus' values and attitudes. They reveal his mettle. Does He have what it takes to respond to God's call to Him? His response is always a quote from scripture. Each quote helps us understand who Jesus is. Each quote offers a value to live by as a disciple of Jesus. These lines also show us that Jesus' life is biblically based.

Theodore reminded the sisters in Jerusalem when they were having struggles that they weren't specially blessed. Rather, struggles, challenges, difficulties are part of each of our lives no matter where we are. It is how we deal with them that identifies us as true disciples – or not. Perhaps this is why the sisters had carved on the left side of Theodore's tomb Luke 9:23. This quote was similar to others in the Gospels yet was unique with one difference: take up one's cross daily. In terms of this First Sunday of Lent we see even Jesus needing to face our human challenges and make spirit filled choices.

Do we trust that the Spirit is with us as we face challenges? Are our responses scripture based in value? Can we stand with others who struggle as Jesus would have?

SECOND LENT: Luke 9:28-36
'… two men were conversing with him, Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory speaking of what he would accomplish …'

Jesus among us: to fulfill His Father's will – to make choices that will end seemingly badly as the two figures discuss His 'exodus in Jerusalem'. So began the public ministry of Jesus. He taught that He was among us to complete God's promises, to show us also how to bring about the Kingdom of God, at times, not without suffering.

Theodore insisted – and perhaps this is his strongest emphasis – on the efficacy of the 'presence of Jesus Christ in His Word, in the Church, in humanity and in each of our hearts: a living presence that transforms and transfigures'. The continuity of this presence sends us to the whole of Hebrew Scripture (Old Testament) and continues in the New Testament: Emmanuel – God-with-us. Ultimately it is the fulfillment of the Covenant made with Moses; it is an interiorization that will change us. 'Remain in my love' as Jesus says in John.

In a similar fashion Theodore can speak of Mary as she who shows herself faithful to the Law of Moses. So, he is not afraid to say speaking of Mary: 'This (her) heart must be looked upon as the book of life … the Table of the Law, a living Gospel.'

Do we live ready to be transformed by the Gospels? Can we recognize the presence of God in its multiple expressions from day to day? Is Jesus experienced as with us in the ups and downs of our daily lives? This Lent could we invite Mary to join us to incarnate the Gospel and thus live in His Love?

THIRD LENT: Luke 13: 1-9
'…do you think they were more guilty … and he told them a parable..'

When there have been major catastrophes, such as the earthquake in Haiti, there is often the question: Why did God allow this? Or: Where was God? As Jesus presents the parable we learn a lesson about being attentive to nature. He comments on a natural tragedy to highlight a call to repent, to change our hearts, to choose values that won't have such negative consequences.

At this time in our world there is a serious need to be more attentive to nature. We are making choices that have costs that will take more than the 3 years of tending the fig tree in Jesus story. The environment has been speaking to us of our common need to repent. Nature as God's gift to us has been misused in many ways, in various parts of the world.

Theodore had a tremendous appreciation of nature. His poetic and musical spirit often noted the blessings it brought. He employed many images to highlight his points. His basis: “Christians there are three books which have come to us from the hand of God, the treasures of whose beauty, truth and love will never run dry; these books are Sacred Scripture, the sights of nature and the human heart. We must study these three books and we shall find in them eternal life.”

In the analogy of the seed being the Word of God Theodore brings these three treasures together: faith sown in the human heart, kept alive through prayer, nourished by the Word. In his simple style, accustomed to speaking with children, he describes how a seed develops, flowers and produces fruit “a tasty nourishing substance containing within itself a new seed, the pledge of immortality...” We are called to respect our own limits or find a better balance in our own everyday lives. “Do not ask of the soil more than it can give.”

How sensitive are we to nature? Are we able to read it and hear its cry for respect? During Lent we might listen for, then act on, one way each day to respect the 'sacred book' of nature or one's own body.

FOURTH LENT: Luke 15: 1-3, 11-32
Here is a gospel story that we know so well, the prodigal son. The parable is so easy to follow. It is about relationships and values. Still, we are left with much to ponder. Have you ever wondered where the mother is throughout this story? Theodore had a profound appreciation for women; three examples for him were his own mother who died when he was 16; Louise Humann, a spiritual mentor, and Mary, mother of Jesus. He gradually visualized women as 'apostles to the apostles' in particular to bring about reconciliation. Also from Louise he strove to live many times in his life, the great prayer of Jesus: 'May they be one'.

So often in the Lenten season we focus on Mary at the foot of the Cross. Even from Jesus' birth there were sufferings and privations. Theodore, the sensitive man he was, spoke of Mary's life of concern for her Son she knew intimately. “ Mary experienced not only the physical sufferings of Jesus Christ, but also the sufferings of his soul. … She hoped as her father Abraham had hoped, against hope … ”. For Theodore she was the first and greatest disciple for she listened to God, she trusted God all her life. She always pointed to Jesus, the Saviour. How would she have related to the mother of the prodigal son? What might she have counseled?

On this half-way point in Lent we might take some time to speak with Mary about our capacity for reconciliation – or to help bring about another level of unity - in any one circumstance: friend, family, colleague. What is the dissonance? Are we ready to enter the mysterious tension that tears at the heart? Will we listen to her counsel?

FIFTH LENT John 8: 1-11
The adulterous woman has been caught! Where's the male accomplice? Thank goodness Jesus could read hearts or she would have been stoned to death. This woman was honest. She also heard Jesus' acceptance of her.

In our lives so much is based on relationship. How we connect with God and with others will depend on what we value. Theodore recognized the human heart as the 'most radical' and our 'most hidden' treasure. In the man Jesus, the most radical and the most hidden possession is his Heart, which is Love Incarnate. “The more we are united to Jesus Christ, the more we share in the love of Jesus Christ for all men (sic) and we feel nothing henceforth except His sentiments.” “Love is a passion which drives us to folly.”

How about 'folly' for this fifth week of Lent? Isn't Jesus engaged in folly in relation to the crowd - and the woman?? Can we absorb a bit more of Jesus' way of looking at a situation? Even His way of looking at us? At me? Can I appreciate His tremendous love for me? How He looks at me at this moment? Love Incarnate sees me through and through and – loves me.
Might I enjoy the 'folly' of simply basking in His love?

PASSION SUNDAY Luke 22:14 – 23:56
Here we are at the 'end of the story' – until the resurrection bursts thorough. We know all the details of this Passion Narrative and the joy of its outcome. Death didn't have the last word. Death will not have the final say for us either.

Theodore was a man of great hope; he spoke of God's promises being 'now' fulfilled. He didn't dwell on the passion as was more common in his day: that is to say, he does not speak of the Heart of Jesus when preaching on the passion or from the viewpoint of reparation. Theodore's contemplation of the Heart, so strong and so personal, permeated his spirituality in a unique way. For him the Heart is the manifestation of the great revelation of Scripture: GOD IS LOVE. “Love is the fundamental mystery which is found is Scripture,” said Theodore. Our lives are part of that story, that history. Our lives are in that mystery. Our lives are expressions of God's love.

As we hear the story of the Passion of Jesus can we listen passionately? Is it possible to listen so profoundly, beyond the human suffering, as to recognize divine affection? Is it possible to believe I'm worth it? 'God so loved the world that …'