INFORMATION BULLETIN - Generalate - FMI

ROME 10, 2016

Dear Sisters, One more year ends and with this, we have the occasion to thank the Lord for so many opportunities for grace that He has given us, even in the midst of difficulties and pains.

In May, we celebrated the opening of the Bicentennial of our foundation in Agen, and from there the Pilgrim Icon has been the occasion of so many meetings and events, revitalizing enthusiasm and the joy of being the Marianist Family. We continue to take the necessary steps for the two new foundations of Vietnam and Ma-lawi, which make us feel that even in our poverty; we are ready to continue responding to the call of new presences.

We share some events of this second semester, which are a sign that the Lord continues to bless us, and this impels us to continue offering our generous and humble service wherever we are, and wherever he continue calling us to.

From October 17 to 21, the Finance Commission, composed of Sisters. Gretchen Trautman, Estella Ibarra and María Luisa Zubiri, met. Their objective was to review the Finance Directory, to incor-porate suggestions and feedback received, and to review the finan-cial situation and economic development of the Congregation. We thank them for your work and dedication. ►

From November 9-11, the World Council of the Marianist Family met at Via Latina. The meeting made possible the ex-change among the four branches, reviewing the council's ob-jectives, drawing up a common agenda and reflecting on some topic to be explored. This year, we focus particularly on the Identity of Marianist Lay Communities. The International MLC Team and the Alliance Marial Council also took advantage of this opportunity to hold their annual meeting. We ended with the traditional meal at the FMI GA.

◄ December 8, we Sisters met at Casa Ade-le with some Brothers and laity, to celebrate the Feast of Immaculate Conception. In the morning, we celebrated Eucharist, during which 3 lay people made their first formal consecration to Mary. This was followed by

a social, finishing with a meal together.

Celebrating and thanking the gift of our vocation

On August 28, in the chapel of Koka-Gakuen, Fa-ther Aolki presided over the Eucharist in which 3 Vietnamese sisters made their final profession: Sr. Thérèse Nguyen Nu Thuy Diem, Sr.Maria Le Thi Thuy Hang, Sr.Teresia Pham Thi Huyen Linh. In the photo they appear with the provincial Sr. Sumida and Sr. Scolastica.

◄ Novitiate

September 8, the Feast of the Nativity Of the Virgin Mary, the young Viet-namese Le Thi Thuong began her no-vitiate during the afternoon prayer service.

Postulancy►

On September 19, during the prayer in the afternoon, 4 young Vietnamese women began their postulancy: Phan Thi Tam, Pham Xuan Dung, Nguyen Thi Nga and Nguyen Thi Lien.

◄ Renovation of Vows:

On August 15, 2016, in a Eucharist presided over by Fr. Aoki, Regional Superior of the SM, 6 Vietnamese sisters renewed their temporary vows in the chapel of the House of Chôfu: Sr. Nguen Thi Nhung, Sr. Nguyen Le Phuong Hang, Sr. Nguyen Thi Mai, Sr. Le Thi Chau, Sr. Than Thu Nhuong, and Sr. Le Thi Lai.

Perpetual Vows

Le Thi Thuong

◄ Alliance Marial - Perpetual Vows

On October 10, Maria Teresa Masae Tanaka, after 10 years of

preparation, made her perpetual vows in the presence of General

Superior of the Marial Alliance Christiane Barbaux.

It has been a real joy for all FM Japan!

On October 1, the celebration was held in Sucy en Brie for the Jubilees of Sr. François Régi Bou-zigues, Sr. Marie Blanche Dulon (70 years of conse-crated life), and Sr. Marthe Scheer (50 years of consecrated life). The Eucharist was presided over by the brother of Sr. Martha, P. Martin. The cele-bration was very beautiful and meaningful.

PERPETUAL VOWS

On August 15, in Huarte –Pamplona (Spain), 50 Years of Religious Life was celebrated by Sr. María Luisa Zubiri, and 60 years of Religious Life celebrated by Sisters Andresa Rey and Annunciation Revilla. ►

On December 3, as part of the celebration of the 10 years of FMI presence in India, Sr. Chameli Tiru made her perpetual vows in the presence of Sr. Franca Zonta. It was an occasion of great joy for the entire Marianist Family.

On December 10, Sr. Nathalie Requin also made her perpetual vows, in the presence of Sr. Franca Zonta. This too was reason for great joy for our entire Marianist Family, but especially for the Province of France after a long time without vocations.

On December 8, in Seoul, Korea, there was the 25th Jubilee Celebrations for Sisters Clara Chin Tae-Sun, Mariana Kang Yeon - Suk and Anastasia Lee Hyeon-Suk. ►

◄ In Japan, Sr. Kobayashi and Sr. Nomura celebrated their 50th Jubilees of Religious Life on August 15

On October 15 we also had the first votes of Christelle and Jeanne in Kara-

Togo and the celebration of 25 years of consecrated life of Mr. Christine Tchandao.

THEREFORE WE BLESS THE LORD AND SING THE MAGNIFICAT!

Visit of the Sisters To Japan

As usual, the Korean sisters visited Japan, as they do every year. This year, 3 of them were received by the Community of Marian House, from August 25 to September 8, thus giv-ing the opportunity to participate in the perpetual vows of the 3 Vietnam-ese sisters. It is an exchange has been enriching, and that is bearing fruit.

On October 16, the Diocese of Créteil, to which the Béthanie Community belongs, celebrated its 50th anniversary. On this occasion, the Bishop Michel Santier promulgated the Acts of the Diocesan Synod (October 2014 - October 2016). All the sisters participated with some 8,500 people. Sisters Bénédicte, Marie-Colete and Nathalie participated in the morning to welcome youth and adults, and participated on a panel of Marianist Lay Communities and FMI. Several MLC members also collaborated in the organization of the event.

50th anniversary of

the Diocese of

Creteil

First European Meeting of

Religious under 65 years.

At the initiative of the Provincial Councils of Europe, in Agen from June 29-31, the first meeting of the young Religious of Europe took place. The objective was to encourage mutual knowledge, to reflect on possibilities for collaboration, and deepening in the vocation and Marianist charism. Twelve sis-ters gathered to live this experience of sharing and exchange, as well as visiting Trenquelléon, Condon, Moraix and Agen. There were moments for reflection, conversion and projects. Date of the next meeting has not yet been set.

CLAMAR - FMI

From July 15-20, FMI CLAMAR took place in Campinas / Brazil (Latin American Marianist Conference). To begin, 18 sisters met in an enlarged assembly, 13 of them, coming from the 5 countries of South America. Also present were: Sr. Paola Brivio (Provincial of Italy), Sr. Clara García (Provincial of Spain), Sr. Lucía Fernández (Assistant of Temporalities of Spain), Sr. Fran-ca Zonta and Sr. Ana Lúcia de Góes (from the GA). It was a time of deep sharing of prayer, reflection, and discernment. On July 16, Feast of the Virgin of Carmen, consensus was reached to form the Region of South America. To give continu-ity to this process, a coordinating team was formed with 4 sisters (one from each country of South America), who togeth-er with the coordinator, Sr. Patricia Acuña, who will carry out the process. During our next General Chapter 2017, we will present a concrete proposal and the statutes of the Region.

We participated at the Center of Formation of Rural Pastoral, in "Mary, Mother Of the Good Advice". We were: 5 Maria-nist Brothers, 1 Marianist Sister, 3 lay Marianists, accompanying a group of 4 boys and 6 young girls in the Marinaist Vo-cational Live-In. It was a great opportunity to live and deepen the Marí anist Style of Family Spirit, as Marianists, and in turn to awaken a new option which God has initiated, the option of to be Marianist Religious. Sr. Carmen Cadena (del Ecuador)

OTUZCO-PERU VOCATIONAL LIVE-IN EXPERINCE

Postulancy

On December 8, during the celebra-tion of Vespers, in the Community of Tchébébé, 3 young women started their postulancy. From left to right: Marie - Hélène MASAWU, Agathe DADIE, Christelle Eliane DOSSO. Some friends of the community were

also present. There are 5 other pos-

tulants in Togo’s communities.

THREE MARIAN DAYS

From October 29 to 31, the 50th

Three Marian Days were held at

Casa Adele, the annual meeting of

the Marianist Family of Italy, based

on a Marian theme. This time, Sr.

Marie Joëlle Bec presented the

theme: Mary in the Life of Mother

Adele. They were days of study,

prayer and much sharing.

► On October 15, at Vespers, two young women from Madagascar, M. Anastasie and Chretienne began their postulancy at Casa Adele, Rome.

In this year 10 girls have started their postulancy in India and other two, the novitiate.

We share all this, so that we can carry them in prayer and thank the Lord because he continues to bless us with future missionaries of Mary.

COMUNICACIONES

We congratulate Sr. Chantal Ateyó and Sr. Patricia Acuña for completing their courses. Sr. Chantal

finished her formation in Consecrated Life at the Claretianum of Rome, and Sr. Patricia concluded a

Master in Spiritual Accompaniment at the Fr. Hurtado University in Santiago, Chile.

For the European Marianist Symposium to be held in Rome from April 19 to 21, 2017,

the following sisters will participate: Sr. Annick ROBEZ-MASSON, Sr. Marie Joelle BEC,

Sr. M. Carmen BELDA, Sr. M. Luisa ZUBIRI, Sr. M. Marcelline RAZAFINDRASOA, Sr. M.

Paola BRIVIO.

For our General Chapter, we make a change of Facilitator. Sister Maureen Mc Bride,

who would have been the co-facilitator with Sr. Christine Anderson, died last month,

making it impossible for Sr. Christine to participate, with continuity to the commitment

she had with us. We have contacted Sr. Tiziana Merletti (Franciscan of the Poor) who will

accompany us in the Chapter.

We send the second part of the booklet “We celebrate together” to the communities to

follow, in order to deepen in this time. We hope you can use it creatively.

NEW BOOK ON MOTHER ADELE

On December 7, we had the presentation of the most recent biography of Mother Adele, written by Paolo Damosso, The book presentation was held at the Rome Book Fair. It was a special moment, with the presence of a number of young students from Colegio Santa María (SM). The style of literature has been designed especially for the youth audience.

Two other books on M. Adele have been published this year: "365 days with Adele", originally published in French by Editions su Signe; and the other has been a reprint of the book of Sr. María Luisa Zubiri, "Adele de Batz de Trenquelléon - Founder of the Daughters of Mary Immaculate ". All is offered so as to continue drinking from the source of our charism in the time of Bicentennial.