Depth of insight and understanding of mission and ministry
The memory I carry to this day of Isa is the depth of her insight and understanding of mission and ministry. These were, I believe, gifts of God, shaped by years in Africa, and given expression by the cataclysmic 2010 earthquake in Haiti:
We, the ICM (Cœur Immaculé de Marie/Immaculate Heart of Mary) Sisters and RJMs (Religious of Jesus and Mary) started our three day visit to the south on 24th August. We were 7 sisters (6 ICM and 1 RJM) with two cars (1 sent by the Parish Priest of the Holy Family Church, Toi Raque and the other from us RJMs). Since we were a big group, even two cars were not enough to take the people plus all the supplies. We requested that HAITI TRANSPORT send us a small truck, which they did. Haiti Transport is providing this service free of charge to all the Congregations or Organizations taking aid to the south of the country. They were a group of 3 men, a driver and 2 helpers. One sat with the driver and the other at the back to guard the supplies. In total we were 12 people...
August 14, 2021, 8:30 AM is a day and time that the people of southwest Haiti will not soon forget. Nor will the rest of the world, as we watched in horror and heartbreak as the first images of the earthquake's damage emerged.
While the 4 Religious of Jesus and Mary currently in-country are fine, all felt the earthquake's tremors and shaking, especially our 2 RJMs in Port-au-Prince which is only 90 miles from the southwestern area impacted.
VAYA CON DIOS, BRITTANY!
Members of the MD/DC region came together on August 19th to bid farewell to Brittany Galvin before her departure for Spain. They were joined by Cheryl Nichols, former RJM, whose times of service in Haiti have included a stay in the Gros Morne community, where Brittany served as a Quest volunteer.
Eleven RJM’s came together via ZOOM on August 10th to share their reactions, questions and insights on Isabel Wilkerson’s bestselling book, Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents.
MIGRANT MINISTRY - San Diego, CA
Every day migrants arrive at the hotel shelter - 80 to 140, each in search of new life free from violence, lack of employment due to the pandemic or climate change that destroyed the land with violent storms.
As a province, we wish to take this opportunity to extend our deep gratitude to Josela Gil Navarro, RJM who served in the international community in Port-au-Prince and who recently returned to Spain.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS OF 2021 MINISTRY GRANTS
Joan Mumaw, IHM, President and Chief Administrative Officer, Friends in Solidarity, Inc.:
Please see Joan’s letter attached to this edition of Bridges.
Barbara Buckley, RSM on behalf of the Solidarity Teacher Training College in South Sudan:
REMEMBRANCES
Members of the province were saddened this past week with the news of the death of Sister Nazareth Ybarra in Madrid, Spain. Although many knew that her passing was imminent, there was a keen sense of loss as this vital woman left us to go home to God.
Birth: October 13, 1939
Profession: September 26, 1961
Death: July 13, 2021
Birth: January 23, 1926
Profession: August 20, 1947
Death: June 22, 2021
“CURÍN” GARCÍA CALVO - Joins RJM in Jean Rabel, Haiti
Hello to the entire USA province!!! First of all, I would like to thank the Congregation for the possibility of going to Jean Rabel (Haiti) and being able to get to know and live in another reality.
RJM GATHERING - Haiti
RJMs gather to enjoy each other’s company and time at the beach as well as Brittany’s visit to Haiti before heading to Spain, Ireland, and USA.
A RETURN TO NORMALCY AT THEVENET MONTESSORI SCHOOL
Each year Thevenet hosts a three-week, teacher-led, summer camp in order to provide students with fun in the sun (rain too), and novel and interesting experiences in play, art, dance, STEAM, and outdoor skills.
Due to the Covid epidemic, last summer’s camp was necessarily cancelled, but this year the Thevenet Enrichment Camp is back stronger than ever.
INVITATION TO SUMMER READING: CASTE, by Isabel Wilkerson
As we absorb the information being shared on the reality and effects of racism, one common reaction has been, “I didn’t know…; I never realized…!” We’re learning much about the pervasiveness of this evil in our national history and our existing legal and social structures, as well as the reality of the “white privilege” many of us have unthinkingly benefitted from.
St. Francis Xavier Church in NYC joins people in our country and around the world in a commitment to racial justice and created this PLEDGE. With their permission, I offer part of it in BRIDGES for your reading and reflection as we address this issue in our Province.
The celebration of Pentecost took on new meaning in this time of pandemic as the New York RJMs gathered to celebrate the “Birthday of the Church”, and that of Sr. Norene Costa.
We, as a province, moved by the increasing evidence of division and bigotry in the USA, commit to efforts at eradicating the evil of racism in our society, Church, communities and in our personal relationships. We will do this through education, careful reflection on our use of language, recognition of our own complicity in perpetuating this injustice, and initiatives of inclusiveness that accept and welcome all.
SLASH-AND-BURN FIRE - accidently scorches 30 acres in Perou
Slash-and-burn agriculture is a method of farming that involves cutting down all the vegetation and burning it. This clears the land for planting and the nutrient-rich ash improves the soil fertility. However, after a few years the soil is depleted and the field must be left to regrow slowly, while the farmer moves to a new area to slash-and-burn.
TAKE ACTION: Every year, 8 million tons of plastic pollution escapes into the world's oceans, and the United States alone burns or buries 32 million tons of plastic in landfills.