For about two years now, Catherine Lepalabe of Pont-de-Buis (29) has been walking the path as an associate with the Daughters of Jesus in Quimper. It has been an experience rich in encounters, reflection, and discoveries!

To that end, we met with her so she could share her journey with us.

“Hello, Catherine. You recently joined the group of associates in Quimper. Can you tell us how you found out about this group ?”

–    About two years ago, after a fairly long period of spiritual searching, I found the contact information for the Congregation of the Daughters of Jesus. I was particularly interested in this Congregation because my great-aunt, a nun and nurse, was a member, and it seemed only natural to turn to it.

I was pleasantly surprised to find that the Daughters of Jesus had a website.

So it was through the internet that I took the first step toward becoming an associate. After I left my contact information, Sister Anne Thirion from Rennes (35, France) got in touch with me and referred me to Sister Bernadette Boulvais, the mentor for the associates in Quimper (29, France). »

“So, did you join the group ?”

–    Yes, and I was welcomed with great kindness and integrated into the team.

I quickly felt “right at home,” but I also became aware of the diversity of religious knowledge. I hadn’t realized the breadth of Jesus’ teachings. In addition to the new vocabulary I had to learn as part of this new journey, I also had to get to know the spirit, philosophy, and charism of the Daughters of Jesus in order to live by them. This happened naturally over time, and I realized that it would take me several years—perhaps a lifetime—to fully immerse myself in this new spiritual path. One thing is certain : I am on the path.

“Could you tell us what it means to you to be ‘associated with the Congregation of the Daughters of Jesus’? ”

–    Being associated with the Daughters of Jesus means meeting people at our group gatherings, sharing ideas, discussing current events, and getting involved in concrete actions (such as building relationships with parishes to raise awareness of our community, for example). It was getting to know the associates of the Daughters of Jesus that “opened me up” to attending Mass (online) and observing Lent. I never would have thought I’d observe Lent!

At no point did I ever feel restricted in what I said, and the Daughters of Jesus allow complete freedom of opinion.

The topics for reflection—such as the concept of transmission—help us delve deeper into our questions and advance our thinking. This is excellent for our moral and intellectual well-being! Here, we think things through and don’t let our minds become stagnant !

I was a million miles away from realizing that such work would be so enriching.

Catherine Lepalabe, Châteaulin-Quimper Associates Group,

Pont-de-Buis, France