Some of the expressions of the sisters ( 86 years old and over) during the assemblies of the France-Belgium Province, the 30th September and 1st October 2015, in preparation for the Provincial chapter 2016

Old age, a rich period but a hard one!

• I am old, I accept being old and no longer do much. I regard and accept the others as they are … and happily there is prayer.

 

• Old age is a hard road, but we are not alone as we walk it … Jesus is there, even if often I don’t feel his presence.

 

• Serenity in abandonment, that is how we are happy. A lot of things pass us by … We are already thinking of the “port of arrival”.
  

 

Humanizing, a call that is always present

• I try to bring humanity to my everyday gestures: the importance of the little gestures, of a kindly regard for those around me, the sisters.

 

• I try to put up with my difficulties without being a burden to the others, which demands working on self-forgetfulness.

 

• We learn to receive others: the personnel, the sisters who are at our service, the chaplain, the gardener.

 

 

Praying and letting oneself be evangelised

 

• I take the time to read the Gospel. As you let yourself be penetrated by the Gospel, so you see Jesus in the other each day … but it’s hard!

 

• The importance of prayer for letting oneself be evangelised: “He who raises himself up, raises up the world”. It’s the communion of the saints: from one person to another, the whole of humanity that is transformed. If I change my heart, that has an influence on the community.

• I carry in my prayer the requests of those who recommend themselves to us.

 

• I have been happy since I have been at Kermaria: I have all my time now to pray. I am returning to my first youth, for in the meantime I have pulled myself together.

• Having Mass every day helps me to live. I love praying in the chapel and seeing others come and pray there.

 

Old and open to the world

• In the retirement home I meet all sorts of people: children, young people, adults who come to visit, elderly residents, men and women, those who work there, volunteers …

 

 

• The welcome and openness at Kermaria, I am impressed by it.

 

• Our community has opened its garden to the infant school next door ; we share the flowers and vegetables.

 

• In the community, we frequently welcome a handicapped adult to allow his father to take part in different meetings.

 

• I continue to accompany a person I met a long time ago.

 

• We pray the rosary together with lay people, a prayer organised by the parish which takes place in our chapel. We open our community prayer to others … the people come as they wish …
  

 

In the course of every day, our comings and goings are an opportunity for multiple meetings : saying hello, taking an interest in the people we meet, a kindly welcome, showing solidarity with our neighbours in illness, bereavement or solitude … sharing happy events too.