The FCJ Sisters in Temporary Profession around the world meet online several times a year in a formative moment, to share faith and life experiences, and to deepen companionship. The last meeting was facilitated by Sr Anouska fcJ, from London. Anouska is one of the Area of Europe co-coordinators for FCJ Companions in Mission (CiMs) and she invited four European CiMs to speak about their experiences. Srs Michelle and Sofi write about this meeting.
Lisa Gilead, the current Assistant International Coordinator of the Companions in Mission, writes in the CiM Handbook that Companions in Mission are called to a commitment of living our daily lives blessed with Marie Madeleine’s spirituality through our companionship with each other and the Sisters Faithful Companions of Jesus. On September 27th, the FCJ Sisters in Temporary Profession around the world listened to the sharing of several CiMs from the FCJ Area of Europe via Zoom. They each talked about how they experience this call in their contexts. It was a blessing for us, FCJ sisters, to hear about how each of these women found strength and inspiration from each other and the FCJ Sisters so that they could better respond to life’s challenges and how they had experienced the greater CiM global community as a source of strength and encouragement for their daily living. Many shared on how they felt the life and example of Marie Madeleine, FCJ foundress, continued to touch and guide them. May God continue to bless our world with Companions in Mission! (Michelle fcJ, Boston)
I am so grateful and encouraged to meet the four Companions in Mission who attended our online meeting and listen to their call. I was moved to hear how the story of Marie Madeleine as a mother has touched and changed their hearts as well as their life. They could relate to Marie Madeleine’s story of a mother because they are also mothers who face the challenges of a mother. Their sharing also reminded me of these words I read recently: Marie Madeleine d’Houet gave the title ‘Mother’ to the sisters as a reminder for them of the love they should have. The presence of CiMs who are mothers is a constant encouragement for the FCJ sisters to have the heart of a mother, which is gentle and loving. (Sofi fcJ, Manila)
