LifeSigns, July-Aug 2012 - Sisters of the Holy Cross

More documents

Recommendations

Info

voices Travel Song Know you the journey that I take? Know you the voyage that I make? The joy of it one’s heart could break. No jot of time have I to spare, Nor will to loiter anywhere, So eager am I to be there. For that the way is hard and long, For that gray fears upon it throng, I set my journey to a song, And it grows wondrous happy so. Singing I hurry on for oh! It is to God, to God I go. —Sister M. Madeleva (Wolff), CSC LifeSigns ¡ july / august 2012 Sister Madeleva’s poem “Travel Song” has been on my mind, especially during the past weeks as we welcomed the jubilarians to Saint Mary’s and as we kept vigil with our sisters. In my previous reflections, “Travel Song” has spoken to me about the final journey we make when we pass through the mystery of death to new life. These days it has taken on a different meaning for me, which I invite you to reflect on also. This poem reminds me that each day — in fact, each moment of each day — is the time to recognize God’s presence as the path of life unfolds before us. Each moment presents an opportunity to experience how God is revealed in the ordinary and extraordinary events of the day. I look forward to seeing God face to face when I pass through death. I also ask myself, “Will I recognize God then if I do not recognize God’s presence along the way now?” “The journey that we take, the voyage that we make” alone and together is marked with tears and laughter, sorrow and joy, aloneness and communion, emptiness and fulfillment. As travelers and pilgrims on life’s path, we are blessed with wonderful witnesses among us who show us how to make the journey with dignity, integrity and grace. The path on which we walk is holy ground. Devotedly in Holy Cross, 2
Branches: Holy Cross Around the World Uniting for change, continued from page 1 Based on prior preparation and study, the fifth-grade students will critically analyze the current socio-environmental problems of the surrounding area, such as the irregular occupation of land, water sources, pollution and contamination of rivers and streams (the Zavuvus River and the Blue Stream cut through the community), and lack of adequate sewage and waste removal services. They will investigate the environmental and human history of the parish community. The group intends to work collaboratively to promote actions that seek just resolutions and a better quality of life for the people in the area. Our students will share their ideas, findings and experiences with the children from the Saint Clare and Saint Francis communities. It is hoped this association will promote dialogue, reflection and an appreciation of the places where we live and that we share with others. Thus, we hope to avoid creating future citizens who are merely users of the environment and have neither commitment nor any sense of belonging to the natural world that surrounds them. Realization of the project’s goals will involve the recognition of the interdependence between our students and the students of the parish community, the development of a collaborative spirit, and the sharing of responsibilities in the pursuit of social justice. The colégio students and the parish children will meet monthly in the parish social center (CCA). We propose to divide the work into seven units. Each unit will be prepared by one of the fifth-grade classes. We will begin by having the colégio students conduct interviews with the parish students to find out where they study and play, what kind of resources they have for leisure activities, what they like about their community, where they go to be cared for when they are sick, whether they like where they live. The CCA students will be given an opportunity to elaborate on their Students present artwork reflecting care for the environment. answers. Using drawing materials and scraps of cloth, the group will create an image reflecting care for the environment where they live. Following this, we will research the area’s environmental history, studying the characteristics of the terrain, the formation of the area’s water basins, the increase of favela or slum dwellings, and the condition of its rivers and streams. This information will help the students construct a local map of the region using the image they had produced as a commentary on the various aspects of the constructed map. Using this map, we will analyze with our students and the CCA children the features related to health, sanitation, habitation and waste removal services. The Colégio Santa Maria students and the CCA students will be invited to make proposals to better the quality of life for both those living in the area around the school and those in the CCA community, thus developing the critical thinking so necessary for bettering people’s living conditions and reversing the processes of degradation and exploitation of nature. We hope the students involved in this project will gain a perspective that enables them to propose actions that bring about physical, social and cultural aspects of change for a healthier environment. We need to unite our efforts to produce a more sustainable global society that is founded on respect for nature, human rights, economic justice and a culture of peace.¡ july / august 2012 ¡ LifeSigns 3
Page 1: july/august 2012 volume 24 issue 4
Page 5 and 6: Branches: Holy Cross Around the Wor
Page 17 and 18: leaves: Sisters in Ministry These w
Page 19 and 20: leaves: Sisters in Ministry I arriv
Page 21 and 22: new leaves: Formation Hearts rejoic
Page 23 and 24: new leaves: Formation Novitiate com
Page 25 and 26: eflections Season of memory I then
Page 27 and 28: advancing the mission A “hands-on

LifeSigns, July-Aug 2012 - Sisters of the Holy Cross

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?