MWOC Newsletter July 2016

ASSOCIATE NEWSLETTER
Volume 1 No. 5 – July 2016
“As Mary Ward companions, moved by the person of Jesus and the needs of our world today, we seek to:
“Reclaim the freshness of the Gospel, allowing Jesus to transform our lives. Bring those forced to live in poverty
to the centre of our life and ministry. Go where the need is greater. Live sustainably, discerning what is enough.
Create the oneness that moves across boundaries. Acknowledging vulnerability and fragility, we turn to Jesus
knowing that”… All we need we will find in Him””
(Mary Ward)
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Our first newsletter for 2016 comes soon after the celebration of the feast of The Ascension in this Jubilee Year
of Mercy. At the start of the year, His Holiness, Pope Francis, ‘unlocked’ the Holy Door for the Jubilee with great
joy. We remember that on the first Easter Sunday, another unlocking took place. The apostles, after the crucifixion,
were not just locked in a room, but locked in mind and heart in fear that the horrors they had experienced would
engulf them, but despite the locked doors, Jesus came to them offering Shalom - his greeting of peace, a peace
that overcomes fear and conflict, a peace that opens locked doors and minds. He then, breathed the Spirit on them
and sent them into the world, opening the door to go and continue His ministry.
Following in the steps of the apostles, with Jesus’ invitation to go and teach all nations and do the work that
he has entrusted to us we, the Mary Ward Associates’ have opened the doors of our minds and hearts to come
closer to the ‘least of our brothers and sisters’ and bring Jesus’ love to them to the best of our ability and in the
areas where help is needed.
OUTREACH - UNDER HIS WINGS
Our support for Pearl Stryder’s outreach ‘Under His Wings’ continues steadily. Together with St Peter’s
parishioners, the Searle family, Loreto Primary School and St. Peters Academy School, we continue to contribute
towards the daily feeding of 300 children. Basic food according to their needs is delivered monthly. There have
been various donations in the course of 2015/16. Irish Family and friends of one of our Loreto Sisters gave a very
generous donation towards poor relief and we used this to supplement local donations.
Under His Wings continues to operate a crèche in the morning and homework classes in the afternoon. The
sponsors assisted with the 2015 Christmas Party by donating food and gifts.
Knitting needles were busy making teddy bears and dolls. This project was run by MWOC. Pearl said the
Christmas party was a huge success and enjoyed by the children, (see pictures below).
The Associates researched to ascertain the requirements for a Lotto funding, but it seems that since she is
adequately provided for at present this project might not come to fruition as yet. The plan to engage the mothers,
who are mostly single parents, in a Mother and Child bonding/learning/playing programme is on our agenda.

The artistic spirit of the MWOC Associates came to the fore in the beautiful displays made, inviting the
parishioners to contribute towards the Christmas gifts for the Under His Wings’ children, as well as thanking them
for their generosity as can be seen in the photos bellow,
Under His Wings Christmas gift giving get-together 2015
Sweet Blessings - We shared the fruit of our needles with another association that feeds underprivileged
children. Although not a MWOC official project, some members , their families and friends provided the Teddy
Bears, other gifts and party fare for their Christmas party, as per photos below
OVERSEAS VISITORS
We had the pleasure of meeting Sr. Jacinta’s sister, Lucy, who came unexpectedly to South Africa for a few days,
and in her short stay and tight touring schedule with Sr. Jacinta, she made time to visit the outreach, Under His
Wings, and to attend our monthly meeting. Pearl, the children and the Associates were delighted to spend some
time with her.

This is what Sr. Jacinta Bannon shared about this special visit:
“I have just experienced ten magical days with my sister Lucy who came to South Africa on an
unexpected visit. It was like a dream - and I still bask in the memory of that visit! Fortunately her
time in South Africa coincided with several happenings. At our monthly MWOC meeting Lucy was
our welcomed guest. She was delighted to be with us and experience how we were with each other
and how we functioned as a group. She felt very much ‘at home’ and comfortable with us – she
was surprised at our many and varied outreaches. In a recent phone call with Lucy she mentioned
how dignified and respectful, as well as open and honest, we were with each other, how we listened
to each other and how we spoke of our many outreaches. Lucy and I joined Debbie as she went to
visit, and deliver food to one of our projects ‘Under His Wings’ and meet with Pearl Stryders, who
manages and directs the project. Lucy was amazed at how much Pearl managed to fit in and
accomplish in such a small place, and at Pearl’s unselfish generosity in ‘giving over her home to the
needs of the children’
After our visit to the project, at the suggestion of Debbie, the three of us had a delicious snack at
the coffee shop ‘Mountain Streams’. There we continued our animated chatting about Mary Ward,
MWOC, projects, possibilities, difficulties, surprises --- dreaming into the future”.
The other visitor, who in reality could never be anything other than a dear companion of the journey, the person
who was the initiator and the driving force behind the foundation of the Mary Ward Open Circle, was our dear Sr.
Marie Therese, who returned to Ireland on the 21 st of April, after a three months visit. She wrote the most moving
letter about her visit which I transcribe here:
Life today seems to be full of change and movement. More and more I began to feel the need to
retire and prepare for the years ahead. This was a huge decision and I was faced with the question:
“Where do I spend my retirement years?” It began to make sense to me that it would be good to move
closer to my family and join my larger Loreto family in Ireland. This I did in August 2014.
I settled down peacefully and enjoyed the company of family and friends. However, deep within
my being I held my beloved country, friends and Sisters in South Africa. I lived with them all daily in my
heart and mind and my desire grew more and more to come back and spend time in Strand.
I travelled back in January 2016, on a three month ticket, as this enabled me to spend time with
people. As soon as I entered Loreto House I felt at home, experiencing a deep joy to be right here. Each
day is a gift from God and I feel overwhelmed with joy and peace at the wonderful friendship and love
given to me from very precious people. We have had teas, lunches and breakfasts together and laughed
and shared about many things. I have also been to the cinema with friends I will never forget, had meals
with them and greeted their lovely cats.
I also had the privilege of joining the Mary Ward Associates at their meetings and also the Mary
Ward Centre Committee. I am amazed at the amount of good work they are doing and I pray for a
blessing on all of them. I admire the Parish Priest too who has undertaken the huge work of updating the
Church and making sure that everything is liturgically correct.
May God bless each and every one for their dedication to God and love for each other as a
community.

Lucy, Sr. Jacinta and Sr. Marie Therese
On the 1 st of March Lucy had the pleasure of meeting Fr Michael Lapsley SMM, a founding member and director of
IHOM (Institute for the Healing of Memories of which Sr. Jacinta is an active member). Alphonse Niyodusenga,
deputy director of IHOM, together with Loret Loumouamou, network coordinator for IHOM in the Western Cape,
presented Lucy with three beautiful gifts – a candle, a bag and a cushion cover- each embossed with the logo and
slogan of IHOM. The gifts are beautiful reminders of her short visit to South Africa and the opportunity she had to
meet members of the office staff.
SLEEPING BAGS WORKSHOP
The MWOC members, with the assistance of parishioners from both St Peter's and St Paul’s parishes, the SW
International School, Loreto Primary School and St Paul’s Catholic youth, brought our annual production of sleeping
bags to 113. These are then distributed by the Helderberg Street People's Centre, to the homeless in the area. We
are most grateful for the selfless contribution of time and effort to all those who participated in this worthwhile
cause.

INVOLVEMENT IN OTHER MINISTRIES NOT ATTACHED/CONNECTED WITH MWOC
Some of the members of the MWOC are involved in praiseworthy ministries in the community at large. We would
like to share with you some of Sr. Jacinta Bannon’s activities:
- Healing of Memories - At present, Sr. Jacinta is acting as a ‘resource person’ for the Healing of Memories
workshops. Recently she has facilitated a four day of ‘in service’ training for a group of Healing of Memories
facilitators. The fourth and final day was organized as ‘Human Trafficking Awareness – present day slavery.
- Counselling sessions to people hurting or in need of healing.
- Module of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) as it becomes necessary in the ‘Engage’ programme organized by the
Christian Brothers in Stellenbosch.
- Accompaniment
REFLECTIONS
Our monthly meetings begin with a reflection/meditation given by one of the Associates, followed by a discussion
on the agenda items of the month. The daily reflections from the 2016 Mary Ward’s Week booklet are our source of
meditation for the first seven months of this year. Each member in turn takes one of the themes and develops a
prayer meditation around it. The meeting ends with the prayer for Mary Ward’s Beatification followed by a ‘Bring
and Share’ meal.
“All I want are two things: that you place your eyes and your heart on those people who are suffering so much
-some from misery and hunger others from oppression and repression...”
Ignacio Ellacuria
To love the poor, persevere in the same, live, die and rise with them
Was all the aim of Mary Ward