SIGN OF HOPE, SOURCE OF JOY
In these days when the Word of God tells us that everything will be destroyed, torn down, that not one stone will be left upon another… we have gathered together, we have risen to our feet to celebrate a beautiful event:
THE BLESSING OF THE NEW CHAPEL, which is intended to be the heart of the Santa Marta College, the heart of the Provincial House Community and, therefore, I dare say, the praying heart of the Province of the Sister of Charity of Latin America.
Today is 27 November, the bicentenary of the death of our Mother, and it is the day we commemorate the 260th anniversary of her birth. What providence!
Sister Marta, our Provincial Superior, said to me at the end of the day: ‘Ana, write something’ and here I am.
I was the last to arrive, arriving almost at the end of this long journey of reconstruction of this Sacred House, which has more than 100 years of history.
During these days, I met the architect JORGE and his wife SILVINA, very nice people who discovered the charism of the Sisters of Santa Juana Antida and knew how to shape something new while respecting the living history of this house.
Here we see the old and the new in harmony. I met Hugo, Héctor, electricians Daniel and Juan, painters Hernán and …, plumber Juan… a wonderful team, an orchestra of the highest level, because there can be no harmony and beauty without understanding, love and commitment to doing things well. And this was evident. Among all of them, workers and sisters, there was a COMMON MISSION.
On the 26th, they brought Christ, OUR CENTRE, which had to be restored because, on a previous trip, an arm had been broken. A skilled craftswoman restored it without asking for anything in return, and then Jorge, with some members of the team, nailed it with pain to the cross and enthroned it in the centre of the white wall behind the altar.
Santa Juana Antida was placed on the side and central wall. The beautiful image of Santa Marta was also placed in a beautiful spot. You can see the result in the photos
At 5:00 p.m. on the 27th, adoration began. There were only a few of us, but as the hour of the Eucharistic Celebration approached, the chapel filled up. People entered curiously and silently, contemplating. I approached them to give them the songbook, and they said to me in a contemplative whisper that flowed from deep within:
How beautiful, HOW BEAUTIFUL.’ Some said, ‘How simple, how beautiful!’
Silvina, the architect’s wife, approached me with a beautiful white orchid and said, ‘Put it with the Virgin or wherever you want’…
The celebration was very beautiful and moving, presided over by Monsignor Jorge, the bishop responsible for education. The parish priest of San Antonio, Father Cristian, and Father Matías, responsible for the University Pastoral Care in which sister Raquel participates, were also present.
There were many teachers from the school, many people from the parish, Legionaries of Mary, Friends of Saint Juana Antida, friends of our first sisters, and a large group of workers and labourers with their families.
How everyone sang and prayed! Our sisters led the singing with the guitar, but everyone, EVERYONE, participated and responded. There was a general feeling of joy.
Where fatigue, tiredness, work, dust, noise, discomfort, ‘pits,’ and rubble abound… imagine what lies behind a reconstruction that lasted almost two years. Today we saw BEAUTY take shape: large windows, cleanliness, light, simplicity, hospitality, and silence that invites prayer.
Sister Marta thanked everyone, beginning with Our LORD, then a big thank you to the Mother General and her Council for their trust, and she thanked each of the protagonists, reserving a special place for our dear sister Carmen who, before her departure, when she went to see how the work on the chapel was progressing, said to her: ‘This is how I knew it.’ Inviting everyone, children, young people and adults, she said: ‘Take advantage of this place: THESE DOORS ARE OPEN’.
After Mass, we shared pizza, empanadas and sweet cakes, many friends brought good things. Jorge, the architect, showed a Power Point presentation of the work, before and after.
Thank you sisters, my sisters!
Thank you, dear Sister Marta, for your strength, your courage, your unconditional dedication to the Province.
Thank you, dear Sister Alicia, for giving your ALL to the building of the KINGDOM.
Thank you also to Sister Francisca, Mirta and Raquel who are part of our PROVINCIAL HOUSE.
The House, our House, SIGN OF HOPE, SOURCE OF JOY, is preparing to welcome us all in FEBRUARY.
