BEING A COMMUNITY

Dear couples and members of the International College of the Teams of Our Lady:

On behalf of the ERI, it is with great joy that we address each one of you to express our solidarity, our affection and our desire to be very close to you, in this time of uncertainty and fear. We have been led here in an untimely manner by a virus whose acronym was unknown only a few months ago and which today forms part of our daily life, COVID-19.

Today more than ever, as a community of faith, we must stay very close. We draw strength from mutual help, the fundamental pillar of our mystique, to accompany us, to pray together, to help us spiritually and materially. We need to be sowers of hope in our environment, at a time when a large part of the world has realized how fragile and powerless we are. Leaving aside arrogance and self-sufficiency, eyes are turning to the Supreme Creator, to ask him to take control of the freedom we have squandered.

Inevitably, we are reminded of the image of the prodigal son who squandered the inheritance the Father gave him without restriction, in the freedom that only love can give. He returns repentant, seeking forgiveness and the security of his parental home. If something positive can be said about this virus, it is that without distinction of race, creed, economic status or social condition, it has made us reflect in a deeper way by stripping us of our securities, to perhaps focus our attention on what is more essential and transcendent.

In order to nourish our sense of community in the midst of this pandemic, after the quarantine measures forced the closure of the churches, the ERI decided to hold a weekly virtual Eucharist presided by Father Ricardo, our Spiritual Counsellor. Its purpose was to unite us as a movement and to live the strength of shared faith from our own homes. Thousands of team members from all continents joined this initiative that concluded on Easter Sunday. We know that each Super Region is also celebrating a virtual Eucharist and that in some countries, keeping in mind the measures of biosecurity, some churches are already beginning to open. This is why we decided to suspend this virtual celebration for the moment. We will take this up again to celebrate together some feasts of the Church during this year. How much we wish we could receive communion physically and live our faith in the strength of the community in attendance!

As Pope Francis said in his homily on April 17 in the house of Saint Martha, if the Eucharist that he and many priests celebrate in a virtual way is an extraordinary means that has helped us a lot in our life of faith in this time of confinement, and has even made the presence of the Risen One in the house more "familiar", this familiarity cannot leave the community aside. Without it "(...) without the Church, without the Sacraments, it is dangerous and can become a Gnostic familiarity, separated from the people of God. (...) It is a difficult situation in which the faithful cannot participate in the celebrations and can only make spiritual communion. We have to get out of this tunnel to be together again because this is not the Church, but a Church that risks being "viralized". May the Lord teach us this concrete familiarity, this intimacy with Him, but in the Church, with the Sacraments and with the holy faithful people of God".

This pandemic, that has affected us all directly or indirectly, has been full of uplifting examples of mercy and surrender, and it has awakened an exciting sense of co-responsibility outside and within the movement. There are many team members who have been infected by this virus (Clarita and I were infected. Today, by the grace of God, we are totally recovered). Some have been in intensive care units on the verge of death and happily they have been able to recover, and others unfortunately could not overcome the illness. Today they are with the Father, leaving a great emptiness and immense pain in their family, their friends, in their teams, in the community. To all the team members, their families and friends, who have lived through this hard trial, our voice of encouragement, our communion and our company are with you in spirit and prayer.

Confinement has exacerbated the activity of the media and social networks, filling us with an avalanche of information, constructive in some cases and destructive, banal or unimportant in others. In the discernment the ERI has carried out in our periodic virtual meetings in recent days, we have considered that in this historic time that will undoubtedly establish a milestone in our life as a reference of a before and after, it is necessary that we strengthen links between the International Responsible Team and the responsible couples for the SR and RR, to face this crisis together. That is why, from now on, we will be sending a number of extraordinary bulletins or Newsletters more frequently than usual. This will take advantage of electronic communications in real time, in which we will be sending to the College, news, reflections, life of the movement, testimonies of the team members in a time of COVID-19, news of the Church, orientations, etc. This also creates a space so that the Super Regions and RR can share their experiences with the College. These will be a source of richness and nourishment for the whole movement. It is our wish that these extraordinary issues of the newsletter, if you consider it so, may also reach all the team members that you animate. In this way, today more than ever, we have a sense of unity, identity and community that strengthens us in spirit and action as a movement, and as the Church that we are.

We pray to Our Lord, through the intercession of Our Mother Mary, that under His protection He will fill us with His Spirit to be sowers of hope and positive agents of change in these times, when all our capacity for resilience and our co-responsibility is being tested in order to emerge strengthened from this crisis.

May it be so.

Dear brothers and sisters, Happy Easter!

Today the Church’s proclamation echoes throughout the world: “Jesus Christ is risen!” – “He is truly risen!”.

Like a new flame this Good News springs up in the night: the night of a world already faced with epochal challenges and now oppressed by a pandemic severely testing our whole human family. In this night, the Church’s voice rings out: “Christ, my hope, has arisen!” (Easter Sequence).

This is a different “contagion”, a message transmitted from heart to heart – for every human heart awaits this Good News. It is the contagion of hope: “Christ, my hope, is risen!”. This is no magic formula that makes problems vanish. No, the resurrection of Christ is not that. Instead, it is the victory of love over the root of evil, a victory that does not “by-pass” suffering and death, but passes through them, opening a path in the abyss, transforming evil into good: this is the unique hallmark of the power of God.

The Risen Lord is also the Crucified One, not someone else. In his glorious body he bears indelible wounds: wounds that have become windows of hope. Let us turn our gaze to him that he may heal the wounds of an afflicted humanity. (…)

This disease has not only deprived us of human closeness, but also of the possibility of receiving in person the consolation that flows from the sacraments, particularly the Eucharist and Reconciliation. In many countries, it has not been possible to approach them, but the Lord has not left us alone! United in our prayer, we are convinced that he has laid his hand upon us, firmly reassuring us: Do not be afraid, “I have risen and I am with you still!”. (…)

In these weeks, the lives of millions of people have suddenly changed. For many, remaining at home has been an opportunity to reflect, to withdraw from the frenetic pace of life, stay with loved ones and enjoy their company. For many, though, this is also a time of worry about an uncertain future, about jobs that are at risk and about other consequences of the current crisis. I encourage political leaders to work actively for the common good, to provide the means and resources needed to enable everyone to lead a dignified life and, when circumstances allow, to assist them in resuming their normal daily activities.

This is not a time for indifference, because the whole world is suffering and needs to be united in facing the pandemic. May the risen Jesus grant hope to all the poor, to those living on the peripheries, to refugees and the homeless. May these, the most vulnerable of our brothers and sisters living in the cities and peripheries of every part of the world, not be abandoned. Let us ensure that they do not lack basic necessities (all the more difficult to find now that many businesses are closed) such as medicine and especially the possibility of adequate health care. (…)

This is not a time for self-centeredness, because the challenge we are facing is shared by all, without distinguishing between persons. (…)

This is not a time for division. May Christ our peace enlightens all who have responsibility in conflicts, that they may have the courage to support the appeal for an immediate global ceasefire in all corners of the world. This is not a time for continuing to manufacture and deal in arms, spending vast amounts of money that ought to be used to care for others and save lives. (…)

This is not a time for forgetfulness. The crisis we are facing should not make us forget the many other crises that bring suffering to so many people. (…)

Indifference, self-centeredness, division and forgetfulness are not words we want to hear at this time. We want to ban these words forever! They seem to prevail when fear and death overwhelm us, that is, when we do not let the Lord Jesus triumph in our hearts and lives. May Christ, who has already defeated death and opened for us the way to eternal salvation, dispel the darkness of our suffering humanity and lead us into the light of his glorious day, a day that knows no end.

SOURCE: http://w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/messages/urbi/documents/papa-francesco_20200412_urbi-et-orbi-pasqua.html

Prayer to Our Lady

“We fly to your protection, O Holy Mother of God”.

In the present tragic situation, when the whole world is prey to suffering and anxiety, we fly to you, Mother of God and our Mother, and seek refuge under your protection.

Virgin Mary, turn your merciful eyes towards us amid this coronavirus pandemic. Comfort those who are distraught and mourn their loved ones who have died, and at times are buried in a way that grieves them deeply. Be close to those who are concerned for their loved ones who are sick and who, in order to prevent the spread of the disease, cannot be close to them. Fill with hope those who are troubled by the uncertainty of the future and the consequences for the economy and employment.

Mother of God and our Mother, pray for us to God, the Father of mercies, that this great suffering may end and that hope and peace may dawn anew. Plead with your divine Son, as you did at Cana, so that the families of the sick and the victims be comforted, and their hearts be opened to confidence and trust.

Protect those doctors, nurses, health workers and volunteers who are on the frontline of this emergency, and are risking their lives to save others. Support their heroic effort and grant them strength, generosity and continued health.

Be close to those who assist the sick night and day, and to priests who, in their pastoral concern and fidelity to the Gospel, are trying to help and support everyone.

Blessed Virgin, illumine the minds of men and women engaged in scientific research, that they may find effective solutions to overcome this virus.

Support national leaders, that with wisdom, solicitude and generosity they may come to the aid of those lacking the basic necessities of life and may devise social and economic solutions inspired by farsightedness and solidarity.

Mary Most Holy, stir our consciences, so that the enormous funds invested in developing and stockpiling arms will instead be spent on promoting effective research on how to prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future.

Beloved Mother, help us realize that we are all members of one great family and to recognize the bond that unites us, so that, in a spirit of fraternity and solidarity, we can help to alleviate countless situations of poverty and need. Make us strong in faith, persevering in service, constant in prayer.

Mary, Consolation of the afflicted, embrace all your children in distress and pray that God will stretch out his all-powerful hand and free us from this terrible pandemic, so that life can serenely resume its normal course.

To you, who shine on our journey as a sign of salvation and hope, do we entrust ourselves, O Clement, O Loving, O Sweet Virgin Mary. Amen.

In this difficult time, the activities of the Secretariat at the Glacière offices in Paris have adapted to follow both the legal measures enacted in France and the necessity to safeguard the health of those who support us with their work in Paris.

For the same reasons it was not possible for us to personally support the work at our headquarters, an activity we should have done both in view of the interviews for the recruitment of the new collaborator, replacing Patricia, and in preparation for the ERI meeting planned in Togo.

Assistance to the Movement by the Secretariat

Since mid-April, therefore, when the first measures related to the containment of the virus were enacted in France, our collaborator Guènola began to work exclusively from her home, remotely. Thanks to the fact that most communications are happening over the internet, her absence from the office in the Glacière has not created too many problems.

Up to now, Guènola could not return to the headquarters of the Movement, so it was not possible to receive any mail that might have been delivered and the nobody answered any phone calls to the main office.

The work did not stop, however; Guènola has always been in contact with us, the responsible couple for the Secretariat, has received many documents intended for the Collège in Warsaw, and has supported the work of the volunteer translators. Although the Meeting of the Collège will take place in a different way, as you know very well, we have not stopped the work of collecting the necessary documents and to proceed with the translations.

In addition, we have been working on the preparation of the economic balance sheet, in cooperation with an external accounting firm.

Search and selection of a new assistant

As you know, we are proceeding with the selection of a new assistant to take the place of Patricia, who has ended her collaboration with the END Movement; between January and March 2020 we received and reviewed many resumes of candidates; we met some of them in person, but with the situation complicated by the travel bans we had to suspend the selection activity. To date we have not yet found the person who will collaborate with us at the Glacière, together with Guènola.

Association of Friends of Father Caffarel

At our international headquarters at the Glacière there is also the office of the Association of Friends of Father Caffarel, where Marie Christine Genillon goes once a week to carry out activities both related to the cause of beatification and to the collection of quotas. Marie Christine also had to suspend her visits and continued to stay in touch with all the members of the Association via email. In April we also had to postpone the planned meeting of the Board of the Association (called the Bureau), because it was not possible to meet.

If you need contact with the Secretariat

For now, we do not know when it will be possible for Guènola to return to the offices of the Secretariat at the Glacière. Even less do we know when we, responsible couple of the secretariat, will be able to go to Paris, since travel from abroad is still prohibited.

However, we remain available and invite all those who need to communicate with the Secretariat to use email, addressing your messages to guenola@equipes-notre-dame.com or directly to us Giovanni and Paola to cr.secretariat@equipes-notre-dame.com.