Monthly Archives: May 2019

In the shelter of each other the people live – Ar scáth a chéile a mhaireann na daoine

31st May 2019

In the course of a conversation, a friend said to me, “Ar scáth a chéile a mhaireann na daoine.” Not being an Irish speaker, I asked her what it meant. She replied, “In the shelter of each other the people live”. This proverb stirred deep within me; as I reflect on it, I continue to discover its profound, rich meaning, ...

RNDM DANCE FOR THE WORLD

1st May 2019

As I pray, I watch the candle flame burning itself out for the Lord, giving its all. Then I see and feel its movement—it is Dancing! And I really feel my heart is dancing too, moved by the awareness of a Divine Presence. God is the Infinite Mover—God dances too! God dances through the music and rhythm of life: the ...

The Congregation of Our Lady of the Missions was founded in 1861 by Euphrasie Barbier, a young woman from Normandy in France. She had a burning desire for mission and this life of mission for her had to be founded on Communion, Contemplation and Mission since she believed that mission was more than activity. Over the years, the Sisters have moved into several continents, living out their mission through evangelisation and missionary work.

The special aim of the Congregation is to extend the Kingdom of God chiefly through the work of Christian education, pastoral care and development of the human person. The particular focus is women and children, especially those who are marginalised by poverty, ill health, unjust social structures and a lack of opportunity to sustain themselves. This has led the Sisters to become involved in health care projects, setting up schools and orphanages and basically responding to the needs of their situation. The project work is always dictated by the needs of local communities.

Today, the Sisters live and work in 23 different countries from the UK and Ireland to New Zealand, India, Myanmar, Vietnam, Bangladesh, S Sudan and Kenya, with many other countries as well. Thanks to the lives and work of our early missionary Sisters, we are blessed with young, dynamic women from these countries who have become Sisters of Our Lady of the Missions and continue the work among their own people.

Euphrasie Barbier died in Sturry on January 18, 1893 and is buried in Sturry, near Canterbury, South East England and our Heritage House there pays tribute to her life and work.