On October 29, 2023, ten women gathered at the Basilica in St. John’s, Newfoundland, to present stories of our biblical ancestors. Through these ten stories from biblical times, researched and written by the actresses themselves, we were called to celebrate women before us, to walk in sacred footprints and to realize new dreams and ambitions.
An atmosphere for personal reflection was created after each story by having the music of two harpists (Vicki Greenslade and Alexa Laurie). The harp is an instrument so representative of biblical times. In creating the reality of their existence, each woman’s attire was enhanced through professionally selected and tailored fabrics most resembling biblical times.
The stories told were Mary, the wife of Clophas (Dianne O’Mara), Sarah (Kim Kelly), Shiphrah the Midwife (Karen Stillman), the Woman at the Well (Sister Mary Rossiter, PBVM), the Women at the Eighth Station (Ann Walsh, Sister Eileen Penney, RSM, and Lesya Danchyshyn), Lydia of the Purple Dye Trade (Patricia Snook-Reid), Miriam, the Sister of Moses (Sister Margie Taylor, RSM) and Ruth (Kay Barrington) who was also the director.
We are drawn to a story with the promise of finding a different world, finding another time and finding ourselves. As the storytelling finished, Sister Margie prayed that there may always be “once upon a time” moments in our lives so that our stories can continue for generations to come, as ones filled with the biblical threads of courage, faith, love and forgiveness.
El 29 de octubre de 2023, diez mujeres se reunieron en la Basílica de San Juan de Terranova para presentar historias de nuestras antepasadas bíblicas. A través de estas diez historias de tiempos bíblicos, investigadas y escritas por las propias actrices, fuimos llamadas a celebrar a las mujeres que nos precedieron, a caminar sobre huellas sagradas y a realizar nuevos sueños y ambiciones.
Después de cada historia se creó una atmósfera de reflexión personal con la música de dos arpistas (Vicki Greenslade y Alexa Laurie). El arpa es un instrumento tan representativo de los tiempos bíblicos. Para crear la realidad de su existencia, se realzó el atuendo de cada mujer mediante telas seleccionadas y confeccionadas profesionalmente que más se asemejaban a los tiempos bíblicos.
Las historias contadas fueron María, la esposa de Cleofás (Dianne O’Mara), Sara (Kim Kelly), Sifra la Partera (Karen Stillman), la Mujer en el Pozo (Hermana Mary Rossiter, PBVM), las Mujeres en la Octava Estación (Ann Walsh, Hermana Eileen Penney, RSM, y Lesya Danchyshyn), Lydia, la del Tinte Púrpura (Patricia Snook-Reid), Miriam, la Hermana de Moisés (Hermana Margie Taylor, RSM) y Ruth (Kay Barrington) que también fue la directora.
Nos sentimos atraídos por una historia con la promesa de encontrar un mundo diferente, encontrar otro tiempo y encontrarnos a nosotros mismos. Al final de la narración, la Hermana Margie rezó para que siempre haya momentos “érase una vez” en nuestras vidas, de modo que nuestras historias puedan continuar para las generaciones venideras, llenas de los hilos bíblicos del valor, la fe, el amor y el perdón.
As the proceedings of the first session of the 16th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops draw to a close, we want to thank God with all of you for the beautiful and enriching experience we have lived. We lived this blessed time in profound communion with all of you. We were supported by your prayers, bearing with you your expectations, your questions, as well as your fears. As Pope Francis requested two years ago, a long process of listening and discernment was initiated, open to all the People of God, no one being excluded, to “journey together” under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, missionary disciples engaged in the following of Jesus Christ.
a universal human right. This includes the right to accessible and acceptable good quality care, the right to independence and the right to inclusion in the community.
There are two Mercy Sister delegates at the Synod Assembly: Sister Elizabeth Davis, a representative of UISG, and Sister Angela Perez from Guam who is a representative of Oceania.
“What I’m witnessing is a different leadership style, like servant leadership style, where we’re all gathered at the table and participating, contributing. The voices at my table are the voice of a young person, a laywoman, and in my case, an older woman, a religious, and then the others are bishops, all together at the table sharing,” …
Bless the Lord, all the earth … let us join with all creation in giving thanks to the God who has gifted us so lavishly!
