Category: Uncategorized

Join us in Prayer for Peru and Nova Scotia

Posted on by Diane Smyth

We invite you to pray with us for our sisters and for the people of Huarmey and the whole Ancash region of western Peru who are experiencing yet another serious threat to health and safety

Dengue fever continues to rage in many parts of Peru. The country has extended its health emergency as it faces a record outbreak of the disease. So far there have been over 73, 000 cases and eighty deaths. In the Ancash region where Huarmey is located, there has been a considerable increase in the number of infections over the past month.

As we mark World Environment Day (5 June) we are all very aware of the devastating effects of climate change all over our world, but these last couple of years, we have been experiencing some of these terrible effects first-hand.

Several of our sisters have relatives in the Halifax area, where wildfires have been raging for days, destroying land and property. Some have already been evacuated; others are on the alert, ready to move, if and when necessary.

Join us in  prayer for all in Nova Scotia who are affected by this terrible circumstance, for their safety and for that of the firefighters.
We are happy that our province has sent help to our neighbors in these difficult times.

 

Os invitamos a rezar con nosotros por nuestras hermanas y por la población de Huarmey y de toda la región de Ancash, en el oeste de Perú, que están sufriendo otra grave amenaza para la salud y la seguridad

El dengue sigue haciendo estragos en muchas partes de Perú. El país ha ampliado su emergencia sanitaria al enfrentarse a un brote récord de la enfermedad. Hasta el momento se han registrado más de 73.000 casos y ochenta muertes. En la región de Ancash, donde se encuentra Huarmey, el número de contagios ha aumentado considerablemente en el último mes.

Con motivo del Día Mundial del Medio Ambiente (5 de junio), todos somos muy conscientes de los efectos devastadores del cambio climático en todo el mundo, pero estos dos últimos años, hemos estado experimentando algunos de estos terribles efectos de primera mano.

Varias de nuestras hermanas tienen parientes en la zona de Halifax, donde los incendios forestales llevan días arrasando tierras y propiedades. Algunos ya han sido evacuados; otros están en alerta, listos para desplazarse, si es necesario.

Únanse a nosotros en la oración por todos los habitantes de Nueva Escocia afectados por esta terrible circunstancia, por su seguridad y por la de los bomberos. Nos alegramos de que nuestra provincia haya enviado ayuda a nuestros vecinos en estos momentos difíciles.

World Environment Day, 5 June

Posted on by Diane Smyth

World Environment Day is the largest platform for environmental outreach. Established by the UN in 1973, it puts a spotlight on the serious environmental challenges of our time and engages people across the globe in efforts to protect and restore our Earth.

More than 150 countries participate in this international day, which features a different environmental focus each year – air pollution, biodiversity loss, food  security, illegal wildlife trade. This year’s theme focuses on plastic pollution. More than 400 million tons of plastic is produced every year, with approximately 20 million tons ending up in lakes, rivers and oceans.

Most plastics are produced from oil and gas, both of which are fossil fuels. The more plastic produced, the more fossil fuel is required and the more we intensify the climate crisis. Microplastics, tiny particles up to 5mm. in diameter, find their way into food, water and air and are a source of concern for the viability of life on all levels.

Let us do what we can to minimize our use of plastics for the sake of our environment and for the sake of our health and safety of all Earth’s creatures.

For more information on this year’s theme of plastic pollution, check out the following: https://www.worldenvironmentday.global/

El Día Mundial del Medio Ambiente es la mayor plataforma de divulgación medioambiental. Establecido por la ONU en 1973, pone de relieve los graves problemas medioambientales de nuestro tiempo y compromete a personas de todo el mundo en los esfuerzos por proteger y restaurar la Tierra.

Más de 150 países participan en este día internacional, que cada año se centra en un tema medioambiental diferente: contaminación atmosférica, pérdida de biodiversidad, seguridad alimentaria, comercio ilegal de especies silvestres. El tema de este año se centra en la contaminación por plásticos. Cada año se producen más de 400 millones de toneladas de plástico, de las cuales unos 20 millones acaban en lagos, ríos y océanos.

La mayoría de los plásticos se producen a partir de petróleo y gas, ambos combustibles fósiles. Cuanto más plástico se produce, más combustible fósil se necesita y más intensificamos la crisis climática. Los microplásticos, partículas diminutas de hasta 5 mm. de diámetro, llegan a los alimentos, el agua y el aire y son una fuente de preocupación para la viabilidad de la vida a todos los niveles.

Hagamos lo que podamos para minimizar nuestro uso de plásticos por el bien de nuestro medio ambiente y por el bien de nuestra salud y la seguridad de todas las criaturas de la Tierra.

Para más información sobre el tema de este año, la contaminación por plásticos, consulte: https://www.worldenvironmentday.global/

The Gathering Place is Growing: Ceremony to announce the transformation of Mercy Convent

Posted on by Diane Smyth

On May 31, 2023 a simple, yet profound event took place in the bare-bone space of the former Mercy Convent in St. John’s, NL.  The Institute of the Sisters of Mercy, a Roman Catholic order of women religious, was founded in Dublin in 1831 by Catherine McAuley.  Three sisters of Mercy travelled from Dublin in 1842 to found a convent in St. John’s.  For about 15 years the sisters lived in a wooden structure built as a convent by Bishop Fleming who invited sisters to come to Newfoundland. 

L-r: Paul Davis, Executive Director, The Gathering Place; Sr. Diane Smyth, Congregational Leader Sisters of Mercy; Patrick O’Callaghan and Paula Boucher, Donors; John Abbott, MHA and Joanne Thompson, MP

The Mercy Convent structure today was constructed in 1857 and served as a convent up to 2021.  Over the past months the building has been stripped to its foundational structure.  Olympic Construction has begun the renovation to the building to transform it into a shelter and supportive housing structure that will accommodate 90 persons in need of temporary and transitional housing. It is hope that the project will be completed by June 2024.   Day to day support services will be offered by The Gathering Place.

The Sisters of Mercy and the Presentation Sisters, as well as church parishes in the area, Roman Catholic, Anglican, United Church of Canada, and Presbyterian as well as other groups concerned about hunger, health, housing and social isolation of a large population in the central area of St. John’s joined forces in the early 1990s to envision a centre to serve the population in need of care and services.  The Gathering Place opened in 1994 with basic food provision and social centre located in a vacant school building that had been refreshed for this new purpose.  Since that time space and services and those seeking help increased exponentially and continue to do so.  Now permanent supportive housing in this renovation project has been added to the services of The Gathering Place.

Media Coverage of the event

Watch: NTV Broadcast: https://ntv.ca/former-mercy-convent-soon-to-be-converted-into-shelter-for-the-gathering-place/ (3:03)
Read: CBC text: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/gathering-place-two-million-dollars-new-housing-1.6860584
VOCM coverage: https://vocm.com/2023/05/31/gathering-place-converting-former-mercy-convent-to-expand-operations/

See below Mercy Convent Before and After Renovation as Shelter and transitional Housing (17:29)

 

El 31 de mayo de 2023 tuvo lugar un acontecimiento sencillo, pero profundo, en el espacio desnudo del antiguo Convento de la Misericordia de St. El Instituto de las Hermanas de la Misericordia, una orden católica romana de religiosas, fue fundado en Dublín en 1831 por Catalina McAuley. Tres hermanas de la Misericordia viajaron desde Dublín en 1842 para fundar un convento en San Juan. Durante unos 15 años, las hermanas vivieron en una estructura de madera construida como convento por el obispo Fleming, que invitó a las hermanas a venir a Terranova.

La Hermana Diane Smyth ofrece saludos y una oración de bendición en la ceremonia celebrada en parte del espacio desnudo del antiguo convento.

La estructura actual del Convento de la Misericordia se construyó en 1857 y sirvió como convento hasta 2021. En los últimos meses, el edificio ha sido despojado de su estructura fundacional. Olympic Construction ha comenzado la renovación del edificio para transformarlo en una estructura de refugio y vivienda de apoyo que acogerá a 90 personas necesitadas de alojamiento temporal y transitorio. Se espera que el proyecto esté terminado en junio de 2024. Los servicios de apoyo diario serán ofrecidos por The Gathering Place.

Las Hermanas de la Misericordia y las Hermanas de la Presentación, así como las parroquias de la zona, católica romana, anglicana, de la Iglesia Unida de Canadá y presbiteriana, además de otros grupos preocupados por el hambre, la salud, la vivienda y el aislamiento social de una amplia población de la zona central de St. John’s, unieron sus fuerzas a principios de los años noventa para idear un centro que atendiera a la población necesitada de cuidados y servicios. El Gathering Place abrió sus puertas en 1994 con un servicio de alimentación básica y un centro social ubicado en un edificio escolar vacío que había sido acondicionado para este nuevo fin. Desde entonces, el espacio y los servicios y las personas que buscan ayuda han aumentado exponencialmente y siguen haciéndolo. Ahora, a los servicios de The Gathering Place se han añadido viviendas permanentes de apoyo en este proyecto de renovación.

Cobertura mediática del eventoen inglés

Ver: NTV Broadcast: https://ntv.ca/former-mercy-convent-soon-to-be-converted-into-shelter-for-the-gathering-place/ (3:03)
Leer: CBC text: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/gathering-place-two-million-dollars-new-housing-1.6860584
VOCM coverage: https://vocm.com/2023/05/31/gathering-place-converting-former-mercy-convent-to-expand-operations/

Newfoundland communities are ‘most Irish’ outside Ireland, genetic study finds

Posted on by Diane Smyth

Parts of the Canadian province of Newfoundland have a majority population which is genetically Irish going back almost 200 years, new research confirms.

“Newfoundland is almost unique in having a settler population which has been barely diluted by further waves of migration.

Approximately 25,000 Irish and English emigrants came to the province in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, mostly due to the rich fishing grounds off the coast. As a result of its geographical isolation and economic setbacks, most of the descendants of people now living in Newfoundland are related to the original settlers.

Newfoundland has a population of just 500,000, though it is larger than the island of Ireland. A large majority of the population is based on the Avalon peninsula, which includes the capital St John’s. By and large, the English settled on the north of the Avalon peninsula, with the Irish on the south…”

Read the rest of the article here. Source: The Irish Times

Read the stories of the Irish women in “Valiant Women“ who crossed the Atlantic between 1842 and 1907 to the Mercy mission in Newfoundland.

Un nuevo estudio confirma que en algunas zonas de la provincia canadiense de Terranova la mayoría de la población es genéticamente irlandesa desde hace casi 200 años.

“Terranova es casi única por tener una población de colonos que apenas se ha diluido por nuevas oleadas migratorias.

Unos 25.000 emigrantes irlandeses e ingleses llegaron a la provincia a finales del siglo XVIII y principios del XIX, sobre todo por los ricos caladeros de la costa. Debido a su aislamiento geográfico y a los contratiempos económicos, la mayoría de los descendientes de los habitantes actuales de Terranova están emparentados con los colonos originales.

Terranova sólo tiene 500.000 habitantes, aunque es mayor que la isla de Irlanda. La mayor parte de la población vive en la península de Avalon, que incluye la capital, San Juan. En general, los ingleses se asentaron en el norte de la península de Avalon, y los irlandeses en el sur…”

Lea el resto del artículo en inglés aquí. Fuente: The Irish Times

Lea en “Valiant Women” en inglés las historias de las irlandesas que cruzaron el Atlántico entre 1842 y 1907 para llegar a la misión de la Misericordia en Terranova.

 

150 Years of Mercy in Conception Harbour, Newfoundland

Posted on by Diane Smyth

The Sisters of Mercy have provided ministry in Conception Harbour for over 150 years. 

On Tuesday May 21 about thirty of us attended a grand celebration in the parish of Eucharist followed by a hot roast beef dinner.  Sister Roisin Gannon represented the Presentation Sisters.  Bishop Anthony Daniels surrounded by seven priests of the Grand Falls Diocese celebrated Eucharist in St. Anne’s Church with participation of the sisters and parishioners in readings, music and other moments in the liturgy.  The church was sparkling and beautifully decorated with roses.  A large banner hung in the church acknowledging the 150 years’ anniversary – Our Journey Together!  At the end of Mass, a plaque was presented to the Congregation which will be placed in the church to commemorate the anniversary.  In his homily Bishop Daniels connected the call and ministry of the sisters to that of the early disciples of Jesus and gratefully commended their life and ministry among the people of Conception Harbour and surrounding area.

Almost 180 friends and parishioners were seated at the banquet tables in St. Anne’s Hall and were served a delicious meal catered by Tiny’s Restaurant.   Mrs. Agnes (O’Driscoll) Richard recounted her memories of going to school to the sisters and told wonderful and humorous stories of her experiences in the various grade levels.  Sister Elizabeth Davis responded with a little of the history of the foundation and proud commendation of the support and collaboration of the people during all those years and up to the present.  She included a remembrance of the five sisters who are buried in the convent garden and in the receptive soil of Conception Harbour.  The Mayor presented Sister Geraldine with a plaque to commemorate the anniversary.  A huge cake baked and decorated by the niece of Sister M. Damien Morrissey was served to the crowd at the end of the dinner. (The small statue of Mary on the cake was salvaged from St. Anne’s School when it closed!  The baker told me she couldn’t find a ’nun’ statue!)

Congratulations to the Sisters who currently live and minister in Conception Harbour, Sisters Geraldine Mason, Ruth Beresford and Ellen Marie Sullivan!

Congratulations to the Sisters of Mercy especially those who ministered there, and to the generous, faithful and loving people and church of Conception Harbour!  Congratulations and thanks to all who prepared the details of the celebration! Congratulations on this 150th anniversary celebration!

Messages to: Sisters of Mercy Newfoundland

Las Hermanas de la Misericordia llevan más de 150 años ejerciendo su ministerio en Conception Harbour.

El martes 21 de mayo una treintena de nosotras asistimos a una gran celebración en la parroquia de la Eucaristía seguida de una cena caliente de carne asada. La Hermana Roisin Gannon representó a las Hermanas de la Presentación. El obispo Anthony Daniels rodeado de siete sacerdotes de la diócesis de Grand Falls celebró la Eucaristía en la iglesia de Santa Ana con la participación de las hermanas y los feligreses en las lecturas, la música y otros momentos de la liturgia. La iglesia estaba resplandeciente y bellamente decorada con rosas. En la iglesia colgaba una gran pancarta en reconocimiento del 150 aniversario: ¡Nuestro viaje juntos! Al final de la misa, se entregó a la Congregación una placa que se colocará en la iglesia para conmemorar el aniversario. En su homilía, el obispo Daniels relacionó la llamada y el ministerio de las hermanas con el de los primeros discípulos de Jesús y elogió con gratitud su vida y su ministerio entre la gente de Conception Harbour y alrededores.

Casi 180 amigos y feligreses se sentaron a las mesas del banquete en la Sala de Santa Ana y se les sirvió una deliciosa comida servida por el Restaurante Tiny’s. La Sra. Agnes (O’Driscoll) Richard relató a las hermanas sus recuerdos de cuando iba a la escuela y contó historias maravillosas y llenas de humor de sus experiencias en los distintos grados. La hermana Elizabeth Davis respondió con un poco de la historia de la fundación y elogió con orgullo el apoyo y la colaboración de la gente durante todos esos años y hasta el presente. Incluyó un recuerdo de las cinco hermanas que están enterradas en el jardín del convento y en el suelo receptivo de Conception Harbour. El alcalde entregó a la hermana Geraldine una placa conmemorativa del aniversario. Al final de la cena se sirvió a los asistentes una enorme tarta horneada y decorada por la sobrina de la hermana M. Damien Morrissey. (¡La pequeña estatua de María de la tarta fue rescatada del colegio Santa Ana cuando cerró! La pastelera me dijo que no pudo encontrar una estatua de “monja”).

Felicidades a las Hermanas que actualmente viven y ejercen su ministerio en Conception Harbour, las Hermanas Geraldine Mason, Ruth Beresford y Ellen Marie Sullivan.

Felicidades a las Hermanas de la Misericordia, especialmente a las que ejercen su ministerio allí, y a la generosa, fiel y cariñosa gente e iglesia de Conception Harbour. ¡Felicidades y gracias a todos los que prepararon los detalles de la celebración! ¡Felicidades por esta celebración del 150 aniversario!

Mensajes para: Hermanas de la Misericordia de Terranova

Remembering Our Newfoundland Mercy Story 5:

Sister M. Cecelia Sears

Posted on by Diane Smyth

The anniversary of Sister M. Cecelia Sears occurs on May 9. Brigid Sears was the first  to enter the new Mercy community at Sandy Point in Bay St. George, which had been founded from Rhode Island in 1893.

Sisters’ cemetery in
St. George’s where
Sister Cecelia is
buried.

Brigid had come to Newfoundland to visit her brother, Father Andrew Sears, who was parish priest in Bay of Islands. She had two other brothers serving as missionaries in Newfoundland and her uncle, Monsignor Thomas Sears was the first Prefect Apostolic of Newfoundland’s west coast. A native

of Kerry, Brigid was a refined and highly educated woman, a skilled artist and musician. She entered the Mercy community in Sandy Point in 1896 and was received into the novitiate as Sister Mary Cecelia in 1897. Her profession on May 9,1899 was a source of great hope for the fledgling community and the school.

By this time, as a result of the coming of the railway, the convent and school had moved from Sandy Point to St. George’s, and for a few short years Sister Mary Cecelia lived a full life as a Sister of Mercy, sharing her many gifts with her sisters and her students. She died on the fifth anniversary of her profession at the young age of thirty-two years.

More in this Series:

Remembering Our Newfoundland Mercy Story 4: Our Lady of Mercy School

Remembering Our Newfoundland Mercy Story 3: Anniversary of the Founding of Mercy on West Coast of Newfoundland

Remembering Our Newfoundland Mercy Story 2: Sr M. Francis Creedon

Remembering Our Newfoundland Mercy Story 1:  Burin Peninsula

 

El aniversario de la Hermana M. Cecelia Sears se celebra el 9 de mayo. Brigid Sears fue la primera en entrar en la nueva comunidad de la Misericordia en Sandy Point, en Bay St. George, fundada desde Rhode Island en 1893.

Brigid había llegado a Terranova para visitar a su hermano, el padre Andrew Sears, que era párroco en Bay of Islands. Tenía otros dos hermanos misioneros en Terranova y su tío, monseñor Thomas Sears, fue el primer Prefecto Apostólico de la costa oeste de Terranova. Natural de

nativa de Kerry, Brigid era una mujer refinada y muy culta, artista y música. Entró en la comunidad de la Misericordia en Sandy Point en 1896 y fue recibida en el noviciado como Hermana Mary Cecelia en 1897. Su profesión el 9 de mayo de 1899 fue una fuente de gran esperanza para la incipiente comunidad y la escuela.

Para entonces, como consecuencia de la llegada del ferrocarril, el convento y el colegio se habían trasladado de Sandy Point a St. George’s, y durante unos pocos años la Hermana Mary Cecelia vivió una vida plena como Hermana de la Misericordia, compartiendo sus muchos dones con sus hermanas y sus alumnas. Murió en el quinto aniversario de su profesión, a la temprana edad de treinta y dos años.

Más de esta serie

Recordando Nuestra Historia de la Misericordia de Terranova 4: Escuela Nuestra Señora de la Merced

Recordando Nuestra Historia de la Misericordia de Terranova 3: Aniversario de la Fundación de la Misericordia en la Costa Oeste de Terranova

Recordando la historia de la Misericordia en Terranova 2: Hna. M. Francis Creedon

Recordando la historia de la Misericordia en Terranova 1: Península de Burin

Join Us in Prayer for the Sick. Unisciti a noi nella preghiera per i malati

Posted on by Diane Smyth

World Health Day, 7 April is a reminder and an opportunity to pray for persons who are sick.

Join us in prayer today for all who are sick, especially our sisters, family members, friends and caregivers.

May God touch them with comfort, healing and strength.

Post your prayer in our sacred space

La Giornata mondiale della salute, il 7 aprile, è un promemoria e un’opportunità per pregare per le persone malate.

Unisciti a noi nella preghiera oggi per tutti i malati, in particolare per le nostre sorelle, i nostri familiari, i nostri amici e chi si prende cura di loro.

Che Dio li tocchi con conforto, guarigione e forza.

Pubblica la tua preghiera nel nostro spazio sacro

Documentary “In Viaggio”: The Travels of Pope Francis

Posted on by Diane Smyth

This year marks 10 years since Pope Francis’ election.

In the first nine years of his pontificate, Pope Francis made trips to 53 countries, focusing on his most important issues: poverty, migration, environment, solidarity, and war.

Composed mostly of archival footage, In Viaggio (On Voyage) grants rare access to the public life of Pope Francis,”creating a dialogue between footage of Francis’ travels, images taken by the director, Gianfranco  Rosi , recent history, and the state of the world today”.

More information about the documentary and how to watch it online or at the cinema  can be found here

Watch the trailer

Quest’anno ricorrono i 10 anni dall’elezione di Papa Francesco.

Nei primi nove anni del suo pontificato, Papa Francesco ha compiuto viaggi in 53 Paesi, concentrandosi sui temi più importanti: povertà, migrazione, ambiente, solidarietà e guerra.

Composto per la maggior parte da filmati d’archivio, In Viaggio offre un raro accesso alla vita pubblica di Papa Francesco, “creando un dialogo tra i filmati dei viaggi di Francesco, le immagini scattate dal regista, Gianfranco Rosi, la storia recente e lo stato del mondo di oggi”.

Maggiori informazioni sul documentario e sulle modalità di visione online o al cinema sono disponibili qui

Guarda il trailer

World Health Day, 7 April

Posted on by Diane Smyth

World Health Day is a global health awareness day, celebrated each year on April 7, sponsored mainly by The World Health Organization (WHO).

2023 marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of WHO. World Health Day provides an opportunity to look back at public health successes that have improved the quality of life for people over the past seven decades. It also aims to motivate governments and institutions to take action regarding the many health challenges nations face todaand into the future.

The theme for this year’s World Health Day is Health For All.

In his message for World Day of the Sick, 11 February 2023, Pope Francis said:

“These past years of the pandemic have increased our sense of gratitude for those who work each day in the fields of healthcare and research. Yet it is not enough to emerge from such an immense collective tragedy simply by honouring heroes. Covid-19 has strained the great networks of expertise and solidarity, and has exposed the structural limits of existing public welfare systems.  Gratitude, then, needs to be matched by actively seeking, in every country, strategies and resources in order to guarantee each person’s fundamental right to basic and decent healthcare.”

May governments and health systems be motivated to guarantee the healthcare that all of us need.

La Giornata mondiale della salute è una giornata di sensibilizzazione sulla salute globale, celebrata ogni anno il 7 aprile e promossa principalmente dall’Organizzazione Mondiale della Sanità (OMS).

Nel 2023 ricorre il 75° anniversario della fondazione dell’OMS. La Giornata mondiale della salute offre l’opportunità di ripercorrere i successi della sanità pubblica che hanno migliorato la qualità della vita delle persone negli ultimi sette decenni. Inoltre, mira a motivare i governi e le istituzioni ad agire per affrontare le numerose sfide sanitarie che le nazioni si trovano ad affrontare per il futuro.

Il tema della Giornata mondiale della salute di quest’anno è Salute per tutti.

Nel suo messaggio per la Giornata mondiale del malato, l’11 febbraio 2023, Papa Francesco ha detto:

“Questi ultimi anni di pandemia hanno aumentato il nostro senso di gratitudine per coloro che lavorano ogni giorno nei campi della sanità e della ricerca. Tuttavia, non è sufficiente uscire da una così immensa tragedia collettiva semplicemente onorando gli eroi. Il virus Covid-19 ha messo a dura prova le grandi reti di competenza e solidarietà e ha messo a nudo i limiti strutturali dei sistemi di assistenza pubblica esistenti. La gratitudine, quindi, deve essere accompagnata dalla ricerca attiva, in ogni Paese, di strategie e risorse per garantire il diritto fondamentale di ogni persona a un’assistenza sanitaria di base e dignitosa”.

Che i governi e i sistemi sanitari siano motivati a garantire l’assistenza sanitaria di cui tutti abbiamo bisogno.

Reflections for Passion (Palm) Sunday, 2 April 2023. Reflexiones para el Domingo de la Pasión, 2 abril 2023

Posted on by Diane Smyth

Palm and Passion, trust in what is false or trust in an ever-faithful God, the gift of words and story, eco-memory – so many threads are woven through the tapestry that is the Liturgy of the Word for our Holy Week now unfolding. This Sunday is the transition moment to the final steps to transformation which will emerge next Sunday – Easter Sunday.

We begin our liturgy today with Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem, as the people shout, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!” (Matt 21:9). The people were rejoicing in the coming of the Messiah, but they were placing all their hopes in a Messiah who was a king, a mighty and powerful leader, certainly not a Messiah who was a suffering servant, who would die by the lowest form of death possible – crucifixion. They were right to trust in this Prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee. They were mistaken in understanding how this Prophet, this Son of David, this one who was coming in the name of the Lord, would lead them into new life. These same people, when their hopes seem lost, mock Jesus and choose the man Barabbas over him…

Read the rest of Sr Elizabeth’s Reflection (PDF)

Ramos y Pasión, confianza en lo falso o confianza en un Dios siempre fiel, el don de la palabra y de la historia, la ecomemoria… son muchos los hilos que se entretejen a través del tapiz que es la Liturgia de la Palabra para nuestra Semana Santa que ahora se desarrolla. Este domingo es el momento de transición hacia los pasos finales de la transformación que se producirá el próximo domingo: el Domingo de Resurrección.

Comenzamos nuestra liturgia de hoy con la entrada de Jesús en Jerusalén, mientras el pueblo grita: “¡Hosanna al Hijo de David! ¡Bendito el que viene en nombre del Señor! Hosanna en las alturas”. (Mt 21,9). El pueblo se regocijaba por la venida del Mesías, pero ponía todas sus esperanzas en un Mesías que era un rey, un líder poderoso, y no en un Mesías que era un siervo sufriente, que moriría con la forma más baja de muerte posible: la crucifixión. Tenían razón al confiar en este Profeta Jesús de Nazaret de Galilea. Se equivocaron al comprender cómo este Profeta, este Hijo de David, este que venía en nombre del Señor, les conduciría a una vida nueva. Estas mismas personas, cuando sus esperanzas parecen perdidas, se burlan de Jesús y eligen al hombre Barrabás en vez de a él…

Leer el resto de la reflexión de Sor Elizabeth (PDF)