LAUNCH OF THE VIE PUBLICATION
A small and wonderful celebration took place in St Catherine’s, Dunardagh on Sunday 22 November. A publication to introduce the writings of St Vincent and St Louise was launched by the members of the VIE groups from the provinces of Ireland and Great Britain.
This group of seven sisters had worked for two years reading, studying and reflecting on the Correspondences, Conferences and Documents of St Vincent and on the Spiritual Writings of St Louise. The little book – ‘The Wisdom of the Founders’, is the distilling of this work and has little snippets from the vast amount of correspondence and writings of the founders.
The purpose of the publication is to help sisters and others to become more familiar with the vast volumes of original writings of the Founders. Each volume of Coste – The writings of St Vincent – has a short introduction and then some short snippets are placed in their context. The same method is used for the Spiritual Writings of St Louise.
Two extracts from The Wisdoms from the Founders:
Paradise
This excerpt explores the vocation and virtues of the Company: Charity is the paradise of Communities and the soul of the virtues, and it’s humility that attracts and preserves them. Humble communities are like valleys that draw on themselves sap from the mountains. As soon as we empty ourselves of self, God will fill us with himself; for he can’t stand a vacuum. (Vol 11, Conf. 1, p.1)
This excerpt explores the vocation and virtues of the Company: Charity is the paradise of Communities and the soul of the virtues, and it’s humility that attracts and preserves them. Humble communities are like valleys that draw on themselves sap from the mountains. As soon as we empty ourselves of self, God will fill us with himself; for he can’t stand a vacuum. (Vol 11, Conf. 1, p.1)
Trust in God
Since she had not heard from Sisters Anne Hardemont and Avoie Vigneron, Louise exhorts them to have patience as they await news of their situation and indicates that this is God’s plan for them: If we want to please God, we must not look so much to what we want to do but what He wants us to do. (SW, L. 578, p. 604)
Since she had not heard from Sisters Anne Hardemont and Avoie Vigneron, Louise exhorts them to have patience as they await news of their situation and indicates that this is God’s plan for them: If we want to please God, we must not look so much to what we want to do but what He wants us to do. (SW, L. 578, p. 604)
The launch took place in the presence of Sr Goretti Provincial of Ireland and Sr Ellen Provincial of Great Britain and the sisters of the Provincial House and members of the leadership team in Ireland. The coordinators of VIE – Sr. Margaret Barrett and Sr Marie Poole, who were part of this process from the beginning were also presence on the day. Sincere thanks to Sisters Margaret and Marie for all their encouragement, help and kindness to the VIE sisters during the past years.
Congratulations to the VIE group of sisters who were involved in this publication: Sisters Áine MacNamara, Maria Parcher, Mary Timmons, Carmel Ryan, Patricia Walsh, Ann Buckeridge, Claire Sweeney.