RELIGIOUS OF JESUS AND MARY US PROVINCE BRIDGES...Yudith has come to the USA twice. Some years ago,...

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RELIGIOUS OF JESUS AND MARY US PROVINCE BRIDGES November 18, 2016 ONE APOSTOLIC BODY – RJM Working for South Sudan Yudith Pereira, a Spanish RJM, is currently serving as Associate Executive Director of SOLIDARITY with SOUTH SUDAN, a coalion of religious communies working together to help and support this newest member of the family of naons. South Sudan gained independence in 2011 aſter decades of civil war and conflict, conflict which was re-ignited in 2013, and continues today. Shortly after independence, the international unions of men and women religious called on their members to come together and pool resources of finance and personnel to help meet the pressing needs of a beleaguered people. From this, Solidarity with South Sudan was born, a project supported today by over 260 religious communies. Different congregaons of both men and women are working together, in five sites in the country, to address needs in health care, educaon, pastoral care, and agriculture. In her work as Associate Execuve Director, Sr. Yudith does administra- ve work from her office in Rome, and also visits the communies working in South Sudan. The photo on the leſt gives you an idea of the diversity of the religious with whom Yudith works. She is pictured at the end of the front row on the right, wearing the green shirt. Yudith has come to the USA twice. Some years ago, when working in Equatorial Guinea, she gave the shadowreport on the status of women in that country for a UN commission, at the invitaon of UNANIMA. More recently, Yudith was here to meet with Sr. Joan Mumaw, IHM, who established a USA office for the organi- zaon. Sr. Margaret Perron is a member of the Board of Directors for Solidarity with South Sudan. Given below are some of Yudiths reflecons on her ministry: In my own words, I think Solidarity with South Sudan is a beauful and concrete anci- paon of the Kingdom, (people) living together in differences, serving those who are most in need. You can breathe joy and simplicity in every community despite the aacks suffered, the insecurity, or any difficulty that diversity may imply. I think all of us, not only in South Sudan, but in the governance level, in administraon, or among all the laity involved in development programs, in the fact of doing things together, we are given a sense of brotherhood and sisterhood that no other experience can bring. Going to South Sudan now, sharing part of the suffering of the people there is a part of our religious vocaon that we cant avoid, despite insecurity, war, or all the concern or suffering this may create for our communies or families. If we are not there, who is going to be? Somemes I feel, in face of the huge suffering of the people, that the words of Msgr. Romero are the ones we need to find the sense of it: All suffering is redeeming the rest of humanity.And we are privileged to share it, and share it together. For more informaon about the organizaon and its work, go to www.solidarityssudan.org.

Transcript of RELIGIOUS OF JESUS AND MARY US PROVINCE BRIDGES...Yudith has come to the USA twice. Some years ago,...

Page 1: RELIGIOUS OF JESUS AND MARY US PROVINCE BRIDGES...Yudith has come to the USA twice. Some years ago, when working in Equatorial Guinea, she gave the “shadow” report on the status

RELIGIOUS OF JESUS AND MARY US PROVINCE

BRIDGES November 18, 2016

ONE APOSTOLIC BODY – RJM Working for South Sudan

Yudith Pereira, a Spanish RJM, is currently serving as Associate Executive Director of SOLIDARITY with SOUTH SUDAN, a coalition of religious communities working together to help and support this newest member of the family of nations.

South Sudan gained independence in 2011 after decades of civil war and conflict, conflict which was re-ignited in 2013, and continues today. Shortly after independence, the international unions of men and women religious called on their members to come together and pool resources of finance and personnel to help meet the pressing needs of a beleaguered people. From this, Solidarity with South Sudan was born, a project supported today by over 260 religious communities. Different congregations of both men and women are working together, in five sites in the country, to address needs in health care, education, pastoral care, and agriculture.

In her work as Associate Executive Director, Sr. Yudith does administra-tive work from her office in Rome, and also visits the communities working in South Sudan. The photo on the left gives you an idea of the diversity of the religious with whom Yudith works. She is pictured at the end of the front row on the right, wearing the green shirt. Yudith has come to the USA twice.

Some years ago, when working in Equatorial Guinea, she gave the “shadow” report on the status of women in that country for a UN commission, at the invitation of UNANIMA. More recently, Yudith was here to meet with Sr. Joan Mumaw, IHM, who established a USA office for the organi-zation. Sr. Margaret Perron is a member of the Board of Directors for Solidarity with South Sudan.

Given below are some of Yudith’s reflections on her ministry: In my own words, I think Solidarity with South Sudan is a beautiful and concrete antici-pation of the Kingdom, (people) living together in differences, serving those who are most in need. You can breathe joy and simplicity in every community despite the attacks suffered, the insecurity, or any difficulty that diversity may imply. I think all of us, not only in South Sudan, but in the governance level, in administration, or among all the laity involved in development programs, in the fact of doing things together, we are given a sense of brotherhood and sisterhood that no other experience can bring.

Going to South Sudan now, sharing part of the suffering of the people there is a part of our religious vocation that we can’t avoid, despite insecurity, war, or all the concern or suffering this may create for our communities or families. If we are not there, who is going to be? Sometimes I feel, in face of the huge suffering of the people, that the words of Msgr. Romero are the ones we need to find the sense of it: “All suffering is redeeming the rest of humanity.” And we are privileged to share it, and share it together.

For more information about the organization and its work, go to www.solidarityssudan.org.

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FROM THE PROVINCE OFFICE

November 21 - 29 Sr. Anne will be out of the office

November 24 - 25 Office closed for Thanksgiving

Praised Forever Be Jesus and Mary

PRAYERS ARE REQUESTED FOR…

Joel Mejia, brother of Sr. Natalia Mejia, RJM, who continues to be in need of prayer for his recovery;

Marthe Ratcliffe, sister of Sr. Therese Picard, RJM, that scar tissue will not necessitate further surgery;

Sr. Irene Beauregard, RJM’s, continued recovery and healing;

The repose of the soul of Timothy Genest, the only nephew of Sr. Lorraine Genest, RJM, and for the consolation of his family.

WE ALSO PRAY FOR ALL THE NEEDS OF OUR RJM SISTERS, FAMILY AND FRIENDS.

TO THOSE CELEBRATING DECEMBER BIRTHDAYS…

December 1 Natalia Mejía, RJM

December 11 Maria de Belén Rojas, RJM

December 16 Vivian Patenaude, RJM

December 17 Claudette Lapointe, RJM

December 19 Mary Consolata Valcourt, RJM

December 20 Laura Dulude, RJM RJM

MAY YOU COME FACE-TO-FACE WITH THE ENORMITY OF GOD’S LOVE FOR YOU AND HOW MUCH YOU ARE LOVED BY OTHERS.

https://rjmusa.org

A NOTE FROM SR. ROSEMARY

“Many thanks to all of you who sent prayers and good wishes for my recent cataract surgeries. All went well, and I’m now seeing the world as more bright and beautiful than I ever imagined!”

Sr. Rosemary Mangan