The third and last day of retreat began under the sign of Hope. The title of the first meditation proposed by Fr. Darius: A chapter in hope was a strong invitation to turn our gaze and heart to God, source of all hope and in a particular way to St. Marie Rivier who, despite the many difficulties she went through, was impregnated with an incredible hope that knew how to live always with audacity, confidence and joy. She is a model for us, today. We, her daughters, are called to imitate her to being women of hope. The difficulties of the whole Order and those that surround us cannot diminish or kill the hope in us.

The canonization of Marie Rivier is a seed of renewed hope for everyone. From this must be born a more intense prayer and a renewed hope.

At the second and culminating moment of this time of retreat and, as an expression of all that we have been able to reflect and pray, the theme that challenged us was: Love for the  congregation. This heart expands to universal dimensions to better serve and love.

Love and unity are inseparable. Because I love, I welcome without fear, with humility, and as a richness the differences that characterize us and I build with my sisters the unity of the body that is the Presentation of Mary.  Thus, I am ever more open to the newness of the Spirit who want life to be in abundance. Only in humility and charity that we become great.

Only the one who loves knows the authentic meaning of hope and the one who really hopes loves fully. This is how Jesus of Nazareth and Saint Mary Rivier lived. This is how we are called to live today.

Sr. Carla Barbosa, pm
Nemi, 18-08-2023