That all may be ONE. Yes, April 8, 2020 was a day of blessing and communion that we lived as one body. The whole congregations with their associates, friends and family members participated in prayer together organized by the General Council in Rome.
In France, all the sisters in the province participated in this prayer. Some were alone in their own rooms, others prayed together in the chapel, while 25 of the sisters in the province who were able to do so connected directly with the the General Council via ZOOM.
Above all, we express our deep gratitude to God who brought together countless sisters, associates and friends in front of the small screen thanks to social media.
In times of crisis, this time of praying together led us to an experience of faith and deep communion that we live in the congregation. Sharing the pain of all, we brought this in confidence and adoration with you, dear sisters of the General House and with all.
With this prayer together we felt very close to all the people of God – especially the many faces of Christ, through the song “Jesus is the LIGHT of the world” that helped us cling to our faith. We were united in the same prayers. We walked together toward an unusual Easter. The extraordinary and gratuitous gift that it offered us is the plea for God’s loving mercy for humanity, so deeply tried by the corona virus pandemic.
Thank you for the final prayer that we will repeat as long as our confinement lasts. We give thanks as well for all the people who invented this means of communication by which we were able to be together in prayer and even exchange signs of friendship from one edge of the world to another. Immense gratitude to the communication team who made it possible for us to have an exceptional experience.
“Lord, Hear our prayer”
Soeur Jona Chinnappan (France)
A few words from the family of Sister Jona who particpated in the prayer with us via Facebook
We were all privileged to have participated in the prayer organized by the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Chambéry.
We stopped the work of our professions but we will never cease to pray for all humanity which is terrified with fear and anguish. The small screen became a Church to unite the entire planet. Through this prayer in Rome we were united with all the Sisters of St. Joseph of Chambéry.
We are convinced that the Lord of mercy will bring an end to this epidemic; we are assured by a serene and peace-filled prayer. We had a spiritual experience. It is a unique and precious experience for us.
Together with you we begged the Lord to bring an end to this health crisis. On the Wednesday of Holy Week, the day dedicated to St. Joseph, the patron of your congregation, we felt a deep sense of being one that moved among us and with all of you. We have been blessed in abundance by the congregation and by the Lord. The all -powerful Lord has given us the right to abandon ourselves to his love thanks to this powerful time that we experienced and we recognized that the best antidote to fear is to continue to place our trust in Him.
The corona virus has given us opportunities to transform our ordinary life. MANY THANKS to the congregation to have let us live this experience with great fervor.
We thank the Lord for having given us the opportunity to have joined with you.
Members of S. Jona’s family
