Council of the Congregation in Reunion

Cluny Around the World

Good Shepherd Sunday, April 26th, Sister Claire Houraeau, Superior General set the theme of the day and gives the Cluny Family News since the international gathering of our sisters in our Mother House in Paris in 2012 for the General Chapter of the Congregation. She reminded us that it is Christ, The Good Shepherd, who gathers us together on this mountain, La Montagne in beautiful Reunion. She placed the work of the Council of the Congregation within the context of Pope Francis' Apostolic Letter to Religious during this Year of Consecrated Life: To Look to the Past with Gratitude; Live the Present with Passion; and Embrace the Future with Hope.

In the afternoon Sister Claire invited four provincials to share the Witness of the Cluny Story

Sister Marie Fatima of Senegal and Niger

First was Sister Marie Fatima who gave us the story of our sisters and Christians in Niger and specifically getting out of Zinder as fundamentalist muslims were calling for a 'purification' of their faith through the destruction of all that was not muslim in their society. This Cluny Story was powerful and emotional... a first witness telling. 

Sister Christiane of Haiti

Next was Sister Christiane who updated us on the Security of Religious in Haiti. From November, 2014 - March, 2015 there has been a wave of violence and persecution of Religious Communities of men and especially religious women. One of our houses was broken into but the sisters were not there at the time. The Blessed Sacrament was desecrated, 3 dogs killed, the watchman tied up and the rooms in utter disruption... the sisters have been terrified. Something needs to radically change here!

Sister Ann of West Africa

Sister Ann gave us Ebola News from Sierre Leone and Guinea. Once the travel ban was lifted the sisters and people gathered to share their fears and concerns and in the midst of so much helplessness find creative was to respond. They provided food or those in quarantine, support for survivors, water supply to schools, educational support and kept their clinic open for non-ebola illnesses. 

Sister Dominga of Angola

Sister Dominga was one of the 10 sisters of the Congregation who went to Rome to participate in the International Congress of Formators, April 7th - 11th. The theme of the Congress was "Living in Christ, Following The Way of the Gospels". The focus was on Formation as a fully integrated program, training the young for mission especially to the marginalized poor and those needing outreach. The Clunys who attended the Congress proposed we establish an International Commission to unify our formation program in light of the 'Teacher of Nazareth'. A hopeful and uplifting presentation.