Something new in Europe with the laity of the Family
In France, Spain, Italy, the United Kingdom/Ireland, in various forms, lay people have been part of the Family of the Incarnation, for more than 20 years for some, more recently for others.
France
The 2nd International Family Week took place in the summer of 2010 at the founding site of the Sons of Mary Immaculate and the Ursulines of Jesus. The Sisters of the Immaculate of Niort were also there for this second stage with the runners and supporters of the different groups of the Family!
Mustard Grain Wanted from the start by the laity of France to provide training in the Charism of the Incarnation, the “Grain de Mustard” weekend has been able to adapt over the years. It takes place at the Spiritual Center and kicks off the year in October. WE participants leave enriched by the experience of prayer and life and receive a file on the year's theme to animate the relocated “Mustard Grain”.
In Ariège and Limousin, Bordeaux and Angoulême. “Grain de Moutarde” groups meet during Advent, Lent or on a fortnightly basis. Communities and lay people are inspired by “Grain de Mustarde” to prepare and host afternoons for 15 or 30 people. It’s alive, invigorating! The mystery of the Incarnation is said in today’s words, born from spiritual experience at the heart of everyday life.
A new group with the Sisters of the Immaculée was formed this year with three people from Poitiers and two couples from Niort. Reading the reference text of the Family raised questions. The name of this group remains to be determined.
Towards a status of Associates - in Bordeaux, Chavagnes and La Roche sur Yon, lay people met regularly with the sisters of a community to share prayer and life. Thanks to meetings between lay people and the animation team, the project matured and materialized into a one-year commitment celebrated during the Assembly of the Sisters of France.
The Word of Life Fraternity, accompanied by an IMF, meets every 2 months in Chavagnes... It is a diverse group of 10 people: this year it is involved in the preparation of the next Grain de Mustarde “Solidarity, a program of happiness for our world”.
The meeting of the Great West in Chavagnes to celebrate the Annunciation. The Fraternity mobilized a lot to animate it and the sisters multiplied the invitations to the friends of Father Baudouin in Chavagnes and to the Christians with whom they pray and participate in the local mission. March 24 was a real success! Everywhere, members of the Family of the Incarnation come together to celebrate the Immaculate Conception and the Annunciation and are keen to celebrate it in the parish.
Italie
The distance is an obstacle to regular meetings between the two groups of the Family which had sent their delegates to the International Week of Chavagnes.
At Rivalta in Torino, the group of friends (around ten women) meets once a month. We pray together, we share about our lives and we continue around the table with what each person brings. This year, the prayer was prepared in turns, which sets a different tone. The three Ursuline sisters participate in prayer, relaxation and find new impetus there.
In Loreto, the fraternity is called “Casa dell’Incarnazione”: what could be more normal? More than 20 people made their pledge. Their commitment in the diocesan Church or in the parish, their presence in local humanitarian associations (for welcoming children from Belarus for example) draws from the source of the charism of the Incarnation. To read the Bible, they know how to count on a parish priest (Don Luigi who is present at each monthly meeting) or arrange a meeting with Father Marcel FMI or Sister M. Pierre, UdJ. Moments of relaxation strengthen the bonds between lay people and sisters.
If you type the word “Loreto” on our site, you will see how Loreto is an international meeting place where the Family of the Incarnation is experienced and the joy of interpersonal relationships beyond borders is experienced.
Espagne
The laity accompanied the sisters to the International Week of Chavagnes in 2005 and 2010.
In October 2011, 20 people from three groups living very different realities met in Madrid. It seemed like they had known each other forever!
Two years after this first assembly of the Family in Spain, a second assembly is being prepared at the house of Lagasca to promote interpersonal contacts.
In Bilbao, Vitoria, Malaga, Ursulines of Jesus and lay people train to internalize events according to the spirituality of the Incarnation.
Meetings are monthly on a theme worked on during the previous month, with a prayer prepared in turn. The group becomes a place where faith can be expressed without fear, where the discovery of spirituality occurs little by little and permeates daily work and commitments.
Among desires and dreams:
- that the laity can themselves lead the group,
- that younger people be invited to join the Family,
- that a trip to Chavagnes allows you to know the places of foundation and to meet lay people from other countries,
- that there is a common fund,
- that we seek solidarity action common to all groups…
United Kingdom / Ireland
Since 2006, the Ursuline sisters have shared their experience with lay people. 4 groups of Associates were formed:
- in Ireland in Dublin (Swords),
- in Scotland in Edinburgh,
- in England in London,
- in Wales in Swansea
To present themselves in Chavagnes, each group came with the flag of their country.
Associates are formed and participate in the life of the Family. They try to give free time to worship and live according to the spirit of the Incarnation in their daily lives, wherever they are. They consider the sisters as their second family and as guides who help them grow in confidence. The sharing within the groups is rich, each bringing their unique point of view and experiences, with great mutual respect.
Training programs are an extraordinary source for prayer. Welcoming new members is an opportunity to revisit the texts of the Bible and the Founder with new eyes.
By listening to the laity share what they experienced during the International Week in Chavagnes, the sisters discovered to what extent they are members of the Family of the Incarnation.
The coordinator of the animation team regularly visits each region to meet the groups. On March 25, they met to renew our commitment.
It remains to find better coordination between groups, for information and mutual support. There is already the web with the UK/I site and the international Family site, there is also the EN FAMILLE magazine: why not a quarterly letter and a prayer chain with the list of sick people?
Béatrice CESBRON and Ana LONGOBARDI are part of the Core of the Family of the Incarnation to represent the laity of Europe.