A Jubilee beginning in different times, one same life that beats
On January 27, the Society of St. Teresa of Jesus began the celebration of the 150th anniversary of its foundation. In the Teresian Maria Peregrina Province, this beginning found us in different times and, at the same time, deeply connected: in Paraguay, still on vacation; in Chile, beginning to prepare for rest after an intense year. Two rhythms, one same life that beats.
Paraguay: celebrating from intimacy and gratitude
In Paraguay, the pastoral year and the school year have not yet formally begun. In a few days, the activities, planning and daily movement of the educational communities will begin. For this reason, this Jubilee beginning was lived as those first foundresses did: inwardly, intimately, in the key of home. We gathered at the house of the older sisters, Betania Paraguay, together with some sisters of the communities, to give thanks for the life received and to celebrate it in simplicity.
In this significant context, four juniors renewed their vows. They took over, followed the path, consciously joined this pilgrimage that does not stop. We were grateful for the life of so many sisters who preceded us, and also for the life that is beginning to unfold in these young sisters, a sign of fidelity, continuity and hope for the Society.
Being salt and light: a call to total surrender
The Eucharist was presided over by Jesuit Oscar Martin, who has known us for many years. In his homily, he invited us to contemplate the Gospel of the feast of St. Henry, where Jesus calls us to be "salt of the earth" and "light of the world", reminding us that the love of the Father is so great that we were already in his heart before we existed. She stressed that the following of Jesus is learned in the journey of life and that, for us, it is concretized in a total surrender made visible through the vows of chastity, obedience and poverty, lived as a response of love and service, called to embody the Kingdom by being bearers of peace and hope in the midst of a world that cries out with urgency.
Chile: preparing for the Jubilee through prayer and fraternity
In Chile, the Jubilee celebration began on the eve of the feast of St. Henry, when the communities of Santiago gathered in the community of Betania Chile to prepare themselves interiorly for the celebration through a prayer vigil, lived as a space of silence, listening and gratitude for the history they have traveled.
The following day, the meeting continued in a fraternal atmosphere, sharing a simple lunch that became an occasion for conversation, grateful memory and shared life among the sisters.
A living fabric of 150 years: memory, charisma and future
In the afternoon, sisters from Santiago and sisters from the communities of the South and North, together with members of the Teresian Family, gathered to celebrate the Eucharist of Thanksgiving for the 150 years of history and the beginning of the Jubilee Year, presided by Fr. Elías Hidalgo, chaplain of the community of Betania. In the homily, we were invited to contemplate these 150 years as a fabric that God has been patiently weaving with different threads - the life, faith and dedication of sisters and laity - sustained by the Spirit. In the light of the Gospel of salt and light, we were reminded that the Society has been called to offer itself humbly in history, giving flavor and kindling small lights, and that celebrating the Jubilee is to be grateful for the road we have traveled and to dare to continue weaving the future with creative fidelity to the charism, uniting interiority and commitment, prayer and transformation, open to the urgencies of the world.
The celebration culminated with a fraternal agape in the school casino, where, between songs and shared joy, we sang "Happy Birthday" to the Society, thanking for 150 years of a faithful, creative and hopeful journey.
Celebrate with feet on the ground and heart in hope
In the midst of joy, reality was not left out. We were also touched by the pain of our world: the enormous social gap and corruption in Paraguay; the devastating fires in the south of Chile; the suffering Company in countries such as Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela; the conflicts and violence that strike so many peoples of the planet. In this context, Enrique's cry resounded with force: "Who will fan these embers? Interwoven with this wounded humanity, we also discovered the sap that runs through us, the new shoots, the Spirit that encourages our faith and our hope.
Thus, between vacations and beginnings, between intimacy and encounter, between gratitude and commitment, the Teresian Province Mary Pilgrim began this Jubilee time. A time to remember, to give thanks and to renew the deep desire to continue walking together, fanning the embers and being life given for others.
In this link you will find more photos from Chile and Paraguay, as well as all the photos of how the opening of the 150th anniversary was experienced around the world.
