|
|
|
associates
Who are we?
We are a branch of the Family of the Incarnation.
We are lay people from different walks of life who had been praying, working with and living near a community of Uruslines of Jesus. Imbued with the spirit of Louis Marie Baudouin we welcomed and responded to the invitation to become members of the Family of the Incarnation. Our commitment is renewed each year on the feast of the Annunciation, 25th March.
Being a young branch we continue to grow stronger through coming together to pray, to listen and reflect on the life and teaching of Louis Marie.
We strive in our daily lives see and welcome the person of Jesus in everyone we meet.
Associates news
We are busy preparing for the forthcoming meeting of the Family of the Incarnation in Chavagnes. This meeting is to take place 17th - 25th July and Ad, Ewa, Anya and Angela will be there in our name.
Have a great time and we look forward to your sharing the week with us.
Having fun in Edinburgh as we practice one of the presentations!
International Week Family of the Incarnation
Chavagnes 17th - 25th July 2010
Ewa, Angela, Anya, Adrian, in Chavagnes
I am sure that all the Associates of the Family of the Incarnation know about this very special week which we have been preparing for over the past few months. Our members in Dublin, Swansea, London and Edinburgh each hoped to send two representatives to Chavagnes. However, in the end, due to family or work commitments, only four of us were able to make the journey - Angela from Swansea and Ad, Anya and Ewa from Edinburgh.
It is difficult in only a few words to sum up what has been our experience this week but we are able to give you a flavour of the wonderful events which have been shared. The word 'shared' would probably express the week so well. This has truly been a week of sharing; sharing different cultures, sharing the different work which each family are undertaking in their part of the world, sharing our spirituality, sharing our emotional journeys. The richness of our sharing experience will remain with the four of us for a very long time and will surely enrich the various groups to which we will return.
And so what is it that we have been part of? Our group from UK and Ireland was fourteen in number - four Associates and ten Ursulines of Jesus. Having arrived in Chavagnes we became a group of 150 in all. These comprised Sisters of Ursulines of Jesus, Sisters of Immaculate Conception, FMI Fathers and lay members of the Family of the Incarnation. We were truly an international gathering; Canadians, South Americans, Africans, Europeans. The sound of the different languages was a little intimidating at first but we soon got used to it - English, Spanish, French, Italian and of course the many dialtects!! Having said this there were a bank of translators which was not only exrtemely helpfull but made us feel like delegates from the UN!
The week began with a day of Retreat, led by Fr. Marcel, which helped us to get into the spirit of the week to come. This was followed by three days of presentations by each country - 15 in all. The wonderful colours of countries such as Equador, Chile, Burkino Faso and Cameroon; the music and drums of Africa; the very serious and thought provoking messages from countries such as Canada and Venezuela and the catching presentations from Spain, France and
Italy and of course our own UK/I. All of these left us with the most memorable images of the life and work of the other members of the Family of the Incarnation. It also helped bring us together as a world-wide movement motivated by the 'Word made Flesh' as we see the face of the Incarnate Word in all we experience around us.
Our Body Prayer
and Centre of Beauty
We were also privileged to be taken to Sable d'Olonne where Louis Marie baudouin hid in the cachette for three years until it was safe for him to begin his work in earnest. It was so moving to see the very small cellar-like hiding place which was hin home-in-hiding and which must have been such a sousrce of inspiration for what was to come. It served to bring home to us all the circumstances which underpinned his religious convictions. One coulf not help but be moved by what we saw.
And so th the end, as all good things must enentuall come to an end. The last night was billed as a 'Fete' and what a fete it would trun out to be! Every country had the opportunity to showcase some singing, dancing, music, sketches and a taste of their food and drink. The week certainly ended with a bang. Party! Party! Party! We had spent as week sharing each other's cultures, hopes and dreams and now it was time to pack our bags and go forth to spread the Word.
The Spirit of the Incarnation was with us and we can only hope that those of us who were privileged to have been in Chavagnes will be inspired to take back to our groups even a small part of what we have experienced. The future holds much hope.