Two Trinities Program -- "Sings" in the Rain

Each program at the International Centre distinguishes itself in some way. For the Two Trinities program, it was rain--every day--and numbers.

Throughout this year the weather has cooperated for our guests. However, participants in the Two Trinities program, had to deal with rain for most of the week--and a train strike as well. But that did not dampen their spirits or their appreciation for the program.

"The participants were deeply reflective," said Sr. Linda Buck, presenter for the program. "They really soaked up all the material in a way that made them shine."

Participants made due during the rainy days in various ways.

 
Sr. Ditty, a Lyon sister of India, found some photogenic levity with umbrellas. 

"It was the best shower I've ever had in my life," said Ditty. "I was hoping to be carried away in my spiritual experience with this program, and I think I made it upstream."  

David, a 30-year veteran facilities engineer for St. Joseph Hospital in Orange, California, fixed the doors of the Centre to prevent them from slamming and squeaking by changing the speed of their closing and oiling the latches.

"I volunteered because the doors needed to be fixed. I used to take care of the hospital sisters' old convent all the time. This just seemed like another thing I could do for the sisters." 

David has been to Le Puy and the Centre two other times. He came to the Two Trinities program because he wanted to study more of Fr. Medaille's writings and to study the Eucharistic Letter. He had taken Sr. Rosemary O'Toole's online course on Fr. Medaille as well.

 
Sr. Ires of Brazil asked for a penance for inadvertently breaking the toilet paper holder. She was a principal of a school for 50 years in southern Brazil.








The Two Trinities program was full of numbers, too. 

9 participants including:
     - 4 Indians
     - 2 Brazilians + 1 Brazilian translator
     - 1 Bolivian
     - 1 Madagascaran 
     - 1 French translator
     - 1 American from Mauritius Island in the Indian Ocean about 2,000 km from Madagascar where they speak 18 languages.

• Linda Buck's first time as a presenter at the Centre
• 5 days of rain and one day of sunshine
• 6 days of programming
• 4 days of a train strike 
• 2 loads of dishes per day
• 4 trips to the Super U to buy yogurt
• 4 kilos of coffee consumed
• 8 litres of milk consumed

Visiting the Kitchen is always done in a rush in order to be there between 1:30-3 p.m. (It's part of an agreement we have with the nursing home there.) This group ate its meal in 30 minutes and did the dishes in 10 minutes. They climbed up the hill to the Kitchen in 15 minutes. This has got to be a world record! It also shows the seriousness of the group.

The Kitchen and Living History Centre
Fortunately, on the day the participants went to the Kitchen and Living History Centre, the rain slowed down enough not to make their walk unbearable.

"Standing in the Kitchen reminded me of standing on the shoulders of our foremothers where they nourished themselves physically and spiritually," said Nidhi of India, "and led me on the road of their lives."

"It was very meaningful to me," said Renata of Brazil. "It was very touching to be on the ground where our first sisters were.  Coming there so many years later was emotional for me knowing that the first sisters were present there, living there. It was holy ground for us."

"When I saw all the things there, I thought the sisters were living there very simply," said Christine of Madagascar. "And that they were really living our charism. They were living their poverty but in a joyful way; they were not sad. Also, the sisters were self-sustainable because they worked outside in order to provide for themselves. The sisters were living and working as well."

Sr. Vimala of India examines original documents in the Living History Centre

Sr. Ieda, who served as translator for Portuguese, and Sr. Linda Buck, presenter, read about some of the history of the twentieth century.

Sister Ditty of India who has served in Ghana for the past 11 years

Sisters Ires and Renata of Brazil

Sr. Linda Buck was the presenter for this program. She is a Sister of St. Joseph of Orange (CA) in the USA where she currently serves in the ministry of Initial Formation and is a psychotherapist and spiritual director. She is a frequent presenter in the areas of theology, spirituality and psychology.

The two translators for the program included Sr. Ieda Tomazini (left) and Sr. Simone Saugues (right). Sr. Ieda is a sister from Brazil who serves on the Chambéry Congregation's General Counsel in Rome and is also the Centre's Board president. Sr. Simone has been with the Centre as a translator since its beginning 15 years ago this month. She is a sister with the Institut.

 
The Two Trinities program examined the relationality between and among the Uncreated and Created Trinities–as an expression of Divine mystery, providence and plan–calls all to a radical response. The two trinities is the prophetic nature of the spirituality of the Sisters of St. Joseph, which calls us to move relationally into the world, with the dear neighbor without distinction.



Participants explored the prophetic nature of our call in the world today and learned how the dynamic love as expressed by the Two Trinities is a model of our call toward relationality in our wounded world. It is in this openness to relationship that we incarnate Triune Love and participate in the process of bringing God alive in the world. 

The week-long experience offered a rhythm of input sessions, interactive participation, reflection, as well as an orientation to the city of Le Puy and a visit to the Kitchen and Living History Museum.