Early morning walk to the Pilgrim Mass at the Cathedral
Evening Plays on the Founding Sisters
Morning Warm-Ups
Class
Evening Prayer
St. Michel
La Vierge
Tree of Martyrs where two sisters were guillotined during the French Revolution
Trompe l'Oeil in Le Puy
Last night -- Candles
Sister Deanne's Reflection
Today, our hearts overflow with gratitude as we arrive -- slightly dusty, decidedly sunburned, and spiritually supercharged -- at the close of this beautiful, grace-filled, cobblestone-testing journey. Sr. Michelle and Sr. Raymonda -- you didn't just hand us a map and wave goodbye. You walked with us, prayed with us, and somehow made hills, cobbled streets, and scorching heat feel like... a gift. Your sessions were not merely informative -- they were transformative. You inspired us to be women of fire and stone, with eyes open, ears attentive, spirits alert, and sleeves firmly rolled up. We came as seekers. We leave as women on fire (Please pray we don't set anything else alight.)
A very special word of gratitude to Sr. Jacqueline -- our magnificent bridge-builder and real-time human translator extraordinaire. While the rest of us sat nodding a beat too late, Sr. Jacqueline was already three sentences ahead, gracefully carrying every word from one heart to another. Without you, some of us might still be sitting there, smiling and nodding, with absolutely no idea what was said. Thank you Sr. Jacqueline. Truly.
We know this Centre's motto: Embrace the past, nurture the present, create the future. Sr. Eluiza and Olga -- you did not merely nurture the present, you fed it, housed it, and sent it off thoroughly well-nourished. Our plates were not just full -- they were overflowing. And when you stepped out from the kitchen to join us on the road, explaining the significance of each place, you fed us understanding, too. (We may need slightly larger habits when we return home. That is entirely your fault, and we are not complaining.)
To all the pilgrims -- you brought colour, warmth, and laughter to every single day. We did not merely travel across lands -- we walked into each other's hearts. And we intend to stay there.
May we carry forward the strength of our roots, the passion of our charism, and the fire of God's love along.
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