February 11th was the celebration of the World Day of Prayer for the Sick. The Congregation de Notre-Dame sisters of Mary of Peace as well as the sisters who are residents of Bon Secours Residence received the anointing of the sick during the daily Mass. Bishop James Wingle and the other two chaplains concelebrated the Mass and anointed the sisters present in the Chapel and also those in their rooms. The Mass was moving and the care with which the sacrament was administered to the sisters was a witness of the deep faith of each sister. The Mass was followed by lunch in the dining rooms on each floor. A prayerful atmosphere was evident as the head and hands of each sister was anointed with the oil of the sick.
The celebrations occurred at the Provincial level and in all the communities, Chofu, Hanazono cho, and Sensui cho. We welcomed between 120 to 200 Christians, and graduates. We could be so grateful to see the fruit of 88 years of missionary activities. And there are still more celebrations to come that we keep in our prayers.
Marguerite Bourgeoys was born in Troyes, France on April 17, 1620, the seventh of 13 children in the family. She was raised in a loving and nurturing family. At the age of 20, Marguerite’s young life changed forever. In her most complete account, Marguerite Bourgeoys wrote, “On Rosary Sunday, I went to the procession at the Dominican Church where there was so great a number of people that the cloister was not large enough. So, we crossed the street and passed in front of the portal of Notre Dame where there was a statue in stone above the door. And glancing up to look at it, I found it very beautiful. At the same time, I found myself so moved and changed that I no longer recognized myself. When I returned home, this was apparent to everyone.” It was then she decided to give herself to the service of God with little idea of what her gift would imply.
