On Saturday, September 21st, the FCJ sisters living in Calgary, along with three friends of the community and eight Companions in Mission, gathered in the large Chapel of Sacred Heart Convent to begin the FCJ Bicentenary celebrations in great style.
In the sacred space was a picture of Marie Madeleine d’Houët, foundress of the FCJ Sisters, a clay pot, some sunflowers and an artistically arranged cloth patterned with footprints and some crossed. Sr Ita, fcJ planned a beautiful prayer, filled with song, readings, and a surprise visitor—Marie Madeleine herself, who stopped in at several different moments of the service to share with us her memories of how God did it all in the founding of the Society. For those who recall that Marie Madeleine died in 1858, you will be relieved to know that actually, it was Sr Terry dressed up on the old habit that lives in the Sacred Heart Convent Archives, who did the speaking for Marie Madeleine (photo).
The final song, We are Marching in the Light of God, took us from the chapel out the front door to a spot where a large hole had been dug. Into the hole went a beautiful, 14-foot-tall, paper birch tree, which will one day reach 40 feet high and about 20 feet wide. It will turn a lovely shade of yellow in the fall. Everyone helped plant it, throwing a shovel-ful of dirt into the hole and then pouring a cup of water onto it. We then returned inside to an amazing spread of delicious and celebrational foods. A really good time was had by all!
Follow celebrations across the world on the Bicentenary News page and on social media #FCJ200.
