Chères amies, chers amis de la Grande Famille des Enfants de Pondy,
Les Antilles ont des traditions séculaires bien ancrées et comme promis, le temps du Carnaval passé,
nous revenons vers vous avec un message particulier : « Osons ! ».
Nous osons un message adressé à toute la Communauté des Soeurs, pour la première fois, à toutes les Soeurs responsables de nos projets en Inde mais aussi aux différentes personnes ici dans les Antilles et en Martinique qui nous apportent leur soutien.
Toutes ont cet engagement chrétien, il est donc logique pour nous, sans vous effrayer, d’en parler et de vous partager nos prières pour les mois à venir !
A l’entrée des Communautés Chrétiennes dans cette longue et précieuse période de Carême, à l’idée qu’il faille toujours plus se retrouver tous ensemble sur le chemin qui conduit à la Lumière de la Pâques du Christ Ressuscité, voici ce que nous tenions à leur dire et à vous partager.
Il est important pour nous à présent que toute la Congrégation des Soeurs de Saint Joseph de CLuny puisse se rendre compte que même d’ici, à travers la Communauté du Couvent de Cluny, des Soeurs des Antilles pensent et soutiennent leurs Soeurs dans le Sud de l’Inde; qu’elles ne sont pas toutes seules.
Nous leur adressons ce message par mail à toutes les personnes précitées.
Et puis nous, de notre « petit côté », nous rendre compte que nous sommes aidés, de plus en plus, par des hauts responsables des lycées et collèges,
Vous pourrez ainsi lire notre message dans un premier temps, en Anglais afin que les Soeurs Indiennes de Cluny puissent réaliser l’ampleur de la tâche et du nombre impressionnant de personnes engagées dans nos projets. Les photos illustratives sont un condensé de toutes celles qui illustrent de notre blog.
Merci de nous être toujours plus fidèles, en Belgique, en France Métropolitaine et en Martinique.
Pour les Enfants de Pondy,
Fabien.
My very dear Sisters in Faith, and my dear friends,
In Paris,
To Sister Claire STANLEY, Mother General of the Congregation of the Sisters of Saint Joseph de Cluny
In the Antilles – Guyanne,
To Monseigneur Macaire of the Archbishop of Fort de France,
To Sister Véronique, Provinciale of the Antilles – Guyane,
To Sister Myriam, Superior of St. Joseph of Cluny Convent,
To Sister Sabine, responsible for catechesis and pastoral work at the Seminary College,
To the Principal of St. Joseph of Cluny Convent School, Mr. Gilles Voyer,
To Madam, the Deputy Director of the Sainte Marie Seminary College, Ms. Allain,
To the Directress of the Fundamental of the Saint Marie Seminary College, Mrs. Mazot,
To Sister Marie Stella in Guyana, former Superior of the Community College in Karaikal,
Mère Générale, Sister Claire Stanley
In South India,
To Sister Rosita, Provinciale of the Province of South East India (Pondicherry, Mahe, Karaikal, Andhra Pradesh, and Andamans Islands),
To Sister Shanti, the accountant of our projects in Pondicherry Province
To Sister Lissy, Superior for Sneha Illam,
To Sister Grace, Responsible for the Community College,
To Sister Sagayam, Superior of Cluny Nava Jeevan,
Sister Teresa, Superior of the Hospice of Pondicherry, and former Provinciale of Province of South East India (Pondicherry, Mahe, Karaikal, Andhra Pradesh, and Andamans Islands),
To Sister Lucy, Superior of the Hospital of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Cluny in Pondicherry
Please, check the diaporama, to see all the communities and the sisters.
In France and Belgium,
To all our volunteers from the office and the CA,
As President of the small Association « Les Enfants de Pondy », Fabien Prakash,
I would like to share these few words with you for the first time.
I, indeed, consider it is important that each community, every Sister of Cluny Convent, and each person in charge of various projects to uplift the needy, read our news not in a casual way. The mere reason is that each one of us take part in an important human adventure, blessed by God’s grace, our dependance on Him and our work together for the common good.
This adventure, which is the Association « Les Enfants de Pondy », would not have been possible without the exceptional assistance of a ‘Family Life’, which answered the call of the Congregation a long time ago. For the past seven years, we have been helping as much as we could, four projects, which reduced to three projects two years ago, of the Province in South East India, namely, in Karaikal and Pondicherry.
Beginning of this adventure in a nutshell:
My wife, Charlotte and I, met in 2000 at the same hospital of St. Joseph of Cluny, where I was born and later adopted from the hospital to Belgium.
We experienced the sincere love and care of the Sisters, which manifested in us the sign of God within the community of the Sisters of Cluny.
The Congregation/ the communities made us feel at home always and we felt that we are always a part of this great family.
Thus, this adventure saw the light one day.
Today, the circumstances of life led us, with our four children to settle in the Antilles- in Martinique. Moreover, that is why I am writing this letter to all of you.
We hope to continue to work every day for the Congregation of the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Cluny. Unfortunately, we will no longer have the support of our French and Belgian friends every day. However, there are clear signs to tell us that here it is always possible to support our projects with financial aid to improve the material living conditions of the 150 children in our three projects.
The welcome we have received since last May, first by e-mail interposed between Sister Véronique, Mr Gilles Voyer and then Mrs Masot, made our arrival on the island so easy. We are indeed grateful for it. Our four children are enjoying their school life at the Seminary College. Charlotte easily found her job with the PMI on the Caribbean coast. And myself? What a better welcome than that of Mr Gilles Voyer and Mme Allain and Mme Masot? All three have made my professional challenge a promise of a new life at the service of educational establishments.
Even more, the Cluny Convent Community, animated by Sister Marie-Ange at first, and then taken over by Sister Myriam and Sister Sabine, comfort and encourage us to continue our commitments, that Saint Joseph of Cluny, in India as here, has always this spirit, yes, the same spirit, that we love so much.
Last week, the visit of Sister Sabine and Mrs. Masot greatly contributed to the success of our first fund raising campaign. I was extremely touched, when I saw the kindness and enthusiasm of the Seminary College and Sisters from the Convent carrying out at a large-scale advertising the campaign within the school community. Charlotte and I might be still too « metropolitan » in spirit but we realize that this sharing and this support, we would never have had elsewhere. How can we not thank the Cluny Convent Community Sisters and its donation of 1000 € to help other communities on the other side of the earth, to help their sisters in their mission in Faith, and thus generously contribute to these projects which make us all better? The communities in India, Pondicherry and Karaikal must know that they are not alone. This gesture is beautiful, touching, strong and it must resonate.
This collective mail is to tell you my dear Indian Sisters, we do not forget you, we try to continue in our little way, to help you by sending you 11,000 € / year. Though we miss you, know that we are well surrounded and we feel at home by Cluny Sisters here in Martinique. It will be two years since we have returned to Pondicherry and Karaikal. Know that God passes beyond skies and seas and by our common prayers and interests, we will undoubtedly be able to make your missions shine and be fruitful, in the middle of our Indian villages, for these disadvantaged children.
Charlotte and all the volunteers from Lille and Brussels, and all those from Martinique who are involved in our action, on behalf of the Association « Les Enfants de Pondy », all join me in announcing that we have gathered € 3,500 for this first quarter.
I am happy to announce it and you can read our article in all languages by clicking on the link: https://lesenfantsdepondy.wordpress.com/2020/02/17/quelle-accueil-en-martinique-a- check-driver-au-restaurant-the-reef /
As I often say, communication allows us to meet more often. After reading this letter, please tell us what your needs are for the betterment of our projects. As we stand at the threshold of Lent, let us remember in prayer and reflection the long winding road to the Passion, death and resurrection of Jesus. As Brother Roger of Taizé say so beautifully, “The almond tree always flourishes in spring, in the peace of heart”.
This is what I wish you on behalf of all my colaborators, and say a very big thank you for your welcome, your prayers and support.
Affectionately in the Faith,
Fabien Prakash
La traduction en Français dans le Texte *
Mes très chères Soeurs dans la Foi et Frère,
