After learning languages, we all gathered in Saint Laurent-sur-Sèvre to begin our formation with Sister Symphorose Rasoanarivosalama, the person in charge, and Sister Karuna Xaxa, her assistant. We were happy to welcome one another during this time of Wisdom spiritual renewal, which is also a time of international and intercultural experience. We are eight sisters of seven nationalities from six entities.
During the first week of December, we took time to get to know each other better. It was also the moment when we prepared the opening celebration of this special year.
On Sunday, December 8, the official opening Mass of our formation took place in the Chapel of the Founders. Two General Councillors, Sister Lourdes Alonso Vicente and Sister Immaculate Makina, came to officially launch this year of formation. We were also surrounded by Sister Isabelle Retailleau, Provincial of France, Sister Sylvie Berruet, Provincial Councillor, as well as all the sisters from the Mother House. During this celebration, after the commitment of our two sisters in charge, we committed ourselves to “allowing ourselves to be transformed by Wisdom to live diversity in hope”, which is the theme of the Wisdom Year 2024-2025. Furthermore, the sisters of the Mother House also pledged to support us with their prayers.
“On this great feast of the Church, through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we asked the Lord to grant us the necessary graces to fully live this time of formation.”
Each sister experienced this celebration in a spirit of faith, joy, and openness. What particularly marked us were the efforts of each one, the encouragement from our sisters in charge, the warm wishes received, as well as the fraternal meal we shared in a convivial atmosphere.
This special moment motivates us and helps us to intensify our adherence to Christ Wisdom.
Sister JayaMary Arokiyanathan, Sister Elisabet Samur, Sister Jacqueline Philomène Pierre.
“Learning a new language was a pleasure for me. Studying French helps me to value and to appreciate another culture. It motivates me to expand my heart and mind to find Jesus Wisdom in a different culture.”
Sr. Elis Samur, Indonesia
“Learning a language is not easy. It needs time, energy and willingness. It was very difficult for me to speak and learn French at the beginning but with the help of the different professors, namely sister Marie-Laure Paillet and my sisters in the Wisdom Year community, now I can speak and understand French little by little. I am very grateful for Sister Symphorose and Sister Karuna who are there always when I am in need to speak and to understand French.”
Sr. Imelda Wa’u, Papua New Guinea
“Initially I had lots of interest and a desire to learn French. Firstly, because it is an official language of the Congregation and secondly the accent and the phonetics of the language always made me feel amused. My first opportunity was at the Institute of French Language and Culture (ILCF) in Paris for two months. This experience paved a strong foundation to enrich my learning. After two months, I was again given the opportunity of learning language for three more months in Saint Laurent-sur-Sèvre. Learning the language with Sister Marie-Laure Paillet was very unique, intense and a magical experience. The pedagogy was so simple, systematic and creative.”
Sr. JayaMary, India
“Thanks to our Congregation, I was able to continue learning the French language, spending two months in Paris and three months at the Mother House. This time allowed me to learn more about phonetics, grammar, spelling, and conjugation. Moreover, thanks to Sister Marie-Laure Paillet’s teaching methods, I gradually gained confidence to better express my ideas, feelings, emotions, etc.
Practicing the language in everyday life is not so easy. Sometimes I have to take the time to organize my ideas before speaking, but I am improving more and more thanks to the understanding, patience, and help of Sister Symphorose and Sister Karuna.”
Sr. Katty Castillo, Peru.
“In my formation journey of the Wisdom Year 2024-2025, I had the grace to begin by learning the English language in the Philippines for a month and a half. I am very happy to have had this experience, even though it was short. My joy was great to encounter other cultures. At the very beginning, it was not easy, but over time, I came to enjoy it and didn’t want to stop. I discovered that language is a richness because it allowed me to understand others and be understood. It also enabled me to forge new relationships. Today, I am happy with the little English I have learned. I can read, understand, and write a few words correctly in English.”
Sister Germaine Balowa Sengi, Democratic Republic of Congo
“First of all, the Congregation sent me to the Philippines to learn the English language. Language is a way of reaching out to others and communicating. In this regard, I encountered difficulties at first because I did not know the language. Gradually, I managed to express my ideas with gestures to make myself understood. It was a wonderful experience for me. I discovered the cultural richness of this country as well as the mission of our sisters.”
Sr Gisèle Rasoharivahoaka, Madagascar
“I had a beautiful experience during my English learning in the Philippines. I first attended Assumption Language College (ALC) for two months, then had a few weeks of private lessons within the community. At first, it was not easy for me. I found it difficult to speak, but I understood a little. I became aware of my limits. By making daily efforts and with the help of the sisters, I made progress.”
Sister Jacqueline, Haiti
“From my experience, learning a foreign language is always difficult at the beginning. It requires personal effort and help from others. When I arrived in the Philippines, I understood nothing. Furthermore, adapting was difficult for me. What helped me a lot was my audacity to speak and sharing with the community despite the mistakes. Gradually, I managed to understand and speak. I started to enjoy learning English.”
Sister Mariette Razanampanahy, Madagascar
