Christmas with Gratitude and Farewells, Rome, Italy

The Motherhouse community wishes everyone Merry Christmas and a happy New Year!

In addition to sharing the joy and happiness of Christmas, this has also been a time of farewells for us.

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On Monday, December 26^th, the sisters of the Motherhouse community expressed their appreciation and gratitude to Sister Mary Kristin Battles and her team for their six years in Congregational Leadership. The Assistants General were Sister Maria Alcídia Guareschi, Sister Maria Julindis Melis, Sister Mary Shauna Bankemper, Sister Mary Sreeja Chittilappilly and Sister Marie Emma Kim. On behalf of the local community our Local Coordinator, Sister Linda Marie White, thanked each Sister in particular for her active and joyful presence among us. Sister Linda Marie promised Sister Mary Kristin and Sister Mary Sreeja who embark on a second term in General Government our prayerful support. To Sister Maria Alcidia, Sister Maria Julindis, Sister Mary Shauna and Sister Marie Emma she said, “Thank you for your combined 24 years of service to our congregation. God bless you in every way as you return to your home provinces.” Following the prayer by Sister Linda Marie, while the sisters sang the refrain of the “Magnificat”, each of them received a bouquet of white tulips along with a beautiful photo album and a CD consisting of pictures recalling memories of their six years in Congregational Leadership from 2010-2016.

In the evening of December 27, the four outgoing General council members presented a creative farewell program for the community with much laughter and appreciation. After the program they expressed their gratitude as each sister received a lovely gift from all four of them as a symbol of their love and gratitude.

On December 28^th the departures started in the early morning. Sister Mary Kristin and Sister Mary Sreeja accompanied each of the sisters to the airport. The Motherhouse community will definitely miss their joyful and inspiring presence among us.