WITH JESUS WHO IS RISEN:
A Breath of HOPE, A Breath of Family

In Baie-Comeau, the day after the Feast of St. Joseph, ten Associates renewed their commitment and eight new Associates made their first commitment.
The Hospitallers and Associates gathered at Résidence St-Joseph for a reflection on our Baptism. Using a visual aid of a tree and the Word Of God (Jn 15, 1-6), we called to mind the Father, the wine grower; Jesus, the trunk and the Spirit as the sap which circulates throughout.
Here we locate ourselves within the essence of our Baptism: «« I baptize you in the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit »». This is a Trinitarian arrival which incorporated me into the divine life. From that day, that which flows from the bosom of the Trinity flows into my heart and I become a child of God, a sister or brother to Jesus.
Then each one of the participants left with a branch that had their name on it , to go and meditate on this incredible grace. They then returned to share the fruits of their reflections and attached their branch to the tree. This symbol is representative of the Trinity, the Mystical Body, the Church, the first Christian communities, the Holy Family, all of which encompass a spirituality so precious to our founder.
After this awareness exercise, each one was ready for the Eucharistic Celebration, to be witnesses to a God who unites and frees. And what better way to celebrate this event than with this shared meal.
We share with you some of what appeals to our new Associates:

• I am joining myself to other believers to live my faith and to grow spiritually. I am discovering the ««liberty of the children of God»» and I find myself relating to this very much.
• Living a link with the Church, with the Hospitallers of St. Joseph: to deepen my Baptism, community life, commitment, friendship. To know the spirituality of this community, its founders and to try to be more like them.
• I came to know the Hospitallers through my training and my work. My need to serve the most needy meets that of the charism of the community. It is a call to freely serve in respect and not in judgement. Each human being has his/her own sacred mystery.
• For me, the Religious Hospitallers of St. Joseph are dynamic women and very committed to the most needy in society. This is why I wish to be associated with the community, to develop my sense of commitment and to expend myself (in service to) the most needy.
• For some time I have been seeking another dimension to grow in my faith, my reason for being and to be useful. I believe that it is with the RHSJ's that I can fulfill that goal.
• To help myself to live my personal and Christian values in a profound way in communion with others who have this same concern. To daily help people I rub shoulders with so that through me a little bit of Him passes through. To respond to the best of my ability to the mission of the RHSJ's.

Sr. Françoise Turcotte