Stones in My Way

Written by Sr. Rúbia Maria Almeida – Belém Province
Photo from Quixadá City -- CE

I live in Quixadá, a little city in the Northeast of Brazil, in the heart of Sertão, in the state of Ceará – a very typical city. Here, the sun is very intense almost the entire year round. The streets of small trade are always full of people, cars, motorcycles, bikes and donkey carts; it’s very noisy. This is the daily life of the city.

But, there is something very singular about this distant place – the stones. The city is surrounded by gigantic stones. When I look at their surfaces, I believe in the words of people older than the city; they say that millions of years ago this place was a sea.

I often contemplate the stones and easily see shapes of distorted faces and animals – they have beauty and mystery.

In this region of Brazil, there is a shortage of water. During many months of the year, the landscape is gray, without green. So, during this period, the stones hold the greatest beauty of the region. But for sure, when the rain comes and green arises, the landscape fascinates -- there is harmony between the green, the blue sky and the stones. I adore these stones.

There are stones in my way, and they have a voice inside me.

Service to the Poor

Written by Silvia Corado do Amaral - Salvador Province
Photo from mission in Piauí, Salvador Province

They are far from progress.
They are forgotten by many.
They are there.

They live a simple life.
They cultivate strong values.
They teach us love.

They ask for nothing.
Their voice is very quiet.
We need to be reverent.

In the midst of those people
Our Sisters are
To be a compassionate presence,
Build community
And promote life in all its ways!

Our service to the poor
Is a way to see God in the world
And make Him visible to all.

Evangelizing with Mother Mary in São José Hospital

Written by Sr. Maria da Pureza Nunes -- Salvador Province

The month of May in Brazil is dedicated to Mother Mary. In the São José Hospital, the image of the Mother Mary is welcomes all who enter. Employees participate in celebrations during the month of May -- praying, singing, reflecting on the gospels and sharing the messages with each other. The 31st of May closes the pilgrimage with a reflection of the gospel in Saint John 2:1-12 -- the first miracle of Jesus.

The heart of the Mother Mary fills the world with faith, hope and peace. She is the daughter of God and her son, Jesus.

Who Loves us More? Jesus Christ or God

Written by Sr. Nelísia Rodrigues de Jesus -- Salvador Province

God created the world, and Jesus Christ came the world to save us!
God created humans, and Jesus Christ changed humans to save us!

God created the water to kill our thirst, and Jesus Christ is the water of life!
God created the rain, the rain to water the soil, the bread cames from the soil.
And Jesus Christ is the bread of life to feed us!

God created the night and day, Jesus Christ is the sum of Jusice to enlight us!
God created all the trees of the world, and Jesus Christ is the tree of life!!!!

God is Love and Jesus Christ taught us to love!
God made a throne in heaven, Jesus Christ is seated at the right of the God to pray for us!!!!
God loves and forgive us, and Jesus Christ spilled his blood to forgive our sins.

God adopted us as his children,and Jesus Christ is the way that brings us to the Father!!
God and Jesus Christ are the same person that save and guide us.
They Are the Way, the Truth and the Life.

To Sister Mathilda (On the night after her death)

Written by Sr. Jane M. Abeln -- U.S. Province

Your chapel chair sits empty.
This throne for your crippled spine
will not again witness
your walker’s solemn procession.

In the twilight of last evening,
your soul warmed in God’s embrace,
His Breast bright beyond a gray horizon.
But our night swam in blindness.

Against my tears, my Sister begs joyful praise
because you passed in peace,
with Sisters surrounding you. But
my heart is still. It cannot sing.

Dear Sister, I picture you as in life:
your arms extended like twisted branches
toward His Light, your round smooth face
mirror to His Sun as your cane tapped toward Him.

After your hundred-thousand painful steps
on that long Way of the Cross,
who can question your readiness
for the Final Station?

Not question. . . .It’s just that
I’m lonely in this chapel
where I’ll never see you again.
I’d come to think you’d always be here
even though you, every day,
have been waiting for this one night.


*Sr. Mathilda Busch became ill right after her
first profession, and until her death on Jan. 7, 1971,
she spent most of every day in a pew in the side chapel
of Immaculate Conception convent, also making the
Way of the Cross there.

My Family

Written by Theresa Su -- Taiwan Province

There are three people in my family -- my father, younger brother and I. My mother got sick when I was 18. After a year, she passed away because of cancer. I live in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Usually, there is nobody at home, because we all work in different places. My father is a worker; he works for a sand-pit company in northern Taiwan. My younger brother works for an electrical company, and I, now, am a pre-novice and live in Manila, Philippines. Before I came to Manila, we often got together in my grandmother's house in Taipei, Taiwan.

When I was a child, we did not have a house of our own, so we kept on moving. Although we are not rich, we did not feel that we lacked something in our life. When I grew up, I started to understand the great pressure my parents felt.

All of us have many friends. We like to take our friends to our home or travel with them.
My father likes drinking and smoking, but I do not like this behavior, so I try to stop him, but it seems impossible, because he just says, Many people get sick and die quickly after they quit smoking.”

My younger brother always fought with me when we were young, but now, we do not fight anymore. However, we seldom talk to each other, so I do not know what he is thinking about.

In my memory, my mother always got up very early to cook, clean and work. She was very busy and not really happy. I thought maybe this was the reason why she got cancer. However, I know she is happy where she is now, and I know she is watching over me.

Make a Heaven for You

Written by Sr. Laetitia Li - Taiwan Province

Everyone in the world has hobbies. Some like traveling and some are interested in cooking. I don't like spending a long time making food; I think it is a waste of my time. I prefer reading and sewing as compared to cooking. I don't like to work in the kitchen at all. However, since I am assigned to Sr. Alice, the one in charge of our kitchen, I am beginning to enjoy making refreshments for our Sisters.

We thoroughly clean our house every Friday afternoon. We spend a lot of time doing it, and every sister works hard doing her assigned work，so that our house is always clean and always feels comfortable. On that same day，Sr. Alice serves different kinds of snacks to thank and reward our lovely and efficient sisters. I help Sr. Alice to make the dessert. Sometimes，Sr. Christina offers us some good ideas or recipes, so that we can prepare many delicious snacks of which most of us haven't made before.

I enjoy doing it and I am happy. Although, we spend more than two hours preparing the snacks every time, I feel fulfilled especially seeing the finished products and seeing how the Sisters enjoy them. My feeling is the same as that of a craftsman watching his great art; I feel excitement and satisfaction.

I feel the happiest and the most fulfilled each time, when I look at my Sisters eating the savory and tasty desserts made by me, with a big smile on their faces and hearing them say, "Wow! They are very delicious, I like eating them.”

Sometimes when I am preparing the refreshments, some Sisters ask me, "Sister Laetitia，are you preparing the dessert for us again ? What kind of tasty snack are you going to make today?” I reply proudly, "It’s a very very delicious snack that you have never tasted before.”

Yes, I can do this kind of work to serve my sisters and make them happy. I want them to experience love and service in our big community. When God called us, we left our families and country and came here. Here we are a family; we share God’s love with each other in this new family. There is a saying which states, The secret to a happy life is love, and to live that love every day. I can make my sisters happy by doing small things whole-heartedly.

Serving my Sisters by preparing dessert for them, helps me learn many things. It enriches my life and opens my heart to a lot of things. It’s a pleasure to serve my sisters.

The happiest thing I have experienced is how to make others happy. I will further learn to make more delicious refreshments for my sisters.

You are welcome to come to our community in the Philippines. I will serve you the best dessert and food. You'll feel as if you're in heaven!


That is my simple family with simple stories of our simple lives.

Being Evoked

Written by Sr. Asteria Zhang - Taiwan Province

“English” plays a crucial role in an international congregation. The longer I stay in this community, the more significant English is, I realize. As the saying goes, “Easier said than done.” Although I am aware of it very often, taking action is very difficult.

On the 19th of May, Sr. Dilecta told us that every one of us has responsibility to contribute to the Congregation's online magazine, Accents. It is more an opportunity than responsibility. At that very moment, I woke up to the importance of continuously studying English, never ceasing as a person who lives a consecrated life in an international congregation.

At that very moment, I enjoyed being evoked. It is just like when I am taking medication, I am distracted from it by awareness. After a while, I realize that I should come back to the present, enjoy the present, at that time. I say cheerfully, “Present time, wonderful time.”

Finally, I would like to write a HAUKU to end:

Past, Present, Future,
How wonderful this moment,
Create miracle.

Rejoicing in Hope. Patient in Tribulation

Written by Sr. Zhan Jing Ye - Taiwan Province

At the moment, my feet are standing on alien land. My face is facing many differnet-colored people. My heart feels the different people and cultures. Though we have not met each other before, oddly enough, we are fraternal. Can you tell me why?

In fact, wherever you are, and whoever you may be, there is one way in which you and I are alike, at this time, and in all moments of our existence. We are not at rest; we are on a journey which is the purpose our life. Our hearts and souls are more similar than we may think: the same belief, the same dulcet voice, the same beautiful dream, and the same warm-heartedness.

I have always believed each human being is born as something new, something that never existed before. Everything is lovely with God's blessings, whether you can feel it or not. The Lord is with you at all times, even if you are in trouble, lost and sad, one following another. W

Weep no more, nor sigh, nor groan. Sorrow calls no time that's gone. If only you pray to him, He will grant your need immediately, because God guards and waits for you day and night. Most people fear death, but death itself makes life more loving. Men come closest to their true selves in the sober moments of life, under the shadows of sorrow and loss. Belief can make our life more meaningful.

The Lord is not ice, but fire; is not force, but peace; is not distnace, but love. Love is the flame of life. Without it, everything would be in the dark. God is love. And we stood at God’s feet, equal as we are.

I feel very lucky, because I have believed in God since my childhood. The Lord has lit my way, and often extricated me from difficult situations. Time after time he has given me new courage to face life cheerfull. He has been kindness, beauty and truth. I wish all people could know God, too. Although now there is no enough freedom of religion in a few countries, leaning on dependency of the Lord, we should be hopeful. Our Lord offers not the cup of despair, but the chalice of opportunity. Therefore, we must rejoice in hope and be patient in tribulation. As long as we believe in God, everything is possible.

Zhan Jing Ye, arrived in Manila only on May 15, 2008. Now she is a pre-postulant.