SIMPLICITY

Simplicity is about subtracting the obvious, and adding the meaningful. -- John Maeda, "The Laws of Simplicity"

Holy Week in Tinharé

Written by Sr. Silvia Corado do Amaral & Sr. Patrícia & Sr. Rosivonete -- Salvador Province

Every year, our community celebrates the Holy Week in a different place. Our intention is to be in poor places where there are no priests or missionaries to help the community to celebrate this very important time in our church.

This year, we went to Tinharé, a small village where our Sisters are working as missionaries. This community is very poor. People work very hard to make a living. Men and women fish every day and sell their product for very little money.

This community is very open, welcoming and full of life. Every one loves to sing, to dance, to pray, to be together and celebrate life. Adult people teach their traditional culture to the young generation and this gives a lot of energy and excitement to the community. During the days we spent there, we visited a lot of families, prepared presentations on the Gospel with children and the youth and helped to give a lot of life to every ceremony we had in the church.

After the ceremony of the resurrection on Saturday evening, we had a very nice moment of entertainment with music, dance and a lot of joy. The community really enjoyed this moment.

We believe that we can bring the good news of Jesus Christ in a very joyful way helping people to celebrate their faith without loose their original culture.

We left Tinharé on Easter Sunday with a lot of “saudade". We hope to go back there some day.

Adaptation of Psalm 63

Written by Sr. Jane M. Abeln -- U.S. Province
Photo - Property of AllPosters

O God, my God, for You I long;
My soul athirst sings You its song.
My body lies, a stretch of sand;
It pines for water from Your Hand.
In Your High Place, on You I gaze,
To watch Your glory brightly blaze.

Far more than life is this, Your Love,
My lips will chant Your praise above.
I bless You, Lord, my whole life through,
I lift my hands to honor You.
My soul shall feast on Sacred Food,
With joyful lips, I praise your good.

In bed, I think always of You;
On You I muse the long night through.
For You, my Help, have sent your rays—
Your Spirit’s joy for all my days.
O You, my soul will ever grip;
Your Hand will never let me slip.

18 lines
First Rights, Accents

M.E.

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

Like a crippled girl from a body cast,
through My Word
and My tender Touch,
you have leaped forth whole unto Me.
You are healed, healed from inside out—
doubly healed.
And you are sealed, sealed as My Beloved,
by My Word
and My tender Touch.

I have unbound you,
unwound the bandages
until at last the full Light
that always surrounded you
can sink through your eyes
into this little soul
that I have claimed as My own.
You will forget, like a mother, your anguish
for the joy that new life is born
in you
and through you.

Yet I leave on your body a few bandages
to remind you of bigger wounds
still suffered by My Body,
which I send you to heal
and seal
by My Word
and My tender Touch
for the glory of My Father.

28 lines
First Rights, Accents

Abba (Through the Womb of This Life to the Father)

Written by Sr. Jane M. Abeln - U.S. Province
Photo - Property of AllPosters

In Mother's womb, I saw you not, dear Dad.
Though you first held me-to-be, my eye
Had not beheld your face. And oh, the joy
To see you in the light of this, my life!

In this second womb, I see You not, dear God.
Though You first held me-to-be, my eye
Has not beheld Your Face. But oh, the joy
To gaze on You beyond this night of life!

And yet, My Father, already I’m beheld
By You who see the me-to-be, and I
Am held, enfolded in You
As in a hurricane’s eye.
And I wait to see those Eyes of You
Who first beheld both Dad and me,
Who hold our becoming and call:
“Yes, come! Become! In Me!”

(Originally published in
Anthem, GSRRE, Fordham,
Spring, 1983, p. 3. Revised slightly, 2008)

To Be SMIC

Written by Sr. Lucivane -- Belém Province

I want to share an idea with you about the invitation for my Perpetual Profession. What I'm about to write isn't very deep with respect to the English Language because my vocabulary is limited, but my heart is happy with what I managed to express.

During my time in the Congregation, I have had many experiences with Mary, Saint Francis and Jesus, the roots of our spirituality.

The three candles symbolize the love of the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit and the three vows: poverty, chastity and obedience. The SMIC Congregation is the light and fire that heats the lives of many people through the presence of mercy, available in Mary, through her appeal to God.

“Behold the handmaid of the Lord", because for God, our important mission is in all different parts of the world. Thank God for Mary's presence in my life. With her love I'm strong and feel safe to continue my walk with SMIC.

Roses are Red

Written by Sr. Ana Lúcia -- Salvador Province
Photo -- Property of AllPosters

Roses are red,
Violets are blue,
Sugar is sweet
and so are you.

In order to see ...
that roses are red,
that pretty violets are blue,
and that sugar is sweet,
it is necessary for us to be aware, to be positive, and to have love in our hearts.