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i n t e r n a t i o n a l n e w s

I checked with Father Renaud, who is in charge of the Thank you to my community who allowed me
barges, to ask if it was possible for me to bring dessert to spend a Christmas afternoon very differently
to the migrants, and he responded that it was possible from the Christmases I was used to. Thanks to
and I was welcome. the migrants and to the Assumptionists who
allowed me to have this beautiful and edifying,
After the noon meal in community with my Bon Secours evangelical and apostolic experience.
sisters, I went to the chapel boat to spend the afternoon
with the migrants. We had a good time together—a time
of sharing, enjoyment and friendship filled with smiling
faces and recognition that we are part of a universal family.
This extraordinary and wonderful experience intensified
my inner desire to follow Christ more closely and to serve
the poorest and the smallest.

During my visit, we were able to chat, play, sing and dance,
and I had the chance to speak with a woman who lives
on the barge with her husband and two little girls. This
Christmas Afternoon and a half. I did nothing other than listen, and she was
woman approached me to talk, and I listened for an hour

able to free herself of many things that had burdened her.

with Migrants by Sr. Nathalie Lundolo To be there, attentive to one and all,
to speak with folks who are in difficult
situations, to help them in their endeavors,

to dedicate a little of our time to them,
this is the mission of the Church and of
AMONG THE MANY BOATS DOCKED This lovely mission of welcoming, housing and the servants of God in a world where
AT CONFLANS SAINTE HONORINE IN accompanying is provided by a religious community people are very mobile. Sr. Nathalie Lundolo (c) with with migrant children who live
on a barge.
FRANCE, NOT FAR FROM PARIS, ONE of Assumptionist priests who live and share their
daily lives with the poor.
BEARS THE INSCRIPTION “I SERVE.” I am very happy for having taken the time to listen to
UNTIL 1919, THIS CHAPEL BOAT her and for helping her express her innermost concerns;
To “welcome, protect, promote and integrate” are and herein lies our mission, to listen, listen attentively
TRANSPORTED COAL, BUT SINCE four strong verbs Pope Francis invites us to implement I CONCLUDE MY SHARING
1926, IT HAS BEEN THE PARISH FOR in order to welcome our brothers and sisters who and fairly. I thought a lot about Sr. Mary Rita that day WITH THIS PRAYER:
and how she would give her time to the patients in the
MARINERS. BEHIND THIS LARGE are forced for many reasons to leave their countries. Bon Secours Baltimore Hospital on Christmas, and “ Lord, you who welcome

CHAPEL BOAT, THERE ARE THREE This invitation from the Pope, as well as the commitment I was very happy to have this apostolic experience with us when we receive you,
help us to welcome all
SMALL BARGES HOUSING MIGRANTS of our religious family to migrants, led me to do the migrants, an experience I hope to relive. Sr. Mary Rita those who seek you. ”
FROM VARIOUS COUNTRIES, MANY something special on Christmas for these people gave her time to the sick, and I was able to give a little Praise and intercession —
OF WHOM ARE FROM TIBET. living on the barges. of my time to the migrants on the boat. Sunday III (morning)

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