Par Sr Lilly Devasia, France (Province d'Europe - BFMN)
There is a rhythm that prayer brings to life, a rhythm that deepens consciousness of God’s presence in our daily experiences. Over time, I’ve found that living prayerfully has shaped me into a vessel where God dwells, allowing me to see the Divine presence in others and in myself. This sense of connectedness is sustained by a shared passion for love that brings us to life, to mission, and to community.
As our Congregation approaches the culmination of the Bicentenary Jubilee Year on November 11, 2025, we are reminded of the remarkable foundation laid 200 years ago by Sr. Mary Euphrasia. Her vision of a contemplative lifestyle created a legacy of service and prayer that endures to this very day. She established a way of life that thrived on courage, faith, and unwavering love for God’s call.
This milestone invites us to reflect on our collective journey and the deep bonds of unity that have been built over generations. Bonds that, after years of collaboration and friendship, led to the momentous reunification of our two congregations in 2014.
Since then, I have continued to witness our openness to integration and our generosity in offering hospitality. Throughout the province and around the Congregation, we have been able to visit different communities, share stories, build relationships, and develop a deeper appreciation for our unity in diversity (Const. 34).
This offers us a more global perspective, enhancing our sense of belonging and our desire to know more about the lived realities of one another. Although we are scattered across different parts of the world, we are united by our shared passion for who we are and what we do.
Networking and communicating with sisters worldwide, forming friendships, and creating prayer circles for mutual support help us stay connected and strengthen the quality of our interrelationship as contemplatives in an apostolic congregation.
Living in the daily events makes prayer a whole new experience, and it makes life ever more prayerful. We have a deep responsibility to bring to prayer and reflection the quality of our lives and our mission. In community, we strive to encourage what is life-giving by listening to one another, preparing the liturgy, doing household chores, cooking, gardening, and participating in other community events.
Together, we are learning to create a culture among us of deep listening and dialogue. This contemplative dialogue, deeply grounded in silence, allows us to experience a profound state of shared consciousness as we listen from the fullness of who we are, speak to one another with humility and vulnerability, and open ourselves to be transformed by what we hear and experience.
Living my daily life rooted in love gives me the hope to have the power to accomplish far more than we can ask or imagine, wherever I am and whatever my daily activities may be.
Our individual and collective efforts are necessary so that we can journey beyond with strong feet, ready to march forward and serve those most in need in our society, through our being and doing – accepting the vulnerability of myself and others is crucial for reaching the prophetic mission beyond the bounds.
Together, we continue to work on improving the quality of how we serve and ensure that the heart of the Good Shepherd can be uplifted by our way of living life to the fullest.
Our deepest desire is to connect with one another, seeking new ways to renew, strengthen, and uphold our contemplative way of life within our Congregation as we journey towards the new governance structure with new directions.
«God guides us, despite our uncertainties and our vagueness, even though our failings and mistakes. God leads us step by step, from event to event. Only afterward, as we look back over the way we have come and reconsider certain important moments in our lives in the light of all that has followed them, or when we survey the whole progress of our lives, do we experience the feeling of having been led without knowing it, the feeling that God has mysteriously guided us.” Paul Tournier
