On the morning of 9th February 2025, at 10:30, the icon of Mother Marie-Eugenie was displayed in the Auteuil chapel, while Rwandan drums began to echo, recalling the same drums that resonated in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome on 9th February 1975, during the beatification of our saint, 50 years earlier.
To commemorate this special event, we began the evening before with vigils. What made this prayer particularly unique was that the second reading was not just a simple passage but a projection of photographs accompanied by short texts that told the entire beatification process. From the tireless efforts of the sisters to secure this recognition to the day of Mother Marie-Eugenie’s beatification. This moment allowed all the sisters to experience a deep time of prayer, united in awe, praise, and thanksgiving for the work of God carried out through Saint Mother Marie-Eugenie.
On Sunday at 10:30, the Rwandan balafons once again filled our chapel, marking the beginning of our Eucharistic celebration. Sister Recka and Sister Illuminata entered in procession, carrying the icon of Mother Marie-Eugenie, followed by four junior sisters, each holding a lit lantern, and the celebrant, Abbot Louis Bardon, chaplain of our parish. With confident and steady steps, they made their way to the altar, while the assembly looked on with joyful and amazed eyes, to the rhythm of the entrance hymn. The atmosphere was peaceful and prayerful, creating a space of deep communion. The presentation of the gifts was preceded by a Malagasy dance, which added a special dimension to the celebration.
After the Mass, we invited the members of our assembly who were available to visit the museum to learn more about the life of Mother Marie-Eugenie. It was an enjoyable visit, allowing everyone to immerse themselves more deeply in the legacy of our saint. At the end, the faces of those who participated reflected a sense of satisfaction and delight, as if the day had touched something very deep in their hearts.
The shared meal was a moment of warmth and closeness. Later, we gathered for small games, in which the sisters showed their creativity and joyful spirit. The celebration concluded with a beautiful song of trust, a final gesture that sealed our celebration in honor of the 50th anniversary of the beatification of Saint Marie-Eugenie of Jesus.
In summary, remembering the beatification of Mother Marie-Eugenie made us feel closer to her, as though her presence was accompanying us in a more intimate and living way. It was a day of prayer, joy, and gratitude for her intercession and for the legacy of her life dedicated to God.