On Friday at 4:30 p.m., eighteen of us set out on the road. During the journey to Assumption Paris, teachers, leadership, and members of the governing body engage in spontaneous conversation: each shares the reality of their school, its values, and what inspires them daily.
Upon arrival, warmly welcomed into the House, we rest briefly in order to fully experience the encounters of the following day.
From breakfast onward, I have the joy of meeting several sisters who speak to us about their lives and their commitment. The first celebration in which we participate afterward proves especially profound and inspiring. We also enjoy a walk through the park, a peaceful and poetic place, before three key moments.
We first discover the Museum of Sister Marie-Eugénie: with passion, we are immersed in her story through objects, symbols, and testimonies. Her vocation, mission, and journey come alive before our eyes.
The visit to the chapel then fills us with wonder through its beauty, colors, and the atmosphere it radiates.
Finally, Sister Hélène reads us a letter from Sister Marie-Eugénie; together, we reflect on it and share what it awakens in each of us.
After Mass, whose words echo the morning’s conversations, we share a joyful meal with the community. The sisters speak to us about their daily lives and transmit, with simplicity and joy, the spirit of the Assumption.
Before returning to Brussels, we visit Notre-Dame Cathedral: its grandeur and beauty extend the depth of these lived moments.
These 24 hours flew by, but they allowed me to understand even more deeply the dedication of Sister Marie-Eugénie, her passion, her rootedness, and above all her boldness in fulfilling her mission.
They also helped me realize how much her work continues to inspire, unite, and encourage others to transmit, again and again, the human and spiritual heritage she carried with such strength.
Today I understand even more why so many people feel called by this spirit and wish to make it live in their daily lives.
Anouchka Collet