October 2025 to January 2026
First week
The Third Year experience began on 26 October 2025 and will last for two months and ten days, journeying with Christ and Saint Marie Eugénie. This is a unique experience that brought together 21 sisters from nine provinces around the theme: Pilgrims of Hope: journeying together as we respond to the needs and grace of our time. Let us continue to affirm our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful (Heb 10:23).
First of all, on the afternoon of the 26th, a visit to the Auteuil house helped us to settle in and make our home in our Mother House for the few months we have been given. The next morning, we welcomed Sr. Rekha's opening message, which prepared us for this time of grace and renewal and invited us to listen attentively, in a profound conversation with St. Marie Eugénie and, above all, in listening to the Spirit who will lead us to the depths of our peripheries for a journey full of promise and grace.
Following Sr. Rekha, Sr. Lerma helped us to understand a little more about this third Year and the best ways to benefit from it fully. To this end, we were asked some fundamental questions to help us reflect individually. We then identified the essential aspects for our community life in the third year. The first day ended with Compline at the feet of Saint Marie Eugénie, entrusting to her this experience that had just begun.
The next day, 28th and 29th October, it was the turn of Sr Marie Sophie from the Province of Europe, who was very enthusiastic and wanted to help us to slow down and become aware of the present moment. The two days were devoted to this inner journey. It was a very rich experience of sharing, welcoming and knowing oneself through one's own emotions. The challenge is set for each participant to become a witness to God's unique love for each of His creatures.
On the 30th, Sr. Marie Géneviève from the Province of France accompanied us further on our inner journey with very dynamic means of interiority, so that this space that belongs to us may be rightly occupied by the one who is its master.
On the 31st, Sr. Lerma, in a spirit of continuity with what we had been given to experience, helped us rediscover the necessity of unity of life as religious of the Assumption.
The first week ended with a time of integration in communion with the saints in heaven who lived this inner journey to the full in their encounter with God. We are grateful for what is already a way of life in our pilgrimage.
Thank you to the General Council for their care, thank you to each of our provinces for offering us this precious time, thank you to all of you who pray for us.
On behalf of the Third Year Participants,
Sr Marie Bénédicte and Sr Mary Junalyn