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Rekindled enthusiasm
 On Saturday, the 1st of March 2008, about 40 members of the DHS Family –Associates, Sisters who accompany groups, members of the Board as well as two consecrated lay women of the DHS Secular Branch– came together in Paris for a regional assembly of the Associates of the Province of FBH ; the following week, a similar gathering of about 30 people was held in Brittany, Ste Anne d’Auray. To begin with, let us say that it was a real pleasure for each and everyone to meet again.
The objective of the day was to internalise the message given those who had participated in the Associates’ meeting at Lourdes “ Spiritual families : a new face of the Church ” . This message shed light on and renewed the meaning given to the Associates’ way of life… this was followed by sharing and a time for internalisation and prayer. The joyful atmosphere of the meal gave each one the opportunity to get closer to the others, creating the kind of relationships that is essential to become a Gospel Family. The meeting at Ste Anne d’Auray was an occasion to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the first group in Morbihan : a happy moment ! 
The afternoon was lived as a celebration in which the Word helped us to focus on our quest to follow the first disciples : “ What are you looking for ?”. Each one was invited to have a close look at the question and then to share about the next question : “ Towards which face of Jesus is Marie Balavenne leading me ?” This was not easy to answer but the question remains important as it is clearly He who is the foundation of our Gospel Family, Marie Balavenne being only a symbol of the call. In Paris, we were privileged to have among us a priest and a deacon (Belgian associate) and at Ste Anne d’Auray, another priest, an associate too. Their presence made our Eucharistic celebrations even more meaningful. At Ste Anne d’Auray, the day came to a close with the sharing of refreshments with the elderly sisters –our elders in the faith– a very special moment ! I am convinced that each one left with rekindled enthusiasm and re-energised to continue the journey. Those meetings have helped many of us to become aware of the newness of the message heard, of the honesty of our sharings, of the simplicity of the relationships lived “without masks”.
“Your Word, Lord, awakens us, Son of God, be light in our lives.
May your Spirit lead us today, With you, we want to start afresh”.
With prayerful good wishes !
Olivier Lhaut, Associate, Belgium
Next page : Easter : “ Let’s rise up …”
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