Thanks to Philo and her team!
Welcome to Françoise and her team!
This handover took place in the chapel of the Mother-House of the Congregation in Saint-Brieuc, France, on Sunday 22 June, with the sisters from neighbouring communities and from further afield who, for this event, joined the residents of this great House of the Daughters of the Holy Spirit.
It was a prayer of thanksgiving to God for having given us Philomène AC’H and her team for the service of the Province: France-Belgium: Angèle Blanchard, Nicole Ponchau as well as Thérèse Le Denmat – who arrived during her term of office to replace Elisabeth Boudonnet, who was taken very quickly by illness! – Our thanks go to them for the way in which they have taken on this service: ‘with great lucidity, courage and determination’, in particularly difficult circumstances, as Jeannine Légère, General Councillor of the Congregation, pointed out. Despite the worries and difficulties of recent years, we sang: “Taste and see how good the Lord is!” (Ps 33)
It was also a song of hope: ‘Impelled by the Spirit, turn your steps towards the future’. Indeed, we welcomed Françoise BEAUMONT and a new team to lead the France-Belgium Province from 1 July, on an unknown road, guided by the Rule of Life that Philo symbolically passed on to her along with the keys to the Provincial House, those that open the door to all encounters and exchanges! The place of each of her councillors is also symbolically honoured: Marie Thérèse Guého receives from Angèle the directory of the province, with its up-to-date addresses, a precious means of contact with the sisters and all the personnel committed to our service… As for Anne-Geneviève Guérin and Isabelle Cracco, they are encouraged by Nicole to take up the pilgrim’s staff of hope to enter direct contact with the communities in the spirit of our first sisters. Thérèse Le Denmat is invited to continue weaving what has already begun….
After the singing of the Magnificat, Anne Donnelly, who is in charge of the Motherhouse community, invited us to join her in the “Marie Balavenne” room, the community room of the older sisters, for a convivial aperitif. Afterwards, in the self-service area, we were served a buffet, all ‘home-made’ by the expert hands of our friendly cooks!
An excellent evening full of hope and fraternity!
Armandine BAGOT. Daughter of the Holy Spirit. Published on 30 June 2025
