Associates

St Louis Associates are women and men who desire to share in the founding vision, spirituality and Mission of the Sisters of St Louis as understood by us today.

In this way, Associates address present-day needs in a contemporary way, together, or with the sisters, as the original founders did in their time.

 While the Associates are active in intent, they enjoy a rich formation by way of monthly meetings, prayer, exploration, reading, self-development and short retreats, in the company of a few of the sisters and meet with all the sisters at various life-giving functions.

Present members and those preparing to become members speak of the worthwhileness and personal fulfilment they enjoy from being associated with “St Louis” in this way and would be willing to share with you on this.

ASSOCIATES’ FIRST COMMITMENT CEREMONY IN MONAGHAN MAY 18 2008

On Trinity Sunday, May 18, 2008 , five groups of Pre –Associates of the
Sisters of St. Louis, Irish Region, travelled to Monaghan to make their
first commitment. They came from Belfast, Bundoran, Carrickmacross,
Dundalk and Kiltimagh in the early morning, arriving at the Motherhouse
in time for coffee. St. Louis House parlour provided the best in
hospitality.

At 11 o’clock the ceremony began with a warm welcome from Catherine
Brennan which was followed by a ritual of music and dance celebrating
the four ancient elements – fire, water, air and earth. This situated
us in the universe awaiting the outpouring of the Trinity.

After the Liturgy of the Word each pre-associate read the Rite of First
Commitment and signed it in the presence of Anne Kavanagh, Regional
Superior. Margaret Silf, internationally known retreat director, a
mother and soon to be a grandmother inspired all with her talk on
unity, very much in line with the St. Louis Charism. It was one of the
highlights of the ceremony and many members of the group said that they
could listen to her all day. The final part of the ceremony was a
visit to the hornbeam tree, a tree that was planted by the first group
of Monaghan Associates at the front of St. Louis House when they made
their commitment. Photographs were taken at the tree.

At this stage everyone was ready for lunch and they were delighted to
see the lovely display of salads prepared by Bernie McGill in Halla San
Lughaidh. What a treat it was for the mothers in the group who
normally are serving others, to be waited on themselves. A tour of the
*Heritage Centre where wonder and awe was expressed was a fitting way to
end the ceremony.

There were many facets of the day that the new group of Associates
treasured; among them was the welcome on arrival, the sense of peace,
the lack of nervousness, the graciousness of the Sisters, the wonder of
the Heritage Centre and Margaret Silf’s address.

Account by Bundoran Associates 2008

*This Heritage Centre is no longer open.

St. Louis Associate (Ireland) National Day.

April 22 2007

Dun Lughaidh Secondary School.

Sunday, the 22nd. of April, 2007 saw St. Louis Associates and St. Louis Sisters flock from many parts of Ireland to the chapel-hall in Dun Lughaidh, Dundalk for the annual National Associate Day. They came from Kiltimagh, Bundoran, Belfsast, Monaghan , Carrickmacross, Dublin and Dundalk itself. The hall was lined with photos , quotes and images of the St.Louis Story. But, the immediate story was colourful, beaming women, seemingly full of the joys of life, and men as well in their quieter colours, sipping coffee, chatting away and enjoying the Marie queen-cakes - literally oven-fresh. A name-tag on each one’s jacket told you immediately who your neighbour was and what Associate group she or he belonged to. It was just great to have so many St Louis Dundalk Sisters there - they who have been so hospitable to our Associates all these years. Mary O’Connor was there and Marion, and Maeve - so, gradually, familiarity with the ‘movement’ is growing.

The 2 presenters were Angela Campion O.P. and Pauline McGrath O.P. and the topic was around Sint Unum today. Angela spoke to us in an interactive manner of her vision of that special page of the Gospel which we, S.S.L., espouse - Jn. 17 - May They be One. It is difficult to put into words the beautiful effect of her words. Indeed, she was acutely aware of the limitation of words - silence being so much more sacred and profound. Nevertheless, we are compelled to use them. ‘Story’ was a big word of hers and she talked about the older story of God’s being up in the heavens, and the ’nether regions’, and we somewhere in between That was a great story for its time but, today, with so much more knowledge of how things are in the Universe, the story has undergone a transformation. Story, that great means of teaching , the one Jesus loved to use. Today, it’s the story of the Universe from the beginning of time, and our place in the great earth-community - caring for every member , caring for the earth as a co-member. Instead of God ‘up in heaven’, we know God to be in every fibre of every being, in all matter, in everything that is, strangely in the brokenness and the dark side of things.

Sometimes you might get an intimation of God - always in mystery. Angela shared with us one such experience and I have her permission to share it with you. She said it was inexplicable and indescribable - though she made a fair attempt to do the latter ! It was when she met the goat in Glendalough. He ran away and she did much the same. Then he stopped and turned and looked at her and she at him and in that moment she sensed something of the Transcendent no words could tell. As the neighbour-woman on the Navan Road said to her about how much she loved the Adoration on Holy Thursday - ‘I just can’t put words on it’ - or words to that effect.

But there was so much more Angela talked about and it was partly a chat - unthreateningly interactive. About the pyramidal , hierarchical shape of things in our world instead of the circular , yet the circular always working its way in - that they may be One. There were the inevitable interventions about Iraq, for example , and the people of Darfur and the tsunami. No answers. Annie Dillard, poet, is keenly aware of this mystery in her Tinker’s Creek…..There was talk of healing, of coming together - wherever there is coming together there is healing. Cracks in the Pyramid. Working for justice, yes, but not judging - judging and healing cannot go together. Listening to all this was an experience in itself of Sint Unum.

Not only was Angela’s presentation interactive, but, at intervals and usually prompted by Angela, Pauline got us moving, on to our feet, through lovely short chants which we could repeat and through mini-mimes like digging, sowing the seed (the old way!) , earthing, growing, reaping the harvest. All very satisfying and renewing.

Mary Jo Hand SSL

Pentecost 27th May 2007

Sheila Freeman writes:

The Dublin group of eight St. Louis Associates held a renewal of commitment day at 7 Grosvenor Road on Pentecost Sunday, 27th May, 2007.  During the ceremony there were readings, prayers, Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and the sisters, numbering over thirty, renewed their vows.  Sr. Gabrielle Mary gave a short reflection on the Holy Spirit and the meeting finished with blessings and a final hymn. Afterwards, everyone enjoyed a very pleasant reception and refreshments.

The window in the Sacred Heart Oratory

Starting the prayer

A group of Associates renew their commitment

The Associates with Helen Power, Noreen Hurley and Gabriel Mary

Some of the sisters present at the ceremony

Classmates - Sister and Associate

Renewal of Commitment in Monaghan June 2007

The Renewal of Commitment ceremony took place in St. Louis Convent, Monaghan, on Sunday, June 24th 2007 for the Monaghan Associates and the founding group of Associates who meet in Dundalk. Also in attendance were a number of St. Louis Sisters from various communities and their presence there was greatly appreciated by the Associates.
Dance was a feature of the liturgy, with Catherine Brennan, SSL leading those present in a spiral dance. The ceremony was further enhanced by a mime enacted by four of the Monaghan group of Associates based on a poem in the liturgy - The Seed.
Each Associate renewed her/his commitment for another year and lit a candle to seal the renewal. The Sisters in their turn made a renewal of vows.
The evening concluded with a delicious meal and a chance to mingle and chat.

Freda Carville ( Associate-Founding group)

President of Associates of Nigeria Province visits Ireland

In November 2007 there was an historic meeting of the Dublin Associates. They were joined for part of their meeting by Mrs Adejoke (Joke) Akindojutimi, President of the Associates in Nigeria. She had been in London for the naming ceremony of her first grandchild and as a St  Louis past pupil (and now Princiipal of St Louis Grammar School in Ondo, Nigeria) she just had to come to Ireland to meet some of the sisters who taught her and also some of the sisters who worked with her in the school. Below are just some photographs which were taken during her visit.