January 20th, 2010 - BAYSWATER

Each year, every house of Sion celebrates the 20th of January in a very special way, because this day marks the ‘Origins of the Congregation’. It is the day when our co-Founder Marie Alphonse Ratisbonne, who was a Jew, experienced a miraculous conversion through the intercession of Our Lady and the earnest prayers of a good friend of his.  So this day is celebrated with great joy and reverence throughout the whole Congregation and in every School of Our Lady of Sion.

In our Bayswater community, each year we invite the associates of Sion and some friends to celebrate with us. This year we were about twenty in all, including seven of us in Community.

We were delighted to have our new Parish priest to celebrate the Eucharist with us at noon. It was a good occasion to introduce ourselves to him and him to us.   After Mass, all of us gathered in the community room for a glass of sherry and a chat. At 1.30 pm lunch was ready to be served in the dining room. We shared a delicious meal prepared by our Polish cook. There was a very happy atmosphere all round, everybody chatting, laughing and enjoying the food and conversation, which continued to the early evening.

All the guests were very appreciative of this day together. We did our best to prepare well for this celebration, the chapel and dining room were suitably decorated and everywhere looked very festive. Prior to this event, the Sisters in all the Sion houses send greetings to each other to express their joy and prayerful union throughout the Congregation.