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Pilgrimage to Monthey – A Moment of Gratitude and Remembrance
On the 17th of November, around twenty of us travelled from Annecy to Monthey in Switzerland to honour our deceased Sisters. Before the community in Monthey was officially closed on July 15th, 2023, Sr. Claude and the sisters expressed a deep desire to create something lasting to commemorate all those who had lived and served in Switzerland and have now gone to their eternal reward. Responding to this heartfelt wish, Sr. Tessy and her team proposed a beautiful initiative: the installation of a memorial stone with their names engraved on it.
Fr. Joseph, OFM Cap., a long-time friend and good neighbour to our sisters, introduced Sr. Tessy to the well-known sculptor Julien Marolf, who warmly embraced the project. He set out in search of a stone strong and dignified enough to honour the memory of our sisters from the early 1900s onward.The sculptor then began his search for the perfect stone—one solid and noble enough to hold the memory of our sisters from the early 1900s onward. Eventually, he found a large, beautiful stone on a rocky mountainside. He carefully transported it to his workshop, where, over nearly two years, he shaped it into a meaningful work of art. In addition to engraving the names, he carved the face of Mother Mary above the plaque, gently watching over the memorial.
Explaining his choice, he shared that he had selected a rock because the faith of the sisters was as strong and steadfast as the stone itself, and their lives radiated the tender love of the Blessed Mother. The memorial was then installed in the common cemetery at Monthey.We reached the cemetery around 10 a.m. Fr. Joseph Madanu welcomed us warmly. He had prepared a beautiful prayer fitting for the occasion, inviting us to contemplate the lives of our sisters through the symbolism of the four seasons.
In his words: “God of all the seasons of life, day after day, year after year, our life is in your hands. Each person is a sacred story in which are inscribed the traces of your passing. Grant our sisters the grace to discover the brightness of your face and the joy of eternity.”With reverence, each of us lit a candle and placed it around the stone. One by one, we blessed the memorial with holy water and whispered a prayer of gratitude for the sisters who had gone before us. It was truly a moment of deep union and communion with the women of faith on whose shoulders we stand.
Following the prayer service, we gathered in the parish hall for a warm and generous Canadian-style meal. With hearts filled with joy and gratitude, we returned to Annecy, carrying with us the peace and fulfilment of having honoured our sisters in a meaningful and loving way.
God be praised!
Sr. Dominic SJA