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Posts from Pakistan: 2.19.2023

Posted on February 19, 2023, by Loretto Community

Greetings to all of you who have prayed us here and might be interested in what it is like being here!! Our trip was challenging in length but even more challenging is the recovery from it. We have been tired a lot and sometimes not able to sleep.

Seven women gather for a photo. Five are in white tunics and pants; two are in traditional Pakistani dress.
Loretto in Pakistan.

Life here is centered around community, prayer and work. My day begins with coffee, of course, and then praying the office with the community at 7:30. We eat all three meals together often times in silence as seems to be the practice of the culture. There is a real intention and attention around most of what is done. We have afternoon tea together and then pray a rosary. The evening meal is around 7:30pm. Although there is definitely a routine around the daily activity it does not always happen at the same time as various activities might delay approximate times so there is a certain amount of uncertainty as to when exactly something might happen.

Five women sit on the floor in prayer.
Community prayer.

There is a wonderful spirit in the community. All persons help one another to do the work that needs to be done. Nasreen, Maria and Samina find it very helpful to have Shaista and Saima making it possible for them to get all the work done. We have felt very cared about and the level of hospitality is really quite amazing – always offered with a smile and the sense that we are immediately part of the community. Cooperation and collaboration are so visible among them.

Last week was a time of preparation for the exams at school this week. Samina, Shaista and Saima all teach at the school and prepared questions for the exams. Maria, Mary Ann and I worked on getting the questions typed up to be printed and distributed. Today Maria and Samina went to Faisalabad to speak with a religious community about installing solar on their buildings. Nasreen is principal of the school and teaches at the seminary as well. She has just completed writing a book and Maria is making 51 drawings which will accompany the text.

Women in habits and a few men sit at desks in a room as they prepare for a meeting.
Meeting of major superiors.

Two activities I want to share with you:

  1. On Wednesday we went with Nasreen to the major superiors’ meeting of women and men religious.
  2. Frequently people come to be with us. On Sunday one of those persons was Fr. Liam from Ireland who said mass for us.
Two bibles, one in Urdu and one in English, are side by side on the table.
The Bible in several translations.

Blessings on you all and what you are doing in your part of the world,

Anna

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1 Comment

  1. Avatar Therese on March 15, 2023 at 5:14 pm

    Dear All,

    The pictures and sense of community stirred within me a real connectedness, feeling your presence in my own life. How wonderful is that!! Each day as I think of you and remember all of you in my prayers, I am so grateful for YOU and all that you are doing, as the Loretto Spirit is all around us!!

    Blessings,

    Therese Stawowy

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