At the heart of the mission, get to know the missionary reality of the UDJ in the United Kingdom.

THE MISSIONARY REALITY OF THE UNITED KINGDOM

ENGLAND, SCOTLAND AND WALES

For the past two years we have welcomed two of our Sisters from Madagascar. They came to learn English and at the same time have brought great life to our Missionary Reality. It has been a privilege to journey with them.

We are currently 30 Sisters in the United Kingdom Missionary Reality. There are 4 communities. Three of these are inserted in parishes and the fourth is our community of care for our elderly Sisters. Our mission is very much one of presence due to our age profile. We remain in the areas where we have been present for many years. 1834 in Scotland 1860 in Wales1894 in England.

There is a group of the Family of the Incarnation in each of the areas where we are inserted. They meet regularly then for the feast of the Annunciation and the Immaculate Conception we come together via zoom for a time of prayer and sharing. In June representatives from each area will come to Stella Maris for 3 days to celebrate the jubilee of the Family of the Incarnation.

In each of our communities we remain aware of life around us, in our nations and the wider world with all its uncertainties and we wrap them with our prayer.Presence and proximity are the way we live our mission today.

The coordinator with the consultative group.

St. Mary’s ConventGreenhill Swansea

The Ursulines of Jesus first came from France in 1860 to minister in this very poor area of Swansea. One of our sisters has always worked in the St. Joseh’s Church and parish.

We have a very active team working with the Parish Priest each with our own area of responsibility.

I am coordinator of the Sacramental Programmes and directly involved with the RCIA (Rite of Christian initiation for Adults) programme, the Parents of First Communicants, and the Baptism programme.

This year we have a very vibrant group of young people in the RCIA. It is wonderful to be part of it. Like the rest of the world many young people are coming to faith in the Catholic Church.

I visit the sick and housebound with Communion every couple of weeks which I love.

I am a member of the Safeguarding Subcommittee in the Dioceses. Safeguarding for our own Sisters is another responsibility.

Caring for our environment is a very important project for our sisters worldwide. I represent our sisters in UK on the International Commission for Ecology.

Sr. Nora Mary Ryan

Stella Maris Community, Swansea, Wales

Our community is a community of care for our elderly and infirm Sisters. Due to our age and frailty our mission is one of prayer and presence.

Requests for prayer come from our families, friends, and the local community. We also keep the needs of the world in our daily prayer. People join us for our daily Mass.

We have an open house were family and friends can visit and stay.

Many of the Sisters in the community were on mission in Swansea in schools and our hospital. Friends made over these many years support us in various ways. Last year we held a Macmillan coffee morning and raised £1000 for this very important mission.

Our latest venture is to befriend a young autistic boy who loves everything to do with the Church.

We are supported by a dedicated lay staff who look after our care needs. We are interested in their lives and they in ours.

Our Associates have a long history of connection with the Sisters. They join us for the renewal of their commitment on the feast of the Annunciation and enjoy a celebratory dinner with us.

Again, this year we hosted the celebration for our jubilarians.

We recognized that we are in mission to the end through our prayer and presence.

THE RUMFORD COMMUNITY

The Sisters are a presence in the parish of St. Anthony’s in Rumford. Here they reach out to the local community. There’s is an open house recognizing that the Church is for the people.

They are in involved in the Archdiocese of St. Andrew’s and Edinburgh with SPRED.

A group of Associates from different parts of Scotland meet to deepen their call to live according to the Spirit of Jesus, the Incarnate Word in the footsteps of Louis Marie Baudouin.

We have an active prayer group formed from prayer courses held in parishes nearby and meeting regularly.

Presence and proximity to people where they are and as they are, is important to us and we do all we can to journey with them.

The London Community

We are a community of 4 sisters situated in Stamford Hill, North London. This is a predominantly Jewish area.

Each Sister is committed to the life of the community and the Congregation. At the heart of our life is adoration of the Word Incarnate.

We have some pastoral ministry in a large multicultural Jesuit parish, taking Holy Communion to the housebound, reading at Mass, Eucharistic ministry, taking part in scripture and faith sharing groups.

We also keep an ‘Open Door’ for our neighbours and friends, giving time to all callers. Presence to others is very important to us

A group of our Associates meets regularly and after a time of sharing we socialize with a cup of tea.