Ein Karem, Israel

My name is Kasia, I come from Poland. My journey in Sion started in 2007, when I joined the Community in Cracow. Since a year I am living in a beautiful village in Ein Karem, (Israel), where Sisters Apostolic, Contemplative and Brothers of Sion live, pray and work together in our little guesthouse. Part of my time I study Hebrew, Bible and Jewish Tradition.

 

 

My journey in Sion started not so long time ago - in 2007. I met one of our Sisters of Sion in Warsaw, during an ecumenical meeting. Already then I had been engaged in the Jewish – Christian dialogue in Krakow and naturally I have become interested in the charism of Sion. When the Sisters moved to Krakow and founded a new Community there, we became close friends. The house there was always ready to welcome guests, start new friendships. Thanks to that I got to know better not only the Charism but also how the Sisters live every day. Immediately I liked the atmosphere of simplicity, openness and at the same time truly religious life without big words. It was also important for me the stress that was put on studying and sharing the Bible. During my theological studies I discovered Judaism. It became my passion to know and understand the Jewish roots of my faith but also to know who were the people that lived in the past so numerous in the shtetls near my native village, who are Jews in Poland and in Israel now. And it was so wonderful to talk and to share with a few people about my new discoveries – with a group of friends whom belonged Sisters of Sion. At the same time it became more and more clear to me that I may have a religious vocation to a consecrated life. And because Sion was so close to my heart I finally understood that this is my way and I should take it, I should try. My first formation I spent in Poland, with small periods of time in France and Israel. After my first vows I was sent to the Philippines where I spent a half a year. It was an amazing experience. I could see and share the work of the Sion Sisters in the service of the poor, I could “hear the cry of the poor and a call of God to justice” in our world. In 2010 I was asked to go to Ein Karem. A long time before that I was thinking that it would be a wonderful experience to live in Israel. And here I am now. This place is very special for me. Ein Karem bears the Tradition of the event of the meeting between Mary and Elisabeth and also of the place of John the Baptist. It is an Israeli village and most of our guests are Israelis. They come to our small guesthouse to have a rest or just to walk in our beautiful garden. Very often they ask about the story of this place and often it is the beginning of a longer conversation about dialogue, Church, sisters of Sion and their charism. And for me it is the best source of learning about the situation in the country and to know the People. Through our Arab employees I can also meet and listen to the everyday difficulties that the Palestinians have to struggle not only in Israel but also in the Palestinian territories. My time here is also shared with deepening my formation through studies. I am learning Hebrew, participate in different lectures concerning Bible, history and tradition of Judaism, liturgy, studying in a small group weekly the parasha and Talmud. To live in Israel is also to live according to the liturgical year: participate in Christian feasts, Jewish and Muslim. Let me finish with the words of the Psalm that I often repeat in my heart: “I rejoiced with those who said to me, “Let us go to the house of the LORD.” Our feet are standing in your gates, Jerusalem…”(Ps 122)