June 30th Feast Day of Jeanne-Marie Chavoin On Monday 30th June it is the Feast Day of Jeanne-Marie Chavoin, the foundress of the Marist Sisters’ and the Patron of Chavoin House (the Blue House). Chavoin House, along with Colin House, was one of the original two Houses of this College.
Jeanne-Marie Chavoin was born in Coutourvre, a French village northeast of Lyons, in 1786. Her father and grandfather were tailors and owned a few acres of land outside the village. Jeanne-Marie grew up during the unrest of the French Revolution where religious persecution and abuses prevented freedom of worship. She had no official education (there were no primary schools operating in France during this time) and whatever she learnt came from home, mainly from her father and then later from a Priest who lived with the Chavoins.
Despite her personal lack of education, Jeanne-Marie valued learning very highly. Growing up, Jeanne-Marie learnt concern and compassion for others, particularly those less fortunate. As religious freedoms started to be restored, she began to work in her parish, helping the priest take care of various people. Jeanne-Marie did this without drawing attention to herself.
During this period, Jeanne-Marie encountered several religious groups who influenced her and was asked many times to join different religious orders. Jeanne-Marie was not interested in the usual monastic life of many of these offers. She was wanting to encourage open work in the community.
Having been invited to Cerdon to meet with Jean-Claude Colin and Pierre Colin and hearing about the Marist project (a family of Marist groups that hold our Mother Mary as their role model), Jeanne-Marie founded the first community of Marist Sisters’. Her vision for the Sisters was to live a hidden life in the world, acting as apostles in the community and educating children with limited opportunities.
Jeanne-Marie Chavoin had many admirable qualities which we are encouraged to live by in order to make a difference in our Marist community. These include patience, calmness, trusting in God’s love, charity, encouragement, willingness and humility.
Source: http://www.mscw.nsw.edu.au
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