All those Sisters who could, gathered from March 9th -11th for time to share, pray and reflect. As always at Salesian gatherings there was much chatting and exchanging of news from north to south and back again. Time was initially given to consideration of Sr. Pauline, our Provincial's Report. Gratitude was expressed for all the serious decisions that had been taken over the year as a response to the discernment made by Sr. Pauline with her council after last year's assembly. There followed Sr. Helen, our bursar's report on the financial state of the province.

Again much has been done and there was some quite lively discussion on various points raised. A huge thank was given for these reports and for the love and energy which has been given in the service of our sisters in leadership.

Saturday saw us engaging in the theme of this year's assembly; Reflective Living. A really inspiring Morning Prayer opened our hearts to the theme as did a thought provoking input by Fr. Michael Cunningham SDB. The latter took us back to our roots, to the call of our Constitutions that our lives, "harmonise the contemplative and active life reproducing Martha and Mary."(Profile of the Daughter of Mary Help of Christians 1885 Constitutions and quoted in our current Constitutions). A period of reflection and small group sharing began a time of serious consideration of our need to do this today. We were fortunate enough to have Sr. Margaret Walsh SND as our facilitator for these days reflection. She also made some comments calling us to our sources and desires already expressed by many sisters over the last year. Sunday saw us working in community groups trying to make an initial identification of one step we would hope to work on to help us move more towards reflective living where we are.

The weekend was punctuated by much quiet reflection, sharing and discussion as well as time to come to some action plans for our daily living. We would not be Salesians if we did not use the opportunity to say a huge thank you to Sr. Pauline we did this on Sunday and much joy and laughter was shared as we did this. Our final prayer of contemplation gave us a taste of the union we do experience when we come fully into the Lord's presence with no agenda except to stay with Him.