Heart's Home USA

Vespers at Dillon Gallery

Sr Mariana — 2011-01-15T02:23:24Z

On January 3^rd, a unique gathering took place in the Chelsea section of Manhattan. An encounter between painting and music, contemporary art and ancient traditions, art and faith. Around 7pm, about 40 people, hailing from a variety of backgrounds and nationalities, met at Dillon Gallery, one of Chelsea's most prominent art galleries located on the street level on 25^th Street.

On that night, the Heart's Home team was honored to direct a vesper service in the heart of New York's art district. The invitation came from our friend Makoto Fujimura, whose outstanding paintings of the Four Holy Gospels have hung on the walls of the gallery since the beginning of December. Makoto introduced the event, and welcomed father Paul Anel to introduce and lead the vesper.

Sister Mary, Servant of God's Presence, directed the choir, composed of the Brooklyn team plus a group of Heart's Home seminarians from Chile presently attending philosophy classes at the ICCC. Their talent and hard work to make the most of this night resulted in an amazing performance of Palestrina's “Jesu Rex Admirabilis,” among others.
The audience was seized by the beauty of the paintings and of the songs, both mingling into one heartfelt prayer. Father Paul, in his homily, emphasized Makoto's courageous choice to illuminate the Word of God from the very depth of the contemporary vocabulary, abstract and thoroughly dramatic. It was said that when somebody sings his whole body vibrates. Hopefully this memorable night, full as it was of wonder, prayer, and genuine friendship, will cause the whole art district to vibrate !

To know more about Makoto Fujimura's work

“The widow with two coins is rejoicing” - Katie, volunteer in India.

Sr Mariana — 2010-12-09T03:53:41Z

Katie L., an American volunteer from St. Louis, Missouri, just arrived at the Garden of Mercy, one of the two Heart's Home villages. She gives us her first impressions of her mission in India:

“Several days ago I had the pleasure of going to see one of our friends, Patti (Grandmother) Rebecca. I was accompanied by David, a French volunteer whose Tamil is a bit more advanced than mine, but not by much. Patti Rebecca lives in a small village called Tambaran very close to the Garden in a little green concrete hut. She has had bone cancer for 14 years, which mainly manifests itself very painfully in her right leg.

When we arrived at Patti's house she asked us to sit down, which we understood. Then she asked us if we ate, what we ate, etc. So far so good. Then she rambled off a paragraph or so of Tamil, speaking excitedly with her hands and raising her voice. I had no idea what she was saying. “Um, amma?” I ventured, which means, “Um, yes?” Patti leaned over and laughed so hard I thought she would cry. So she just kept trying, kept asking David and I long excited questions and laughing when we didn't know what she was saying. And it became a game for all three to try to see what we understood out of each other, all three laughing and joking when we couldn't get it.

Suddenly Albert and George arrived to spend some time with Patti as well. Though she was overly happy to see them she was embarrassed because she did not know that they were coming and she had spent the last of her money on coffee for herself, David, and me. She had nothing to offer them. Almost instantly I thought of the widow in the Gospels that puts the 2 coins in the offertory at the temple. And I was so touched.
Patti, who cannot express herself in words to us, who has no idea why David and I personally desire to be with her or to be in India, who has only a few rupees - she not only gives us a gift with the only money she has, but she really enjoys us, really takes us fully into her house, into her life and into herself. I was impressed at the sacrifice she made for us, but more blown away by the pure joy she took in making it. And I realized that the widow who leaves the temple is laughing. She is really enjoying life. She walks out of the temple with her arms wide open, because she will give everything to God and for this she knows pure joy.

As we left Tambaran I sat quietly on the back of the scooter, thinking about how I came to India to treat the poor as if they were Jesus, to love them like Jesus. But the people here are treating me as Jesus. Father Thierry speaks about our mission as The Kindergarten of Love – in these places we have to learn everything again. We have to learn how to speak, we have to learn how and what to eat, which medicine to use, etc. And we learn how to love. These people become our teachers. I don't know what Patti Rebecca is saying. And I clearly don't know how she cooks or what medicine she puts on her leg. But she is my teacher. Because she loves me. Because she is my friend.”

Katie L.

Merry Christmas and Happy New year 2011!

Sr Mariana — 2010-12-08T04:26:37Z

Dear friends,

We just celebrated Thanksgiving. At the Heart's Home center in Brooklyn, NY, we shared a traditional turkey dinner with more than 40 friends, people that we serve in New York City and people who support us. We ate, played and sang with many who would have spent this day alone. It was a beautiful day! And, indeed, we have many things to be grateful for.

We are especially grateful for Heart's Home: for 20 years of existence of this international movement of compassion. From a small seed, an intuition given to French priest Fr. Thierry de Roucy, on January 4, 1990, there are now more than 40 centers around the world, 1,300 volunteers who have dedicated one year or more of their lives to serve poor and troubled people in slums, and one hundred permanent members, priests and religious sisters.
Here, in New York, we celebrated the 20^th Anniversary of Heart's Home on September 18, at the ICCC with a pilgrimage that gathered 120 people around the new built shrine to Our Lady of Compassion.

We are grateful for all the volunteers. From 40 different nationalities, they give their time and share their talents with the neediest of people. This year we doubled the annual number of American volunteers. Ten of them were serving abroad for more than a year and one volunteered in New York. As of this year, there are more than 30 American Alumni who are building a network of compassion throughout the United States. After their mission is complete, they continue to live the same spirit of compassion in their own environment.

Five other missionaries have already begun training to leave next summer/fall, exceeding our total at the same time last year. We are grateful for each person we serve around the world. Take, for example, the incredible story of Eva.

We are grateful for these two babies and for Eva's beautiful testament of love. This story, as many others all around the world, encourages us to continue our work, with the assurance that genuine friendship can make the difference!

We are grateful for you! There are many of you who support us. We need your support, great or small, through donations or prayer. Thanks to your faithful generosity, we are able to continue to spread the word about our work, and to recruit and train American volunteers.

But our needs are great: we run two centers in New York and support one in Chile, where we serve troubled and disadvantaged individuals. We are expanding the hosting capacity of the ICCC in order to increase our activity. Considering our growing efforts to alleviate suffering in New York, we are planning to open a third center. These projects are very dear to us because they address a need that we see everyday: there are many who await a place to be loved, a friend to be with, and hope in life.

With $20 you help with one week of public transportation to visit our most isolated friends.
With $100 you help with one month of groceries for one volunteer in New York.
With $300 you support one week of the Heart's Home Center in Chile.
With $600 you support a plane ticket for a volunteer to go to South America.
With $1,000 you help us build the ICCC.
You can also help us with your miles.

Make your Christmas contribution.

For all the support you already gave us and, beforehand, for your Christmas contribution, I extend to you a heartfelt “thank you”: you help us change lives, like Eva's, Morgan's, Abigaëlle's, and Kathy's.

On behalf of Heart's Home board of Directors and Missionaries I wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. May the Lord reward you for all you give to us with the hundredfold!

With my sincere gratitude and my warmest regards,

Laetitia Palluat de Besset
President of Heart's Home USA

Sunny's testimony about her Come & See weekend

Sr Mariana — 2010-12-02T05:04:55Z

Sunny is an American volunteer from Phoenix, AZ. She is going to Brazil for a 14 month-mission in the Fazenda do Natal, one of the two Heart's Home villages.

“During the Come & See weekend I was taught about the charism of compassion, but I understood more fully what that means through the everyday life of the missionaries. Immediately upon entering the Heart's Home I was surrounded by love and gentleness. Their hospitality wasn't only for me as a guest, but spread throughout the community as each person graciously served the others in some way. And even though I was a guest, I didn't feel like a stranger; I was welcomed throughout the day in all of their activities. The love within the community radiated into the neighborhood as was evident by the friends we visited. Many anticipated our visits, smiled and chatted continuously while we were with them, and didn't want the time together to end. It was completely natural that after only a couple of days I was already feeling “at home.”

I was struck by the manifestation of Jesus' great commandment, “Love one another, as I have loved you.” It was tangible in every handshake, audible in every laugh, delicious in every meal. I heard my heart's echo in this mission to love. During my discernment, before the Blessed Sacrament, Jesus said, “Come be with me.” It's as simple as that. To be with Jesus, serving as He served, loving as He loved—this is my mission with Heart's Home.”

Sponsor Sunny!

December 11 - Advent One-Day Retreat: “Waiting with Mary”

Sr Mariana — 2010-11-29T01:45:02Z

Come and join us for the next "One-Day Retreat" for French speaking Men & Women. The talk will be given by Father Thierry de Roucy, founder of Heart's Home.

Where: at the International Center for a Culture of Compassion

When: Saturday, December 11, 2010 from 10:15 am to 5:30 pm

Register online before Thursday, December 9.

Read Program & Directions

Charlotte, volunteer in Peru

Sr Mariana — 2010-11-10T03:36:27Z

Charlotte arrived in Lima on September 18, 2010. She joined the Heart's Home team in Barrios Altos, composed by Tim (American), Alejandra, Cecilia (Argentinians), Benjamin (Chilean) and Jessika (Salvadorian).

"My new brothers and sisters have been my official tour guides and teachers. They have given the word “hospitality” a whole new meaning for me. Not only did they immediately share their food, bedrooms, and bathrooms with me, but they have been by my side every second of every day helping me do everything from navigating the book of prayers to washing my laundry.

However, I must admit that accepting their help has been a bit of a battle with my pride as I like to consider myself a fairly independent person. But perhaps that is exactly why I am here, away from my home, away from my country, and away from my language.

I have been told many times that in order to share love and compassion with other people, we must first allow ourselves to be loved and cared for. As simple as that sounds, it is a true struggle for me; it is an act of humility that I don't think I have ever been fully open to. It is admitting that I am weak, that I don´t have all the answers, and that I desperately need the presence not only of other people, but moreover the ever-faithful presence of the Holy Spirit.
Here in Lima, I have no other option than to accept this reality. Somehow this acknowledgement of dependence is utterly liberating."

Charlotte I.

“Being part of something greater”: Elizabeth's testimony about her Orientation Program

Sr Mariana — 2010-11-05T09:40:00Z

Elizabeth will leave in December 2010 for a 14-month mission in Senegal.

Arriving at orientation for my upcoming mission, I was unsure what to expect of the two weeks ahead of me. For me, one of the most formative parts of the orientation program and something which I was certainly not expecting was how quickly I felt we were accepted as a part of community life. I had known, of course, that we would sharing in community life: chores, prayer, mass, etc.; however I had not prepared myself to feel like I so much belonged there. Rather than an outsider with a rare look on the inner workings of something, in two short weeks I felt I was a part of something.

I had been - and if I am honest, must say that I sometimes still am - nervous about being the newest member of an established community, a bit on the outside because of inexperience and language barriers. Being at orientation, however, helped me to understand that despite these differences of culture and personality, community is based upon something greater than simply shared quarters. It is based upon a common mission, a common love, and a common call.

Although walking into a house of seven of people who have already been living together does seem a bit intimidating at times, I realize that the love which compels us to be there also is that which makes community is possible. I have heard several times that community is both one of the most challenging and one of the best parts of the mission, and being at orientation gave me a small glimpse of that.

Elizabeth J .

Sponsor Elizabeth's mission in Senegal!

The Inauguration of the Shrine to Our Lady of Compassion

Sr Mariana — 2010-10-06T02:52:44Z

In honor of the 20^th Anniversary of Heart's Home and to renew the consecration to Our Lady of Compassion, each Heart's Home community around the world organized a pilgrimage to the nearest Marian shrine. As there are so few Marian shrines in the New York area, this anniversary also served as the inauguration of the Shrine of Our Lady of Compassion on the grounds of the ICCC, built by Heart's Home with the support of the Archbishop of New York. Close to 120 people from the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan and New Jersey made a pilgrimage to the site on September 18, hopefully the first of many who will journey to their Mother in search of comfort and love.

“The inauguration of the Shrine to Our Lady of Compassion at the ICCC was a beautiful event for my family. As we arrived, the first thing I noticed was the scenic beauty of the grounds; the mountains surrounding the open fields impart an immediate sense of peace and calm.
It was wonderful to see the mix of “pilgrims”: other families with young children, a wonderful variety of ages from the Brooklyn housing projects and beyond, a group of young seminarians from Fordham University, a former Heart's Home volunteer taking a day off from her graduate studies at Yale, transplanted French families, many Spanish-speaking men and women. Somehow, we all belonged, because we had a common purpose: to participate in the inauguration of the shrine.

We began our pilgrimage across the property with a rosary; as we paused after each decade to reflect on the joyful mysteries, it struck me how much Mary's early joys are entwined with her later suffering at the foot of the cross. The meditations brought me deeper into the mystery of how suffering and joy are interrelated and both redeemed by Christ.
Our pilgrimage ended at the shrine, a wooden structure housing a sculpture of Our Lady with her arms around her son, whose wounded, upturned hands and pierced feet bring the viewer to that painful but crucial pause between the Crucifixion and the Resurrection, where we feel most bereft, but where Christ, in his compassion, is present to us in our emptiness.

The outdoor mass and lunch were followed by a talk on compassion, the charism that defines both Heart's Home and the shrine itself: the willingness to remain in that place where suffering feels most absurd, and to know that this is precisely where Christ meets us. Thank you for this beautiful shrine to Our Lady, and for an inspiring day of pilgrimage!”

Rachel O.

“A gesture from within” - Renée K. performance in Jean Miotte's Atelier

Sr Mariana — 2010-10-05T19:34:30Z

On September 28^th Renée Kurz performed at Jean Miotte's atelier, a huge white warehouse tucked in the countryside of Provence (South of France). Jean Miotte has a deep friendship with Heart's Home, for his life and art exemplify the spirit of our movement around the world.

“It was a true experience of surrendering to the gift, of entering and exiting the painting and the heart of Jean Miotte. A heart that knows trial and suffering and heartache and out of a gesture to keep living, to go beyond the suffering and give meaning to his life… he paints. The same is true for my young heart, except I dance. Miotte's paintings capture the movement from within every soul and every reality, they bring permanence and contemplation to the transience of dance, to the mystery that I touched a few nights ago and that still resonates in the hearts of all present.

Many classify Jean Miotte's paintings as abstract, a term which suggests a sort of departure from reality. In fact, I believe they draw us deeper into reality, into our personal inner reality full of emotions and dreams. That is exactly why I must keep dancing, it draws me into the reality of ‘now' to the degree of intensity with which I perceive it.The reality and depth at which I am living in India brings me to that precipice with firm ground beneath my feet. I enter the performance space in the same manner in which I enter the humble homes of our friends… with bare feet and a listening heart.

Dancing before Jean Miotte's art gave me an energy to ‘keep going'! To keep dancing! To keep stepping into the realm beyond ideas and speculation. To keep entering that silence within, to gently rise and swiftly run, exiting the silence with an explosion of color. Only afterwards stopping to marvel and wonder at the creation, the moment is simply a gesture from within. At the end of the night Jean asked me to dance. I promised we'd dance together again soon… either in Pignans… or in New York! Thank you Jean Miotte for encouraging me to keep risking my life to live!”

Renée K.

To read more, visit Renée's website

Leeanne, volunteer in Philippines - “Come to me all you who labour and I will give you rest”

Sr Mariana — 2010-09-30T08:46:15Z

“At Tahanang Puso we try to give rest to our children and our friends. They live enclosed in the looban, or the slum, or the world of under the bridge. They so rarely see beyond crowded and ugly Navotas. We organise outings – to the swimming pool for the children, to the park for the young mothers we know and their babies. And every year, we organise the most anticipated event for the neighbourhood children, the annual summer camp.

Our camp is in Talim Island, a small bamboo island in Laguna Bay, where we are welcomed by the Community of Tiberiade. It was so exciting to travel to Talim with the fifteen children, all between 10 and 12 years old. They were all queasy from the hour long jeepney ride to the dock, where we caught a long-boat to the island. As the city thinned out, and the expanse of Laguna lake became visible, with its fish farms and lilies, these children from Marcello and our looban and the garbage dump slum and under the bridge opened their eyes wide and expressed how ‘maganda' (beautiful) it all was. It was the first time for most of them to be outside Navotas.

The community of Tiberiade has young, energetic volunteers who animate games, songs, dancing and prayers for the children. On the first day, they asked the children what they hoped for from the camp. Their responses touched us. They wanted to enjoy nature, make friends, and to sing and dance, and especially to pray for their families. Over the five days of the camp, we watched a change in the children, something calmer. They sat quietly to listen to stories. They anticipated each next activity on the schedule eagerly. They prayed the rosary (a long prayer for some adults, let alone energetic children!) quietly all the way through. And they were fun too! They sang songs loudly, played water fights and chess, and danced constantly. The children spoke to us more. We learned about their hopes for school, their ‘berkada' (the gang of friends they hang out with), and their families. Each morning the children were tasked with washing the dishes and sweeping their sleeping room and the outside paths. They hand-pumped water to wash themselves and their clothes. They loved this independence, this reliance on their own competence, and we marveled at them too. Joshua smiled more and more.

But it was Jossa who surprised us most. While the other children loved looking up the posted schedule, she struggled with the constraints of time, of being asked to wash at this moment, or to eat now, or to be quiet at this time. She cried often, and wanted us near her. She was afraid she was a bad girl, she said, and we did our best to comfort her and assure her Jesus loves her. I wondered more at her life on her little raft battered all these months by wind and rain. On the last day, the children cried and cried. They loved Talim Island they said. It is clean and quiet. There is no fighting at Talim. They love to pray in the chapel. They had many, many kuyas and ates to play with them and care for them. And they had so many friends.”

Leeanne G.