Sr Louise's journey from Athlone to the Amazon!
Athlone native Sister Louise O'Rourke is one of the local people who will be spending this Christmas overseas.
A native of St Ruth's Park, she recently took up a new role in Rome, but is spending part of the winter season visiting religious communities in Brazil.
Sr Louise, pddm, is a sister of the Disciples of the Divine Master, which is familiar to the people of Athlone from the Divine Master community at Castle Street in the town.
"In June 2023, I received a new mission to be on our General Leadership Team which meant moving from my community in Dublin to Rome," she explained.
"Our congregation is present in 29 countries throughout the world and part of the service of the leadership team is to visit our sisters in the different communities, to experience the realities where they live, meet the people they serve and work with, encourage them and also prepare and discern for the future. We call this the fraternal visitation.
"In mid-November, I came to Brazil and I’ll be here until mid-January, as Brazil is such a vast country and we have 15 communities here. I began the visitation in the Amazon area where we have two small communities in the mission areas of Manaus and Codajas."
Sr Louise described her visit to the Amazon region as an "amazing" experience.
"There has been a lot of travelling - by air, sea and land - with many adventures along the way! I've met so many people in Brazil who have family in Ireland and are so happy to meet someone from there.
"The last leg of the visitation will focus on the area of São Paulo so the plan is to be in our Provincial House for Christmas.
"It will be unusual to have a ‘summer’ Christmas as temperatures are still between 30 and 35 degrees so there is no chance of snow! I look forward to celebrating the birth of Jesus by going to Mass with the sisters in the local parish.
"There is a large family meal and a vigil Mass on Christmas Eve called “Missa do Gallo” (the Mass of the Rooster) and it's common to have lots of fireworks too. The liturgies here are very joyful. Everyone gets involved, and I've found that the Brazilians are not shy about singing when they come to the church.
"Turkey is a Christmas dish here, as is the Italian Christmas sweet bread panettone, so it'll be nice to have something familiar on the menu!"
Sr Louise was in Ireland for Christmas for the last nine years, having spent time living in countries such as Italy, Poland and Canada before that.
"This year I will miss putting up the decorations, the Christmas carols, the typical Christmas food as well as the selection box and the mandatory tub of Celebrations!
"Of course, I will miss my family, my sisters in the convents in Ireland, and friends, but it's lovely to think that when we come before the Crib (Presépio) on Christmas Day, we are all united, no matter how far away we are, as we celebrate the birth of the Child Jesus."
When asked if she wanted to send a Christmas greeting to those reading at home, she replied: "I'd like to wish all a blessed Christmas with family and loved ones, especially asking for the gift of peace in all hearts!"