"Lord, you are at the beginning of the road to guide me,
Lord, you are on the road to accompany me,
Lord, you are at the end of the road to welcome me,
Because you are the Road...."

Prayer written by Father Simon Zind
On the invitation card of his “Depart Routier”.

We were all going forth.....
But then, a year ago, one of our brothers, Father Simon, was torn out from us and got ahead to reach the end of his road and be united with the Christ in His Passover "into one body" (1Co 12,13), ".... in a death like His.....in a resurrection like His..." (Rm 6,3-11).

Our heart is broken by the departure of our beloved Abouna but in the midst of our tears, we should feel and entertain a profound and true joy. "...If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I go to the Father." (Jn 14,28)

It is time for us to go beyond the fragile and passing appearances. It is time for us to recognize the mysterious reality of the Resurrection. Like Jesus' Apostles who cried out: it is true the Lord has risen, may Jesus open our eyes like he did open the eyes of the blind man in the Gospel so we may believe and ascertain that Father Simon, sanctified by his baptism, his first communion and his ordination is henceforth transfigured, living this imperishable life that Jesus promised us. It is our duty now to share what has been transmitted to us. It is our duty to proclaim the good news of our salvation and the salvation of all men, the good news of the Gospel which sole commandment is to love and which words are the promise of a never ending bliss. "You are witnesses of these things" (Lc 24,48)

May our faith strengthen the hearts,
May our hope soothe the spirits,
May our faces of "saved ones" bear witness of a Risen Christ.

Dear brothers and sisters,

The call of the month of May invites us to:
Celebrate the Eucharist in communion and to the intention of Father Simon, Meditate and pray the rosary. "The rosary of the Virgin Mary is a valuable means to promote, among the believers, the contemplation commitment of the Christian Mystery. (John-Paul II, Rosarium Virgins Mariae, 2002,5)

Queen of heavens, rejoice, alleluia
Because the Lord whom you bore, alleluia
Has risen like he said, alleluia
Queen of heavens, pray the Lord for us, alleluia