Geneviève Déclat

Deceased Sisters

Geneviève Déclat - France
21/05/1921 - 02/01/2020

Welcome and many thanks to all of you who have come to celebrate with us the return to God of our Sister Geneviève Déclat. On December 22nd, during the Sunday community meal, we mentioned the approach of her 100th birthday. It is indeed a long life so I am thankful for the notes left by Sister Geneviève herself. Here is what she wrote on June 6, 2006:

I was born on May 21, 1921 in Lyon, into a Christian family. I received private communion at the age of seven, solemn communion at 11 and confirmation at 12. I did not think about religious life until the day when I seriously looked at what religious life was. I wanted to enter a small community. I loved the Blessed Virgin and I dedicated myself to her on December 8, 1936 ... I entered the home of the Little Servants of Nazareth, a small branch of the Society of Mary. I have known Father Colin's life for a long time. I tried to be faithful. The Little Servants of Nazareth prayed a lot for priests "the more holy I will be, the more holy my priests will be”. Jesus is always faithful. He leads us where He wants, never in a straight line. He likes narrow paths… Saying yes to the Lord is a joy.

I wrote these words as well as I could without too much detail,
but I am happy to have given myself to God.

****

So I will add myself some details of Geneviève’s journey which was very simple:

Having completed only primary school, she was a housekeeper, until she joined the Little Servants of Nazareth in 1946. She made her first profession on August 31, 1948, but was not admitted to perpetual vows. However she remained in the house with a special status, until she finally became an integral part of the Congregation - after a new year of Novitiate and a new first profession on January 9, 1966. Her tenacity was indeed one of the riches of her personality.

Geneviève became a Marist Sister in 1968, after the amalgamation of the Congregation of the Little Servants of Nazareth with our Congregation. She made her perpetual vows on April 7, 1969 in Bellerive.

Her desire to serve was fulfilled by the carrying out of the various tasks entrusted to her:

Wardrobe Manager at the scholasticate of the Marist Fathers from 1948-1954
Caretaker in Bellerive from 1954-2000

Have we not seen her arrive many times at Rue Sala to hand over documents to the provincial leader and bursar?

The year 2000 was one of great change for Sister Geneviève. Following the closure of the community of Bellerive, she was appointed to the community of Bon Repos in Belley. Leaving La Mulatière in Lyon, and therefore the many acquaintances and friends of her country of origin was certainly a shock for our sister. Here again I will not speak in her place since Geneviève left us her own testimony of her new and final mission as a Marist Sister on this earth:

My life of mission:

Being in a retirement home, there is more time to pray. And we think more about the work of the Missionaries. I offer all my little handicaps for priests and missionaries.

I understand that Jesus is not much loved in some places and that he is a stranger in some families.

My mission, in addition to prayer, is to smile or say a good word. I meet people who do not know God or who know him very little. I listen, I say nothing, for I see that talking might be awkward. I'm here.

For me, I understand that God is Love. And if, because of my disability, I cannot do many services, I receive it.

I also try to love those who do not love. It’s not easy.

Over the phone I try to comfort a young friend who is having trouble at work because she is a little depressed. She tells me that I comfort her and she waits for my phone-call.

I support and I am supported.

Giving, receiving is my mission.

***

Your mission on earth, dear Geneviève, came to an end discreetly on the night of January 1 to 2 at Belley Hospital. But we are sure that you will pursue that mission, differently, but with the same zeal. You will intercede for our missionaries, for the priests, without forgetting your community and the residents of Bon Repos as well as all the staff who take care of them. With you, now we want to give thanks for all the blessings that the Lord has granted you during your 98 years. We also believe that the Virgin Mary to whom you were consecrated when you were very young has welcomed you as her beloved child.

Deceased Sisters

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