Meet Sr. Elizabeth Guiboux, SNDS

Sr. Elizabeth Guiboux, SNDS, Superior General

Sister Elisabeth Guiboux, SNDS, made her first profession as a Sister of Our Lady of La Salette (SNDS) in 1991 and made her perpetual profession in 1997. She was elected Superior General on May 1, 2010.

Please describe your early life, your family and your faith.

I was born in Dijon, France, on January 3,1958 into a working-class family. I am the second of five children. Despite our very limited home situation, all my siblings play musical instruments. Music is also very important to me. Our family are traditional, active Catholics, a milieu which helped my own faith to grow. I have been a teacher. I also play several instruments, including the guitar, the zither, and the piano.

Certain events in my personal life have helped me grow in my awareness of the presence of God. A local religious helped my self-confidence and opened me to God’s loving, dynamic and transforming love. From then on, there was no other way for me to respond to God’s love except by giving my love, my entire life. God’s love has truly changed my life.

How did you first hear about Our Lady of La Salette and the spirituality of her message?

 

 

Sr. Elizabeth leads music at Mass with her sisters

When I was very young, we as a family went to visit the Holy Mountain. Much later I returned there in pilgrimage to ask for guidance in writing my letter, applying to enter another community of sisters! However I was captured by Mary’s tears. In 1986, I wrote in my journal: “You hide your face in your hands, tender Mother. I see your tears and ask ‘Why?’” Like Maximin, I was surprised to hear myself also respond: “Don’t cry! I will help you.” This event changed the course of my life!

A La Salette priest, noticing my emotion, told me out about the volunteer ministry of serving the pilgrims who come to the Shrine. While working in various situations, I deepened my appreciation for Mary’s tears and the message she left us. This is also how I got to know the La Salette Fathers, Brothers and Sisters who minister at the Shrine.

Who helped you discover and strengthen your commitment to the La Salette spirituality?

The tears of Mary got my attention. I could not merely leave our Weeping Mother without my trying to do something. And, later, I had a powerful call to conversion and reconciliation. As I get older, all the more I discover the immensity and urgency of the important work yet to be done.

 

Sr. Elizabeth doing paper work in her office

Having served in many ministries and situations, about which ministry are you most enthusiastic?

 I am most enthused about whatever ministry I have at the time. I've been more and more challenged by the fact that I can do nothing alone. My music remains an essential element for my ministry. It helps me to enliven the liturgy. My mission with the young and their formation as well as my responsibilities within our congregation — everything I do is done within community. This aspect is increasingly important to me. No matter where I am and whatever I do – my congregation is always with me!

Having served twelve years as a General Counselor, you are now Superior General. What inner convictions do you have concerning religious life, the international dimension of your congregation, and the mission of the La Salette Sisters within the mission of the Church?

I am strongly convinced of the importance of religious life – now more than ever. We have to be proponents of hope in a world too often individualistic and pessimistic!

 

Sr. Elizabeth speaks with a woman in a Madagascar marketplace

Our international experience in living community shows us that, with many examples from our everyday life, if we desire something and are willing to work at it, our living together is not only possible but a rich and nurturing environment!

Our own weaknesses help make us more sensitive to the needs of the younger, more marginal people in the Church and in the world. Our charism of reconciliation opens our eyes to see all the divisions within the various societies in which we serve. Mary asked of us: “Do make this known to all my people.” This means that her message is not only for the people of our own country but also the people on the other side of the world. Her mission really has no boundaries!

And for you, personally, what impresses you most about the La Salette apparition and its spirituality?

Her message brings a huge challenge to our divided world. Whatever the situation in which we find ourselves today – whether working to bring together the many dimensions of our personal and community or family life which would seem to be irreconcilable – more than ever, the only remedy is God’s reconciling love.

(Originally published in “Les Annales,” Jan-Feb, 2011, pgs. 22-23, translated by Fr. Ron Gagne, M.S.)

About the Sisters of Our Lady of La Salette:

The characteristics of our congregation is that we are a community whose life is rooted in prayer and a spirit of reconciliation and we serve in apostolic ministry.

In 1866 the congregation of the Sisters of Reparation were founded. At the beginning of the twentieth century, the congregation of the Missionary Sisters of La Salette were founded. These two branches merged in1964. The Angolan community of the Messengers of Our Lady of La Salette combined with us in 2004.

Today we number about two hundred members, serving in nine different countries.