Benigna's 90th Birthday

My dear Friends

Today is the 90th birthday of Benigna Lehmann, my friend of 26 years and my landlady for 16 years. We met in the first week of my coming to Cambridge in August 1982. A talented pianist and accompanist, she was hosting a musical rehearsal in her lovely Cambridge home.

Many people from all over the world have received her hospitality. Her Italian name means kindness and her kindly light has helped to lead me along the way. It was in the upper room of her home that I founded The Little Sisters of Joy, with the help of Maryvonne le Goanvic, on the 7th March 1999. Together Benigna and I began the series of Concerts for Peace and Reconciliation, which I have continued with my guitar.

Only a few months ago I discovered a new talent of Benigna's which I would like to share with you: writing childrens' stories. Composed for a little girl from an Indian family who moved in with her parents to share her house,Benigna wrote the following:

The Lady and her Adventures

Once upon a time when the world was young, a beautiful lady lived alone in a small house in the middle of large fields. Her name was Mystery Lady. She was polite and friendly to other people she met, but no-one knew her well and people wondered why she lived so far from anyone and what she did during the long days.

If they had looked up to the sky at night, they would have seen her among the stars and dancing across a dark sky until she flew onto the edge of the moon. Here she stopped and for a time danced with the moon fairies before flying to the secret moon gardens, all bright gold or silver.

She had many friends here and a tiny room of her own made from moon and star beams. She hoped to stay there for a long time, but the head of the moon people said: "No, dear lady, you must float to earth again and tell the people there that they must dress and have airlungs and come and live with us - go now, dear lady, and come back again, bringing them with you. This she did and there was Perfect Peace.

(Story written by Benigna Lehmann)

A very happy and blessed birthday, dear Benigna!
Love and shalom from Sister Gila