Go Out to All the World

A good friend of mine wrote a musical accompaniment for today’s responsorial psalm. I have always loved this psalm, but his musical accompaniment has brought it to life in a new way for me. Whenever I hear this psalm, I always find myself singing his version in my head.

The words are relatively simple, yet the message is profound. Psalm 117 states:

Go out to all the world and tell the good news and tell the good news.

Praise the Lord all you nations, glorify Him all you peoples.

For steadfast is His kindness to us and the fidelity of the Lod endures forever.

These rather simple words are a true call for us during our current times. We are called to go out and proclaim the message of Jesus. As ambassadors for Jesus, we are called to proclaim His love for all people in our daily life by our words and our actions. In a world full of pain and despair we are called to be light and hope for others. We are called to bring the good news to all people by our words and our actions. May we always  share the good news of Jesus with all.

Hope Unbroken: Journeying in God's Promise

 From the LCWR Website

The 2025 assembly of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR) entitled Hope Unbroken: Journeying in God’s Promise drew approximately 560 LCWR members as well as about 300 collaborators to Atlanta, Georgia from August 12-15. Throughout the event, participants acknowledged the struggle of these times and explored the practices that can ground them in faith so they can live “hope unbroken” for the sake of the world, the church, and their religious communities. 

In a moving personal reflection that stemmed from the experience of being diagnosed with cancer shortly after assuming her role as LCWR president Sister Kathy Brazda, CSJ of LaGrange, Illinois shared in an address the questions she carried: “How could I lead when I had doubts about my own future, my own life, my own ability to be competent? How could I plan for a future that I had doubts would be available to me?” In her address, she recounted what she had learned about leadership for these times from the stance of greater vulnerability. “In surrendering to God’s strength, we can come to courage and grace and the dynamism of love. With that encouragement, we can face the future through the best and worst of times.”

Sister Simona Brambilla, MC prefect of the Dicastery for Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life in Rome, addressed how religious life can be a sign of hope today. She noted, “May consecrated life truly always be a humble prophecy of forgiveness, of reparation, of the rebuilding of bonds of brotherhood and sisterhood, of peace, of trust, of communion. May it be a sentinel with senses sharpened and open to perceive in the night the breath of God, His gentle light, His whisper, His fragrance, His unmistakable taste, in order to welcome it, point it out, proclaim it, and walk the paths of hope that does not disappoint, because they are rooted in the Paschal Mystery, in the Heart of God.”

Rev. James Martin, SJ, editor-at-large at America Media, using the gospel story of the raising of Lazarus challenged the participants to apply the insights of this story to the realities of US religious life today. He posed the questions: “What is keeping us from hearing God’s voice in our lives, in our congregations, in our communities?” “What do you, what do we, need to leave behind to hear God calling us into a surprising new life?”

A panel of three women religious leaders, Sisters Barbara Beasley, RGS; Pat McDermott, RSM; and Sara Postlethwaite, VDMF, spoke to what has held them in the challenges of religious life leadership so that their hope remains unbroken. Drawing upon their own experiences, they shared what has kept them inspired and what have been their anchors as they face the complex questions that are before religious institutes today. 

Representatives from the Atlanta-based Martin Luther King, Jr. Center and The Carter Center joined the assembly in a panel presentation and shared their valuable insights on their work and how it connects to the LCWR Call for 2023-2028 and the LCWR assembly resolution.

A Pilgrimage of Hope took place on the morning of August 14, a one-mile walk through downtown Atlanta with prayer rooted in the commitment to addressing systemic injustice in the areas of racism, migration, and the climate crisis.   (A recording of the one-hour walk is available on the LCWR Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/lcwr.org) 

During the assembly the members blessed the new leadership for the conference. Sister Debra Sciano, SSND, a School Sister of Notre Dame from Wisconsin was selected as the LCWR president-elect. She joins Sister Vicky Larson, BVM who will serve as president for 2025-2026, and Sister Kathy Brazda, CSJ who will serve as immediate past-president. Elected to the national board were Sisters Karen Dietrich, SSJ; Sheena George, CSJP; Maribeth Larkin, SSS; and Maria Sheila Undang, O Carm. 

At the assembly closing, Sister Mary Pat Garvin, RSM was honored with the 2025 LCWR Outstanding Leadership Award. A Sister of Mercy of the Americas, Sister Mary Pat has served as an educator, consultant, and facilitator for national and international institutes and conferences of religious. 

Recordings and texts of the addresses and other materials are available at lcwr.org. 

Jubilee

Yesterday we celebrated our 2025 Jubilees. We had four of our sisters celebrate their 60th Anniversary of Profession. What a wonderful time to celebrate them in this Jubilee Year of Hope. Each of these women have ministered as educators on all levels, missionaries, an archivist. They have had a lasting inpact on many lives and are fondly remembered by their former students. They have given hope to many. This year we had one sister celebrate her 50th anniversary of her final profession. Combined we celebrated 290 years of vowed life.

Earlier this year we celebrated our 75th Anniversary Jubiliarian and her 100th birthday as they were a week apart. What an incredible milestone. Each of these sisters had given her life to God and the service of God's people. Their service continues even though most are retired now. They continue to live out the commitment they made many years ago. Each one has lived through many changes in our Church, our society and our world yet there is one constant -- their love of God and neighbor. May we continue to celebrate this Jubilee Year of Hope and be ready for big surprises!

Retreat a Time Apart

Today’s Gospel reading features Jesus' instruction to his disciples on prayer and not giving up. Jesus gives us the prayer called the "Lord's Prayer." In this prayer, which is used as a model for all prayer, Jesus directs us to give God praise and make our petitions known to him. The blessed assurance that God hears our prayer is central to our understanding of praying and never giving up. Prayer makes a difference and changes the way we look at things.

For the past week I was on retreat at Mercy Center in Madison, CT. It was a wonderful time to take time to pray, reflect and just be. During the days I had the opportunity to spend more time in prayer and in nature. The grounds of Mercy Center are beautiful, and it was nice to see bunnies, birds, and other wildlife during the day. One day a large log drifted onto the beach. It became a real center of prayer for me. I was able to sit by the water on it and reflect. Praying for our world, and many other things was a part of each day.

“And I tell you, ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened." Luke 11:9-10 This scripture came to life for me this week. I was a time to ask, seek and knock and God was indeed very present. I am grateful that I had this opportunity and look forward to living out the graces of my retreat.

Listen WIth Your Heart

 Each morning, I receive a quote from Pope Leo via email and the one that came today seemed perfect for today’s Gospel. "Today, so often, we lose the ability to listen, to really listen. We listen to music, we have our ears flooded constantly with all kinds of digital input, but sometimes we forget to listen to our own hearts and it’s in our hearts that God speaks to us, that God calls us and invites us to know him better and to live in his love." Pope Leo XIV

In today’s Gospel we hear the familiar story of Jesus visiting Martha and Mary. Martha was busy about many things and Mary choose to sit at the feet of Jesus and listen. Two opposite reactions to this special visit by Jesus. Martha exasperated told Jesus to tell Mary to help her. Jesus’ response must have shocked Martha to her core. Jesus told Martha that Mary had chosen the better part, and it would not be taken from her. I can’t begin to think how Martha must have felt. Martha must have felt rejected and dismissed by Jesus.

When I prayed this morning, I realized that I have far more many Martha moments than Mary. I found myself looking at each one of them and came to the realization that while I desire to be more like Mary I do get caught up in the busyness of life and therefore relate to Martha more easily. Deep down I know I desire to be more like Mary, but it is very hard to change old habits.

Perhaps this is a good Gospel to pray with as I begin my own retreat tonight. I am looking forward to being on retreat this week and pray for the grace to be more like Mary as I enter into it. Have a great week and know that I will be praying for all and I count on your prayers for me. Blessings…

100 Days of Prayer, Fasting and Advocacy

On Wednesday, July 9^th Ursulines around the world gathered to participate in the 100 Days of Prayer, Fasting and Advocacy sponsored by the LCWR (Leadership Conference of Women Religious.) The impact of violence and conflict in our world has risen to epic proportions. In response to this situation, the LCWR invited religious congregations in the US to pray for our country. The three US provinces committed to July 9^th, the Feast of the Martyrs of Orange. During the troubles of the French Revolution, 29 Sisters, expelled from their convents, found refuge in a house at Bollène. During their eighteen months there, they shared their life of prayer and total poverty. Arrested in April 1794 because they refused to swear the oath required by the city officials, an oath their conscience condemned, they were jailed on May 2 at Orange.

They organized themselves and consecrated the essential part of their time to prayer. Condemned to die by the Popular Commission, then commanding in the actual Chapel of Saint-Louis, they were transferred to the ancient Theater, where they awaited to climb the guillotine erected in Saint Martin’s Court. They all went up to the scaffold joyfully, singing and praying for their persecutors, who admired their courage. These women took an unpopular stance and, in our world, today we are called to do the same. 

On July 9^th, we gathered via zoom to pray together and have small group discussion. There were a number of sisters from across the country and even one from Australia. It was a true experience of unity and commitment. Several of our provinces around the world gathered to pray together in solidarity with us.

Below is the prayer we used. As we continue the journey let us be people of hope and ambassadors of peace.

Seek to spread peace and concord wherever you are.” (Angela Merici)

O God, Source of all that is,

we find ourselves with heavy hearts these days –

hearts made heavy by the reality of violence, war, and disasters,

and the suffering and destruction they bring.

In places far and near, the violence and death seem endless.

We hold in our hearts and in our prayers

our wounded and weary world.

We pray for an end to the injustice, violence, and war

that seem to hold our world in their grip,

and that we sometimes find in our own hearts.

We pray you, O God,

disarm our hearts and disarm our world,

that the rights and dignity of all may be respected and protected;

remind us that we all share life together

as sisters and brothers to each other.

We pray for peace and justice, O God,

and that each of us may be an instrument

of peace and justice in our world. Amen.

Diane Fulgenzi, OSU

 

The Harvest

 

“The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore, pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” Matthew 9: 37-38

A simple quote from today’s Gospel speaks volumes to me. There is so much going on in our world right now that it is sometimes hard to keep up with it all. Watching the news is a harsh reality right now as there is so much pain and suffering, war and violence, natural disasters and record temperatures. Time is marching on in a feverish pace.

One of the most tragic stories this week was that of Camp Mystic which was washed away in a storm surge. Two dozen campers are missing and there is a mass effort to find them. The governor of Texas is not giving up hope for their survival. He stated that we need to move fast and find them, until they are found the presumption is that they are still alive. I can not fathom the pain and suffering of their families. We need to hold them and their families in prayer and not lose hope.

Jesus told His followers to offer peace to those who welcome them and if the were not welcomed to leave. In our current world we need to offer deep peace to one another. We need to be willing to take the risk of rejection and move on if necessary. Our times call for a great deal of letting go and letting God take the lead. We can become rather dismal about our current reality, but we need to remember that God is always by our side leading us day in and day out. May we always be welcoming of others and may we always be welcomed.