Happy Thanksgiving

On this day of giving thanks for all the wonderful gifts that have been shared with us we take this opportunity to pray for you and your family! November 28th also marks the Foundation of the Roman Union of the Ursuline Sisters.  May this day be filled with many blessings for all.

I would like to share a Thanksgiving Prayer with you...

Prayer of Thanksgiving

God of all blessings, source of all life, giver of all grace:

We thank you for the gift of life:  for the breath that sustains life, for the food of this earth that nurtures life, for the love of family and friends without which there would be no life.

We thank you for the mystery of creation: for the beauty that the eye can see, for the joy that the ear may hear, for the unknown that we cannot behold filling the universe with wonder, for the expanse of space that draws us beyond the definitions of our selves.

We thank you for setting us in communities: for families who nurture our becoming, for friends who love us by choice, for companions at work, who share our burdens and daily tasks, for strangers who welcome us into their midst, for people from other lands who call us to grow in understanding, for children who lighten our moments with delight,
for the unborn, who offer us hope for the future.

We thank you for this day: for life and one more day to love, for opportunity and one more day to work for justice and peace, for neighbors and one more person to love and by whom be loved, for your grace and one more experience of your presence, for your promise:
to be with us, to be our God, and to give salvation.

For these and all blessings, we give you thanks, eternal, loving God, through Jesus Christ we pray.   Amen.

Source: Adapted from "Prayers of Our Hearts" © 1991 Vienna Cobb Anderson.

May our loving God shower us all with many blessings and may our hearts always be grateful!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Sr. Pat Schifini, OSU & Sr. Jeannie Humphries, OSU

A Wonderful Spirit

I have a friend who has moved to Lake Placid, NY.  It is such a beautiful area.

She just posted on Facebook the following from the front page of their church bulletins for St. Agnes and St. Brendan in Keene, NY.

How welcoming!!

No matter what your present status in the Catholic Church;

No matter what your current family or marital situation;

No matter what your past or present religious affiliation;

No matter what your personal history, age, background, race or color;

No matter what your own self-image or esteem;

You are invited, welcomed, accepted, loved and respected at

Saint Agnes and St. Brendan Catholic Churches

I am so touched by this!!

Sr. Jeannie

Profession Anniversary

Today I celebrate the anniversary of my first profession.  

In 1999, I said Yes to living life as an Ursuline Sister of the Roman Union.  

It is hard to believe that was 14 years ago. 

 I can remember the day like it was yesterday.  

But when I think of all that has gone on since then, I realize it has been a while. 

Such a short time in the life span of so many of my Ursuline Sisters who celebrate 50, 60, 70 years. 

 I hope I can say that some day.

I am very happy that I said "YES".

Sr. Jeannie

Living Angela's Words

It has been almost a month since I last posted.  I promise to be better about this during this upcoming school year.

I  have a new full-time ministry at Concordia College, NY.  I am an Assistant Professor in the Teacher Education Program and mainly I teach graduate students interested in obtaining their masters in general and special education (grades 1-6).  This past few weeks have been an whirlwind of activity of meeting new people, learning new policies and getting used to a new routine. It's been a bit tough for me.

So I am going to live out the words of St. Angela Merici-founder of the Ursuline Sisters in 1535

Do something....Get moving... Be confident...Risk new things....Stick with it.....Get on your knees.. Then be ready for big surprises!!

Sr. Jeannie

Weather Struggles

Last week, it was very hot in New York City-high 90s each day but with humidity, the heat index was well into the 100s.  It was really miserable.  Today, though it is much cooler in the upper 60s.  I heard that in Malone, NY, it was 34 degrees this am.  Wow!

All last week, we complained of the heat and today I even heard someone say they were chilly.  Honestly, I was very hot and uncomfortable last week, but today I am just right.

I am struck by the fact that we can have such huge differences in temperture in such a short amount of time and in the same state.

When I was a child growing up, I went to the Catskills all summer long and we do not have air conditioning in our bungalow.  I was in that same Catskills resort this weekend and was grateful for the air-conditioning and am unsure if I would have survived staying there without it.

However, I don't remember it being as hot when I was a child.  But people are telling me it wasn't-the temperature nowadays are just extreme.

This is making me realize that something is happening within our atmosphere-the talk about climate change and global warming is true.  These are topics I have heard about but haven't paid attention to; however the recent weather is causing me to think I better!!

Connections

Last night, I was able to get to dinner with 2 Mercy Sisters who are around my age. We grabbed dinner together.

Both are nearby taking a week-long course with Ilia Delio, OSF on Love, Evolution and the Emergence of God. They spoke about how good the talks were and the importance of figuring out who and what it is that you love because then you will see and experience God.   Relationships are so vital to our living.  Also they mentioned how everything is always changing-nothing stays the same.

It was great to be able to connect with them, hear their stories and share about our heart's desires. Each one of us believes in the importance of community and sharing and we discussed how we have to continue to find different ways to nourish that desire. We encouraged one another to keep growing and evolving.

It was a great evening.

Sr. Jeannie Humphries, osu

Important Quotes to Remember

Faith makes all things possible.  

Life itself is not a destination; it's a journey.