This winter in lower New York's State's Westchester County has been hard. All we have been having it seems is snow, ice and cold. Mounds of snow are everywhere. It's beautiful to look at it when it first comes down and in areas where there is grass and trees-but once cars and people start walking and moving it around, it gets dirty and doesn't look so nice.
This makes me reflect on first impressions and how important they are. But then also how they can not always be the full person's true self. As a teacher of graduate education students, I'm constantly talking about how one's first impression to a principal, fellow colleague, parent and child is so vital and critical. While this is true-just like when I first see snow-I'm taken away by it's natural beauty, the cleanliness and clearness it seems to provides. Snow also makes me just want to sit by the window with a steaming mug of hot chocolate and just reflect. In many ways, it makes me want to do nothing and just be-Now just being -that's important, but honestly I don't always just be-too often I just do. I'm reminded of a song used at morning prayer at times by some of my Ursuline Sister-Just to be is a blessing, Just to be is holy!
As I deal with this messy snow now and have to keep digging my car out, watching for black ice and trying to not slip, I must remember the vastness and openness that the snow first provided me and be thankful for that.
I have to remember when a person upsets me-I have to think back to other times I've been with that person and what did I look like about him or her and what good points this person has. After all, all of us have our positive and negative sides and being human is accepting them in ourselves and others.
Blessing for a great weekend!!
Love, Sr. Jeannie
Saturday, February 22, 2014
Monday, January 27, 2014
St. Angela Merici's Feast Day
Join us in prayer for the Feast Day of St. Angela Merici,
Opening Prayer: Loving God,
we ask you to be with us today on the feast day of St.Angela Merici, founderess of the Ursuline Sisters. She gave us an example of prayerful and dedicated service to all people. Help us to do the same service. Let us read,
listen and pray with Angela’s words.
“Put your whole soul into the enterprise you have undertaken.”
“Carry
on steadfastly and faithfully the work you have undertaken.”
“Be gentle and compassionate towards one
another.”
“Wherever
you are, give good example.”
“Help
one another according to each need which may arise.”
“Always
have charity burning in your hearts”
“If
times and circumstances demand it, make necessary change;
but do
so with prudence and good advice.”
Closing
Prayer: Gracious God, following the example of Angela Merici, we ask
that you enlighten, direct, and teach us what we must do for love of you and
for your people.. Help us to have
confidence and strong faith that you will assist us in everything. Bless us as we walk ahead for whatever you
call us this day and everyday. Amen
St. Angela Merici's Feast Day
Opening Prayer: Loving God,
we ask you to be with us today on the feast day of St.Angela Merici, founderess of the Ursuline Sisters. She gave us an example of prayerful and dedicated service to all people. Help us to do the same service. Let us read,
listen and pray with Angela’s words.
“Put your whole soul into the enterprise you have undertaken.”
“Carry
on steadfastly and faithfully the work you have undertaken.”
“Be gentle and compassionate towards one
another.”
“Wherever
you are, give good example.”
“Help
one another according to each need which may arise.”
“Always
have charity burning in your hearts”
“If
times and circumstances demand it, make necessary change;
but do
so with prudence and good advice.”
Closing
Prayer: Gracious God, following the example of Angela Merici, we ask
that you enlighten, direct, and teach us what we must do for love of you and
for your people.. Help us to have
confidence and strong faith that you will assist us in everything. Bless us as we walk ahead for whatever you
call us this day and everyday. Amen
Sunday, January 5, 2014
The New Year of 2014-The Visit of the Three Kings
It is now 2014!! Another exciting year ahead of us to have new adventures, new people in our lives and new experiences. This year, I am really going to try to live out our Chapter message from October 2013.
As communities of faith in mission, we respond to God's gift of a new heart and a new spirit.
With the courage of Angela, we dare to be the change we wish to see in our world.
In solidarity and compassion, and compelled by the Gospel,
we open our hearts to the cries of our earth and its people.
I need to remember to respond the the cries of our people and work to be the change I wish to see. I can't just talk- I need to act and be too.
Today, our Catholic Church celebrated the Three Kings coming to visit Baby Jesus-they came from afar to see Jesus- I need to remember to travel both literally and figuratively to allow myself to have a new heart and a new spirit. I can count on Angela's courage to go forward.
Sr. Jeannie Humphries, osu
Ursuline Sisters of the Roman Union
Chapter 2013 Message
As communities of faith in mission, we respond to God's gift of a new heart and a new spirit.
With the courage of Angela, we dare to be the change we wish to see in our world.
In solidarity and compassion, and compelled by the Gospel,
we open our hearts to the cries of our earth and its people.
I need to remember to respond the the cries of our people and work to be the change I wish to see. I can't just talk- I need to act and be too.
Today, our Catholic Church celebrated the Three Kings coming to visit Baby Jesus-they came from afar to see Jesus- I need to remember to travel both literally and figuratively to allow myself to have a new heart and a new spirit. I can count on Angela's courage to go forward.
Sr. Jeannie Humphries, osu
Tuesday, December 17, 2013
Snow
Here in Westchester, NY we already have had three days of snowstorms. It is amazing and the official start of winter has not happened yet. But the snow has come anyway.
I am struck by how beautiful the snow is when it is untouched as you look out over the grass and streets. But once we start walking on and driving around, it becomes all slush and dirty. Sometimes too the snow is just simply wet and heavy, other times it is light and fluffy and other times it is just a dusting.
Today as I was trudging to my car to clean it off, there was a little boy playing in the snow with his Dad. They were kicking around a big snowball and try to get each other wet. The little boy was laughing away and so was the Dad. It was great to watch.
It reminded me that we need to have joy in our lives every day and make the small moments count.
That is what I plan to do as we get ready for Jesus' coming this Christmas.
Sr. Jeannie Humphries, osu
I am struck by how beautiful the snow is when it is untouched as you look out over the grass and streets. But once we start walking on and driving around, it becomes all slush and dirty. Sometimes too the snow is just simply wet and heavy, other times it is light and fluffy and other times it is just a dusting.
Today as I was trudging to my car to clean it off, there was a little boy playing in the snow with his Dad. They were kicking around a big snowball and try to get each other wet. The little boy was laughing away and so was the Dad. It was great to watch.
It reminded me that we need to have joy in our lives every day and make the small moments count.
That is what I plan to do as we get ready for Jesus' coming this Christmas.
Sr. Jeannie Humphries, osu
Wednesday, November 27, 2013
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.
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
Saturday, November 23, 2013
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
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