God's Love

“Let us allow ourselves to be guided by the Holy Spirit; let us allow him to speak to our hearts and say this to us:  God is love, God is waiting for us, God is Father/Mother; he/she loves us as a true father loves; he/she loves us truly, and only the Holy Spirit can tell us this in our hearts.”  Pope Francis

I find this invitation to be both comforting and challenging.  Comforting in that our God is always there for us and challenging to allow ourselves to feel this at all times.  Our God’s love is beyond comprehension and requires of us an openness of heart and a willingness to allow our hearts to be touched.  Let us live this and every day with the certitude that our God loves us more than we can ever ask for or imagine.

Pat Schifini, OSU

World Day of Prayer for Vocations

Today we celebrate the 54^th anniversary of the World Day of Prayer for Vocations.  The purpose of the World Day of Prayer for Vocations is to publically fulfill Jesus’ instruction to, "Pray the Lord of the harvest to send laborers into his harvest" (Mt 9:38; Lk 10:2).   It affirms the primacy of faith and grace in all that concerns vocations to the priesthood and to the consecrated life.  While appreciating all vocations, the Church concentrates its attention this day on vocations to the ordained ministries (priesthood and diaconate), to the Religious life in all its forms (male and female, contemplative and apostolic), to societies of apostolic life, to secular institutes in their diversity of services and membership, and to the missionary life.  In the spirit of this day let us pray: 

O God, Father of all Mercies, provider of a bountiful harvest, send Your Graces upon those
You have called to gather the fruits of Your labor; preserve and strengthen them in their lifelong service of you.

Open the hearts of Your children that they may discern Your Holy Will; inspire in them a love and desire to surrender themselves to serving others in the name of Your son, Jesus Christ.

Teach all Your faithful to follow their respective paths in life guided by Your Divine Word and Truth.  Through the intercession of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary, all the Angels, and Saints, humbly hear our prayers and grant Your Church's needs, through Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Pat Schifini, OSU

Celebrating Jubilee

Today the Ursuline Sisters celebrated the jubilees of seven of our sisters.  A combined 370 years of Religious Profession was celebrated.  These sisters have faithfully served the People of God in New York, Delaware, and Alaska as teachers, pastoral associates, technology coordinators and administration.  Each one brought her unique self to the community and has shared their gifts will all who have come into contact with them.  Their commitment began as a small seed and has grown into a beautiful blossom.  As part of the celebration each one renewed the vows they made on the day of their profession.  May their commitment serve as an inspiration for each one of us as we remember, celebrate and believe.

Pat Schifini, OSU

Cinco de Mayo

Each year we hear about Cinco de Mayo.  There are many stories about this day so what does it really signify.  Cinco de Mayo is a celebration of the surprising Mexican army’s victory over France at the 1862 Battle of Puebla.  The Mexican army were both vastly outnumbered and poorly supplied as they prepared for battle with the French.  In the end, nearly 500 French soldiers died and less than 100 Mexicans were killed. While the victory wasn’t a major win in the overall war it represented “a great symbolic victory.”

The holiday is primarily celebrated in Puebla, where the 1862 battle took place. There, locals gather for a big, colorful parade and reenact the war dressed as French and Mexican soldiers before breaking out in song and dance after the reenacted victory.

Let us pray this day for all those seeking political freedom that they will be granted what they need.

Pat Schifini, OSU

Bread of Life

When I was reflecting this morning on today’s Gospel I kept hearing the song I Am the Bread of Life.  It is a song that I learned a very long time ago but it always recalls for me Jesus’ promise to us.  The words of the song have not changed much over the years.  They are: 

I am the Bread of life, you who comes to Me shall not hunger, you who believes in Me shall not thirst. No one can come to Me Unless the Father beckons.

And I will raise you up, And I will raise you up, And I will raise you up on the last day.

The bread that I will give is My flesh for the life of the world, and all who eats of this bread, you shall live forever, you shall live forever.

And I will raise you up, And I will raise you up, And I will raise you up on the last day.

Let us live this day and every day in the promise of Jesus to always be there for us.

Pat Schifini, OSU

Inner Peace

Today, in the midst of all that is happening in our world, let us ask God to give us the gift of inner peace.  We are bombarded with shootings, stabbings, attacks of all kinds constantly and that type of news can reach us at our inner core.  The helplessness we feel in living with these situations can be overwhelming at times but our God can fill us with His own presence and, if we ask, can restore our sense of balance.

Let us pray today for the gift of peace for each of us.  Blessings to each one.

KM Donohue, OSU

St. Joseph Day

Today we celebrate the Feast of St. Joseph the Worker.  It is a day where we are encouraged to make the best use of our talents given to us by our God.  Tradition holds that St. Joseph was a carpenter, probably skilled at both working with wood and stone.  His reputation was that he was a righteous man who desired to serve God and protect his family.  He was given the task of caring for the Blessed Virgin Mary and Jesus.  St. Joseph took this responsibility very seriously and models for us what we are called to do.  May we take some time this day to rejoice in our labors and to use them as a way to praise our God who loves us above all things.

Pat Schifini, OSU