Happy Feast of St. Angela

Today we celebrate the Feast of St. Angela Merici.  Some 482 years ago St. Angela founded the Company of St. Ursula which later evolved into the Ursuline sisters.  Angela was a woman ahead of her time and was deeply committed to personal prayer, helping all people and being a reconciling presence.

St. Angela encourages us to be present to others by being women and men of wisdom and compassion, by being committed to the Ursuline motto of Serviam – I will serve and by being a reconciling presence for all people.  St. Angela promised her daughters to be united with them for all time.  In her promise to always be with us, Angela gives us the courage and strength to begin anew.  As we celebrate this day may we always follow Angela’s advice and be willing to be risk-takers and open to all we meet.  Happy Feast!

Pat Schifini, OSU

World Communications day 2018

On this, World Communications Day 2018, Pope Francis used a familiar prayer to conclude his message.  To read his message in its entirety you may visit www.vatican.va.  Here is the prayer for your reflection to counter “fake news.”

Lord, make us instruments of your peace.

Help us to recognize the evil latent in a communication that does not build communion.

Help us to remove the venom from our judgements.

Help us to speak about others as our brothers and sisters.

You are faithful and trustworthy; may our words be seeds of goodness for the world:

where there is shouting, let us practice listening;

where there is confusion, let us inspire harmony;

where there is ambiguity, let us bring clarity;

where there is exclusion, let us offer solidarity;

where there is sensationalism, let us use sobriety;

where there is superficiality, let us raise real questions;

where there is prejudice, let us awaken trust;

where there is hostility, let us bring respect;

where there is falsehood, let us bring truth.

Amen.

What's in it for me?

After John had been arrested, Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God: "This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand.  Repent, and believe in the gospel."

As he passed by the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting their nets into the sea; they were fishermen.  Jesus said to them, "Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men."  Then they abandoned their nets and followed him.  He walked along a little farther and saw James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John.  They too were in a boat mending their nets.  Then he called them.  So they left their father Zebedee in the boat along with the hired men and followed him.   Mark 1: 14 -20

When I read this Gospel this morning I was immediately drawn to a song that was written by a Cleveland Ursuline Sister.  The song is entitled, Do You Remember the Call and begins by asking the question, Do you remember the call, when did you hear your name out loud…?  It is a beautiful song and leads to reflection.  As we read today’s Gospel the disciples are called and respond.  None of them asked the all too familiar question – What’s in it for me?  They responded to Jesus’ invitation with utter simplicity and resolve.  They did not go home say goodbye to everyone they simply followed.  Whatever their motivation they simply wanted to follow Jesus and did not hesitate to when asked.  We, too, have been invited to accept Jesus’ invitation to follow and live out his message in our present reality.  As the disciples followed are we ready to simply follow or do we need to first figure out what’s in it for me?  Let us remember that the call is a daily invitation to live a life of faith, hope, and love.  What we receive in return far outweighs what we give up.  As we live this day (and every day) let us remember that we are called by a God of love to do the very same for others for “to love another person is to see the face of God.”

Pat Schifini, OSU

Happy New Year

Happy New Year!  As we begin 2018 let us remember that today marks the 51^st World Day of Peace.  Pope Francis’ theme for this year is:  Migrants and refugees: men and women in search of peace.  Pope Francis urges us to turn a "contemplative gaze" toward our migrant and refugee brothers and sisters and to respond to their plight.  Pope Francis encourages us to embrace all those fleeing from war and hunger, or forced by discrimination, persecution, poverty and environmental degradation to leave their homelands.  Let us heed his message as we pray a Prayer for the New Year

Heavenly Father, we thank you for the year that has just passed and the many blessings you have showered upon us in time.

We beg your pardon for our many failings and transgressions and we pray that the coming year may be a more fruitful one.

We earnestly pray for the gift of the Holy Spirit and we call upon our Lord Jesus Christ for his intercession, his guidance, and his light to shine our path into a new year filled with love, peace and hope.

May 2018 be filled with many blessings for all.  May our God of light, love and peace touch the hearts of those who are leading others and making decisions.  May we become a people of peace!

Pat Schifini, OSU