Indifference, reflection by Sr. Kathleen Mary Donohue

Perhaps one of the greatest sins of our time is that of indifference-indifference to poverty, war, homelessness, human slavery, persecution of Christians and others for their faith, substance abuse.  We watch the news or check the Internet and become immune to these happenings in our world as they are so overwhelming.  We comfort ourselves by thinking we are only one person in a sea of indifference because it is all too big for us to fathom. A Lenten practice might be to make an effort to become more aware of what is happening and to ask our God heal the hearts of the oppressors while giving strength to the oppressed.  

God's Abundant Mercy

“God’s mercy can make even the driest land become a garden, can restore life to dry bones” (Ezekiel 37: 1 – 14)…

Let us be renewed by God’s mercy, let us be loved by Jesus, let us enable the power of his love to transform our lives, too; and let us become agents of his mercy.  Pope Francis

When I think about mercy I often think about forgiveness.  As I prayed this morning I was struck by the reality of God’s abundant mercy.  God is always there for us in good times and in bad.  It is amazing how easy it is to forget that.  So often we find ourselves comforting those who are in pain – physically, spiritually and emotionally.  We are called to be there for one another and in doing so transform the lives of others.  As we show mercy toward one another we experience the gift that we share.

The Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy are actions we can perform that extend God’s compassion and mercy to those in need.  The Corporal Works of Mercy are the kind actions by which we help our neighbors with their material and physical needs. The Spiritual Works of Mercy are acts of compassion, by which we help our neighbors with their emotional and spiritual needs.  As we practice these Works this Lenten season may we always remember that we experience the mercy of others as often as we show it.

Sr. Pat Schifini, OSU

Ash Wednesday: Our Lenten Journey Begins

Lent means “springtime” – coming to new life after winter.  It marks the forty days before Easter, commemorating Jesus’ forty days in the desert and the Israelites forty years in the desert wilderness.

Lent is meant to be an experience.  We are urged to pray, to do penance, and to sacrifice.  With Jesus we make the passage from death to life.  Our weaknesses and sinfulness are not the focus, but a catalyst for growth.  Lent can be a challenge for us; a time to invite Jesus into some area in our lives in need of growth.

Pope Francis has declared that the season of Lent during this Jubilee Year should also be lived more intensely as a privileged moment to celebrate and experience God’s mercy.  Let us enter into this Lenten season with a spirit of doing more rather than giving up things, with a spirit of care and compassion for all people.  May this Lenten season be a source of mercy, consolation and peace for us as we move forward as a community of faith, hope and love. 

Have a happy and blessed Lent!

Sr. Pat Schifini, OSU

Happy Easter

Alleluia!  Alleluia! Jesus has risen!  A familiar hymn marks this day as we recall Jesus’ triumph over death.  As we sing the Easter Alleluias let us pray for all those who continue to suffer in our world.  We remember in a special way the people of Kenya and pray for an end to all violence.

       Jesus Christ is risen today, Alleluia!  Our triumphant holy day, Alleluia!

       Who did once upon the cross, Alleluia!  Suffer to redeem our loss. Alleluia!

       Sing we to our God above, Alleluia!  Praise eternal as his love; Alleluia!

       Praise him, all you heavenly host, Alleluia!  Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Alleluia!

May we truly be an Easter People every day of the year!  Happy and blessed Easter to all!

Sr. Jeannie and Sr. Pat 

Holy Saturday

                                                         

On Holy Saturday the Church identifies with Mary as she sat at the Lord's tomb, meditating on his suffering and death. The altar is left bare, and the sacrifice of the Mass is not celebrated during the day.  It is a day of silence and waiting. 

The Easter Vigil signifies Christ’s passage from death to new life.  The Vigil begins in darkness and is enlightened by the Easter fire and the Paschal Candle.  The Paschal candle represents Christ, the Light of the World and is lit with the new fire.  The candle is blessed by the celebrant and the Exultet is sung.  During the liturgy we recall God’s sparing of the Hebrews, renew our Baptismal promises and renounce sin.  The Easter Vigil includes a blessing of water.  Water is a sign of purification and baptism.  In some Churches the Catechumens will be welcomed into the Church with the reception of the sacraments.   We rejoice at Jesus’ resurrection from the darkness of the tomb.

Only after the solemn vigil during the night, held in anticipation of the resurrection, does the Easter celebration begin, with a spirit of joy that overflows into the following period of fifty days.

Resurrexit sicut dixit, Alleluia!

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He is risen as He said, Alleluia!

Good Friday and Passover Coincide in 2015

As Christians prepare to celebrate Good Friday our Jewish brothers and sisters prepare to celebrate Passover.   It is not often that Good Friday and the first night of the eight-day Jewish festival are celebrated on the same day. The rare convergence of the observances is a reminder of how the religious traditions are linked.

Passover, which celebrates the Israelites’ Exodus from slavery in Egypt, also played a role in the last days of Jesus. Like many Jews of his time, Jesus participated in the annual Passover pilgrimage to Jerusalem. It was while he celebrated the festival that, according to biblical accounts, Jesus was arrested by Roman soldiers; Good Friday is the Christian holy day marking his crucifixion and death.  On Good Friday we commemorate the day that Jesus willingly suffered and died by crucifixion as the ultimate sacrifice for our sins.  Jesus endured the cross on Good Friday, knowing it led to his resurrection, our salvation, and the beginning of God’s reign of righteousness and peace.

As we celebrate Good Friday and Passover let us remember the words of Pope Francis – “On Good Friday we will meditate on the mystery of Christ’s death and we will adore the Cross.”  During the last instants of his life, “before handing over the spirit” – he said – Jesus said “it is finished” (John 19, 30), meaning – the Pope explained – that Salvation has taken place; “that with his sacrifice Jesus has transformed the greatest injustice into the greatest love.”  

By his sacrifice – Francis said - sin has been overcome through love, an immense love which we are called to live and transmit.  Throughout the centuries – he continued – many men and women have borne witness to this perfect, uncontaminated love, with their very existence.  Let us live each day with this kind of love for one another.

Sr. Pat

Holy Thursday

Holy Thursday (formerly known as Maundy Thursday) marks the day Jesus Christ sat down with his disciples and ate the Passover meal, popularly known as the Last Supper.  The word "Maundy" is derived from the Latin word "mandatum", which means mandate or command.

Holy Thursday is observed the day before Good Friday, when during the Last Supper Jesus Christ washed the feet of his disciple and said, "I give you a new commandment, that you love one another; as I have loved you.”

Maundy Thursday is the first day of the Easter Triduum, which includes Good Friday and the Easter Vigil.  As we commemorate this special meal let us pray for the needs of our world, our families and our friends.  May we model Jesus’ example as he washed the feet of his disciples and show his love to the world.

Sr. Pat