80 Years of Faithful Service

 

Yesterday, Sr. Stephanie Nolan, celebrated her 80^th anniversary of religious profession.  It is hard to fathom a commitment that has spanned two centuries, several wars, the Civil Rights movement, and the early exploration of space.  Her lifetime has been one of constant change and new realities.  Stephanie is one of the kindest, most compassionate, and wise women I have ever met.  Her love of God exudes her being and she is an inspiration for so many.  Whenever I visit her, I leave feeling the impact of a spiritual encounter.  She always listens and then gives a pearl of wisdom for you to reflect on.  We are grateful for this faithful daughter of St. Angela.  May she continue to be a blessing for all!

World Day Against Trafficking in Persons

 

On World Day Against Trafficking in Persons (July 30), human trafficking organizations raise awareness of the impact of and root causes of human trafficking.

We also call on governments, law enforcement, and society to strengthen prevention efforts and to support victim-survivors of human trafficking. We invite allies and individuals, organizations of faith and non-profits and all people of good will to work towards ending human trafficking.

Specifically, U.S. Catholic Sisters Against Human Trafficking and the National Advocacy Center of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd are currently collaborating on how to break the link between human trafficking and forced migration. (Ursuline Sisters JPIC Team)

Yesterday I had the opportunity to see the movie Sound of Freedom. Sound of Freedom, based on an incredible true story, shines a light on even the darkest of places. After rescuing a young boy from ruthless child traffickers, a federal agent learns the boy’s sister is still captive and decides to embark on a dangerous mission to save her. With time running out, he quits his job and journeys deep into the Colombian jungle, putting his life on the line to free her from a fate worse than death. Sound of Freedom takes you on an emotional and eye-opening journey that leaves an indelible mark on your heart and mind. This powerful and thought-provoking film, released in 2023 (after a 6 year wait), is a testament to the strength of the human spirit and the unwavering determination to bring justice to the voiceless.  If you have the opportunity to see it do so.

On this World Day Against Trafficking in Persons let us pray for all victims and those who seek to help them.

Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Our Gospel today continues Matthew’s use of parables to teach us. In today’s Gospel, Jesus offers three parables to describe the Kingdom of Heaven. He also explains why he speaks to the crowds in parables and interprets the parable of the sower for the disciples.

All three parables use commonplace experiences to describe aspects of the Kingdom of Heaven. The first parable is longer and more detailed than the next two, and it alerts us to the two-fold reality of the Kingdom of Heaven. The beginnings of the Kingdom of Heaven can be found in this world.

The second and third parables call to our attention the abundance that will result from the small beginnings of the Kingdom of Heaven. Just as a mustard seed—the smallest of all seeds—will become a large bush, so too God will bring his Kingdom to full bloom. As a small amount of yeast will leaven the entire batch of bread, so too God will bring about the expansion of his Kingdom. In each case the image is of the superabundance that God brings out of even the smallest of signs of the Kingdom.

These three parables encourage us to look for our loving God in the small things not only in grand experiences.  We are invited to look for God in all things even the smallest ones.  Our God can work wonders in all things.  Let us live with the eyes of faith that with God’s help we will see great wonders.

The Miracle Club

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to go to see The Miracle Club with some friends.  This new movie was more than I had expected.

Set in 1967, The Miracle Club is a heartwarming film that follows the story of three generations of close friends, Lily (Maggie Smith), Eileen (Kathy Bates), and Dolly (Agnes O'Casey) of Ballygar, a hard-knocks community in Dublin, who have one tantalizing dream: to win a pilgrimage to the sacred French town of Lourdes, that place of miracles that draws millions of visitors each year. When the chance to win presents itself, the women seize it. However, just before their trip, their old friend Chrissie (Laura Linney) arrives in Ballygar for her mother's funeral, dampening their good mood and well-laid plans. The women secure tickets and set out on the journey that they hope will change their lives, with Chrissie, a skeptical traveler, joining in place of her mother. The glamor and sophistication of Chrissie, who has just returned from a nearly 40-year exile in the United States, are not her only distancing traits: old wounds are reopened along the way, forcing the women to confront their pasts even as they travel in search of a miracle. Their shared traumas can only be healed by the curative power of love and friendship. (Sonypictures.com)

As the depth of the relationships unfolded, I found myself captivated by the relationships between the four women. Each one had their own unique perspective, and it was clear from the start that there were wounds that needed healing – each needed her own miracle.  This movie is one built on broken relationships, hidden secrets, and deep healing in unexpected ways.

Watching this movie, I was reminded of my own experience of visiting Lourdes.  It was truly a moving experience.  I arrived in a snow squall and literally soaked in the experience.   It was most moving and even though it was a snowy January day there were so many pilgrims visiting the Basilica.  If you ever have the opportunity to visit Lourdes, take it.  It is truly an experience that will remain with you forever.

Importance of Relationships

 Angela Merici believed in the importance of sisterly relationships.  She gathered a circle of women who centered their lives on God and promised to support one another in their good works.   

This past week, I gathered with 8 other women who graduated from the College of New Rochelle with me 30 years ago.  We traveled to Bailey Island, Maine and spent time together talking, laughing, enjoying delicious lobster, looking out at the beautiful ocean, listening to the crashing waves against the water and simply being together.  It was such a grace-filled experience.  

We shared about our lives-the good and the bad. Every one of us has had challenges but we have gotten thru them and are now looking at how we will live our lives going forward. What is emerging in each of us?  We cannot live stagnant lives and stay stuck in our pain-we have to find the joyful moments and treasure them.  

Many of us have been talking on Zoom each Saturday morning at 8am since the start of the pandemic in March 2020.  It was great not to be on a screen but in person.  Our talks with one another are always filled with complete openness and non-judgmental while still being truthful even when it is not pretty.  

Some of the women are artists and shared their art projects with us so I came home with some beautiful dishes, candle holders and figurines.    We also received funny gifts from some of our members as we are in midlife now and experiencing the changes that go with that.

Angela knew the importance of gathering and having women be together to share life!  I hope she knows that gathering is still going on with those touched by her spirit.  All of us learned of her spirit thru the Ursuline Sisters at the College of New Rochelle.  We will continue to gather and live out her legacy.    Our friendship of 34 years has taught us that we need others in our life to be with us in joy and pain.  We have to help each other to grow and be the best person one can be!

As the famous line goes from Winnie the Pooh-We didn't know we were making memories, we just knew we were having fun!

Fun is what we had in college and what we had together this past week-This fun provides memories of the heart for our life-giving relationships!!

Jeannie

12th Sunday in Ordinary Time

 

Our readings today are a call to trust in God. Although our circumstances can be unsettling or frightening, God is always caring for us. Jeremiah, in our first reading, reaffirms his trust in God and acknowledges that God is with him, giving him strength and protecting him from his enemies.  He trusts in the Lord even though he is being plotted against.  Psalm 69 invites us to call upon the Lord in faith, seeking His loving response.  To endure insults and shame, trusting in His boundless kindness and mercy. The psalm expresses hope that God will hear our prayers in times of distress. The second reading reminds us that Jesus rescued us even though we are sinners.  Sin and death entered the world through one man, Adam, but through the one act of righteousness by Jesus Christ, grace and eternal life are made available to all who believe. Through Adam’s transgression, humanity was condemned, but through Christ’s sacrificial death and resurrection, God’s gift of forgiveness and justification abounds, offering reconciliation and abundant life to those who receive it.  And in the gospel, Jesus tells us “Fear no one” and that we are loved and cared for by God.  Jesus encourages His disciples to fearlessly proclaim His teachings, assuring them that whatever is hidden will be revealed and their actions will be brought to light. He emphasizes that they should not fear those who can harm the body, but rather fear God who holds ultimate authority over both body and soul and promises that those who acknowledge Him before others will be acknowledged by Him in return.

Fear is a very real human emotion and can be overwhelming at times.  As I prayed this morning two songs kept coming to mind, Be Not Afraid and Do Not Fear to Hope.  I found great comfort in each of these songs.  They reminded me to keep trusting and having the confidence that our loving God is with me all the time.  May we always find the strength and courage to allow our God to soothe our fears and embrace us with love and care.

Happy Father's Day

 

Did you ever think about how Father’s Day came to be?  While reading about Father's Day I discovered that it was founded by Sonora Smart Dodd, a woman from Spokane, Washington. Dodd was inspired to create the holiday after attending a Mother's Day church service in 1909. She was the daughter of a Civil War veteran named William Jackson Smart, who had raised her and her five siblings as a single father. Dodd felt that fathers deserved their own special day of recognition, so she began a campaign to make it happen.  Dodd's campaign was successful, and the first Father's Day was celebrated in Spokane on June 19, 1910. The holiday spread quickly throughout the United States, and it was officially recognized by the U.S. Congress in 1972.

The significance of Father's Day is to honor fathers and father figures for their love, support, and guidance. It is a day to celebrate the important role that fathers, and father figures play in our lives. Fathers play a vital role in the development of their children. They provide love, support, and guidance, and they help their children to grow into healthy and well-adjusted adults. Fathers also teach their children important values, such as hard work, responsibility, and respect. Additionally, Father's Day provides an opportunity for society to recognize and celebrate the diversity of father figures, including stepfathers, grandfathers, uncles, and other individuals who play a fatherly role in shaping the lives of their children.

As we celebrate Father’s Day 2023 let us pray for all fathers and father figures. We pray:

We give our thanks, Creator God, for the fathers in our lives.

Fatherhood does not come with a manual, and reality teaches us that some fathers excel while others fail.

We ask for Your blessings for them all and forgiveness where it is needed.

This Father's Day we remember the many sacrifices fathers make for their children and families, and the ways--both big and small--they lift children to achieve dreams thought beyond reach.

So too, we remember all those who have helped fill the void when fathers pass early or are absent; grandfathers and uncles, brothers and cousins, teachers, pastors and coaches and the women of our families.

For those who are fathers, we ask for wisdom and humility in the face of the task of parenting. Give them the strength to do well by their children and by You.

In Your Holy name, O God, we pray.  Amen.