I am greatly grateful and full of joy after having attended a retirement party at Sacred Heart School of Theology where I was Associate Director of Human and Spiritual Formation for nine years. I left when my community asked me to go to the Dominican Republic.
This was the most diffiult "obedience" I ever had! There were LOTS of tears! I loved my ministry at this seminary for second career men...men who were career men, who had been married, widowed, divorced and some single. They were a wonderful bunch to work with.
I was invited to the retirement Vespers and dinner for three of my former faculty "buddies". It was wonderful to go back, to visit and catch up. It was such a "shot in the arm for me. Both faculty and students happy to see me and let me know how I am missed.
How we all need this kind of a message, this kind of encouragement. Most of the tme it is just "business as usual". We need to remember how important it is to praise, to pat on the back, to encourage, to affirm.
Let's you and I start an epidemic of this!
Sunday, April 28, 2013
Thursday, April 18, 2013
Rain, rain, go away....
We have had rain for days, now....overcast, foggy, terrible driving. Then for a treat, just to let us know of its presence....out theer...the sun peeks, literally peeks. Hope in the midst of darkness! Light at the end of the tunnel? Sun at the end of these dreary days. It is amazing how the weather can impact you. LikeI told one of my friends at work: We have to be the sunshine!
Remember: Yesterday is history.
Tomorrow is mystery.
Today is gift.
That is why it is alled the present.
Live and savor every moment....this is not a dress rehearsal.
Not sure where I read that, but it cerainly is great advice.
Remember: Yesterday is history.
Tomorrow is mystery.
Today is gift.
That is why it is alled the present.
Live and savor every moment....this is not a dress rehearsal.
Not sure where I read that, but it cerainly is great advice.
Sunday, April 14, 2013
Easter Fallout
I read a wonderful "Easter fallout"--(my naming)
We celebrate a broken Christ who makes us whole.
We remember a poured out Christ who heals our wounds.
We rejoice in a dying Christ who gives us life.
If that isn't good news! That is so healing for me And so life-giving. What more could I want? Except to share it and pass it on so others also experience the healing and the renewal of life.
I would also like to share with you a wonderful online resource. An old friend and his wife are the creators. I had him at our parish for an Advent renewal evening. He is wonderful Go to
www.thefiveloaves.com. It provides a brief but very creative reflection on the Sunday reading.
Enjoy it and I hope you find it renewing.
EASTER BLESSINGS......
We celebrate a broken Christ who makes us whole.
We remember a poured out Christ who heals our wounds.
We rejoice in a dying Christ who gives us life.
If that isn't good news! That is so healing for me And so life-giving. What more could I want? Except to share it and pass it on so others also experience the healing and the renewal of life.
I would also like to share with you a wonderful online resource. An old friend and his wife are the creators. I had him at our parish for an Advent renewal evening. He is wonderful Go to
www.thefiveloaves.com. It provides a brief but very creative reflection on the Sunday reading.
Enjoy it and I hope you find it renewing.
EASTER BLESSINGS......
Sunday, April 7, 2013
Provincial Assembly
Our entire US/Caribbean Province is gathered here in Oshkosh, WI. We have come from the east, the south, the midwest parts of the US and from Trinidad, Grenada, St. Lucia, the Dominican Republic.
What is a "provincial assembly"? A gathering to plan for the next four years and to elect new leadership. We have met for a week...and closed our assembly today.
It has been wonderful to see all my sisters whom I have not seen for four years...to catch up with their lives, their ministries. It is like a shot in the arm...lots to be abuzz about.
It was renewing to pray together...and in all the languages of the various parts of our Province....I did not understand some...but God did!
Now we return to our areas and our ministries renewed, with a song in our hearts and a skip to our comings and goings.
I thank God for each and everyone of us...what a gifted bunch. I ask God's blessings for our next four years as we BEGIN ANEW!
What is a "provincial assembly"? A gathering to plan for the next four years and to elect new leadership. We have met for a week...and closed our assembly today.
It has been wonderful to see all my sisters whom I have not seen for four years...to catch up with their lives, their ministries. It is like a shot in the arm...lots to be abuzz about.
It was renewing to pray together...and in all the languages of the various parts of our Province....I did not understand some...but God did!
Now we return to our areas and our ministries renewed, with a song in our hearts and a skip to our comings and goings.
I thank God for each and everyone of us...what a gifted bunch. I ask God's blessings for our next four years as we BEGIN ANEW!
Friday, March 29, 2013
Holy THursday
I find such wonderful reflections, that I just need to pass them on. They may move you as they do me.
THe title: Freedom, Bread and WIne, a Towel:
Freedom: Jesus frees us in his new Passover.
Reflect: How free am I? Is there anyting that still enslaves me: an addiction, self-centeredness, bitterness, consumerism, pride?
Bread and Wine: transformed into Jesus' body and blood, Eucharist.
Reflect: How do I show my appreciation and love for this incredible gift?
Towel: in his washing of feet, Jesus showed us that the hallmark of Christian discipleship is humble service and unconditional love.
Reflect: Who needs MY unconditional love? Who might I serve? We don our aprons in loving service....
From This Day
THe title: Freedom, Bread and WIne, a Towel:
Freedom: Jesus frees us in his new Passover.
Reflect: How free am I? Is there anyting that still enslaves me: an addiction, self-centeredness, bitterness, consumerism, pride?
Bread and Wine: transformed into Jesus' body and blood, Eucharist.
Reflect: How do I show my appreciation and love for this incredible gift?
Towel: in his washing of feet, Jesus showed us that the hallmark of Christian discipleship is humble service and unconditional love.
Reflect: Who needs MY unconditional love? Who might I serve? We don our aprons in loving service....
From This Day
Who am I at the table of the Lord?
This was the title in my reflection book for Tuesday. I found the questions worth sharing.
When Jesus announced someone would betray him: would I be like the disciples, staring wide-eyed, open-mouthed, not knowing what to say? Would I be like John, collapsed in grief, laying my head sadly on his bosom? Would I be like Peter, promising loyaly even to death? Would I possibly be like Judas, taking the morsel Jesus offers as a last gesture of LOVE....then go out into the dark to do my dark act?
The author suggests that each character represents some defect in our lives...times we ought to have spoken up and times to be silent....times so bound up in my own pain and so failed to see the pain of the other...times I have betrayed the love of Christ in my weakness and failed to be a real disciple.
Good reflection stuff....
When Jesus announced someone would betray him: would I be like the disciples, staring wide-eyed, open-mouthed, not knowing what to say? Would I be like John, collapsed in grief, laying my head sadly on his bosom? Would I be like Peter, promising loyaly even to death? Would I possibly be like Judas, taking the morsel Jesus offers as a last gesture of LOVE....then go out into the dark to do my dark act?
The author suggests that each character represents some defect in our lives...times we ought to have spoken up and times to be silent....times so bound up in my own pain and so failed to see the pain of the other...times I have betrayed the love of Christ in my weakness and failed to be a real disciple.
Good reflection stuff....
Favorite days....
The Triduum is my favorite 3 days. It goes way back 60+ years from my childhood. I loved Holy Thursday (when litugy was in the moring--pre-Varican II). After Mass we had adoration ALL day at a beautifully decorated altar of repose. THis is where my love and devotion to the Blessed Sacrament birthed, I think.
Then...my dad was a member of the "Hermanos" a men's group dedicated to the passion of Jesus. They had small private chapels...ours was up in the mountains. On Good Friday we went there for prayer and for outside Way of the Cross. Lots of praying and singing and carrying a cross.
Holy Saturday was a quiet day of mourning....no playing or visiting!
Then in community, we had these days of silence.
Since I don't know when, I go for a Triduum retreat. This year I could not go because I need to be here for my ministry....four are joinng the Church, one is being confirmed, and one is receiving first eucharist...so I am making my own triduum retreat. Prayer and silence.
I pray these holy days are truly holy for you too.
Then...my dad was a member of the "Hermanos" a men's group dedicated to the passion of Jesus. They had small private chapels...ours was up in the mountains. On Good Friday we went there for prayer and for outside Way of the Cross. Lots of praying and singing and carrying a cross.
Holy Saturday was a quiet day of mourning....no playing or visiting!
Then in community, we had these days of silence.
Since I don't know when, I go for a Triduum retreat. This year I could not go because I need to be here for my ministry....four are joinng the Church, one is being confirmed, and one is receiving first eucharist...so I am making my own triduum retreat. Prayer and silence.
I pray these holy days are truly holy for you too.
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