May is the month of Our Lady, a time of honoring her with special prayer, May crownings, and so on. Here at Marycrest, our motherhouse, the Sisters had a May crowning of Mary, and on another day a group of girls crowned Our Lady at our grotto.
These young girls have been meeting with our novices monthly for further growth in their faith, and over the past year this could only be done by zoom. How great to be able finally to be with them in person!
First Communions are always special times, especially Communions of children, teens or adults whom we have instructed. To prepare someone to receive Jesus is a very special privilege!
Here is Sr. Alina Marie with one of the First Communicants in her parish.
In other parishes we have often helped poor children prepare for the big day with dresses, shoes, ties, and so on. Of course the interior preparation is the most important, but the children also remember gratefully the attention we give to these external things.
Springtime is a time of planting and of new growth, and I’d like to share with you a reflection on Jesus’ parable of the sower and the seed (Mt. 13:4-23).
Some seed fell on the path and the birds ate it. Some fell on rocky ground. Some was choked by thorns and thistles. And some fell on good soil and yielded a very good harvest.
How beautiful when the seed, which is the Word of God, produces a bountiful harvest!
In our visitation of families, we are spreading God’s word. (Of course we’ve been hampered by COVID this past year, but hopefully before long we’ll get back to normal.)
In some people the thorns and rocks prevent the seed from flourishing, but other people actually tell us, “Wow, I never imagined that a Sister from the Church would come to visit me.” Or, “God must still be interested in me, He sent you to my door.” And good things happen!
And there are times when the results come later and we don’t see them. A priest once told one of our Sisters, “Sister, you don’t know how much good you’re doing. I can’t give you any details, but I see it in confession.”
However, what if no one answers the call to sow the seeds, that is, to go out to the people to tell them about Jesus and His Church? How then can the seed grow to harvest?
The people need someone to remind them of Jesus, to encourage them, to invite them to return. Are you the one they’re waiting for?
We can also apply this same story of the sower and the seed to discerning a vocation.
When Jesus calls, sometimes rocky ground–noise and distraction–blocks it out.
Sometimes the thorns–my fears and anxieties–choke it.
Sometimes the pleasures of the world drown it out.
And sometimes the answer is “yes!”
Which one applies to you? What kind of soil are you for His call?
May God bless you and guide you in your discernment!
Sister Dolores Marie