We hope you had a pleasant summer. Our summer has gone by quickly; so much has happened!
Our annual eight-day retreat was in July, conducted by Fr. John Paul, CFR. Retreat is always a time of many special graces for all of us. May God help us all to grow closer and closer to Him each day of our lives!
You read in our last vocation newsletter about the two final professions on June 24. Both Sisters are now in their apostolates, Sr. Jhoan Marie in Pennsylvania and Sr. Mary Imelda in the Philippines.
Shortly after the final professions we had several days of helpful community workshops (which we call “conventions”). Then Sr. Carole Marie had her 60th jubilee on July 2. Imagine that– 60 years of dedication to Jesus as a Parish Visitor! Sr. Celine Marie celebrated her 25th jubilee in early September, a year late as she was unable to travel from Nigeria last year. This photo shows some of the Sisters doing a Nigerian dance for her!
In July the juniorate and the novitiate Sisters made pilgrimages to the Waterville, NY area, the place where our foundress, Mother Mary Teresa, lived before entering the convent. The first photo shows the baptism font in Clinton, NY, where our foundress was baptized; the second photo shows the church of the parish she attended. One of her living relatives is pictured with the Sisters.
Despite the continuation of the pandemic, we continued to reach out to God’s people. To give just a few examples, children enjoyed Vacation Bible School, and the novitiate participated in a young adult virtual Bible study. The Novitiate also presented a number of prayer evenings at various parishes, giving hope in the pandemic. After one of these evenings, the priest told us of the numerous confessions that took place, and some of these people had been away from the church for many, many years. Praise God for their return!
On one of our community days the juniorate Sisters surprised us by turning our van into an ice cream truck! Yes, we all love ice cream!
We closed our l00th anniversary year on August 15, beginning our community’s 101st year! On August 14 we had a special Mass at Marycrest, followed by dinner for a small group of guests. The celebration had to be kept low key because of the pandemic, despite the original plans we made in 2020 and again this year.
On August 15 we went by bus to St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York, the archdiocese of our foundation, where Cardinal Dolan commemorated our 100 years. Two of our Sisters did the readings for the Mass and Mother Maria Catherine spoke briefly at the end of Mass.
As we go into the future, we know the Sacred Heart of Jesus will care for us, as He promised our foundress many years ago and as He has done all these years!
May God continue to guide your discernment of His will for your own future!
In Jesus,
Sister Dolores Marie