Sister Carole Marie Troskowski, former general superior of the Parish Visitors of Mary Immaculate, celebrated her 60th anniversary on July 2. Sister grew up in Albany, New York and had been active in the Legion of Mary before entering the convent.
The Sisters, as well as a number of her family members, were happy to share this special day with her. May she have many more happy and fruitful years as a Parish Visitor!
This date was the 30th anniversary of the beginning of the Sisters of Life, a community which was founded by Cardinal O’Connor at our motherhouse, Marycrest, in Monroe, NY. Bishop Edmond Whelan offered a special anniversary Mass for them, preceded by a Holy Hour and fellowship. After the Mass the two communities had a festive meal together.
Two Parish Visitors were formation directors for the Sisters of Life during their first year, while the Sisters of Life lived at our motherhouse before moving to the Bronx. One of the photos pictures shows Sr. Rita-Mairelenes, one of the formation directors, with some of the Sisters.
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
Just what is a Parish Visitor? What is she like?
She may be short or tall, young or not so young.
She may have light hair or dark, light skin or darker skin.
She may be slender or not so slender; she may be exuberant or quiet.
She may come from the East, the Midwest, the West, or overseas.
She might enjoy singing, or the beauties of nature, or a good book. She likes a good laugh and a good game at recreation.
She might live at our convent in the Bronx, in Pennsylvania or Arizona, at our motherhouse in New York, or in the Philippines, or in Nigeria.
The important thing is, she is a woman of God.
A prayerful woman, who has given herself totally to Him.
A woman who feels for God’s people—especially those who have strayed from Him.
And who feels for His children—especially the spiritually neglected ones who never learned about Him, who are starved for Him and don’t know it.
She feels for them, goes out to help them, prays and sacrifices for them.
She loves her vows of chastity, poverty, obedience; she loves her Sisters in community wherever they may be.
She is inspired by our foundress, Servant of God Mother Mary Teresa Tallon.
She loves the Church, the Eucharist, the Sacred Heart of the Good Shepherd, Our Blessed Mother, and Saint Joseph.
This is a Parish Visitor!
Many blessings from Our Risen Lord to all of you!
Holy Week and Easter at Marycrest, our motherhouse, were especially beautiful this year. We had all the Holy Week and Easter ceremonies! What a comparison to last year when we only had livestreaming.
Above shows a Sister in adoration at our repository on Holy Thursday.
At the Easter Vigil, our Pascal Candle, surrounded
by Easter flowers, proclaimed Our Risen Savior!
We had some fun, too. During the Easter octave, our novices gave an ice cream party to the Sisters, complete with an Easter bunny!
Preparing to serve the ice cream.
Yum!
The novices also planned a game evening and a “carnival” event.
As our foundress told us, “God expects us to pray well, to work faithfully, and to play cheerfully.”
May God’s guidance be with you as you as you continue to discern His will for your life. Feel free to email me. If you’d like to plan a phone chat to get better acquainted, just let me know. Our prayers are with you all!
In Jesus Our Risen Lord,
Sister Dolores Marie
We rejoice with Sr. Mary Anthonia Okpikuma, who made her final vows on this day. To give oneself to God forever–what a beautiful offering! Besides the crown of roses and the crucifix ring, the mission crucifix received at final vows is a sign of our perpetual dedication, that we will be a “willing holocaust for the redemption of the most abandoned souls.” May God’s grace and strength be with Sr. Mary Anthonia forever!