by Sr. Mary Emmadoña Lee | Nov 4, 2026 | Newsletter
Welcome to the second volume of our rebooted Vocation Newsletter. This fall we’re introducing an optional text version of the Newsletter. It will be a shorter version, with a link to the complete version on our website. If you would prefer to receive the text version, please sign up here.
As we passed a particularly lovely group of fall trees on our way home from Mass, Sister said, “They’re dying so beautifully.” It reminded me of the phrase I would repeat so often when preparing middle schoolers for Baptism. In Baptism “we die to self and rise to new life.” The death of the leaves this fall will give way to new growth next spring. The death of the “old man” in Baptism will give way to the life of the “new man” in Christ.
In Religious Life we not only witness this dying-rising dynamic in those we prepare for Baptism, but we live it out daily. In our life of consecration we are continually called to follow Christ to the Cross and also to be re-born in the joy of the resurrection. The Church has named nine aspects of Religious Life “essential elements,” many of which can be illustrated in death to self and rising to new life. This year in our Vocation Newsletter we will be sharing these elements, how we live them, and how they are a part of vocational discernment.
This month we’ll start with a broad overview and a recap of PVMI life since our last Newsletter – when we shared the good news that our foundress, Mother Mary Teresa Tallon was named Venerable by Pope Leo XIV. (You can read it here, if you missed it.)
[Quotes below are from Essential Elements in the Church’s Teaching on Religious Life as Applied to Institutes Dedicated to Works of the Apostolate (EE)-available online here].
Consecration by Public Vows
The Religious Sister professes public vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, by which she “gladly dedicates the whole of life to God’s service, regarding the follow of Christ ‘as the one thing that is necessary, and seeking God before all else and only Him.'” (EE14)
This summer we rejoiced to celebrate with two of our Sister their Jubilees (anniversaries). Sr. Rita-Mairelenes celebrated 70 years of Religious Life and Sr. Mylene Rosemarie celebrated 25 years of vowed Religious Life. All the Sisters who were able to come, gathered together to welcome friends and family, as we celebrated God’s fidelity to the Sisters, and the Sisters’ faithful living out of their consecration.
Communion in Community
“The foundation of unity [in a Religious Community], however, is the communion of Christ established by the one founding gift.” (EE18)
This summer, as we were gathered together at our Motherhouse, we joined together in a Holy Hour of Thanksgiving for the gift of our Mother Foundress being declared Venerable. Mother Mary Teresa referred to the “founding gift” as the “Original Vocation” and we have been rejoicing and thanking God for this great gift all year!
Evangelical Mission
“The choice of a person by God is for the sake of others: the consecrated person is one who is sent to do the work of God in the power of God.” (EE 23)
In the summer, we tend to gather together for a time of renewal, and then we are sent out. This summer three Sisters were sent on a temporary mission to a parish in Boston. A temporary mission often includes training lay people to go door-to-door, searching out those who are away from the practice of their faith – following in the footsteps of the Good Shepherd. The Sisters trained multiple groups in both Spanish and English, reaching out to many hearts with the Good News of Jesus Christ.
Prayer
“Faithfulness to daily prayer always remains for each religious a basic necessity. Prayer must have a primary place in your constitutions and in your lives.” (EE29)
We pray both communally and privately for many hours each day, as well as taking a Retreat Day each month. Some might think Sisters would be tired of praying, but actually our eight-day silent Annual Retreat is a highlight of the year for us! This summer we were blessed with a holy Dominican priest, who led the Community on a special retreat in the spirit of our Foundress.
Asceticism
“Religious life itself is an ongoing, public, visible expression of Christian conversion. It calls for the leaving of all things and the taking up of one’s cross to follow Christ throughout the whole of life.” (EE31)
This is probably the most obvious element that reflects our opportunities to “die to self and rise to new life” on a daily basis. This time of year is also when our Sisters tend to be transferred from one Convent to another or one apostolic assignment to another. Each time we offer another “fiat” (yes) to God, we grown in closer union with Christ, our Beloved.
Public Witness
“Religious life is a witness that should clearly manifest the primacy of the love of God and do so with a strength coming from the Holy Spirit.” (EE32)
One of the simplest ways we publicly witness to our love of God is through our religious habit. A recent vacation day this summer to a Church, a zoo, and an ice cream stand allowed us to witness to many. Parishioners, staff, and young people stopped us after Mass to ask about our Community. A couple young moms with their families at the zoo shared their experiences with Sisters (and let us hold their babies:). A woman asked for our prayers as we enjoyed our ice cream. What a simple way to witness to God’s love!
Relation to the Church
“Religious life in a special way participates in the sacramental nature of the People of God.” (EE38)
A sacrament makes visible an invisible reality, and the presence of Religious Sisters in the local Church makes visible the reality that each Christian is called to eternal life, and that this life in Christ doesn’t have to wait for Heaven, but can be lived now! One way that we share actively in our relation to the Church is by supporting our local Bishop and Diocesan outreach by attending events like the Young Adult Summer Celebration or Ordinations, as well as lifting them up in our daily prayers.
Formation
“Religious formation fosters growth in the life of consecration to the Lord from the earliest stages, when a person first become seriously interested in undertaking it, to its final consummation, when the religious meets the Lord definitively in death.” (EE44)
This year our entire Community is participating in a Year of Renewal, as we dive deeper into our the “Original Vocation” given to our Foundress by the Holy Spirit. Formation is a life-long process, and many theologians agree that it won’t stop even in Heaven!
Government
“[Religious men and women] are members of religious institutes whose structures reflect the Christian hierarchy of which the head is Christ Himself.” (EE49)
While we might not readily associate government with a way of life centered on union with God, it is an essential element of Religious life, and is a reflection of the headship of Christ in the Church. This summer Mother convoked (began the process for) our 2027 General Chapter. These Chapters occur every five years in our Community and are a time of reflection and discernment on the movement of the Holy Spirit in our life as a Community.
Where do I go from here?
Discernment is not only for a time period before beginning your “Big V” Vocation. Discernment is an ongoing unfolding of our call and relationship with our Loving God. If you would like to talk about your vocational journey, or if you think God may be calling you to be a Parish Visitor of Mary Immaculate, please reach out to me or fill out our Vocation Inquiry form here.
Also, could you help us spread the word? Do you know any young Catholic women who would be interested in receiving this Vocation Newsletter? Pass the word along and please pray for many young women to answer God’s call to grow closer to Him through discernment.
In the hope of Christ,
Sr. Theresa Marie, pvmi
Vocation Director
Parish Visitors of Mary Immaculate
845-542-1086
“We must ground ourselves deeply in Christ.” ~Venerable Mother Mary Teresa Tallon, PVMI
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by Sr. Mary Emmadoña Lee | Jul 1, 2026 | Uncategorized
by Sr. Mary Emmadoña Lee | Jun 25, 2026 | Newsletter
We are so blessed to be able to share with you the news that last week Pope Leo XIV recognized the heroic virtue of our foundress, Mother Mary Teresa Tallon, PVMI, and declared that she is now Venerable! This is good news for all who are looking for help with vocational discernment.
Venerable is the second step (of four) to being canonized as a Saint in the Catholic Church. First, she was recognized locally (in the Archdiocese of New York) as a Servant of God. Then we collected information about her life, from historical records, from her writings, and from witnesses who knew her either personally or through her writings or charism. These 8008 pages were sent to Rome where they were evaluated by both a Historical Commission and a Theological Commission, who then passed on their favorable reports to the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints. On Thursday, June 18, Pope Leo XVI agreed with the evaluation of the Dicastery and declared her Venerable!!
The next step is for God to confirm that Mother is in Heaven by way of a miracle that takes place through her intercession. Do you have anyone you are praying for? As our Mother General says, “Ask big!” For a miracle to be used for the process of beatification and canonization, the miracle has to be something that can be witnessed and measurable (like a healing from an incurable disease) and those praying have to be praying only to Venerable Mother Mary Teresa. However, please also ask her intercession for any intentions you have – spiritual or physical.
One particular area of discernment where you can turn to her is in the area of obstacles to your vocation – family or worldly attractions. This is an trial that she experienced personally. Mother Foundress knew that she was called to be a Sister from the age of 12, but her family (especially her mother) did not approve. When she was about eighteen, her mother decided to send her for a couple weeks to visit relatives in a nearby town with hopes of giving her some social opportunities and distracting her from her call.
Julia (as her name was at that time) went to visit her relatives and was proud of going to the “big city” wearing a new hat with a stylish ostrich feather on it. The first party that she was invited to, she left the hat with her coat in the guest bedroom. When she came back after the party, the family’s cat had torn the feather apart! Julia laughed, realizing how silly such worldly attractions were. The next day a two week parish mission opened, and she went to the mission twice a day during her visit, instead of going to parties. A priest from the mission encouraged her in following her vocation, and she never looked back!
Venerable Mother Mary Teresa will rejoice to intercede for you as you follow the call God is putting on your heart! If you are hesitating to take the next step, or are distracted by other things (even good things!), I invite you to ask for her intercession. If you want some help on that journey or would like to know more about our Community, below are couple upcoming events at our Motherhouse. You can also respond to this email or reach out to me through our Vocation Inquiry form here. I am happy to walk with you through this season of discernment in your journey of faith.
You can also find more information about Mother Mary Teresa Tallon on our website, or social media (links below).
You are in my prayers, and I hope to hear from you soon! Summer is a great time to take that next good step in your discernment journey.
In the hope of Christ,
Sr. Theresa Marie, pvmi
Vocation Director
Parish Visitors of Mary Immaculate
845-542-1086
“Make much of God!” ~Servant of God, Mother Mary Teresa Tallon, PVMI
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by Sr. Mary Emmadoña Lee | Jun 18, 2026 | Events
The Vatican Dicastery for the Causes of Saints has recognized the heroic virtues of the Servant of God, Mother Mary Teresa Tallon (Julia Teresa Tallon, 1867–1954), foundress of the Parish Visitors of Mary Immaculate.
In a meeting this morning, June 18, with the Prefect of the Dicastery, Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, Pope Leo XIV approved the Decree of Heroic Virtue, declaring the New York-born foundress Venerable and advancing her cause for beatification and canonization. In response to this decision, Mother Maria Catherine Iannotti, General Superior of the Parish Visitors of Mary Immaculate, said, “We are overjoyed that the Holy Father has recognized the heroic virtues of our Foundress! This is a wonderful day for us as her cause comes a step closer to beatification and canonization.” Mother Maria Catherine acknowledged the work of those serving Venerable Mother Tallon’s Cause: “Of course, this could never have taken place without the hard work of our postulator, Dr. Waldery Hilgeman, his associates Dr. Emanuele Spedicato, and Msgr. Brian Taylor of the Archdiocese of New York, who wrote Mother’s biography for the Positio.”
Born Julia Teresa Tallon in Hanover, NY, on May 6, 1867, the new Venerable was the daughter of Irish immigrants, Peter Tallon and Bridget Duffy, from County Meath and Sligo, respectively, who married in the U.S. and settled in Upstate New York to run a hops farm. The youngest of their eight children, Julia was baptized in St. Mary’s Church in Clinton, NY, and received her First Holy Communion and Confirmation in St. Bernard’s Church in Waterville, NY.
From her earliest years, Julia was known to manifest a thirst for God and proved to be a zealous catechist. Concerned for the religious training of the children of the migrant workers on her father’s farm, she would gather them in the fields while their parents were working and teach them prayers, stories from Scripture, and the truths of the Faith. As a child, she was no stranger to hardships. She and her sister Jane were the only Catholics in their class at school and suffered at the hands of bullies who taunted them because of their faith. Julia taught her sister that it was more important to forgive than to hold grudges and fight back.
These experiences, a deepening faith life after her reception of First Holy Communion, and a desire for a consecrated religious life in the service of others saw her pursue a vocation. Despite initial opposition from her mother, who sent her to Utica, NY, to expose her to society and all that it had to offer to distract her, Julia entered the Sisters of the Holy Cross in South Bend, Indiana, in 1887 at the age of 19. For 33 years, as Sister Mary Berchmans, she taught in various schools of the Congregation. As a teacher, her heart was stirred for those young people who were either slow in study, neglectful or neglected, truant, or facing difficulties, leading her to spend her time and energy drawing them close to the Heart of Christ through her loving concern.
During a retreat in 1900, and through a further inspiration in 1908, she felt that God was asking her to found a new religious institute where women would be trained to greater spiritual perfection while being engaged in a missionary apostolate in the parish setting, visiting homes to reach out to Catholics who had forgotten God’s love for them and the beauty of the faith. After 13 years of waiting and suffering for what she called “The Grand Cause,” Sister Mary Berchmans began the Parish Visitors of Mary Immaculate on August 15, 1920, in New York City with the permission and blessing of Cardinal Hayes. From this time on, she was known as Mother Mary Teresa.
During her lifetime, the Parish Visitors of Mary Immaculate served in the Archdiocese of New York, the Archdioceses of Milwaukee, Chicago, and Hartford, and the Dioceses of Brooklyn, Albany, Scranton, Metuchen, and Syracuse, as well as for a brief time in the Dominican Republic. She guided the nascent Community until her forced retirement in 1951 and died at the Motherhouse of the Community in Monroe, NY, on March 10, 1954.
Commenting on Mother Mary Teresa’s legacy for today, Mother Maria Catherine noted two of the foundress’ sayings: “Make every soul count” and “Make much of God.” “Both Pope Francis and Pope Leo XIV have reminded us of the dignity of every human person,” Mother Maria Catherine continued. “We hear in their reminders the echo of Venerable Mary Teresa’s voice! Today, people are in such need of knowing their dignity as children of God; of their importance in His eyes; and of their call to know, love, and serve Him here so as to be happy with Him in Heaven.”
The next step in this process is beatification, in which Venerable Mary Teresa Tallon will be declared Blessed. For this to occur, a proven miracle through her intercession must be approved by the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints.
For more information on Venerable Mother Mary Teresa Tallon:
Her Life
Contact person: Mother Maria Catherine Iannotti, PVMI
General Superior
Contact number: 845-783-2251
Email: mothertallon@gmail.com
For the Prayer to Obtain favors through the intercession of Venerable Mother Mary Teresa Tallon, click here.
by Sr. Mary Emmadoña Lee | Jun 6, 2026 | Newsletter
“John was standing with two of his disciples, and he looked at Jesus as He walked and said, “Behold the Lamb of God!”
So, you’ve heard God whispering in your heart…or felt a nudge…or an attraction to give yourself completely to God.
“The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus.”
You’re trying to live a holy life, to commit yourself to regular prayer, hoping to be given a clear direction. Perhaps you’ve begun a daily examen, are trying to use St. Ignatius’ Discernment of Spirits, and/or are meeting with a spiritual director to find out where God is leading you.
“Jesus said to them, ‘What do you seek?’ And they said to Him, ‘Rabbi, where are you staying?'”
Maybe you’ve tried these methods (off and on) for a long period of time, or even just for a short time. You’ve googled “discernment” / “religious life” / “Sisters in my area” / “Sisters who _____(fill in the blank)” and scrolled through numerous websites. What’s your next step?
“He said to them, ‘Come and see.'”
Summer is a great time to take Jesus’ advice to “Come and see.” The disciples had already heard about Jesus from John the Baptist. Now they needed to come and see where Jesus was staying, listen to what He taught, and experience His radical love for them and all humanity. Similarly, during a time of discernment, when you hear a call to follow Him in Religious Life, you need to come and see how that life is lived.
A “Come & See” is an opportunity to spend some time with a particular Religious Community, to get to know them, to see and enter into their daily routine, to hear about (and possibly experience) their apostolate and Community history. Most importantly, during a Come & See experience, you spend time with Our Lord within this Community. This is a sacred space, where the Holy Spirit often speaks, giving clearer direction to your heart.
A Come & See can vary from an overnight visit to a weekend, a week, or more. It can be a regularly scheduled event with other discerners or a personal visit set up to match your schedule. A Come & See is an opportunity for the Holy Spirit to point, “This way.” or “That way.” It is NOT a commitment to enter a Community:).
Here are some real-life Come & See stories from our Sisters, while they were discerning the call God had placed on their hearts.
I Knew!
I was sure. I was so sure that God was calling me to be a Poor Clare nun! Their website was so simple and beautiful. It struck my heart and I knew! As I prepared for the Come & See, I told my mom, “I’m going to be a Poor Clare. I know this is it. I’ll be cloistered and will be there the rest of my life.” My mom said, “Let’s wait and see.” I came…and I saw the beauty…the simplicity…the joy, but I knew. God was not calling me here.
I Knew Nothing!
I knew nothing about religious life, but I felt something missing in my life, and I thought, “maybe that’s it,” so I contacted the Sisters who had taught me in Elementary School and scheduled a visit. The Vocation Director showed me proudly where eight Sisters prayed Morning Prayer together a few days a week – in a large room full of cushioned recliners. She told me about the Novitiate shared by a number of Communities far away from any of the Sisters of this Community. I joined the Sisters for Mass on Sunday, and wondered why one of the Sisters was standing in the Sanctuary near the altar during the Liturgy of the Eucharist. I came…and I saw…and I still didn’t know anything about Religious Life…but I knew. God was not calling me here.
Not Here
I was excited and nervous. I had known since I was a teen that God was calling me to Religious Life. Now I was on a bus trip to Irondale, AL, half a country away from home and about to meet Mother Angelica – maybe today was the day I would know where God’s plan would plant me! Mother Angelica was so kind. She listened to my story, paused, and said, “I believe you have a vocation to Religious Life…but not here.” I hadn’t know what to expect, but it hurt, a lot. I still knew God was calling me…but not here.
The Wrong Convent
I knocked on the door of the Convent where I had an appointment to meet the Vocation Director. A housekeeper answered the door and told me I was at the wrong Convent. I was sure I wasn’t, but she insisted, strongly, and kept pointing down the street, telling me about another Convent where I should go. She wouldn’t let me in, so finally, I left. I decided I might as well go to the Convent where she had directed me. While speaking to the Sister who answered the door, I realized that I had already heard about this Community and decided they weren’t a good fit for me. Knocking on doors and talking to people was too difficult! The Sister was very understanding, and as I explained to her what kind of Community I was looking for, she got down a magazine with information about many Communities in the US and helped me find some that fit my ideas. As I was preparing to thank her and leave, she invited me to come up to their Motherhouse for a Vows ceremony the next week. She had been so kind, and I had never been to a Motherhouse, so I decided to go…and after that visit I knew…I had been at the wrong Convent the first time….God was calling me to be a Parish Visitor of Mary Immaculate.
Who Wouldn’t Want This?
Before arriving at the Convent, I had received an offer to go in a different direction than Religious Life, an offer that seemed to fit in better with the general movement of my life over the last decade since graduating college, better than leaving everything behind to join a Religious Community. Moreover, could I really knock on a stranger’s door and talk about God?! Could this really be where He was calling me – it just didn’t fit. However, as the Come & See was already scheduled, and I was planning to visit a friend on the way, I decided to go. During the Come & See, I enjoyed time eating, talking, playing, and praying with the Sisters. One Sister even took me out to meet some people she had met on door-to-door Visitation. The conversations reminded me of conversations I had had with family, friends, people at the gym…maybe I could do this. As I drove home I reflected on my experiences that weekend, and thought, “Who wouldn’t want this?” God was calling me to be a Parish Visitor of Mary Immaculate.
Where do I go from here?
Now is the time to take that next step, and I’d be happy to take it with you. We’re hosting a Come & See this summer, July 17-19. You can register here. If that time frame does not work for you, but you’re interested in talking about your journey, or visiting at a different time, please reach out by email, or through our Vocation Inquiry form here. You can also find other Come & See opportunities through CMSWR, the Institute on Religious Life, or on Community websites.
This summer we’ll also host our annual Marycrest Youth Day on Saturday, August 1. This event is open to high school teens and young adults (up to 25 years old.) If you or anyone you know within driving distance is interested, you can find more information here.
Also, could you help us spread the word? Do you know any young Catholic women who would be interested in these upcoming events or the Vocation Newsletter? Pass the word along and please pray for many young women to answer God’s call to grow closer to Him through discernment.
In the hope of Christ,
Sr. Theresa Marie, pvmi
Vocation Director
Parish Visitors of Mary Immaculate
845-542-1086
“I am only a drop of dew, but I will do what I can, and God will do much..” ~Servant of God, Mother Mary Teresa Tallon, PVMI
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The Vatican Dicastery for the Causes of Saints has recognized the heroic virtues of the Servant of God, Mother Mary Teresa Tallon (Julia Teresa Tallon, 1867–1954), foundress of the Parish Visitors of Mary Immaculate.
