by Sr. Mary Emmadoña Lee | Dec 11, 2025 | Newsletter
Blessed Advent from the Parish Visitors of Mary Immaculate!
In the welcome email for this Vocation Newsletter, we explored the concept of discernment (listening, recognizing, and responding to God’s voice in your heart) and shared that we can stay on track with discernment through dedicated daily prayer. In the next few Newsletters we will look at some ways to integrate that daily prayer into your life.
Recollection
“The greatest trouble with the world is that the people are too much taken up with worldly joys to stop and think of God. But we must do it, we must think, and teach others to think of the Good God, and to think of Him as the little Babe of Bethlehem, the Divine Babe; let true charity encompass Him and all others for whom we work in union with His dear Sacred Heart.”
~Servant of God Mother Mary Teresa Tallon, Foundress of the Parish Visitors of Mary Immaculate
Mother tells us to stop and think of God, to think of Him as the Babe of Bethlehem, to work in union with His dear Sacred Heart. This message is not just for the Sisters she was speaking to in Advent 1922, but for anyone who is seeking to grow closer to God and hear His voice. This habitual turning to God is known by many names – recollection; spiritual retirement; listening for the still, small voice; the practice of the presence of God; etc.
Recollection (to use the name our Foundress used most often) is part of the remote preparation for prayer, It is remote not because it takes place in a location far away, but because it happens before and after your more formal times of prayer. It is an attitude, a way of being, that prepares the heart for intimacy with the Beloved in prayer.
Just as our surroundings can influence our thoughts, emotions, and conversations, so the way we spend time before and after prayer can influence our conversation with God in prayer.
An Advent Example
A seasonal example of the influence of our surroundings can be found in our change of decor for the Advent season. Here are some pictures from Our Lady of Providence PVMI Convent in Warren, OH.
The Chapel with an Advent Wreath (no poinsettias yet:)
Advent candles in the window to remind us (and those who pass by outside) that it is Advent, as well as a small candle in front of Our Lady’s picture to remind us of our Community’s Novena in preparation for the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception (which always falls in Advent)
Our dining area with simple purple accents
A cardboard Holy Family (made by a PV Sister) making its way through the Convent on its way to Bethlehem.
These physical reminders create an atmosphere of preparation. If, instead, we had a Christmas tree up and decorated, red bows, Christmas music playing, and a full Nativity set on display, we would be more likely to skip the beautiful Advent season of preparation for the Divine Babe of Bethlehem and jump right into the celebration of Christmas in our hearts.
Practical Helps towards Recollection
So, what is the spiritual equivalent to the Advent decor that can help us to live a recollected life? Our Mother Foundress often said, “Silence is the safeguard of recollection.” Building times of silence into your schedule is a good start towards listening to that still, small voice. Turn off the radio, podcasts, etc. while driving, exercising, or cleaning. If you look at your schedule you’ll find places where you can build in silence – maybe first thing in the morning, at the end of the day, or during your lunch break. (Giving credit: these suggestions were given by young women at a recent Discernment Retreat.) These times of silence/recollection are not times of dedicated prayer, but they help us to be aware of God’s presence in the every day activities of our lives.
Another help is to be aware of where your thoughts and your heart are focused during the day. To call them back to God, try praying short prayers repeatedly throughout the day. These prayers, call aspirations, are part of our Catholic heritage of prayer. Some common aspirations are: “Come, Lord Jesus.” “Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, I love You. Save souls.” “Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in You.” “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on me, a sinner.”
There are many more traditional aspirations, and you can even make up your own. They are the prayer equivalent of walking by an Advent wreath. Just as the wreath draws your mind and heart to prepare for Jesus’ Coming, the frequent internal prayer, “Come, Lord Jesus” draws your heart and mind to the Divine Babe of Bethlehem. You can even use them together by saying an aspiration every time you see an Advent wreath:).
What’s my next step?
To build up your recollection “muscles” look at your schedule and add some silence each day. Choose an aspiration to use regularly during this Advent season. At first you may have to connect it to a visible reminder, like an Advent wreath or a post-it note, but if you persevere in this practice, it will flow naturally throughout your day.
Remember that the practice of recollection, stopping to think of the Good God, is a remote preparation for prayer. As you live a more recollected life, you will be able to transition more naturally into those regular times of prayer you already have in your schedule and hopefully they can help with those pesky distractions during prayer as well. Next month we’ll look at some ideas for your regular prayer time.
I would love to hear how you’re preparing your living space and your heart for Advent. What are some practices you have found helpful to living a life where you can hear the still, small voice of God? Do you have any questions about recollection, your vocational journey, or would you like to talk to a Sister? If so, please click here to fill out our Vocation Inquiry Form.
If you are looking for some more detailed spiritual help on recollection, I would recommend The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence and Introduction to the Devout Life (especially Chapter 12 on Spiritual Retirement) by St. Francis de Sales.
If you happen to be attending the FOCUS Seek26 Conference in Columbus, OH in January, we’ll be there too! Please come say hi to us at our table in the Mezzanine area.
You are in my prayers this Advent Season as we come to the close of the Jubilee Year. Please pray for us as well.
In the hope of Christ,
Sr. Theresa Marie, pvmi
Vocation Director
Parish Visitors of Mary Immaculate
845-542-1086
“Our Lord is ever neglected by the world, but He is loved by those near to Him who have chosen Him for their Spouse.” ~Servant of God, Mother Mary Teresa Tallon, PVMI
http://www.parishvisitorsisters.org
fb: parishvisitorsofmaryimmaculate
instagram: @parishvisitorsisters
by Sr. Mary Emmadoña Lee | Nov 4, 2025 | Newsletter
In each Vocation Newsletter we’ll be sharing a practical means to hearing that still, small voice that comes from God, and also a story from one of our Sisters related to discernment. We’ll also occasionally share a mission story or a quote from our Foundress, Servant of God Mother Mary Teresa Tallon and some Community news.
Let’s start here by exploring the question: What is discernment?
Discernment 101 is Prayer 101
Discernment is the art of listening to and recognizing God’s voice in my heart that says, “This is the way, walk in it” (Is 30:21). This listening, recognizing, and responding to God’s voice is also known as prayer.
We can hear God’s voice in many ways – in private prayer, through the words or actions of a friend, in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, during Eucharistic Adoration or a spiritual talk, in the beauty of a sunset or the sight of trees on a snowy hillside…and there are many more ways!
We can also hear other voices that might contradict or overpower God’s voice in our hearts. These contradictions and distractions can even come from family and friends (even those who mean well and love us dearly). The world (the part of the world that doesn’t care about God’s ways), the flesh (the part of our nature that is wounded by original sin) and the devil (fallen angels) try to keep us from following God’s Will through many thoughts and feelings (“voices in our hearts”), including discouragement.
The way to stay on track with what God is saying to us is through a dedicated prayer time. Here is one Sister’s story about prayer and discernment.
Real Life Discernment – Dedicated Prayer Time
Spiritual Direction was a big help in my vocational discernment, but I often tell people what a horrible directee I was! One of my Spiritual Director’s constant refrains was the need for a set daily prayer time. I resisted this in many ways, so much so, that God had to reach me through other means.
Only recently, while reflecting on my vocational journey, did I realize that there was a period of daily prayer along my path. As a young professional, active in my parish in Elkhart, IN, I attended a parish mission given by Fr. Larry Richards. He strongly recommended stopping at the Church each day, even for just a minute, to say ‘Hi’ to Jesus and spend some time with Him.
I took this advice to heart and so did my parish, adding opportunities to say hi to Jesus. The doors of the Church were already unlocked during the day, and there was a daily Adoration Chapel. The parish started offering communal Morning Prayer on weekdays before the 7am Mass and leaving the Church doors open longer. Although I rarely made it to the early Morning Prayer, I did make a point to have a short visit with Jesus in the Church sometime during the day, often on my way home from work, and regularly participated in the Monday evening Mass as well.
This daily quiet time with Our Lord in the Church slowly opened the ears of my heart and helped lead me to seek out a Spiritual Director, the next step along the path Our Lord had marked out for me.
What’s my next step?
One of my favorite sayings of our Foundress is “Take time to be holy.” As Religious Sisters, we have a considerable amount of dedicated prayer time each day built into our schedule. It is necessary for us as we continue to walk with Jesus and serve His people.
You also need to stop and listen and talk to Him. Neither you nor I can live a life with little or no prayer and assume we’ll end up where God wants us. If you’d like to talk to a Sister about where you are on your vocational journey, or would like to know more about what it means to be a Parish Visitor of Mary Immaculate, please click here to fill out our Vocation Inquiry Form.
You are in my daily prayers as you continue your journey with Jesus.
In the hope of Christ,
Sr. Theresa Marie, pvmi
Vocation Director
Parish Visitors of Mary Immaculate
845-542-1086
“Take time to be holy.” ~Servant of God, Mother Mary Teresa Tallon, PVMI
http://www.parishvisitorsisters.org
fb: parishvisitorsofmaryimmaculate
instagram: @parishvisitorsisters
by Sr. Mary Emmadoña Lee | Jul 14, 2024 | Newsletter
We hope your summer has been pleasant and refreshing thus far. Much has been and will be happening in the Parish Visitors community this summer, but we had time for some relaxation, picnics, outdoor fun, and extra time together.
Miniature golf, courtesy of the owner
A picnic by the scenic Hudson River
Summer weeding of the novitiate pathway
A group of Parish Visitors will be attending the National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis in July. May this event, and the pilgrimages leading up to it, bring much honor and glory to our Eucharistic Lord and bring many people closer to Him! In July we’ll also have our annual eight-day retreat. Our annual retreat is a time for deeper prayer and reflection, a time of
drawing nearer to the Lord and spiritually preparing for the coming year. It’s always a time of many special graces. In the various parishes we serve, many of our Sisters were involved with the Vacation Bible schools, youth events, and so on. Our Marycrest Youth Day will be held on August 3. Information is on our website; just click the top section on our home page.
Great News!
In August we’ll have perpetual professions! Three Sisters will profess their final vows on August 15 here in the US, and on August 22 in the Philippines another Sister will make her final vows. Here are photos (now, and as postulants and novices) and a little information on those who will have August professions:
Sister Rebecca Miriam, born in Georgia, grew up in Arizona. She has two brothers and two sisters. After reading about us on the internet, she had a chance meeting with a Parish Visitor in a Home
Depot parking lot in Arizona! She has been serving God’s people in the Bronx.
Sr. Marie Meaghan is from Long Island, New York, and has one brother and one sister. She worked for an environmental firm before entering the convent, and she can tell you all about the rocks found at Marycrest. She also served in the Bronx, and in the coming year she’ll be assigned to our Marycrest convent.
Sr. Alina Marie grew up in Georgia but was living in Michigan before entering the convent. She has three brothers. She worked for an internet software company before entrance. She is quite artistic and can come up with drawings for any occasion! She serves in our Ohio convent.
In the Philippines, Sr. Maria Rowena first met the Sisters when they were doing apostolic work in her home parish. She had her novitiate in the US (before we had a formation house in the Philippines). We’ll all be with her in spirit at her profession in the Philippines.
Here are the above four Sisters as postulants and novices.
In January Sr. Mary Leticia made her final profession in Nigeria, but unfortunately we don’t have her photo, or the photo of the two who recently professed first vows in Nigeria, Sr. Mary Bernadette and Sr. Mary Calista. Our prayers are with each one of them!
Another event was the 70th anniversary in religious life of Sr. Mary Roberta. Imagine all the prayers she has offered and all the good she has done in these 70 years!
As of late August we’ll have a new Vocation Director, Sr. Theresa Marie. She’ll be living at our Ohio convent. Her email will be the same as this one, pvmi@frontiernet.net; the phone number there is 330-646-5681. God bless you, Sr. Theresa Marie!
May God bless you and continue to guide you as you discern His will for your life. He loves you and will never fail you!
In Jesus,
The Parish Visitor Sisters
by Sr. Mary Emmadoña Lee | Jul 2, 2024 | Events
On July 2, Sr. Mary Roberta White celebrated 70 years in religious life. The Mass was celebrated by Fr. Charles Connor, Fr. Thomas Byrnes and Fr. Joseph Meagher. Sister is originally from Wisconsin, and over the years has served in our apostolate in many places. God bless you, Sister!
by Sr. Mary Emmadoña Lee | Apr 16, 2024 | Newsletter
The Easter peace of Our Risen Lord be with you! During this whole Easter season, we rejoice in the resurrection. Our foundress reminds us that during the forty days after the resurrection, He appeared only to His friends. You are one of His friends, so expect some special graces from Him during this special time!
You’ve seen in various places lists of FAQs (frequently asked questions). Here are a few FAQs about the Parish Visitors of Mary Immaculate.
Q. You say you are contemplative-missionaries. Just what does that mean? How can a Sister be both at the same time? Or, are some Sisters missionaries and the others contemplatives who pray for them?
A. As Parish Visitors of Mary Immaculate, we combine contemplation and missionary activity. Yes, both at the same time, not one or the other. To be a contemplative means to be a person of deep prayer. Some people think of cloistered nuns as the only contemplatives, but that is not accurate. Cloistered contemplative life is a very special way to serve the Lord. However, contemplation is not reserved for those who are cloistered.
Jesus was a contemplative, someone of deep prayer, as I’m sure all would agree, yet at the same time He was the Good Shepherd concerned for the lost sheep. He combined the two perfectly, and that is what we strive to do.
Mary was another contemplative-missionary. Right after receiving the wonderful news that she was to be the Mother of God, she went out to visit her cousin in need, all the while pondering in her heart the wonderful things God had done.
Contemplation is a loving union with God, which of course includes Mass, our daily Hour of Adoration, and all our prayer time, but this loving union continues while we’re doing our apostolate.
Along with this we are missionaries. The word “missionary” is often thought to mean only foreign missionaries, but it actually means “one who is sent” to go out to people in the name of the Lord. The ones we are sent to could be right in our own town or city, or anywhere in the U.S., or in one of the foreign countries in which we have missions. The Good Shepherd has wandering sheep everywhere, in need of someone to help them return to Him, as well as children and youth needing to know and love Jesus!
Of course, those Sisters who are elderly, or who care for the administration of the community, etc. are serving the missionary apostolate by their prayer and by their service. All Parish Visitors are contemplative-missionaries!
Q. What is your community life like?
Community life is an aid to our contemplative-missionary vocation, living with other women who share the same ideals and who are striving to love God and each other better.
We pray together and laugh together and share together. Community life is a joyful life. No community is perfect, and as with any family perhaps sometimes there could be misunderstandings, but we know we love each other and are here for the same reason, to follow the Lord. It has been said that only in a convent can a group of women be in the kitchen at the same time and not “kill” each other!
Our Ohio Sisters watching the recent solar eclipse
We are happy to always wear our habit. We come from various states and countries, and together form one family. Our love of the Church, our simple and friendly approach to people, and our simple community life are other traits of the Parish Visitors of Mary Immaculate.
Q. Are you faithful to the Church? Are you Eucharistic and Marian?
Yes, yes, and yes! We are a pontifical community and are lovingly faithful to the Church. And devotion to the Blessed Sacrament has always been a part of our community. We have a Holy Hour of Adoration daily. Also, Mary Immaculate is our community patroness and our model.
If you would like to know more about the Parish Visitors of Mary Immaculate, or would like to have a phone chat or a visit, just email us at pvmi@frontiernet.net. May all of you have a grace-filled Easter season, and may the Lord guide you and help you with your vocational discernment.
In the Easter peace of Jesus,
The Parish Visitor Sisters
Miniature golf, courtesy of the owner
A picnic by the scenic Hudson River
Summer weeding of the novitiate pathway
A group of Parish Visitors will be attending the National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis in July. May this event, and the pilgrimages leading up to it, bring much honor and glory to our Eucharistic Lord and bring many people closer to Him! In July we’ll also have our annual eight-day retreat. Our annual retreat is a time for deeper prayer and reflection, a time of
In the Philippines, Sr. Maria Rowena first met the Sisters when they were doing apostolic work in her home parish. She had her novitiate in the US (before we had a formation house in the Philippines). We’ll all be with her in spirit at her profession in the Philippines.
On July 2, Sr. Mary Roberta White celebrated 70 years in religious life. The Mass was celebrated by Fr. Charles Connor, Fr. Thomas Byrnes and Fr. Joseph Meagher. Sister is originally from Wisconsin, and over the years has served in our apostolate in many places. God bless you, Sister!
The Easter peace of Our Risen Lord be with you! During this whole Easter season, we rejoice in the resurrection. Our foundress reminds us that during the forty days after the resurrection, He appeared only to His friends. You are one of His friends, so expect some special graces from Him during this special time!
Contemplation is a loving union with God, which of course includes Mass, our daily Hour of Adoration, and all our prayer time, but this loving union continues while we’re doing our apostolate.
Of course, those Sisters who are elderly, or who care for the administration of the community, etc. are serving the missionary apostolate by their prayer and by their service. All Parish Visitors are contemplative-missionaries!
Our Ohio Sisters watching the recent solar eclipse
