Events
Kickoff of Anniversary Celebration
This day was the official “kickoff” of our 100th anniversary celebration, which will take place August 15, 2020. We had an ice cream social, with tours of the Chapel, motherhouse family room, and Mother Foundress’ heritage room, as well as games for children. The event https://www.healthsupportyou.com/cialis-tadalafil/ ended with a prayer service to Mary in our Chapel. About 150 people came to share the evening with us. Here are a few photos of the event:
Jubilees of Profession
On July 2 we celebrated the jubilees of five Sisters. Sr. Mary Beata (originally from Korea) and Sr. Maria Arlene (from the Philippines and the Bronx) celebrated 25 years, Sr. Eileen Marie (Montana) and Sr. Marie Cecile (Massachusetts) 70 years, and Sr. Mary Elise (from New Jersey), 80 years in religious life! https://www.fertileheart.com/buy-prednisone-online/ That adds up to 270 years of dedication to the Lord, giving oneself to God through the vows of religious life, praising Him in prayer, and serving His people zealously. Please join us in prayer for many young women to follow them in their dedication as Parish Visitors of Mary Immaculate.
Bus Ride to Marycrest
Friends of the community from Rome, New York and Waterville, New York came on a bus pilgrimage to Marycrest. The Parish Visitors served in a parish in Rome for many years, and these friends were glad to see again some of the Sisters they knew. Waterville (not far from Rome) is the area where our foundress, Mother Mary Teresa Tallon, grew up, and this group (in photo) included some who were related to our foundress!
The day included Mass, the Chaplet of Mercy, a May Crowning of Our Lady, visiting with the Sisters, walking on Marycrest’s grounds, and several songs by our Sisters.
New Convent
Mass was celebrated for the first time in our newest convent, St. Joseph’s Convent of the Sacred Heart, in Clifton Heights, PA, a suburb of Philadelphia, on February 1. Jesus now has another tabernacle home where He will be adored, and we have another home as well. For this Mass Mother Maria Catherine brought from Marycrest the chalice that was used at the first Mass in 1921 in our original convent on W. 71st St., Manhattan, also named St. Joseph’s Convent of the Sacred Heart.
Following Mass was the Enthronement of the Sacred Heart, after which the new convent was blessed room by room. We are most grateful to all the volunteers especially from the parish, for various councils of the Knights of Columbus, for the pastor, Msgr. George Majoros, for Fr. Dennis Gill and priests from the Cathedral in Philadelphia, and the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament who donated furniture and appointments for the chapel. Sister Mary Luchia, local superior, Sister Susan Marie and Sister Theresa Marie are assigned to this new mission, along with Novice Sister Alina Marie who is there temporarily for apostolic experience.
May this new convent bring much praise to God and bring many souls to return to Him.
Right to Life March
Four Parish Visitors participated in the Right to Life March in Washington, DC, two Sisters from Marycrest and two from the Bronx. From Marycrest the two Sisters went to the 4:15 a.m. Mass at the local parish and boarded the parish bus at 5:00, returning about 10:00 p.m. They joined about 500,000 others, all promoting life . Let us pray that our laws will change before long and these yearly marches will no longer be necessary!
Groundbreaking in the Philippines
Today we held the groundbreaking for the future formation house in Lipa, Batangas, Philippines. Cardinal Gaudencio Rosales and Archbishop Gilbert Garcera were there for the occasion. Please pray with us that many young women will fill the formation house in the future!
Perpetual Vows
Sr. Theresa Marie Moore, formerly of Michigan, is now a perpetually professed Parish Visitor of Mary Immaculate. Many of her relatives and friends joined the Sisters for the beautiful ceremony of profession and the joy of the day.
After professing her vows of chastity, poverty and obedience, she signed her vows on the altar, along with our general superior and the two official witnesses. The priest https://viagragen.com concelebrants then extended their hands over her for the very meaningful prayer of consecration.
This was followed by the blessing and receiving of the signs of profession: the ring, the mission crucifix, and the crown of roses symbolizing the reward of heaven for fidelity to our vows.
May God bless Sr. Theresa Marie abundantly and grant her much happiness, holiness, and apostolic fruitfulness in her vocation!
Fiat Weekend
A FIAT weekend was sponsored by the archdioceses of Washington, D.C. and Baltimore, MD; Sr. Dolores Marie, Sr. Jhoan Marie, and Sr. Rebecca Miriam took part. This event was for young women who want to be open to what God might be saying to them about a possible vocation. The name FIAT is of course from the Scripture https://www.healthsupportyou.com/accutane-isotretinoin/ about Mary’s yes–“Be it done unto me according to Your word.”
About 50 young women of high school age plus some college students and adults were there, as well as religious from a number of communities. May God bless all who took part so they may be open to whatever God is asking of them!
A New Mission Convent
After a number of delays over many months, three sisters were finally able to leave for our new mission in Philadelphia. As the convent in Philadelphia is not quite ready for occupancy, temporarily the Sisters will be staying in Delaware (which is right over the border from Philadelphia). Sr. Mary Luchia, Sr. Susan Marie, and Sr. Theresa Marie will be serving in two Philadelphia parishes and one in Delaware.
At Mass on July 23 our parish pastor, Rev. Thomas Byrnes, gave the Sisters a special blessing, and they were presented with a beautiful crucifix for their new convent. We packed the van and waved them off, sending them with our prayers and good wishes.
Jubilee Day
The feast of the Visitation of Mary to Elizabeth was formerly celebrated on July 2, and since so many Sisters made vows on that day, we keep it as our jubilee day. This year we had the joy of celebrating three jubilees. Sr. Dolores Augustine, from Minnesota, and Sr. Agnes Cecilia, from Oregon, celebrated 75 years since entering the Parish Visitors of Mary Immaculate, and Sr. Mary Remias came from Chicago 60 years ago to enter our community. Congratulations, Sisters, and many blessings!