Events
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!
Gala Fundraiser
Dr. Kevin M. Cahill, an infectious disease expert, has been a friend of missionaries for many decades. This special event in New York City honored him and supported the Parish Visitors of Mary Immaculate. A simple missionary lunch of bread and soup was served. Patty McDonald, wife of Officer Stephen McDonald who was shot many years ago, was the master of ceremonies.
A plaque of appreciation from the Parish Visitors of Mary Immaculate was presented to Dr. Cahill. We thank all who, in so many ways, made this event possible, and most of all we again thank Dr. Cahill.
Final Vows
On the feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Mother, Sr. Maria Josephine Ojobor professed her final vows at our convent in Nigeria, amidst much rejoicing. We wish her many blessings of holiness and apostolic fruitfulness for many, many years! Congratulations, Sister!
Bus Pilgrimage
A busload of friends from the Rome, New York area came to Marycrest on May 17 for their annual pilgrimage. Many of them remembered our Sisters from the years we served in St. John the Baptist parish in Rome, New York, and several were relatives of our foundress, who grew up not far from Rome, New York. The day included Mass, lunch, a May crowning of Our Lady, songs by the Sisters, and a raffle. The power outage from the recent storm didn’t dampen spirits! May God bless all our loyal friends, these and all others!
Presentation in Elkart, Indiana
Sr. Theresa Marie recently gave a presentation on the life and times of Mother Mary Teresa Tallon, our foundress, as well as her heroic virtue and the steps on the path to canonization. Our foundress had been a Sister of the Holy Cross before beginning our community, and she had been stationed in Elkhart, Indiana from 1913-1915. While there she taught in St. Vincent de Paul parish school and was encouraged by the pastor, Father Francis Jansen, in her desire to found a new community of Sisters.
Vocations Summit
A vocations summit for the Staten Island section of the Archdiocese of New York was held on April 16. A panel composed of three Sisters and three priests responded to questions from the teens. Sr. Theresa Marie, P.V.M.I. was one of the panelists. Let us pray for these teens and for all who are discerning a vocation to the priesthood or religious life!