The fewer number of cars in the parking lot here at the office are a good reminder that we are anticipating a holiday weekend -- indeed, many have begun their weekend early! How we love to get a jump start on celebrations! This weekend's celebration of Memorial Day can provide us with the opportunity to reflect gratefully on the many gifts that have been ours as a country. We are surrounded by so many blessings each day that there is a very real danger of complacency and entitlement. We are the recipients of God's lavish goodness and provident care. With these many gifts comes the awesome responsibility to do all we can to preserve these gifts and to assure that all peoples of the world share them as well. Not only is this weekend an opportunity for gratitude and celebration but also a call to a national and individual examination of how well we have received and used God's many gifts. We are indeed one nation under God, with liberty and justice for all.
I don't know about you, but reading the Gospels for these days between Ascension and Pentecost definitely feels like I'm eavesdropping. The Church has us reflect during this time on the last discourse of Jesus, His prayer during the Last Supper the night before He died. Prayer is such an intimate encounter with God, and here we are listening in on Jesus' prayer to His Father. Sometimes I find myself wondering why He keeps repeating Himself: "...so that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us...so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me....that the love with which you loved me may be in them and I in them..." (Jn 17: 21-26). When I feel a little lost in the words of Jesus' prayer, I remember that they aren't meant so much as a teaching but rather His prayer. Part of the beauty of our own prayer to the Father is being comfortable with "rambling." It's okay to carry on an intimate conversation with Him and not worry if our grammar is correct, if we've chosen the right words or if it sounds "right." We don't need to be self-conscious about our prayer. We just need to open our hearts as we speak about our love and desires, and we listen to the Father's response. Isn't it good to know we aren't being graded on our prayer? If our heart is in the right place, we're bound to get an A+ from the Father, and that's all that really matters!
The months of May and June are tremendous days of celebration in our Church as this is the most common time of the year for priesthood ordinations. We are in the midst of final preparations for ordination here in the Diocese of Toledo on June 2. On that day, Deacon Eric Schild from St. Paul, Norwalk will be ordained for our diocese. All members of the Diocese are invited to join Eric for his Mass of Ordination at 11:00 a.m. at Our Lady, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary Cathedral. Come and pray that he will be faithful and generous in responding to God's call. This past weekend, three men from the Archdiocese of Cincinnati were ordained to the priesthood. Archbishop Daniel Pilarczyk's homily for the Ordination Liturgy can be read at http://cincinnativocations.org/wordpress/. He offers a wonderful reflection on priesthood and much food for reflection for anyone who may be discerning a call to priesthood or consecrated life. Let's continue to pray for those being ordained this year, grateful for their response, and interceding many blessings on their future life and ministry.
What a gift! I spent three days this past week on a retreat with a group of eleven college age women from Bowling Green State University. These women are looking forward to and preparing to form a Catholic Student Household on the BG campus during this coming year. Because I have the blessing on living on campus (with two other sisters in our community) this coming year, I was invited to be part of the retreat. So, what did I learn during these days of retreat and what was the blessing it held for me? I must say I wasn't sure how three days with college students would be and whether or not I would be able to keep up with their energy level. The women were great! They did their best to fill me in on the "college culture" and what it's like to be young today. I think the greatest blessing of these days, though, was the openness and deep desire I witnessed for a personal relationship with Jesus. It was with great joy that I was able to share with the women what I know of the Liturgy of the Hours, the official prayer of the Church. We prayed morning prayer and night prayer together, and I have great confidence they will continue to do so in the coming months. (There is a great explanation of the Liturgy of the Hours on a blog of Sr. Julie at http://anunslife.org/. ) We also had the opportunity to participate in Mass and Eucharistic adoration as well as faith sharing on selected Scripture texts. It was truly a time of faith and renewal for me. Our time was not all prayer, however. We also had a great time at one of the state parks in the area playing frisbee, hiking, walking along the water (yes, even checking out the dead fish that had washed ashore!). We played dominoes and other games, shared many experiences of cooking meals, and laughed alot! I am truly grateful for the gift these women were and will continue to be for me and for the witness they provide. As soon as I receive some of the pictures from the week, I plan on sharing them here. Stay tuned!
We received word this morning that our Sister Mary Gregory died at 3:30 a.m. Sister was the oldest member of our Toledo province, having just turned ninety-nine in April. I can't begin to imagine the joyful reunion that took place when after all these years she embraced the Love of her life! While we will certainly miss her joyful presence among us, how can we do anything but celebrate? May she know the fullness of eternal life.
This morning, I experienced yet another "photo shoot" in preparation for our revised web site. I continue to be amazed when I observe these sessions at the infinite patience of the photographer with the subject and the subject's patienceﾃあwith the photographer! I have learned there is great skill in situating the person in the very best light and in just the right pose. It occurs to me as I watch the photographer leave how very different our world would be if we treated one another in a similar way. Perhaps today I'll put a little more effort into seeing each person I encounter in the very best light, overlooking their shadow side, and doing all I can to call forth their very best expression. This sounds a great deal like the manner in which Jesus treated the people in His life. Perhaps Jesus was a photographer as well as carpenter!
Friday afternoon, I spent some time with Sister Mary Teresita and students from Lima Central Catholic and students from St. John, Delphos. Our day was filled with everything from cooking to baking brownies to eating brownies to blowing bubbles to planting flowers to touring the convent and much more! Three students from Lima Central Catholic helped Sister as she celebrated with the second grade girls their recent First Communion and also enlisted the third grade girls to help plant some flowers in the Sisters' courtyard. The girls enjoyed the day and Sister enjoyed sharing her life and home with them! I was glad I could be a part of the day.
It's a grey, foggy morning and I'm having more than a little difficulty believing the forecast that today is going to be sunny and warm. I guess I'll have to wait and see. The gospel passage for today was another reminder that it's up to me to choose where I place my focus.
"As the Father loves me, soﾃあI also love you. Remain in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy might be in you andyour joy might be complete" (Jn 15: 9-11).
When I first read this in prayer this morning, I must admit I thought "Whoa! If the love between the Father and Son was such that it lead to the cross, I'm not so sure...." Do I really want to be engaged in such a complete love that I'm willing to give everything -- even my life? Many times, I believe I'm inclined to embrace the comfortable part of the love but avoid the suffering. On the other hand, it was also the Father's love that declared "This is my Beloved Son in whom I am well pleased." My sense is that the intimacy between Father and Son is what sustained and motivated Jesus in the hard times as well. I could choose the "easy" way and avoid intimacy with the Father, Jesus and others I encounter. It would be "safe" but far from fulfilling. As a woman religious, my vow of consecrated celibacy allows me to enter into intimacy in a rich and fulfilling way. I, for one, choose the richness of this love knowing the Father will give me all I need along the way.
These last two evenings have been wonderful opportunities for the people of the Toledo Diocese to celebrate the great influence educators have in our lives. The Golden Apple Awards banquet was hosted on Monday evening. Nine teachers were honored for the gift of time and energy they have given to their students over the years. Last night, I had the privilege of attending the Urban All American banquet which focuses attention on the education taking place in our Central City schools. Both of these events stirred in me a grateful pride for the great contribution women religious have made to the field of education. Sister Joanne Boellner, RSM, Sister Joselyn Weeman, SND and Sister Kent Burgard, SND were among those honored this week. Another of the award recipients last night also thanked the Sisters of St. Francis of Sylvania for the role they played in his education and formation. These are women who have changed lives and who continue to exert a positive influence in so many ways. They don't make it a point of broadcasting their accomplishments or looking for compliments, nor did they asked to be honored this week. These women are deeply in love with Jesus, and because of that love want to do all they can for God's people. Teaching is much more than a job or career for them. It is a ministry and an opportunity to share in Jesus' mission of leading all people to His Father. I recall the Sisters who staffed my elementary school when I was there, especiallyﾃあSister Mary Dianne and Sister Mary Nancyﾃあwho taught me in junior high. Along with a great deal of content, these women taught me the importance of being present to others. They expressed interest in me and supported me day in and day out -- even when I must have seemed like a pesky seventh or eighth grader! Thank you, Sisters, for the witness you are for me. Thank you to all those Sisters who have taught me, both in and outside of the classroom, over the years. God has definitely touched my life through yours. Who have been the women religious who have influenced your life? ﾃあ
The month of May is traditionally a time for us to renew our relationship with Our Blessed Mother, Mary. What a tremendous gift Jesus shared with us when, on the cross, he shares the privilege of being a child of Mary with John "Behold your mother." As I reflect on Mary, I believe we often restrict our view of Mary to the beginning and end of Jesus' life, the very joyful times and the very sad times. I sometimes find myself asking just what she did in the "in-between" times? I believe she had a profound influence on Jesus, not only during his childhood but also in his public ministry. I imagine He would share His struggles and His successes with her in an intimate and comfortable way. We, too, have the privilege and gift to be able to share with Mary the day-to-day happenings of our lives. What a blessing to know she is interested in even the smallest detail of our day!
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This weekend's celebration of Memorial Day can provide us with the opportunity to reflect gratefully on the many gifts that have been ours as a country. We are surrounded by so many blessings each day that there is a very real danger of complacency and entitlement. We are the recipients of God's lavish goodness and provident care. With these many gifts comes the awesome responsibility to do all we can to preserve these gifts and to assure that all peoples of the world share them as well. Not only is this weekend an opportunity for gratitude and celebration but also a call to a national and individual examination of how well we have received and used God's many gifts. We are indeed one nation under God, with liberty and justice for all.
patience of the photographer with the subject and the subject's patienceﾃあwith the photographer! I have learned there is great skill in situating the person in the very best light and in just the right pose. It occurs to me as I watch the photographer leave how very different our world would be if we treated one another in a similar way. Perhaps today I'll put a little more effort into seeing each person I encounter in the very best light, overlooking their shadow side, and doing all I can to call forth their very best expression. This sounds a great deal like the manner in which Jesus treated the people in His life. Perhaps Jesus was a photographer as well as carpenter!
Friday afternoon, I spent some time with Sister Mary Teresita and students from Lima Central Catholic and students from St. John, Delphos. Our day was filled with everything from cooking to baking brownies to eating brownies to blowing bubbles to planting flowers to touring the convent and much more! Three students from Lima Central Catholic helped Sister as she celebrated with the second grade girls their recent First Communion and also enlisted the third grade girls to help plant some flowers in the Sisters' courtyard. The girls enjoyed the day and Sister enjoyed sharing her life and home with them! I was glad I could be a part of the day.
The month of May is traditionally a time for us to renew our relationship with Our Blessed Mother, Mary. What a tremendous gift Jesus shared with us when, on the cross, he shares the privilege of being a child of Mary with John "Behold your mother." As I reflect on Mary, I believe we often restrict our view of Mary to the beginning and end of Jesus' life, the very joyful times and the very sad times. I sometimes find myself asking just what she did in the "in-between" times? I believe she had a profound influence on Jesus, not only during his childhood but also in his public ministry. I imagine He would share His struggles and His successes with her in an intimate and comfortable way. We, too, have the privilege and gift to be able to share with Mary the day-to-day happenings of our lives. What a blessing to know she is interested in even the smallest detail of our day!
