The reflection below is from a sister in temporary vows with the Sisters of Notre Dame.
My name is Sr. Maria Sally Willitzer and I am in my fourth year of temporary vows with the Sisters of Notre Dame. This means that I have not yet made my perpetual profession (final vows) just yet. As part of my formation process I am working on a Masters of Divinity theology degreeat the University of Notre Dame.
Today was very special in that I had the opportunity to attend a mass celebrated in solidarity with and in honor of the youth choir at St. Rose parish in Leogane, Haiti on their anniversary. This past May I and other students traveled to Haiti for ten days to learn about Catholicism and poverty in the country. Our goal now that we have returned is to raise awareness and funds for the Haitian people we met. While the living conditions there are deplorable, the faith of the people is vibrant and alive! Most Haitians were very excited to see a large group of Americans, as visitors have been few due to political upheaval. They urged us strongly to share their stories.
Something interesting about Haitians, which we reflected on at today's
Eucharistic liturgy, is that they are always more focused on the community than on themselves. They do not emphasize individual birthdays and anniversaries as we tend to do, but put much greater emphasis on communal milestones and celebrations. The feastdays of beloved saints and the anniversaries of churches, choirs, sewing circles, prayer groups and everything imaginable are huge, joyous celebrations! It is not the individual and his or her triumphs and delights that matter so much as what they as a community can gather together to festively proclaim and give thanks for! The Haitians are a very humble people and often thinking of others rather than themselves.
This all reminds me of living community life with my sisters in the convent. Celebrations for individual birthdays or yearly profession anniversaries are rather simple or nonexistent. It is the communal feasts during which the thanksgiving and merrymaking reaches the greatest proportions. The feast or our founding by two young women: October 1st. The feast of St. Nicholas (an old German custom and a carryover from our founding in Germany): December 6th. The feast of our province, the Immaculate Conception: December 8th. The feast of the Annunciation as the feast of our entire congregation: March 25th. Most especially we celebrate in the summer all of the sisters' profession anniversaries or jubilees together with liturgy, food, and skits enacted by the sisters.
The way we celebrate in my community and the way the Haitians celebrate certainly challenges our culture of individualism and the focus on self. It seems to me that finding the right balance between taking care of self and celebrating with others in community is an important one to ponder. We are called to support one another as members of the body of Christ. How do you do this in your life? How does your family, community, church celebrate communally? How do we keep in touch with and encourage one another to be faithful in the midst of our busy lives? Lord, help me to look beyond myself to see the needs of others and to respond to them wholeheartedly.
Philip Smith, a seminarian, offers the following reflection.
My name is Philip Smith and I am a seminarian for the diocese of Toledo. I am currently in Theology II at the Pontifical North American College in Rome. One part of every seminarian's formation for the priesthood is participation in some form of apostolic works. For example, some seminarians teach religious education classes for children and adults, others serve the poor in homeless shelters and soup kitchens, and others lead campus ministry for college students - just to list a few examples. Every week I work at a soup kitchen that serves the poor and the homeless of Rome. This soup kitchen is under the direction of the Missionaries of Charity - the community of religious sisters founded by Mother Teresa.
Recently, they invited me to participate as an altar server in a Mass in which several of the sisters made their perpetual profession of vows. ‘Perpetual vows' means that these young women were promising to live poverty, chastity, and obedience as religious sisters for the rest of their lives. For me the most moving part of the Mass was the offertory procession. That's right - the offertory procession! During the procession each newly professed sister carried a small, unconsecrated host to the altar and placed the host into the ciborium that the archbishop-celebrant of the Mass was holding in front of the altar. The symbolism was quite striking. The host in each sister's hand represented her entire life - her entire life that she had just given totally to Christ with the profession of the religious vows. The sisters were offering their lives totally to Jesus Christ - through him, with him, and in him - to God the loving Father. My work with the sisters at the soup kitchen has taught me that, for them, every day is an opportunity to renew this gift to Christ of their lives through a life of prayer and a life of service to the poor. Their genuine joy and happiness are a constant reminder that in every vocation true happiness is found in giving our lives completely to Christ and in serving others.
Following is a reflection written by seminarian Jerry Schetter:
I've just finished mid terms at Holy Apostles Seminary and thought I'd write you a short reflection of some thoughts. Sometimes we wonder how we are called to the priesthood or religious life. I can tell you firsthand the phone is probably not going to ring, that is unless it's your parish pastor. But that's most likely not going to be the case either. Maybe the call will come in the night.
Some of you may know this famous scripture verse from 1 Samuel. After Samuel went to sleep in his place, the Lord came and revealed his presence, calling out as before, "Samuel, Samuel!" Samuel answered, "Speak, for your servant is listening."1 Sm 3:10
You know sometimes you pray and you pray. You ask, and you plead, and you beg - but still, no answer from God! What's up? Is the Lord vacationing? Gone fishing? Or, out for just a good old cruise?
No. Most likely the problem is not in the heavenly courts; it's looking you in the mirror (you know, that good-looking, really cool person known as "you"). You see, the problem may be a spiritual hearing impediment on your part. God may have been answering your prayer, but you might not have been quiet long enough to listen!
Sometimes the only way we can fully hear God's message is in the silence and listening prayer. In other words we have to strap a muzzle over our mouth and pray Samuel's words: "Speak Lord for your servant is listening."
You might think you have your life all under control. This is how it's going to be. You're going to graduate, go to college, get married, have three kids, and retire in Florida. Then something happens you get sick and your life is turned upside down. The point is we have no idea what God has planned for us. Mary had planned on being a simple, quiet woman of Nazareth. She wasn't planning on taking on the most important mission in history of the world. She wasn't planning on being the mother of the Savior. But one day, when Mary was the ripe old age of fifteen, God's angel said to her, "Here's the plan, Mary. Are you up for it?" And Mary said yes.
So now comes the famous question we all ask: How do I know? I don't hear anything special. We have to sometimes just listen to others; God has a way of talking through others to us. Look for guidance from others, like spiritual leaders, priest, sisters, teachers, and others. They may see God's direction in your life a lot easier than we can. Or they may help us clarify our vision.
So much for that the visitor in the night; now for the visitor in the day. Last week I had a visitor show up from Toledo. It was Father Ron, the diocesan vocation director. We had a really nice visit; he got a chance to visit with the staff and formation team here at Holy Apostles. He offered Mass one morning and took part in everything we do here. He even decided he was going back to school and set in on a class. You have to ask him what he learned. Keep your prayer up God is listening!
As I indicated in my last entry, I had the blessing of making an eight day silent retreat this past week. It never ceases to amaze me how God uses these times to provide just what we need in the way we most need it.
There were certainly many blessings and "aha" moments during the week. Two of these were related to special gifts of nature. On Tuesday night, I was spending some quietreflection time in a second story room overlooking the lake on our retreat center property. The day had been especially cloudy and rainy. As sunset neared, the sky lit up a bit, and then suddenly it was as if someone (Someone!) had taken a match and lit the sky! The whole sky was absolutely vibrant with reds and oranges! It was one of those sights you didn't want to look away from -- the beauty was simply phenomenal.
The next night I was out walking around the time of sunset and wondered what God might have in store on this occasion. As I faced the west, the sky started to light with very gentle strands of pink and blue -- very different from the night before, but simply beautiful. I then turned around and caught sight of a full harvest moon in the eastern sky. For a moment, I truly felt as though I was in an IMAX theatre, not sure which way to turn for I didn't want to miss any of God's show!
It was a good reminder to me to keep looking around each day for the many, many ways God chooses to reveal His love and beauty. He is never outdone in love, and just when we think it can't get any better.....!
I leave tomorrow for my annual retreat -- a week of dedicated prayer and time with Jesus. How blessed we are as women religious to have the privilege of an entire week set aside with the Love of our life! Stay tuned for my reflections upon my return. Be assured I will remember all in prayer during these coming days and ask that you do the same for me.
One of the greatest things about being in seminary is seeing the hand of God at work. Living at a seminary means living in community with about one hundred other men who are seeking God. In every community, religious, a family, or a seminary, the constant temptation is to see the faults in everyone else. All of the little things that annoy are magnified after the same person doesit day after day, but Christ reminds us not to focus on the splinter in our brothers eyes and miss the plank in our own. Seminary is a special time to do just this, to find those planks. Having this perspective has helped me start to become the man God wants me to be, but this lesson does more than just help God form me into a his priest. It also helps me look beyond the faults of my brothers, and once I could do this I realized that God was not only getting rid of my planks, He was also getting rid of all their splinters.
Returning from a summer away from seminary always makes this transformation in grace most apparent. During the summer months all seminarians return to their home diocese for some kind of summer assignment. These assignments vary; some examples are normal jobs, parish work, missions, foreign language immersions, and summer school. This year when we all returned to seminary, I was struck by the focus and drive of my brother seminarians to start the new year better than the last. Seeing the countless blessings God gives to us fills me with joy, and gives me strengthened hope. This great work of priestly formation is being accomplished by God. He is making us into men who belong to Him alone. This work is accomplished by grace, and your prayers play a big role in this. Please pray for my brothers and I that the work God has begun in us may be brought to completion.
Andrew Reinhart is a seminarian for the Diocese of Toledo. Andrew is in his senior year of college at the Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus.
Lord, grant that I may always allow myself to be guided by you, always follow your plans, and perfectly accomplish your holy will. Grant that in all things, great and small, today and all the days of my life, I may do whatever you require of me. Help me respond to the slightest promptingof your grace so that I may be your trustworthy instrument for your honor. May your will be done in time and in eternity by me, in me, and through me. Amen.
On this feast of St. Teresa of Avila, we are called to reflect with her on our call to follow God's designs in our lives. Her Prayer for Guidance can help each of us to re-focus our energies, not on what we want and desire in life, but on what God desires for us. This is true for major life choices as well as the choices we make each and every day.
It's encouraging to know we have saints like Teresa on our side as we seek to journey ever more deeply into the heart of Christ.
I was struck at the offertory of the Mass last night as I considered the words when Father poured the drop of water into the wine:
"By the mystery of this water and wine may we come to share in the divinity of Christ who humbled Himself to share in our humanity."
It occurs to me that it is this water and wine Godhas given me and hopes to transform. Perhaps all too often I am not content with the water and wine of my life and wish for different circumstances, relationships, etc. If this is what God has given, who am I to question or desire otherwise? It is indeed a call to trust that God will take what He has given, accept it back from me, and transform it into His own divine life.
May this water and wine of our lives today be "of God."
Today, we celebrate the feast of one of the most popular and well-loved Saints of our Church: Francis of Assisi. His spirit of profound peaced, founded on right relationships with God, others, self and the world, has not only survivedbut thrived and grown through the years.
Many women and men religious belong to communities that embrace the special charism or spirit of Francis. In our Diocese of Toledo, three Franciscan communities have a significant number of members living and ministering among our people. I invite you to get to know these communities a little better today.
We are a community rooted in the Gospel and gifted with the charism of Francis and Clare. Transformed by God's love and guided by the Spirit we continue the mission of Jesus wherever we serve, adhering to the words which inspired Mother Francis and Father Bihn: "...whatever you did for one of the least of these, you did to me" (Matt 25: 40). Engaged in the struggle for peace and justice, we speak the truth with courage. Cherishing all peoples and all creation as brother and sister, we live in a spirit of hospitality, simplicity, and joy, celebrating our dependence on God, who is ever "our Refuge and our Strength" (Ps. 46: 2).
Called like Francis of Assisi to live the Gospel in joyful servanthood among all people, the Sisters of St. Francis of Sylvania, Ohio, as messengers of peace, commit themselves to works that reverence human dignity, embrace the poor and marginalized and respect the gift of creation.
The Conventual charism is a specific focusing of the Gospel life by St. Francis of Assisi through:
dedication to a life of prayer, both private and communal; fidelity to the Church in collaboration with the pope and the magisterium; commitment to a common life where the friary is the center of fraternal sanctification; the Chapter as the form of governance; flexibility in apostolic endeavors, adapting to the changing needs of the times; encouragement of the highest standards of preaching and liturgical prayer; pioneering academic development in both the sacred and secular sciences.
Perhaps one of the earliest Catholic devotional memories familiar to many of us is the Angel of God prayer:
Angel of God, my guardian dear, to whom God's love entrusts me here, ever this day be at my side to light and guard, to rule and guide. Amen.
Unfortunately, it seems that many people consider this a child's prayer and one that is no longer necessary or meaningful as adults. I say unfortunately because the gift of God's tender love and personal care for each of us is a reality that is with us for our entire lifetime. God never abandons us and considers us too old or mature for His guiding hand. God never lets us fend for ourselves, withholding His protecting and nurturing love. God's provident and loving care is always there for us; we need only to avail ourselves of this precious gift.
Perhaps today is a good day to become reacquainted with our Guardian Angel and to thank God for taking such a personal interest in us.
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