It’s the Little Things

It’s a constant revelation to me how life in the convent and life, consequently, is about the little things. Sunday, was the feast of Pentecost as well as the feast of the Visitation. Although the Visitation was trumped by the Holy Spirit, I don’t think that Mary minded being overshadowed by her spouse. It was also eight of our Sisters’ nameday.

We take our names after Saints, Mary, Christ, and the Holy Spirit to name a few. Sunday was the nameday of Sr. Mary Grace, Sr. M. Hannah, Sr. M. Elise, Sr. Mariela, Sr. Mary Elizabeth, and Sr. Marianna (for the Visitation), as well as Sr. M. Consolata and Sr. M. Renata (for the Holy Spirit).

Namedays are usually comprised of a special petition at Mass, greetings, Nameday songs (sung to the tune of Happy Birthday – Is it still copyrighted if you change birthday to nameday?), and many little gifts found in their room. It’s amazing what little things can mean.

Sr. M. Elise’s room was filled with…an art gallery of her Sisters’ finest work. Imagine 26 coloring pages of the Visitation taped around the room. They were all colored with extreme deliberation. Some added bubbles for text, others a Jewish welcome matt and cross on the wall (Elizabeth was a little ahead of her time!), Elizabeth displaying her favorite teams mascots, and even glitter halos. 26 original works of art created specifically for Sr. M. Elise.



It was the thought that was touching. It was reading the back of the sheets with explanations of why there was brown on the bottom of Mary’s garment; she was coming in haste after all. It was the fact that one little Sister had been passing out coloring pages since Christmas to Sisters as they came home to Alton from all over the United States.

Our life isn’t about great feats, abounding fame, or resounding acclaim. It’s about the little things done for our Sisters and those we serve done in love. It’s the little things that we do daily out of love of Jesus Christ.

Passing out coloring pages = 6 months.

Recruiting 6’ tall sisters to hang coloring pages = 1 morning.

The smile on Sr. M. Elise’s face as she viewed her art gallery = priceless.




- submitted by Sr. Mary George Brown, FSGM

Blessings!

Enjoy Sister M. Benedicta's Vocation Video Part III. When you give everything to the Lord, He cannot be outdone in generosity. Listen to the blessings Sister M. Benedicta has received in surrendering all to HIM.

Time for the Lord

Tis the season of summer schedules...

Retreats, vacations and Sisters helping out all around the Province...

In April one of the great excitements in our community is the reception of summer schedules. These are a masterpiece of choreography as each Sister receives time for her annual seven day retreat, her time for vacation, time for community days ... and her summer work.

The convents where teaching is the sole apostolate close for the summer and the Sisters go forth to relieve others so that they may have a welcome break. Our Sisters help with summer religion programs and youth camps all over the country. Never a dull moment.

It is a time to grow in our bonds of community as we visit and work with Sisters we've not seen for some time. It is a time to rest a bit, to renew one's heart and to gain the spiritual strength to go forth to serve the Lord.

It's a time to practice abandonment (you never know where you may go, or with whom, or when). It's a time to pray more. It is a time for the Lord.

--submitted by Sister M. Luka

The Harvest is Great but Workers are Few...

It is the World Day of Prayer for Vocations. A day when we pause to recognize that there is much to be done in God's Vineyard, and few indeed to do it.

It's not a call to work, although there is work.

It's a call to give one's life to the Lord and to His people; a call to build up the kingdom of God in myriad ways. It's call to love; a call to pray.

There is much to be done. A world in need of Christ. A world in need of mercy. A world wracked by war and poverty and ignorance - and, most sadly, a world where the Lord of all is forgotten.

Love is not loved.



St. Francis used to weep that God was not known, was not loved. Our world even more resolutely ignores Him and the price is paid by every one of us.

Today is a day to pray for soldiers of Christ, for servants of God, for men and women on fire with the love of the Lord, willing to spill out their lives in His love, in His service.

Is that your call?

Simply Ready

Simply ready to…go to confession, get transferred to a different apostolate, and …cantor for a funeral mass in …2 minutes. Whoever said that the life of a Sister wasn’t very exciting? We follow a rule of the day outlining what we will be doing, and yet we are told to be simply ready, because you never know what you will be doing next.

Mother M. Anselma says “our special mission is to be simply ready in obedience to God’s call. One of the ways in which He lets us know His Will is to show us by the signs of the times what is needed in our service of Christ.”

This past Friday, I received a chance to put this maxim in action. The music minister of the parish came barreling down the stairs into my music classroom looking for a cantor. The parish cantor didn’t show up for the funeral mass that starts in 2 minutes, and there’s no one to sing. “Sure, I’ll fill in.” By God’s grace, my morning was free as the 3rd and 4th graders were away on a field trip. There goes my planning period, but, oh well.

I know that Msgr. Mullen was surprised to see me show up and very grateful, not to mention the family who were never aware of the situation, or the fact that I wasn’t a usual cantor. It was one less thing that they needed to worry about, and provided me with an opportunity to pray for them in their time of loss. I must say, however, that the funeral directors jaw dropped when Janice, the usual cantor, magically transformed into me. I would imagine it would be a shock to see a young Sister show up in the place of a 58 year old woman.

“Did I mention to you that you’ll need to sing Schubert’s Ave Maria as well?” (This addressed to me in a hushed whisper during the homily.) No. I’ve never sung it before, but… God’s will, if He’s asking it of me I’m sure it will be fine. And it was. I’m simply ready to follow your lead Lord, what do you want of me?



One of the beautiful things about being a religious is our vow of obedience. Many think that it is the one drawback of religious life. As a spiritual director of our community, Fr. Meenan, once said, in regard to being simply ready in obedience, that it allows us “the freedom to be able to move because I have one passion in my life and that passion is God’s Will and God’s service according to His Will,” As such it is one of the greatest blessings to our lives. Being a crusader for His will rather than my own allows me to really follow the gospel and say “What do You want of me?” in all sincerity.

I am simply ready to follow wherever the Spirit leads. As I finish college, and a transfer is imminent I am simply ready to take up my next assignment. And once I’m there, am I simply ready to go where He and the community lead me? I hope so.

I’m simply ready.

What do you want of me?

- posted by Sister Mary George Brown, FSGM

Formation and a New Name

Sister M. Benedicta shares about formation in the Novitiate and receiving a new name. Check out Vocation Story - Part II below!

Sister M. Benedicta's Vocation Story - Part I

Each one of us has a story to share: our life! Each one of us is on a journey. Some of you are discerning where the Lord is calling you on this journey. Listen to Sr. M. Benedicta as she shares how the Lord called her. Maybe you can relate!

Be not afraid to respond with courage and generosity!