I need to honor Mother Teresa

Mother Teresa is a favorite minister of mine, and I know she recently celebrated the mark of 100 years. I think she has so much to teach all of us. Today I share some of her words to live by…

"Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier..."

Mother Teresa help me to touch others with the love of Jesus as you did.

...pursue your DREAM!

As a member of the NCCL, I receive a weekly newsletter and it is always packed with new and exciting articles. In particular I was thrilled to see a premier issue of a newly published newsletter on adult faith formation entitled GEM:Great Endeavors Mined and Shared. How clever! It also featured our own Fr. Tony Shonis Sunday/Monday Connection. Way to go Fr. Tony!

The newsletter also had a lovely quote from Earl Nighingale which I will share with you.

Successful people are dreamers
who have found a dream too exciting,
too important to remain in the realm of fantasy.

Day by Day hour by hour,
they toil in service of their dream
until they can see it with their eyes and
touch it with their hands.

May you take time today to nurture your dream and then pursue and share them.

Laughter is carbonated holiness.

Let us strive for holiness---and try to erase from our mind, the corrections we received for laughing at inappropriate times and inappropriate places. Why is it that you are overcome with laughter at the most solemn times. I recall gathering with our novice director daily for midday prayer in the Motherhouse chapel and someone would say the wrong word or drop their prayer book, and the 8 novices would break out in laughter, and eventually Sr. Marie Goretti, our loving and proper novice director, would start shaking with silent chuckles.

We didn't know then, but now in hindsight we understand that we were growing in holiness. Joy is a sign of holiness you know.

May your day be filled with laughter from within, and may you spread it to those around you. Laughter is carbonated holiness---ponder that one.

Death is upon us again

Having just received word of the death of another Ursuline Sister, my sister in community, I pause to give thanks for her life and the many lives she has touched in her ministry. The feeling of sadness and loss is a reality, but it is soon replaced with feelings of rejoicing for her battle is over, the victory over pain and illness is over, and she is now experiencing the fullness of life eternal. What ever eternal life looks like we are promised that it is more than we could ask or imagine.

Eternal peace and light upon you Sister! I ask that you intercede for us as your Mount Saint Joseph Ursuline Community. Grant us wisdom and welcoming hearts! Intercede for vocations to our community, that the legacy of Angela Merici and her mission may be realized through her daughters!

I am back

Greetings, this past week I have been very occupied with office responsibilities. It was stressful but things worked out. It was an opportunity for the staff to pull together in the absence of the pastor who was where he needed to be with his family. He got the news that his mother, age 64, had a heart attack on Sunday afternoon in Nashville. After his evening mass he went to be with her and his siblings. It was what I would call a "see-saw" week with one phone call being good news followed by another phone call with serious concerns. She made it through 4 quad bypass surgery on her heart but has a very long way to go. I beg your prayers for her recovery and peace and comfort for her family. So, the rest of the staff kept the parish afloat, but it was not the same.

I share all of this to try communicate my absence but to continue to ask for prayer.

Life is hard, and there are many times when it becomes overwhelming. When it does, God has placed within our reach himself, the Body of Christ, in those that we live, work and love. I was able to reach out last week to them in moments of pain, tears, doubt and exhaustion and was renewed, encouraged,loved and able to keep going. Thanks my dear friends, family and community for being the hands, eyes, ears and touch of Christ to me. May your healing and prayers carry us through these next weeks and whatever it holds.

Today has been a fruitful day. It is that time of year to sell picnic tickets for the Mount Saint Joseph picnic to benefit our retired Ursuline Sisters. A friend from Owensboro came to assist me at St. Francis de Sales Church in this annual task. It was good to be with Wendy and also have her help in offering others the chance to help our retired sisters who have served the Church and the People of God so faithfully. We did well, people are kind and generous toward such a good cause.

It also provided time to pause and recall the fruit of perseverance. Someone told me once, to pray daily for the grace of perseverance. As I age, I discover the wisdom of this advice. As I listen to stories about our sisters' years of service I recall their perseverance. Perseverance implies a sense of fidelity to something that engages not just the mind, but also the heart. In an article I read by William Clark, he defines "PERSEVERANCE as integrity sustained over time."

It was a honor to invite the People of God to reverence these Ursuline Women who through the years have lived the virtue of perseverance and have inspired me through the years and still do to this day.

Mark you calendar and come join us in celebrating our 40th BBQ picnic to benefit and celebrate the gift of the Retired Ursuline Sisters of Mount Saint Joseph on September 12 from 11am-4pm at the Motherhouse in Maple Mount, Kentucky.

The good of a smile is inconceivable

What sunshine is to flowers, smiles are to humanity. These are but trifles, to be sure; but, scattered along life's pathway, the good they do is inconceivable.--Joseph Addison


I have always known that a smile cost nothing but really it is true that a smile can bring about something within another that is inconceivable. Why are we so reluctant to share a smile? There are some people in my life who keep a smile planted on their face and it seems so false, then there are others who greet me with a smile on a regular basis. If I am ever feeling low, discouraged, disappointed, I know that an unexpected smile removes this feeling and replaces it with gratitude.

Smile--everyone deserve it!

The promise of abundance startles us.

I have several spiritual resources that I use on a daily basis and today as I read from the Living Word I was struck by the reflection on "The Abundance of God". The reflection flowed from today's Scripture,

Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 2 Corinthias 9:6

Generosity truly does give us a glimpse of God. We do not have to think very much at all to list an abundance of blessings which God has showered on me daily. The promise of abundance startles us....

The memories of a good friend, a sister in community who celebrates her feastday today, Happy Feastday Laurita---the promise of abundance startles us...

The coolness of air condition on a humid, hot day---the promise of abundance startles us...

The forgiveness of a co-worker for our insensitivity and harsh words and actions---the promise of abundance startles us...

The unconditional love of a friend's pet---Blizten, what a blessing you are to me---the promise of abundance startles us...

The welcome voice of a friend on the end of a phone--the promise of abundance startles us...

Reasons for gratitude break into our lives unexpectantly and startles us as we recall the giver of all blessings. Thank you God for the promise of abundance in my life!

God is boundary-breakingly beyond everything...

I quote from David Knight's commentary on the first reading of liturgy today from the book of the prophet Ezekiel 1:2-28.

"It is a common testimony of the mystics that the experiences they had of God, whether in visions or ecstasies, were indescribable. Words do not exist to portray what they saw, because our words express our perceptions of created reality, and God is BOUNDARY-BREAKINGLY BEYOND EVERYTHING GOD HAS CREATED."

I love that phrase, "boundary-breakingly beyond everything"! There are so many times that I try to define God in my ministry of faith formation for children, youth, adults, or inquirers of the faith and words are so limited in capturing the reality of God.

People are always asking me why I insist on being so inclusive in my language especially in gender phrase defining God. I find that our language is so formative and God would never exclude anyone. I find exclusion to be very hurtful and on the edge of sinful. We, as the Body of Christ, have so much to learn. But today, thinking of God as boundary-breakingly beyond is a powerful truth.

Use me God, to open the eyes of others, and grant me the sight and insight to be boundary breakingly beyond everything that I try to limit today.

I am BLESSED

Yesterday as I greeted one of my sisters in community with the typical greeting, "Julia, how are you?" I was taken back by her response, " I AM BLESSED." What a powerful acknowledgement of truth. Then she added, " I don't ALWAYS take the time to be aware, but I am blessed." I went through the rest of the day, recalling that line and trying to nuture that awareness in my own heart.

Thus, perhaps the next time someone greets you or asks how you are, if you are AWARE and BELIEVE to shower them with your awareness and respond, I AM BLESSED!

Make it a great day! Make it a blessed day for another!

See what is in front of us...

The feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord.... so many thoughts going on in my mind and mixed emotions on my heart. The gospel of today, Luke 9:32 states, " They saw his glory..." The disciples saw Jesus' glory unveiled on Mount Tabor. It really does take time to see what is in from of us. The disciples had been with Jesus many days but this day, they truly were able to see with different eyes, with a new perspective. Everything is ultimately in God's time.

Yesterday was a true lesson in this reality. I was both shocked and filled with gratitude at the same time for the unexpected death of my/our sister in community, Vickie, age 59. As one sister tried to comfort another, she stated, " Vickie has a very different perspective now, and sees what we continue to long for". Powerful words, comforting words, faith-filled words and convicted words to ponder.

Vickie, you now behold the splendor and glory of God. As daughters of Angela we walked side by side, and just a few weeks ago, sat side by side during our retreat at the Mount. I will treasure that experience, not knowing how close you were to the call to eternal life. It does take time to see what is in front of us, and I know you and God were preparing for the reunion and union that took place as you left us. Thank you for all you are to our Ursuline community. You knew so well our history, and the legacy we have. I ask your intercession on my ministry of inviting new members so that that history and legacy can continue. You have a clear and unique perspective now, continue to enlighten us with your research, enthusiasm, and reverence for the past, present and future. May God's peace enfold you, it takes my breath trying to picture the embrace of St.Angela greeting you and welcoming you into the eternal kingdom as her cherished daughter. You will be missed but remembered always for you gave so cheerfully and generously.

Develop an inner ear for recognizing God's voice

Today the Church celebrates the feast of the dedication of Saint Mary Major Basilica. This is the largest church in the world honoring God through Mary.

One legend of this feast gives this day a different name, Our Lady of the Snows. According to that story, a wealthy Roman couple pledged their fortune to the Mother of God. In affirmaton there was a miraculous summer snowfall and a church was built on the site. This legend was long celebrated by releasing a shower of white rose petals from the basilica every August 5th.

Now isn't that a lovely thought on this hot and humid day? Just the thought cools me from the 100+ degree temperatures promised us this August 5th. Happy feastday Sr. Amelia and all who look to Mary as their model for their faith.

On another note, I was reading that if we are truly committed to living the spiritual life, as Mary, the Mother of God was, we will listen in a very personal and intimate way to the Word of God. Through the regular practice of reading the Scripture, God's Word, and letting the Word descend from our minds into our hearts we are inviting God's Word to become enfleshed. Through the regular practice of spiritual reading and meditation we develop an inner ear that allows us to recognize God's Word that speaks directly to our most intimate needs and aspirations.

Enjoy the voice of God discovered in the Word today! We join Mary in prayer as we pray, "My soul proclaims the greatness of God, my spirit rejoices in My Savior!"

companions on the journey to Christ

I have been very involved with the Initiation process of welcoming those inquiring about the Catholic Way of life these past few days. It is exciting to have seven enthused and excited men and women coming together to learn about the Catholic faith. I couldn't help but draw parallels between vocation ministry and working with those in the Initiation process, more commonly referred to as RCIA.

In both areas there are particular stages and each stage of formation hold special blessings. In vocation ministry I have the opportunity to walk with women who are discerning and desiring to become a consecrated woman in the church. Both candidates for RCIA and consecrated life require deep honesty, intense prayer and willingness to discern the movement of God in one's life. It is awesome to witness God working in their lives. Both are very grace-filled ministries.

I feel very honored to walk with both, for I find my own faith and commitment deepening as well. Ultimately we are all really companion on the journey to Christ.