Those who are lifting the world upward and onward are those who encourage more than criticize. ---Elizabeth Harrison

Are anyone of you ready for the elections to be over? The campaign attacks and smears are getting ugly and so un-Christian. I do believe that there is a way to present your platform without attacks and criticism. It really turns me off immediately. I believe that people of truth and integrity do not feel the need to criticize or attack another's character. Let your life speak; your words encourage and your way of life inspire.

Let us call on the gift of wisdom and ask the Holy Spirit to heal our broken world. I do think it is important to vote. Let us pray for God's guidance as we cast our vote for the best woman or man to lead us.

Finding the River

Presently in my parish ministry, we are at a very exciting time of inviting inquirers of the Catholic faith to discern if they desire to continue the initiation journey and take the next step toward full communion in the Catholic Church. What this basically means is that they choose to move into the second phase of the process and celebrate the Rite of Acceptance or Rite of Welcome.

There is a neat resource that has a poem entitled "Finding the River" by Carol Gura that is helpful in making this decision. I would like to share part of the poem with you today. You might find it enlighten in your own recommitment to faith, or to life in general.

Pilgrims and pioneers
Searched the landscape
to find their way
to where?
The place of promise---
The River of Life.

Along the way;
Great walls
needed scaling and tearing down;
Let go of the burdens that fill your
hands and hearts
Let go!

Along the way
Thorny, densely tangled mats
of confusion and doubt;
Let go of the voices of the past
that block and bind,
Let go!

Round the corner
For the river you seek
Lies at your feet.

As you reflect on this piece of poetry, recall your own pursuit and search. These questions might be helpful.

What walls need scaling or tearing down in your own journey?

What are the unexpected twists and turns that you are dealing with at this time in your life? Where do you see grace? What is the blessing?

What do you desire in this River of life?


May the healing waters cleans and bring you new life!

Joyful Witness

"We believe that our joyful witness as consecrated women is a compelling influence for drawing others to share our vision."
-Constitution of the Ursuline Sisters of Mount Saint Joseph

Yesterday, our community celebrated the feast of Saint Ursula. Inspite of the Church not recognizing her in their sanctoral calendar, for Angela Merici and her daughters, we delight in honoring and celebrating her witness and influence on our way of life as Ursuline gospel women. I found the passage from our Constitution to be very appropriate to review and recommit to as we celebrate the feast of Saint Ursula.

By our joyful witness and living out of our sacred call, we are capable of alerting other women to the possibiity that our way of life might be a worthy option to discern. I am convicted in my belief that women are still called to be Ursuline and that inspite of the many areas of ministry in the church, our profession of vows and life in community is a viable option. A way of life that is uniquely fulfilling and life-giving for women as well as for the Church of today.

Who is the most the compelling witness of joy and fulfillment in your life?

"Willingly hold in consideration and have engraved on your mind and heart, all your dear sisters, one by one; not only their names,also their condition and character and their every situaiton and state. This lnot be difficult for you if you embrace them with charity."

--Second Legacy of St. Angela Merici, founder of Ursuline Sisters

Today this quote of Angela stirs my heart because this day there are three special Ursuline women in my life who are celebrating the gift of life on their birthday. Birthdays give us cause to savor and celebrate the beauty, giftedness, and uniqueness of life, of friendship/relationship, of God's favor in placing significant and special people in our life. Today I recall, savor and celebrate each of you and your beauty, giftedness and unique reflection of life and being Ursuline among us!

I give thanks today for these faith filled women, passionate MSJ Ursulines in many ways in their love for life, their dedication to ministry, and genuine support of me. I give thanks for your life today, Mary T, Monica and Diane. May your day be filled with special blessings and more than you deserve!

Honor your own complexity

"Honor your own complexity."

- Mark Gerzon

Now doesn't that say it all. I have been pondering this for a while and it truly express the journey of self. Just when you think you have figured out your dream it is shattered. Just when you think you discover all there is to know about a friendship it changes. Just when you think you have life figured out it dumps something unexpected on you.

Honor... Reverence.... cherish.... hold with attentiveness all that you are. In the depth of it all is the mystery which is God. Complex, yes, God is that but God is also nurturing, healing, and unfanthomable. God is mystery.

I pray today O God of True Mystery, help me to trust and honor myself and all that you offer me today. May I honor you in all of this day. Amen

Grieving many things today

Grief is a strange reality. It slips up on you without any warning. I came home and experienced the loss of a special friend in my life. It is still a little too raw to speak about now, but I am trying to hang on to the memories, the joy we shared and the good times and memories that cannot be stolen from us.

God is good, all the time. God seems to put in my hands just want I need to hear or experience when I need it. I will share with you, hoping it touches your heart with a call to action. It is a meditation called, "Litany of Remembrance" by Joyce Rupp. I want to acknowledge her as the source and share pieces of it with you. I ask that you say this prayer for all children and creatures of this earth who are victims or are treated unkindly, unjustly. May our prayer through God's mercy free them in whatever way they need.

Joyce Rupp writes: "I remember the children of the world. As Jesus called to the children to come to him, so I gather in prayer the children of my world who are hurting. I embrace them with loving kindness and with a desire to mend the systems that bring such pain to their young lives. I remember the children:

... who will go hungry today,
... whose parents are on drugs,
... who have no one to teach them to read,
... who are handicapped and unattended,
... who do not know love,
... who live in filth and degradation,
... who have no friends,
... who are not listened to,
... who have never been sung to or read to or taken by the hand or experienced earth’s mystery and beauty,
... who do not have anyone to tuck them into bed at night,
... who are shunned or mistreated because of their color, their religion, or the place where they live,
... who have no awareness of their inner goodness,
... who have stopped believing in love,
... who are filled with anger and hate,
... who are receiving a poor education,
... who are ill or in pain,
... who are grieving the death of a loved one,
... who are suffering from AIDS or drug-related diseases,
... who feel lonely, desolate, and unloved,
... who are filled with fear for their lives,
... who hear only harsh words and hostile language,
... who have been bruised, beaten, and mutilated,
... who are victims of incest, rape, and pornography,
... who hide in fear from the sounds of war,
... who are ill and have no medical attention.

Yes, I pray for the children of my world today and I pray for each man and woman of this world, including myself, that we will do our part to create better living conditions for these children. Show us the way and prod us into action, God of justice and compassion!"

Joyce Rupp is one of my favorite spiritual writers, I encourage you to ready anything by her. I think I need to return to one of her books, one I turn to in times of loss, Praying our Goodbyes.

"No use crying over spilt milk!"

Yesterday I received word that one of my community sisters, Sr. Ann Victoria Wasylina, osu was called home to eternal life. Sr. Ann Victoria was from Ukraine, then a part of Poland. She travel many miles away from family and served our community with faithfulness, cheerfulness and tremendous joy. I worked with her as a young sister in dairy and made plenty of mistakes, but she always encouraged, affirmed and rarely was upset. She just smiled and said with all sincerity, "no use crying over spilt milk!" I think the young sisters were assigned to her because we had our rounds of homesickness, but realized after working with Sr. Ann Victoria that we were in the presence of one who had reason to be homesick. She had a beautiful smile and a lovely voice which she eagerly blessed us with by singing her favorite songs which reminded her of home.

Sr. Ann Victoria, I am grateful for your presence in my life. May your new home where you are reunited with your family, St. Angela and all our Ursuline family give you reason to rejoice and yodel. You are forever engraved upon my heart!

Vacation time

Today, I officially begin a week of vacation. I am headed north to visit my youngest sister, Margaret and her family. It is a time to put aside deadlines and commitments and relax and renew myself. I am looking forward to sleeping late, staying up late, and reading a good novel. Life is good, and especially when you have the luxury to stepping aside and giving thanks for blessings and graces.

Today's gospel of the 10 lepers is a reminder to never overlook the blessings of the moment. Last night I visited with a dear friend who has been in my life since high school. Thanks Nelda. Tonight I enjoyed supper with another dear friend, who treated me to a delicious home cooked supper, thanks Brad. But tonight I am aware of so many blessings and reasons to give thanks. My heart is grateful beyond words, and especially for this week of vacation. I am on vacation!!!!!!!!

"Madre"

"To the beloved daughers and sisters of the Company of Saint Ursula. Because, dearly beloved daughters and sisters, God has granted you the grace of setting you apart from the darkness of this miserable world and of uniting you together to serve his divine Majesty, you have to thank Him infinitely that, to you especially, He has granted such a singular gift..." --- Rule of Saint Angela Merici: Prologue 3-5

It is the Madre who is speaking to her "dearly beloved daughters and sisters". As an Italian madre, Angela never had any inhibitions about showing her warm and tender love for her "beloved children". She refers to being set apart by their behavior and way of life . There will be something special about them that will invite others to say, "Who are these daughters and sisters that Angela makes reference to so lovingly?"

Madre is such an affectionate name for another. It is evident that Angela had a special fondness for each of her daughters and desired that they be together, united in love and compassion for each other too. That is why she often referred to them as her "cherished daughters"!

Madre Angela, pray for us. Guide us into the future with confidence and unity that we may truly give honor and glory to God, the Lover of us All!

Blessed and Indivisble Trinity

Today, I was drawn to the writings of Saint Angela Merici, founder of the Company of Saint Ursula, the origin of the Ursuline Sisters. Angela's rule begins..."In the name of the blessed and indivisble Trinity." As is noted by many writers on the life of Angela,her rule opens with a powerful statement of faith. The "Blessed and indivisble Trinity" is the foundation upon which the Rule of Angela is based. It is the source from which her message will spring. It is a divinely inspired message, with God as the true author. Angela serves an God's instrument. Angela serves as the voice of God to her daughters. As she begins her rule, this is more than a statement of faith but also gives clarity of mind and vision. This serves as a sign of her humble and self-effacing attitude.

As baptized followers of our Redeemer, our Savior and Faithful companion, we are called to witness the Triune God in our call. It is our way of life that speaks of the clarity and foundation of our call to serve and witness our consecration to God as virgins and daughers of Angela. Angela's wisdom and spirituality is evident in beginning her rule with an acknowledgement of the Trinity. It compels us as her daughters to aspire to a realization of our baptismal call and defines our identify.

I pray, Triune God speak with me, in me and through me. Triune God, source and foundation of my call, I ask today for the grace to come to a deeper realization of my call as a daughter of Angela. " Light up the darkness of my heart" and give me whatever I need to be faithful to you.

Celebrate life!

Yesterday, October 3 we celebrated Right to Life Sunday, and today, October 4th is the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi. I may be a little biased,since St. Angela Merici had a trance of Francisan formation, but I find Francis to be the most passionate “right to life” saint that there ever was. He saw the world and all of its creatures as completely connected; we are all brothers and sisters-- every tree, every plant, every cat, every bird, every man and woman and child! What a great description of “right relationships!” If we could live Francis’ vision-- with Francis’ passion-- the world would be a much better place.

In the words, of St. Francis, Pax et Bonum... Peace and Everything Good!

Holy Mary.... pray for us.... now and at the hour of our death.

October is the Month of the Most Holy Rosary. This devotion was establish in my family life as my brothers and sisters fell to our knees every night as Mom or Dad lead us in the recitation of the rosary. It is a very special family memory of coming together especially in troubling times to place our intentions in the hands of God asking Mary to help us to surrender and embrace God's will.

There were definite roadblocks in my life, losing my mother at age 16 to cancer; we gathered around her bed as she was taken from us praying the rosary as a family. A few years later struggling to know where God was leading me in my vocation, I turned to these sacred beads to guide and direct me to embrace and know God's plan. Again letting go of another parent, my father slipped away with us gathered praying the rosary, a devotion he prayerfully lead in our formative years.

Perhaps this is why I keep turning to this sacred devotion of the Holy Rosary, especially in the month of October and May when the Church reminds us of Mary's role in our own salvation and redemption.

Pope John Paul stated when he initiated the luminous mysteries: "Rediscover the Rosary in light of Scripture." Rosarium Virginis Mariae (RVM), 43
Pope John Paul II

I find there are many Scriptural messages of life found in the Rosary mysteries
The Joyful Mysteries focus on choosing life. The Luminous Mysteries focus on living the Catholic Sacramental Life. The Sorrowful Mysteries give us the strength and courage to accept God's will in suffering and death. The Glorious Mysteries allow us to hope in God's promise of eternal life.

The Rosary helps us to be conformed ever more closely to Christ. I hope you find comfort, direction, solace and deep peace in your recitation of the rosary. May the rosary and Mary, our Mother draw each of us closer to Jesus, our Savior, our light, our Redeemer, our Hope.

Unlease your sense of wonder!

If I had influence with the good fairy who is supposed to preside over the christening of all children, I should ask that her gift to each child in the world be a sense of wonder so indestructible that it would last throughout life.
---Rachel Carson

A sense of wonder! Yes, what a gift to watch it unfold in the life of a small child. My question is, does it have to stop as we reach our teenage years, young adult years and midlife years? I love to be in a conversation with another as they dream and expound on possibilities. It is truly an experience of WONDER! Don't stifle it in your own life! Reach for new possibilities. Dare to dream! Experience what stirs within when you have no limitations.

I have to admit yesterday I was with someone who let go, and kept apologizing for boring me, however, my experience was quite the contrary. I am amazed at the depth of possibilities that can be if we dare to unlease our sense of wonder! Thank you Sharon for the trip!