Jubilee

Yesterday we celebrated our 2025 Jubilees. We had four of our sisters celebrate their 60th Anniversary of Profession. What a wonderful time to celebrate them in this Jubilee Year of Hope. Each of these women have ministered as educators on all levels, missionaries, an archivist. They have had a lasting inpact on many lives and are fondly remembered by their former students. They have given hope to many. This year we had one sister celebrate her 50th anniversary of her final profession. Combined we celebrated 290 years of vowed life.

Earlier this year we celebrated our 75th Anniversary Jubiliarian and her 100th birthday as they were a week apart. What an incredible milestone. Each of these sisters had given her life to God and the service of God's people. Their service continues even though most are retired now. They continue to live out the commitment they made many years ago. Each one has lived through many changes in our Church, our society and our world yet there is one constant -- their love of God and neighbor. May we continue to celebrate this Jubilee Year of Hope and be ready for big surprises!

Retreat a Time Apart

Today’s Gospel reading features Jesus' instruction to his disciples on prayer and not giving up. Jesus gives us the prayer called the "Lord's Prayer." In this prayer, which is used as a model for all prayer, Jesus directs us to give God praise and make our petitions known to him. The blessed assurance that God hears our prayer is central to our understanding of praying and never giving up. Prayer makes a difference and changes the way we look at things.

For the past week I was on retreat at Mercy Center in Madison, CT. It was a wonderful time to take time to pray, reflect and just be. During the days I had the opportunity to spend more time in prayer and in nature. The grounds of Mercy Center are beautiful, and it was nice to see bunnies, birds, and other wildlife during the day. One day a large log drifted onto the beach. It became a real center of prayer for me. I was able to sit by the water on it and reflect. Praying for our world, and many other things was a part of each day.

“And I tell you, ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened." Luke 11:9-10 This scripture came to life for me this week. I was a time to ask, seek and knock and God was indeed very present. I am grateful that I had this opportunity and look forward to living out the graces of my retreat.

Listen WIth Your Heart

 Each morning, I receive a quote from Pope Leo via email and the one that came today seemed perfect for today’s Gospel. "Today, so often, we lose the ability to listen, to really listen. We listen to music, we have our ears flooded constantly with all kinds of digital input, but sometimes we forget to listen to our own hearts and it’s in our hearts that God speaks to us, that God calls us and invites us to know him better and to live in his love." Pope Leo XIV

In today’s Gospel we hear the familiar story of Jesus visiting Martha and Mary. Martha was busy about many things and Mary choose to sit at the feet of Jesus and listen. Two opposite reactions to this special visit by Jesus. Martha exasperated told Jesus to tell Mary to help her. Jesus’ response must have shocked Martha to her core. Jesus told Martha that Mary had chosen the better part, and it would not be taken from her. I can’t begin to think how Martha must have felt. Martha must have felt rejected and dismissed by Jesus.

When I prayed this morning, I realized that I have far more many Martha moments than Mary. I found myself looking at each one of them and came to the realization that while I desire to be more like Mary I do get caught up in the busyness of life and therefore relate to Martha more easily. Deep down I know I desire to be more like Mary, but it is very hard to change old habits.

Perhaps this is a good Gospel to pray with as I begin my own retreat tonight. I am looking forward to being on retreat this week and pray for the grace to be more like Mary as I enter into it. Have a great week and know that I will be praying for all and I count on your prayers for me. Blessings…

100 Days of Prayer, Fasting and Advocacy

On Wednesday, July 9^th Ursulines around the world gathered to participate in the 100 Days of Prayer, Fasting and Advocacy sponsored by the LCWR (Leadership Conference of Women Religious.) The impact of violence and conflict in our world has risen to epic proportions. In response to this situation, the LCWR invited religious congregations in the US to pray for our country. The three US provinces committed to July 9^th, the Feast of the Martyrs of Orange. During the troubles of the French Revolution, 29 Sisters, expelled from their convents, found refuge in a house at Bollène. During their eighteen months there, they shared their life of prayer and total poverty. Arrested in April 1794 because they refused to swear the oath required by the city officials, an oath their conscience condemned, they were jailed on May 2 at Orange.

They organized themselves and consecrated the essential part of their time to prayer. Condemned to die by the Popular Commission, then commanding in the actual Chapel of Saint-Louis, they were transferred to the ancient Theater, where they awaited to climb the guillotine erected in Saint Martin’s Court. They all went up to the scaffold joyfully, singing and praying for their persecutors, who admired their courage. These women took an unpopular stance and, in our world, today we are called to do the same. 

On July 9^th, we gathered via zoom to pray together and have small group discussion. There were a number of sisters from across the country and even one from Australia. It was a true experience of unity and commitment. Several of our provinces around the world gathered to pray together in solidarity with us.

Below is the prayer we used. As we continue the journey let us be people of hope and ambassadors of peace.

Seek to spread peace and concord wherever you are.” (Angela Merici)

O God, Source of all that is,

we find ourselves with heavy hearts these days –

hearts made heavy by the reality of violence, war, and disasters,

and the suffering and destruction they bring.

In places far and near, the violence and death seem endless.

We hold in our hearts and in our prayers

our wounded and weary world.

We pray for an end to the injustice, violence, and war

that seem to hold our world in their grip,

and that we sometimes find in our own hearts.

We pray you, O God,

disarm our hearts and disarm our world,

that the rights and dignity of all may be respected and protected;

remind us that we all share life together

as sisters and brothers to each other.

We pray for peace and justice, O God,

and that each of us may be an instrument

of peace and justice in our world. Amen.

Diane Fulgenzi, OSU

 

The Harvest

 

“The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore, pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” Matthew 9: 37-38

A simple quote from today’s Gospel speaks volumes to me. There is so much going on in our world right now that it is sometimes hard to keep up with it all. Watching the news is a harsh reality right now as there is so much pain and suffering, war and violence, natural disasters and record temperatures. Time is marching on in a feverish pace.

One of the most tragic stories this week was that of Camp Mystic which was washed away in a storm surge. Two dozen campers are missing and there is a mass effort to find them. The governor of Texas is not giving up hope for their survival. He stated that we need to move fast and find them, until they are found the presumption is that they are still alive. I can not fathom the pain and suffering of their families. We need to hold them and their families in prayer and not lose hope.

Jesus told His followers to offer peace to those who welcome them and if the were not welcomed to leave. In our current world we need to offer deep peace to one another. We need to be willing to take the risk of rejection and move on if necessary. Our times call for a great deal of letting go and letting God take the lead. We can become rather dismal about our current reality, but we need to remember that God is always by our side leading us day in and day out. May we always be welcoming of others and may we always be welcomed.

Transition of Leadership

Today we had our transition of leadership prayer service. The prayer included a blessing for the old leadership team and a blessing for the new team. one of the readings was When a Wise Woman Leads. I have read this before and today it had a greater meaning for me.

When wise women lead, they call a circle together and make a space for stories to be shared, hopes to be uttered, and revelations to unfold.

When wise womae leads, they listen to the voice and hear the spirit. They step up and out, even when the path ahead is rugged or unclear. 

When wise women lead, they dare to be vulnerable, dare to be real, dare to speak from a place of unknowing.

When wise women lead, the experience of the journey is as important as arriving.

When wise women lead, they  thinks with their head, ponders with their heart, decide with their soul.

When  wise women lead, they know when to leave, when to let go, and when to push on.

When wise women lead, they bear witness to our oneness and choose what is best for the common good.

Wise women are a tempest against injustice, a torrent of hopefulness, a wellspring of wisdom.

As we move foward and our new leadership team takes the mantle may we allow our God to open our hearts to deepen our call and recognize your presence among us.

Prayer for Peace

Today after the Angelus prayer Pope Leo XIV said,

“Dear brothers and sisters,  

Alarming news continues to emerge from the Middle East, especially from Iran. Against this tragic backdrop, which includes Israel and Palestine, people’s daily suffering, especially in Gaza and the other territories, where the need for adequate humanitarian aid is becoming increasingly urgent, risks being forgotten.

Today more than ever, humanity cries out and calls for peace. This is a cry that requires responsibility and reason, and it must not be drowned out by the din of weapons or the rhetoric that incites conflict. Every member of the international community has a moral responsibility to stop the tragedy of war before it becomes an irreparable chasm. There are no “distant” conflicts when human dignity is at stake.

War does not solve problems; on the contrary, it amplifies them and inflicts deep wounds on the history of peoples, which take generations to heal. No armed victory can compensate for the pain of mothers, the fear of children, or stolen futures.

May diplomacy silence the weapons! May nations chart their futures with works of peace, not with violence and bloodstained conflicts!

I wish everyone a happy Sunday, and I bless those who are actively participating in the feast of Corpus Christi today, including those who are singing, playing music, decorating with flowers, displaying crafts and, above all, praying and taking part in the procession. Thanks to you all and have a good Sunday!

Let us pray for our world that there will be peace.

Prayer for Peace in our World

Lord, we pray for peace in our hearts, in our homes, in our world. We pray for countries to find diplomatic solutions that will bring harmony between nations. We pray for wars to end. We give thanks for your promise that one day there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain. Until that day, we pray for your continued grace and goodness to overflow in this world so that humans can live alongside one another respectfully, allowing for mutual flourishing. Please give those in authority the patience, humility, wisdom and endurance to persevere in bringing about positive solutions for their nations. Amen.