Pearl of Great Price

I have been wanting to post for the last few weeks, however, I had a family emergency, then I went to Cape May for retreat. When I got back, we had a discernment weekend in community, I had to get my classroom ready, and attend three inservices. I will try to get back to regular posting.
Last month was the gospel reading of the parable of the pearl of great price. I went to retreat hoping to reclaim and deepen that Christ is my pearl of great price. This was a different retreat for me in that I had a different conference time with my director than I have had in the past. I prayed in a different area of the beach. I had to set up my prayer times differently, and I had to learn how just to be. Well, I prayed with the Song of Songs, the Good Shepherd passage from John's Gospel, and a few others. I sat on a rock near the jetty reflecting and letting the ocean waves hit my legs. As the water swirled around me, I was reminded that my relationship with God is like a dance, a movement, or a symphony. It is give and take, back and forth, gentle, and sometimes turbulent. I also imagined that it was God's graces swirling around me.
I made my own footprints in the moist sand, and picked up several seashells. I sat in my beach chair and took long walks in the evening as I continued to pray and reflect. During one of my reflections midway through the retreat I was reflecting on how Jesus, while in the tomb, was waiting for the transformation to become and be what he fully was from the beginning before he came to earth--God. He was coming home to himself.
When I am on retreat, I always have the sense of not only being still, but also coming home to myself. Rabbi Heschel said, "Just to be is a blessing." To be and become who I am fully meant to be as a person and as a Sister of St. Joseph continues to unfold. Not only is God my pearl of great price, but the graces I have received are pearls of great price also.

JUBILEE

This past Sunday, five of our sisters celebrated their 60Th jubilee. Some family members and friends of the jubilarians were also present for the occasion. The jubilarians are Sr. Ann Amen, Sr. Leonella Gingenbach, Sr. Mary Carol Hoke, Sr. Maria Onuffer, and Sr. Barbara Ann Zakutney. After a lovely liturgy, there was a brunch for all who attended.

I am always in awe of God's fidelity to the sisters and the sisters fidelity to God for sixty years. I get excited about God's fidelity and my fidelity for these past nineteen and a half years. I know that it takes prayer, reflection, relationships within the community, and a personal relationship with Christ to continue nurturing my vocation as a Sister of St. Joseph.

I would ask you to pray each day as I do for all women and men religious that their fidelity and love of God will deepen. Pray as well for those who are considering vocations.

SACRED HEART OF CHRIST

On the Feast of the Sacred Heart I was reflecting on what makes Christ's heart so beautiful. It contains so much love for all people; the sinners, the saints, the lost, the broken, the rich, the poor, the young and the old. (I'm sure you could add more). Christ's heart holds so much mercy and forgiveness and so much sorrow for a troubled world. When I see the Sacred Heart it reminds me that Christ has the strength for the despairing. His heart longs for each of us to be united with him. It also contains much joy when the lost are found, the broken are healed, and sinners repent.

Jesus, meek and humble of heart, make my heart like unto thine.

GOLDEN JUBILEE

This past Saturday two of our sisters, Sr. Michele Healy and Sr. Moira Sullivan, celebrated fifty years in community. With family, sisters, associates, and friends present, the celebration was wonderful. At the liturgy, Fr. Sullivan, Sr. Moira's brother, gave a beautiful homily. Also, all the sisters were invited to renew their vows along with Moira and Michele. Later, a dinner was held at the Shriner's Club. Then, in the evening, a picnic was enjoyed by all.

At each jubilee I can't help but reflect on the fidelity of the sisters celebrating, but also on the fidelity of God who called each of them to this way of life. Each sister has her own story of how and why she felt called to religious life, as well as how she responded. Some have known from a very young age that they wanted to be in community, well others struggled with making a decision and waited a few more years. However, no matter what the call story is, each sister continues to be faithful to God, to her congregation, and the ministry in which she is involved. Each one continually chooses to daily say, "Yes" to the deepening of the relationship with God and with those to whom she serves. Fidelity is enhanced through prayer, community, and even in times of trouble or despair. Our fidelity as Sisters of Saint Joseph of Northwestern Pennsylvania carries on a tradition of 150 years of women meeting the needs of the "dear neighbor."

As I have mentioned in other posts, I have been in community for nineteen years. Each day I am grateful for God's faithfulness to me and the grace for me to be faithful to God. Continue to pray for us, and for those who will yet be called.

GENTLENESS, PEACE, JOY

This is the last week of school for me. I always find this time of year to be stressful. Trying to close up my classroom, teaching the students whose brains are already on vacation, and keeping up with the rest of life can take its toll on me. So how do I get through it all? It takes just three words; gentleness, peace, and joy to keep me on the straight and narrow.

My spiritual director gave me these words from our Maxims of Perfection which tell us to approach each task with gentleness, peace, and joy. As I begin my day I pray for peace as I get ready and leave for school. Before the students come into the classroom I pray for patience and gentleness that is so much needed at this time of year. During the day, as I realize that I have been patient and gentle, I find joy in who I am as Sister of Saint Joseph, a teacher, and a beloved of God.
I never get my classroom finished by the last day of school and always have to return for a couple of days to get done. However, by keeping those three words in the forefront of my prayer I can do the best I can knowing that it will take me longer than everyone else without getting worked up about it. So, I look at my classroom and think to myself I will be here as long as it takes therefore, be at peace.

THE GOOD SHEPHERD

Today is Good Shepherd Sunday. This always falls on the Fourth Week of Easter. In today's gospel reading Jesus tells us how the Shepherd calls each of his sheep by name. The sheep know his voice and they follow. The sheep also know that the Shepherd will lead them to pasture. How do we hear the Jesus, the Good Shepherd, call each of us by name?

I know for myself that being faithful to taking some quiet time to be still and listen is important. Leaving room in my heart for the Shepherd and not crowding it with other things that would not allow space for Him to enter is crucial to my spiritual well-being. It is through the image of the Good Shepherd in the book, "Hinds Feet in High Places," by Hannah Hurnard that I came to know many years ago that I could have a relationship with Christ. Ever since, when I need to rekindle that relationship, I go back to the image of the Good Shepherd. He truly laid down his life for me.

Jesus also said in the gospel today that he came that we may have life abundantly. In following Christ I can be aware each evening as I pray my Examen of the blessings of each day. Then, at the end of each week when I list the graces I have been given, I realize how blessed I truly am and how abundant are the graces.

Today also marks the World Day of Prayer for Vocations. Pray that more young men and women will hear the voice of the Shepherd and will come and follow.

CHRIST IS PRESENT

I enjoy looking at the daily readings after Easter. Between Easter and Pentecost the readings are all from the New Testament. My favorites are Mary Magdalene at the empty tomb and the disciples on the way to Emmaus. I like to imagine the joy they felt when they recognized the risen Christ. There are times in my own prayer when I recognize Christ's presence, not only with me, but also in what I learn or discover about Christ or myself. My relationship with Him may deepen, or I may understand a situation more fully.

In other readings during this time we listen to how St. Peter or St. Paul proclaim Christ's presence to the people in the cities and towns to which they traveled. Where and to whom do I/you proclaim Christ's presence? How do we do this in our communities, with our families, and those to whom we minister and with whom we minister? A few years ago a retreat director told me to invite Christ each and every day to wherever I go to increase my awareness of Him being with me. It also reminds me of whom I am in the presence of when I see the faces of all the "dear neighbors" that I meet each day.
Another theme in these post-Easter readings is the new community of the followers of Jesus. The readings describe how they share all things in common, looking out for widows and orphans, and participated in the breaking of the bread. It seems as though there was no looking out for number one going on in these communities! So, as you continue to listen and read these New Testament passages, be aware of how Christ is present to you and how you bring His presence to others.