A VIABLE LIFE

March 1, 2012 marked my twentieth anniversary in community.  I spent the night before and all that day at the CSJ Motherhouse in Baden, PA. 

During that time I reflected on my life in community so far.  I wrote a theological reflection of my journey using Moses and the Israelites as my scriptural reference.  I expressed my joy and excitement of reaching this milestone in a letter I wrote to our foundress, Mother St. John Fontbonne; and I wrote my own version of St. Augustine's Late Have I Loved you.

As I continue to reflect on these twenty years, I remember that feeling of total peace when I finally made the decision to enter a religious community.  I recall how everything in my life fell into place and how natural it felt to enter.  I have made many important decisions in my life, however I have never been so sure of anything as I am about being a Sister of St. Joseph. 

All this reflecting leads me to say that although I know I could have continued being an accounting clerk and still live a good life, or I could have gone into teaching (which is what I do now) without becoming an SSJ, and knowing what other ministries our sisters are active in, I am sure that religious life is a viable life for any woman willing to follow Christ as a woman religious. 

As vocation director, I pray constantly for women to recognize God's call and to be open to respond to that call.  If you think you have a vocation to religious life, contact me at s.lfusco@ssjerie.org.

LORD, TEACH US TO PRAY

Last week while our diocesan priests were at their annual gathering, I was asked to give a reflection for one of the Communion Services at our Community Living Center.  The gospel that day was Jesus teaching the Our Father to the disciples.  "Lord, teach us to pray," they asked.

Who taught you to pray?  Was it your mother, father, or grandmother?  What was the first prayer you learned?  As I reflected on that line in the gospel, three points that stand out is my childhood prayer, when I really learned how to pray, and how I continue to pray.

The Our Father is a prayer full of praise and petitions.  We praise God in the first part.  In the second part we petition God for what we need each day, for forgiveness, to forgive others, and to be strong when tempted.  First, I remembered the first prayer that my mother taught me, the prayer, "Now I lay me down to sleep..."  Later, when I went to school, it was the Sisters of Charity who taught me the rote prayers at Catechism classes.  That was the only way I knew to pray for many years.

Secondly, it wasn't until my late 20's that I really learned to pray.  It was Madeleine Hahn, RSM who introduced me to books that explained how to pray, and by attending prayer and scripture study at Dwelling Place in Sharon I began to experience different prayer styles and kinds of prayer that would lead me to a relationship with God that I never knew was possible.

Thirdly, eleven years ago at my thirty-day retreat, I learned the Ignation Examen of Consciousness.  I have been praying my examen every evening since. What I like is that I journal my examen; and by doing so, I praise God, thank God, and petition God.  Each sunday I review my journal and look for the graces that God has given me during the week and on the next clean page I gather the graces, a habit I learned on retreat.  Gathering the graces leads me to more prayer of praise and thanksgiving to God.

"Lord, teach us to pray."

Who taught you how to pray?

JESUS' PRESENCE AT THE WORKPLACE

What motivates you to go to work and do what you do? Is it just a pay check or prestige? Is it obligation? Is it passion and joy for what you are doing, or is just out of necessity? We all have different reasons or motives for choosing a career or profession. We all need to work in order to make a living for ourselves, our community, or to provide for a family.
For some people their job, the place they work, and the people they work with are great. Going to work is not a burden. For others the job is okay, but their co-workers may be unpleasant or difficult or uncooperative. And for some, their co-workers are okay, however, they hate their job. Since most of us do not work alone, what if before the work day begins, we and those co-workers who would choose to do so, get together for a short prayer, or a scripture reading, and to offer prayer intentions.

Jesus said in Sunday's Gospel, "Where two or three are gathered in my name, there I am in the midst of them." It would be a good reminder to all that Jesus in present as we go about our work each day. Maybe we and our co-workers would be more kind, cooperative, and more pleasant. Perhaps it would make work not feel like a burden. Maybe I am a dreamer.
Each morning when I get to school I invite Christ to be with me throughout the day as I teach and interact with my students and co-workers. A few of us teachers used to pray for a few minutes, but once the person who organized it left, no one picked up the ball to continue. I think I will invite others to join me in prayer in the morning. I will let you know the outcome. Will you take a chance and try it at your place of work? If so, let me know about it.

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.