tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87456893722148471732024-03-04T20:08:41.237-08:00Future of CharityFuture of Charityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15504007893673355335noreply@blogger.comBlogger257125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8745689372214847173.post-24213243096238496962020-04-26T15:56:00.000-07:002020-04-26T15:56:00.793-07:00Reflections From the Belly of a Whale<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">By Sr. Andrea
Koverman, SC Federation, First Vows</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; color: blue; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://futureofcharity.blogspot.com/p/andrea-kovermans-reflections.html" style="text-decoration: none;">Click HERE to learn more about Andrea</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: helvetica neue;"> </span><a href="http://sistersofcharityfederation.org/about-us/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; color: blue; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Click HERE to learn more about the SC Federation</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It seems no
accident to me that the COVID-19 pandemic reached proportions large enough to make
the world take notice and stop it in its tracks occurred during the season of
Lent. Always a solemn and sacred time to honestly look at ones life, to examine
the ways in which one has or has not, does or does not live the faith they
profess to believe. I ask myself how closely am I following the Way of Jesus,
not just adoring but truly imitating him? What are the ways in which I disrupt
the flow of love from God to me to others that I’m meant to participate in? How
can I work towards detaching from those impediments, letting them go, turning
away from the sin that they are and the suffering they can cause myself and
others? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It’s ironic to me
that I am writing for the Future of Charity when I’m wondering about the future
of society, as I imagine most of us are. As I was praying about this, it
occurred to me that maybe God is using COVID-19 as a sort of unwelcome prophet
sent to warn us just as Jonah was sent to warn the Ninevites. Is it similarly
spreading throughout the world to warn us of impending doom lest we change our
evil ways of doing things? We can’t run away from the deadly virus that has
moved its way through our cities, countries and continents bringing everyone
from those in royal robes to the lowliest among us to our knees. Though not
sporting sackcloth or sitting in ashes, it does feel as if we’ve been given a
big time out, sent to our rooms to think on a grand scale about what we’ve been
doing - how we treat each other and our God-given planet. Just a quick
reflection of our current state of affairs seems to call for it: the masses of
people in forced migration, the poverty and violence that compel them to flee, the
greed that puts money first and the well-being of people be damned, the pollution
that’s causing devastating changes in climate that destroy habitat and
inhabitants of all kinds even as we stand idly by watching it all happen…We are
at a fork in the road moment and how we proceed will determine everything. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Though this is
now the third Sunday of Easter and Lent is meant to be over, it seems as if we’ve
been given an extension of sorts. Perhaps that’s another of God’s graces, as I
don’t know that we have yet learned the lessons the pandemic can teach us. A
simple Google search provides evidence that the environment has improved since
it started – carbon dioxide emissions are way down with stay-at-home orders and
travel restrictions. Cities around the world long plagued by smog and air
pollution are experiencing clear skies, revealing vistas of skylines and
mountain ranges that haven’t been seen in years. Incidents of asthma and heart
attacks have plummeted. Birds, sea creatures and animals of all sorts are
returning to abandoned habitats - all in only a matter of weeks. We feel the
paradigm shifting in our own homes and local communities, too. Families are
spending quality time together, rediscovering the simple pleasures and gifts of
family life. Relationships are more important than ever. We’ve had to
acknowledge that we are responsible for not only taking care of ourselves, but also
of our neighbors and dutifully wear masks and gloves to protect one another
from the virus. We’ve been touched by the commitment and self- sacrifice of
health care providers and first responders. We’ve realized that we can make do
with less and with what we have on hand. We’re eating healthier and exercising
more, appreciating it if we have healthy bodies and noticing the beauty of our
surroundings. And we can’t escape the fact that some of us are moving through
this time with relative ease and nothing much more than inconvenience, while
many many more are suffering incredibly from lack of food, unemployment and
inadequate health care. We’ve had to ask the uncomfortable questions of why
this is so and how we have personally participated in supporting the systems that
perpetuate these injustices.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhETmKadZXV420IrMG5YN3e4daq5EFa_fmfPxI3MRJZ9GRqT-yIfzURdlp3gcJ_TDgnh5H5QlhYVGtKRSelF-QXxlaxGIT0SdYbDZN6EfEYlhkUr8UKVMyZ9BCqnp-xh08DVUevXZ20mNRn/s1600/IMG_6813.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhETmKadZXV420IrMG5YN3e4daq5EFa_fmfPxI3MRJZ9GRqT-yIfzURdlp3gcJ_TDgnh5H5QlhYVGtKRSelF-QXxlaxGIT0SdYbDZN6EfEYlhkUr8UKVMyZ9BCqnp-xh08DVUevXZ20mNRn/s400/IMG_6813.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An inspirational sunrise near my home in NM<br /></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">But are we ready
to come out of our rooms and behave ourselves? Change has been imposed on us by
the pandemic, but will we choose to continue to better care for each other and
the environment when it’s a choice again? Will we be better followers of
Christ, loving ourselves, one another and our common home to a greater degree
than in pre-pandemic times? I hope so. I believe so. After all and much to the
ire of Jonah, our God is </span><span style="background: white; color: black;">a gracious and compassionate God, slow to
anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity
(Jonah 4:2), even to the undeserving.</span><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">We
are resurrection people and the love of Christ can rise in and transform each
of us. Amen? Amen. Alleluia!</span></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Future of Charityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15504007893673355335noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8745689372214847173.post-46959386155051678282020-03-01T13:59:00.000-08:002020-03-01T13:59:13.818-08:00Detoxing during Lent<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">By <b>Sr. Carlette Gentle, SCN</b>, Perpetually Professed</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<a href="http://futureofcharity.blogspot.com/p/carlette-gentles-reflections.html" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration-line: none; white-space: pre-wrap;">Click HERE to learn more about Carlette</a><br />
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<span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> <a href="http://sistersofcharityfederation.org/about-us/" style="text-decoration-line: none;">Click HERE to learn more about the SC Federation</a></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQKBi-Zkpy0WTn1CiG09G5rx8VK2WKjprEsQE4TwxYeJU37KdhWB9qUimm9RfYdBN5vh2zEPv1gb1v_YWOjJx7wL0J7O8GfpoGMyNK1BLm822k6uBTDHN8i4-bURz_eNoaqxpCqOpJrmo/s1600/detox.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="287" data-original-width="501" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQKBi-Zkpy0WTn1CiG09G5rx8VK2WKjprEsQE4TwxYeJU37KdhWB9qUimm9RfYdBN5vh2zEPv1gb1v_YWOjJx7wL0J7O8GfpoGMyNK1BLm822k6uBTDHN8i4-bURz_eNoaqxpCqOpJrmo/s320/detox.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have been struggling to think of what my Lenten abstinence would be this year. I could give up chocolate, or desserts, or junk food in general but what would that do? Will it impact the lives of others? Will it help me to be humbler to others? As these questions ran through my brain the word detox kept coming to mind. Detox, a word I have been hearing often in the diet world. I took time in prayer to reflect on this word since it did not seem to be going away. An unusual word, I thought to myself, to take to prayer but I did. Detox, is defined as a process or period of time in which one abstains from or rids the body of toxic or unhealthy substances. The more I reflected, the more this word made sense. It offered an opportunity for transformation and conversion. I spent time in prayer thinking what toxic or unhealthy substances should I rid my body, mind and soul of this lent? In quiet the list started to flow. I should rid myself of judgments, let loose of envy, hatred, anger and minimize stress. Will it be easy? Of course not but I will try. Working on ridding myself of these things through prayer, reflection and reaching out to others during this Lenten season will aid in the detox process that will help to transform me and empty me creating a place for God to dwell fully.</span>Whitneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17899564158979548377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8745689372214847173.post-73514624064044058852020-01-12T20:43:00.001-08:002020-01-16T12:03:11.333-08:00From the FOC to the HOC: Happy Ten Years!<i>Compiled by Sister Tracy Kemme, SC</i><br />
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Last Saturday marked the ten year
anniversary of the <a href="https://sistersofcharityfederation.org/house-of-charity/">House of
Charity</a> (HOC) in New Orleans, and we at the Future of Charity (FOC) blog want to
celebrate their milestone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We dedicate
this post to our visionary sisters who dreamed up the HOC and have sustained it
over a decade, impacting countless young adults, the city of New Orleans, and
the <a href="https://sistersofcharityfederation.org/house-of-charity/">Charity
Federation</a> – including, in a very special way, us who are newer members of
our congregations. <o:p></o:p></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl2DnsDP79Oy2YEWsyebdGvSIZMzcFxaYaSVl_0K1lDvTgGcDGy1bS3BizBGdX1FLyg47xEb0UpH8c5z32VyJPLLCkCk9Z-bGPnsl_pIqrxxeoXx-uyzens-C768HOlFsk1dbzwH-DNROl/s1600/FoC+2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl2DnsDP79Oy2YEWsyebdGvSIZMzcFxaYaSVl_0K1lDvTgGcDGy1bS3BizBGdX1FLyg47xEb0UpH8c5z32VyJPLLCkCk9Z-bGPnsl_pIqrxxeoXx-uyzens-C768HOlFsk1dbzwH-DNROl/s320/FoC+2014.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our first FOC gathering at the HOC, August 2014</td></tr>
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The FOC has its roots at the House of Charity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> T</span>he same sisters who dreamed up the
HOC also dreamed of connecting newer members across the Federation, and they eventually did, at the HOC in 2014. Sisters Claire Regan, Mary Lex Smith, Monica
Gundler, and Renee Rose welcomed us with open arms. O<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">ur beloved, now-deceased Sr. Janet Gildea led us in reflection on the movie </span><i style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Field of Dreams. </i><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Its</span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"> famous quote, “If you build it, they will
come,” took on special power at the HOC, where more than a
thousand guests have "come" since our sisters “built” it in 2010.</span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"> In this sacred space, </span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Janet invited </span><i style="text-indent: 0.5in;">us</i><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"> to dream about collaborating
for the Charity mission – and one idea that emerged was this blog,
now more than five years running.</span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span></div>
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At the end of
the weekend, another dear sister that we’ve since lost, Marie Flowers, gushed, “I
finally feel like I have a ‘band’!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For
those of us who have entered our congregations with few peers, the FOC has been like our <span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">“</span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">band,”</span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">our entrance group, and the HOC has been our our gathering place, our home-base to which we return yearly. </span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">This past November</span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">, we were blessed once
again by the hospitality of the HOC’s current community, Sisters Monica Gundler,
Peg Johnson, and Vicki Lichtenauer. As always, we were nourished for the present and energized for our shared future.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaHZQ4Z5nnAg6maaWQDDlIOJ3qiFzTKRPVaVQYdESC4QOzdRJXXc6UYhppK2XVb0IVBTtd43XXcH3KLFJo4XeM0jP8QTYRtNLuhV8ccXBT5BdBZ9PkHSMsoipu8dz1DK_n7wjusdCW73X2/s1600/FoC+2019+2+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaHZQ4Z5nnAg6maaWQDDlIOJ3qiFzTKRPVaVQYdESC4QOzdRJXXc6UYhppK2XVb0IVBTtd43XXcH3KLFJo4XeM0jP8QTYRtNLuhV8ccXBT5BdBZ9PkHSMsoipu8dz1DK_n7wjusdCW73X2/s320/FoC+2019+2+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">FOC at the HOC, November 2019</td></tr>
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We are so grateful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And as a small token of our immense
gratitude, we, the members of the FOC, offer tribute here to the amazing HOC:<br />
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">©<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->In gratitude for being that place that holds the
past of our Charity Charism and the love of our sisters who have laid down our
foundation, the present of who we are in this defining moment, and the future
that might be uncertain yet is laden with a promise of hope and guidance from
God, happy 10th year anniversary, HOC! I am grateful for what you represent for
us women of Charity!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>~<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Romina Sapinoso</i><o:p></o:p></div>
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</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->The House of Charity is a wonderful example of
collaboration among the Charity Federation congregations. It weaves
hospitality, community, prayer, and service together for those who stay there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whether I am visiting with the Future of
Charity or a college spring break service trip, I can feel the positive energy
and hope that emerges from the group experience, impelling all to continue building
the Kindom here on earth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">~Rejane Cytacki</i><o:p></o:p></div>
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</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->When I first stayed at the HOC in 2017, I had
already been accepted as a pre-postulant with the Daughters of Charity and knew
I would be living in New Orleans for my first year. Meeting and staying with
the Sisters at the HOC for that first service week was a blessing, as I
continued to be in contact with them throughout my time in NOLA. Being able to
pray, serve, and be involved in their activities added a lot to my year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thank you, HOC, for your welcoming arms,
hospitable spirit, and atmosphere of invitation to me!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">~Josephine
Lomasney</i><o:p></o:p></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkwOCS-PrWUpdjmVbwcKoUH-bn5huIwCQ-FAcvE4AEq83-d17mDsHtugcLLRM4_bIxvtIutNMTYhFGp7qjc-8TB_zCVZt6E3f2pnxkFLMOk8anqYyumKHHd8GtsNNVP9i4ZL9_iPQgbUIW/s1600/FOC+2017+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="617" data-original-width="615" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkwOCS-PrWUpdjmVbwcKoUH-bn5huIwCQ-FAcvE4AEq83-d17mDsHtugcLLRM4_bIxvtIutNMTYhFGp7qjc-8TB_zCVZt6E3f2pnxkFLMOk8anqYyumKHHd8GtsNNVP9i4ZL9_iPQgbUIW/s320/FOC+2017+2.jpg" width="315" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Federation Come and Serve, Sept. 2017</td></tr>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">©<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->My first time to the House of Charity was for
Nuns Build 2013, and it was also my very first experience of the Charity
Federation. I will never forget entering the house to a bustling
kitchen and two long tables full of Sisters talking, laughing and breaking
bread together. I immediately felt I was among family, and continue to
feel that way every time I return to a warm welcome at the House of Charity. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">~Annie Klapheke</i><o:p></o:p></div>
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</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Every moment that I have encountered through
gathering at the HOC has provided a source of growth, hope and
faith in the journey as sisters of Charity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">~Hyeon Lee</i><o:p></o:p></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">©<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->The first time that I went to the House of
Charity for the Daughters of Charity Search and Serve in 2016, I instantly felt
welcomed and loved. It was there that I first got to witness the Vincentian
Charism in action. The sisters there have always been so generous and
supportive of anyone who would walk through those doors, and for that I am very
thankful. To this day every time I visit the House of Charity it still feels
like home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">~Carissa Kulpa</i><o:p></o:p></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">©<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->The House of Charity has been an integral part
of my discernment/formation journey. I initially experienced their warm
hospitality when I was first exploring a call to religious life, and since then
I’ve returned numerous times as a sister-in-formation and even as a companion
for other young women in discernment. The HOC is one of many "second
homes" that I am privileged to have, and I'm so proud to be in the Charity
family with the devoted and inspiring women who live and minister there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">~Whitney
Schieltz</i><o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9M15Ie-NlTtcxgVfHdSrFiIAG6QO2bA-k3DnOL9FqaUmzPY8MdPgmacqP1B0QiVc7CVM8O18FmEOMLb7IdAJnkJffgz1sZ9_Xs7-bbvfXvY4BBDGIkzfnhsxkkNSfJaOvcAMKrTBJ7UN6/s1600/2015%253A9a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9M15Ie-NlTtcxgVfHdSrFiIAG6QO2bA-k3DnOL9FqaUmzPY8MdPgmacqP1B0QiVc7CVM8O18FmEOMLb7IdAJnkJffgz1sZ9_Xs7-bbvfXvY4BBDGIkzfnhsxkkNSfJaOvcAMKrTBJ7UN6/s320/2015%253A9a.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">FOC at the HOC, September 2015</td></tr>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">©<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->The House of Charity has been a place where we
as younger sisters can gather under one roof and one name, no distribution
is needed. Great hospitality is always offered and a feeling of being at home
is always felt. Thank you HOC for always being there for us as younger members
in the federation. We are truly blessed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">~Carlette Gentle</i><o:p></o:p></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">©<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->I’ve been lucky enough to participate in two
Nuns Builds and be hosted annually for Future of Charity gatherings. My first
Nuns Build, during novitiate, was an enlightening experience for me and the
other Federation Sisters present. After spending the week together, they proclaimed
that Tracy and I were “their” novices, too; we didn’t just belong to the
Cincinnati SCs. That was the first time I really knew it was true that my community
includes all my Federation Sisters. I’m so grateful to the HOC for facilitating
those kinds of encounters and giving the whole Federation a place to call home. <i>~Andrea Koverman</i></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">©<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->I am so grateful for the collaborative ministry
of the House of Charity because it introduced me to the Sisters of Charity
Federation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This house offers a homey,
welcoming atmosphere where sisters from across the Federation can gather to
build relationships with each other and deepen our call to the charism of
Charity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">~Kara Davis</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">©<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->I first came to the HOC in 2012, shortly after
deciding to take the plunge to become a Sister of Charity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was still full of questions and,
truthfully, upset with God for asking me to “give up” other life options.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That week praying, serving, and playing with
the HOC community was a turning point, reminding me why I was drawn to
religious life and setting my heart afire with courage and joy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thank you, HOC, for your contagious witness
to Charity!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">~Tracy Kemme</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">©<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->As we celebrate this HOC anniversary, I would
like to pay tribute to the wonderful hospitality offered by the staff! I started
attending Future of Charity gatherings there over 5 years ago to deepen my Federation
relationships, and getting to know the Charity charism lived among us has been
inspiring. The HOC has been a refuge to build support, relax, pray together as
well as to have a lot of fun together. May God continue to abundantly bless the
efforts of this ministry!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">~Judy Donohue</i><br />
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">©<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->The HOC has always been a place of welcome and
hospitality. I treasure the opportunity to come together with newer
members in different stages of formation to share our dreams and ideas, and to
pray, play and support one another. I am also gifted by the many mentors
throughout the Charity Federation who walk with us and share in the journey of
Religious Life with spirit of Charity.
<i>~Paris Slapikas</i></div>
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<b>Happy 10 years, House of
Charity! We love you!</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTN7NluZ1IFvBTSmLoFFnk8gr_RK_8dPGErodeK71aTsKTYT-Ye3nIs01omIbNAkJgy2D26cBlFl0JHbVVZnBKfOWTS-ZkKp-DBCdXQ5LLN2ZmlbHlY5T33RPHe95oL9QpytIVXOpfJZ3a/s1600/FoC2018+2b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="645" data-original-width="613" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTN7NluZ1IFvBTSmLoFFnk8gr_RK_8dPGErodeK71aTsKTYT-Ye3nIs01omIbNAkJgy2D26cBlFl0JHbVVZnBKfOWTS-ZkKp-DBCdXQ5LLN2ZmlbHlY5T33RPHe95oL9QpytIVXOpfJZ3a/s320/FoC2018+2b.jpg" width="304" /></a></div>
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<b>And we say YES with you to the next ten
wonderful years (and beyond)...</b></div>
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<span style="background-color: yellow;">P.S.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you’ve never had the chance to visit the
House of Charity, check out Sr. Monica’s video tour (which she offered as part of the Charity Federation's series of Elizabeth Seton reflections) by clicking <a href="https://www.facebook.com/scharityfed/videos/763093814211596/">right here</a>!</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Future of Charityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15504007893673355335noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8745689372214847173.post-4045997594672725002019-12-15T12:59:00.000-08:002019-12-15T12:59:03.358-08:00Finding Life in Unexpected Places<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">By Sister Annie Klapheke, SC</span><br />
<span id="docs-internal-guid-464b1762-7fff-cf04-f9e4-62a82c3a842b"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://futureofcharity.blogspot.com/p/anne-klaphekes-reflections.html" style="text-decoration-line: none;">Click HERE to learn more about Annie</a></span></span><br />
<span id="docs-internal-guid-3660099c-7fff-3d48-1f1b-e9bfbaebcaac"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://sistersofcharityfederation.org/about-us/" style="text-decoration-line: none;">Click HERE to learn more about the SC Federation</a></span></span><br />
<span><br /></span>
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</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We are now half way through our Advent journey, this season
of hope and expectant waiting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
year, I have been particularly struck by the words we have been hearing from the
prophet Isaiah and how these words speak of finding life in unexpected
places.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A new bud, full of life, sprouting
from an old, dead stump (Isaiah 11:1).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A
parched desert wasteland blooming forth with abundant flowers (Isaiah 35:1-2).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What beautiful imagery for this season of
hope. A reminder that God can bring forth life from even the most desolate
situations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We see this also in the life
of Jesus: born to a couple in poverty and raised in the backwater down of
Nazareth; in his ministry, intentionally seeking out and raising up those who
were rejected by society; and ending on the cross, where eternal life was
found in the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">most</i> unexpected of
places – through death.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I can think of situations in my own life and ministry where
life came from unexpected places.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]-->I volunteer with the Ignatian Spirituality
Project, a program which offers retreats and spiritual reflection for women and
men in recovery from addiction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For some
of these women, they say that going to prison was the best thing that ever
happened to them, because it was in that moment of total desolation that they
turned to God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->My parish community is largely Guatemalan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When they first arrived at the parish, they
were not even allowed in the church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>With time and change, they have been welcomed with open arms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now, baptisms of little Latino babies are a
frequent occurrence at our Sunday liturgies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Those who were once shut out are now the flourishing life of the parish.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->When I was in my mid-twenties and about to begin
my career, I was surprised by an invitation to consider religious life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I never could have imaged the abundant life I
would discover in the vows of obedience, poverty and celibacy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">During this season of Advent, we are invited not only to
wait, but to wait with attentiveness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>May our eyes be opened to the places where God is bringing forth life in
unexpected places.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><o:p></o:p></div>
<span></span>Future of Charityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15504007893673355335noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8745689372214847173.post-2451878756492520452019-11-19T16:46:00.000-08:002019-11-19T16:46:50.252-08:00Cleaning out Clogged Drains<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">By <b>Sr. Judy Donohue</b>, SC Federation Temporary Professed</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> <a href="http://sistersofcharityfederation.org/about-us/" style="text-decoration-line: none; white-space: pre-wrap;">Click HERE to learn more about the SC Federation</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #1155cc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> <a href="http://futureofcharity.blogspot.com/p/judydonohue-httpfutureofcharity.html" style="text-decoration-line: none;">Click HERE to learn more about Judy</a></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #1155cc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0f-CwDTI_ygSbGPVCWsb4oGLbK72VXcMJI326yKrhyphenhyphenSSEjERKr0xyGPpTrGnpfe0yTv-9JB2G78OOlUaojN-E293a7K1as1X2qJB_4Z-KsnVDu5LBz5D2oTCvv5L3hMeIfRmIGwHKx9Y/s1600/IMG_1055.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0f-CwDTI_ygSbGPVCWsb4oGLbK72VXcMJI326yKrhyphenhyphenSSEjERKr0xyGPpTrGnpfe0yTv-9JB2G78OOlUaojN-E293a7K1as1X2qJB_4Z-KsnVDu5LBz5D2oTCvv5L3hMeIfRmIGwHKx9Y/s320/IMG_1055.jpg" width="240" /></a>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In early November, I noticed our garage gutters were clogged and not draining properly. I got a ladder, and pulled the bulk of the leaves out in one swipe. Immediately a gush of water plummeted down the pipe. It continued to drain for a while. Today, I thought what in me is clogged up, that is preventing the joy of the Spirit from flowing freely? Is it judgment, unforgiveness, pride, fear, expectations? </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">God, whatever is blocking me from a more joyful life in my vocation, ministry, relationships, set me free. Clean out of me the leaves of competition, comparing, resentment and let the light and sunshine of the Spirit flow freely through. </span>Letting the love of life, God and others flow ever greater is a gift worth seeking during this season of Thanksgiving. I’m grateful for God speaking to me through an act of service.</span><br />
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Future of Charityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15504007893673355335noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8745689372214847173.post-64694846276709758802019-11-12T18:28:00.002-08:002019-11-12T18:28:28.283-08:00Gathering in New Orleans<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC6bbBwOgAVmy_qQtM9ktsFadCDO9IiQGE_Ewg4sNMKcEjx_UkIXAdAG3EF7H7y39tT7b5T7RK5m5p-MwX1KX5DMewBIY2rYMK7UACqgzptDZs_zp1Md0nRxb8OyBM83wFRKfjtkuhA_Q/s1600/4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="947" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC6bbBwOgAVmy_qQtM9ktsFadCDO9IiQGE_Ewg4sNMKcEjx_UkIXAdAG3EF7H7y39tT7b5T7RK5m5p-MwX1KX5DMewBIY2rYMK7UACqgzptDZs_zp1Md0nRxb8OyBM83wFRKfjtkuhA_Q/s400/4.jpg" width="235" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">During the weekend of November 1-3, 2019, the Future of Charity met for a fun-filled, prayerful time together at the House of Charity in New Orleans, LA. Upon arrival, each person was welcomed with a hug. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We began with a prayer service honoring the Saints who have gone before us with an o<i>frenda</i>. We placed pictures of the Saints of our communities as well as family and friends upon the altar. We shared how they had touched our lives. Remembering the example of those who have gone before us, those who had been faithful to the call of God in Religious Life and in serve to the poor inspired many. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We did some planning of the FUTURE for the Future of Charity at our business meeting. We want to continue meeting and expand by inviting others to join in our group! </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The bonding and joyful times of laughter and conversations shared shows how loving one another is so life giving. We shared many delicious meals: a pizza made by Annie and Vicki, and on Sunday, PoBoy sandwiches at the PoBoy festival! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Whitneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17899564158979548377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8745689372214847173.post-50452525043638846452019-08-28T15:55:00.000-07:002019-08-28T15:55:00.606-07:00Sr. Whitney Schieltz, SC, Professes First Vows<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Congratulations to <a href="http://futureofcharity.blogspot.com/p/whitney-schieltzs-reflections.html">Sister Whitney Schieltz</a> who professed her first vows with the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati on August 24th! The celebration Mass focused on the themes of baptism and the call to gospel living. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdZanDCCskcW6VJ7TceXMrfrBcZ7MKkdz_D9DEkXD3zs_YAU_ixq2PgjY_MkG2aYhe9-ZvIhuQw2udw_WW8gq_6HxfyTZrjX6v7e7p0_VRZGYMYzjq_AXJDUldk3OKhKCOZZAtvUtiti0/s1600/procession.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdZanDCCskcW6VJ7TceXMrfrBcZ7MKkdz_D9DEkXD3zs_YAU_ixq2PgjY_MkG2aYhe9-ZvIhuQw2udw_WW8gq_6HxfyTZrjX6v7e7p0_VRZGYMYzjq_AXJDUldk3OKhKCOZZAtvUtiti0/s400/procession.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Whitney processed in carrying her original baptismal candle that her parents had saved from 1988, and her program cover featured an original design depicting the Jordan River.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhERdJUNXXXMWCBWvHCXiK86BGQd90sqKTqhJkFq-Uq4MN9txdksFcdFOKWNrqDW0gjjofUGyBGzTYponNbJuc0YGAVoKaw_YMMIgrYOmraKpaMh1Iv5Zaz186BFOD_Y_-0OAlB0o3uCmA/s1600/Jordan+River.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1143" data-original-width="1600" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhERdJUNXXXMWCBWvHCXiK86BGQd90sqKTqhJkFq-Uq4MN9txdksFcdFOKWNrqDW0gjjofUGyBGzTYponNbJuc0YGAVoKaw_YMMIgrYOmraKpaMh1Iv5Zaz186BFOD_Y_-0OAlB0o3uCmA/s400/Jordan+River.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was a beautiful celebration with her community, family, and friends! </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Please continue to hold Whitney, and all the members of Future of Charity, in prayer as we continue in our initial and ongoing formation in the Sisters of Charity Federation.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlC-wqVuAgWS6EuUchR8DIziK_qYIFC4BqP1QxEarWmNjOgqdfPZtzWNPp85uL6BGw_RmZDVZqj_azTCAH0vwKotoSsd3457fMbk1sFtgwEbQ4CcobG8FMa9FPRbDz5ZZRn6EQeXtwk2E/s1600/with+Bayley+House.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlC-wqVuAgWS6EuUchR8DIziK_qYIFC4BqP1QxEarWmNjOgqdfPZtzWNPp85uL6BGw_RmZDVZqj_azTCAH0vwKotoSsd3457fMbk1sFtgwEbQ4CcobG8FMa9FPRbDz5ZZRn6EQeXtwk2E/s400/with+Bayley+House.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The Cincinnati Novitiate House community with the five sisters they've accompanied.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRthdUYChRHUlVRJA3PisjUNQYhMn5FJ3lijVY23aagnW_bvOyvo4Exgx4fz1m_7gjDBRsKjVzvTQtUO3VjSBTgVonOPQtZ-1W5iYfzX5A_d2xPQLDPpfT24fjwYFVTrgVxq2ZIbs-280/s1600/young+nuns.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRthdUYChRHUlVRJA3PisjUNQYhMn5FJ3lijVY23aagnW_bvOyvo4Exgx4fz1m_7gjDBRsKjVzvTQtUO3VjSBTgVonOPQtZ-1W5iYfzX5A_d2xPQLDPpfT24fjwYFVTrgVxq2ZIbs-280/s400/young+nuns.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Other young sisters from within and beyond the archdiocese celebrated with Whitney.</span></td></tr>
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</style>Whitneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17899564158979548377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8745689372214847173.post-12476472875706973432019-08-14T15:14:00.002-07:002019-08-14T20:17:24.232-07:00Lord, Teach Us to Pray<div style="border-image: none;">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">By Sr. Kara Davis, Daughter of Charity Under 10 Years Vocation</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Click </span><a href="http://futureofcharity.blogspot.com/p/kara-daviss-reflections.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #cc6611; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">HERE</span></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> to learn more about Sr. Kara<br /> Click </span><a href="https://daughtersofcharity.org/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #cc6611; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">HERE</span></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> to learn more about the Daughters of Charity<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><br /></span></span></span><br />
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<a class="irc_mutl i3597" data-cthref="/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwjIm5XmsoPkAhWtna0KHQMFDZ0QjRx6BAgBEAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fhohatl%2Fphotos%2Fwe-are-covering-dayton-oh-in-prayer-after-another-mass-shooting-family-please-pr%2F10162051470490285%2F&psig=AOvVaw3ZNygXc7ghlspAVYF0kBnc&ust=1565907642346858" data-noload="" data-ved="2ahUKEwjIm5XmsoPkAhWtna0KHQMFDZ0QjRx6BAgBEAQ" href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwjIm5XmsoPkAhWtna0KHQMFDZ0QjRx6BAgBEAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fhohatl%2Fphotos%2Fwe-are-covering-dayton-oh-in-prayer-after-another-mass-shooting-family-please-pr%2F10162051470490285%2F&psig=AOvVaw3ZNygXc7ghlspAVYF0kBnc&ust=1565907642346858" jsaction="mousedown:irc.rl;focus:irc.rl" rel="noopener" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; top: 0px;" tabindex="0" target="_blank"></a><a class="irc_mutl i3597" data-cthref="/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwjIm5XmsoPkAhWtna0KHQMFDZ0QjRx6BAgBEAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fhohatl%2Fphotos%2Fwe-are-covering-dayton-oh-in-prayer-after-another-mass-shooting-family-please-pr%2F10162051470490285%2F&psig=AOvVaw3ZNygXc7ghlspAVYF0kBnc&ust=1565907642346858" data-noload="" data-ved="2ahUKEwjIm5XmsoPkAhWtna0KHQMFDZ0QjRx6BAgBEAQ" href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwjIm5XmsoPkAhWtna0KHQMFDZ0QjRx6BAgBEAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fhohatl%2Fphotos%2Fwe-are-covering-dayton-oh-in-prayer-after-another-mass-shooting-family-please-pr%2F10162051470490285%2F&psig=AOvVaw3ZNygXc7ghlspAVYF0kBnc&ust=1565907642346858" jsaction="mousedown:irc.rl;focus:irc.rl" rel="noopener" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; top: 0px;" tabindex="0" target="_blank"></a><a class="irc_mutl i3597" data-cthref="/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwjIm5XmsoPkAhWtna0KHQMFDZ0QjRx6BAgBEAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fhohatl%2Fphotos%2Fwe-are-covering-dayton-oh-in-prayer-after-another-mass-shooting-family-please-pr%2F10162051470490285%2F&psig=AOvVaw3ZNygXc7ghlspAVYF0kBnc&ust=1565907642346858" data-noload="" data-ved="2ahUKEwjIm5XmsoPkAhWtna0KHQMFDZ0QjRx6BAgBEAQ" href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwjIm5XmsoPkAhWtna0KHQMFDZ0QjRx6BAgBEAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fhohatl%2Fphotos%2Fwe-are-covering-dayton-oh-in-prayer-after-another-mass-shooting-family-please-pr%2F10162051470490285%2F&psig=AOvVaw3ZNygXc7ghlspAVYF0kBnc&ust=1565907642346858" jsaction="mousedown:irc.rl;focus:irc.rl" rel="noopener" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; top: 0px;" tabindex="0" target="_blank"></a><span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">It so happened that while Jesus was praying
in a certain place, after He had finished, one of His disciples said to Him,
“Lord, teach us to pray just as John also taught his disciples.”</i></b> (Luke
11:1)</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">More shootings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>More acts of
violence rooted in hate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We respond, “Enough
is enough! Pass me that petition!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will
write yet another letter to my representatives.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We show up to vigils, to protests, uniting
with our brothers and sisters with one voice:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Enough is enough!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We write posts
on social media.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our Facebook news feed
is flooded with messages of solitary and thoughts and prayers for various
communities struck with the most recent devastation of violence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We will not stop uniting our voices, reaching
out in solidarity, or taking action in various ways.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">And we
most definitely will not stop praying.</i><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">In all of this, I find myself turning to God, but lost for words. I ponder, <i>What is my prayer</i>? Then I echo the disciple's words to Jesus pleading, "Lord, teach us to pray."</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When our hearts are broken and we can’t
find the words,</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Lord
teach us to pray.</span></b><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When noise overpowers the stillness of
silence,</span><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Lord
teach us to pray.</span></b></span></span></span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">When destruction is rampant and peace can’t
be found,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Lord teach us to pray.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">When lies and confusion distort the truth,</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Lord
teach us to pray.</span></b><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When the darkness of sin casts a shadow
on the goodness of humanity,</span><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Lord
teach us to pray.<span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span></span></b><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span></span></span></b>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When despair blinds our eyes of faith,</span><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Lord
teach us to pray.</span></b><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<span style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When doubt darkens our flame of hope,</span><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Lord
teach us to pray.</span></b><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When hate hardens our hearts made for
love,</span><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Lord
teach us to pray.</span></b><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><strong>Teach
us to pray </strong>with words,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">with silence,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">with action,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">with pondering.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Teach
us to pray</b> with fri<span style="font-family: "calibri";">ends,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">with strangers,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">with adversaries,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">with advocates.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"></b>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Teach
us to pray</b> with the witness of our lives,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">with the choices we make,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">with the places we show up,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">with the people we meet.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><strong>Lord
teach us to pray </strong><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">with the events of our day,</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">as we discern your way:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">a response of love,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">an act of justice,</span></div>
</div>
<div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">all rooted deeply in a life of prayer.</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Lord
teach us to pray</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">.</span></span></b><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="about:invalid#zClosurez" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Image result for pray for dayton" border="0" height="179" 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Future of Charityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15504007893673355335noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8745689372214847173.post-29172803921795201632019-07-16T12:07:00.002-07:002019-07-16T12:07:46.744-07:00Rest, Relax, and be Renewed.<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">By <b>Sr. Judy Donohue</b>, SC Federation Temporary Professed</span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://futureofcharity.blogspot.com/p/judydonohue-httpfutureofcharity.html" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration-line: none; white-space: pre-wrap;">Click HERE to learn more about Judy</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://sistersofcharityfederation.org/about-us/" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration-line: none; white-space: pre-wrap;">Click HERE to learn more about the SC Federation</a><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One of my jobs at the Forest Springs Health Campus is to water the plants in the Physical Therapy Courtyard. I came to work Monday morning after a particularly hot and humid weekend, the heat had gotten the best of the flowering baskets. They looked completely dehydrated with little hope for revival. The leaves were crinkled, the flowers were dried up, and I thought my boss was going to yell at me for letting them go. I decided to go ahead and water them anyway. The next day they looked fabulous, they looked like new. WOW! The leaves filled out, the flowers came back to life. Like the flowers, my spirit sometimes gets dehydrated and I need the Living Water to bring me back to life. Taking a break refreshes my Spirit. In June, I had the privilege of attending a retreat at Milford’s Jesuit Retreat Spiritual Center. I met daily with a Spiritual Director, walked the grounds, read my books, met the other 13 retreatants, drew Mandalas, attended Mass, prayed the Labyrinth, went to Reconciliation and enjoyed eating in silence at meals with the others. I put no pressure on myself to get things done. What freedom in just being. How freeing it is to enjoy the day in living in the now.</span><br />
<br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg30sPOpW6SHzyszANxsa7ZS87rZGLFFjP1FyyhHsvlFakmh2j-26D__aAATWli3qEZPHWNuZNXUwGTS0ZNbUM7kceRHWJKo7SUrjpS_VDVy3jOApwjjZGsmUpLD5vPK6ZsO57YdGmXR-k/s1600/flowers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1059" data-original-width="1600" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg30sPOpW6SHzyszANxsa7ZS87rZGLFFjP1FyyhHsvlFakmh2j-26D__aAATWli3qEZPHWNuZNXUwGTS0ZNbUM7kceRHWJKo7SUrjpS_VDVy3jOApwjjZGsmUpLD5vPK6ZsO57YdGmXR-k/s400/flowers.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flowering basket before and after watering</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I also had the privilege of going to Camp Maria during our Sisters of Charity of Nazareth and Associates Vacation Week, July 2-10. I am awed at how much better I feel for taking a break. Being in the quiet has enlightened me to slow down. Retreat has challenged me to see the societal pressure to be busy is not the best way to live or be in relationship.<br /> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Being counter cultural is so much a strength in my understanding of Religious Life: To be a witness in a simple lifestyle when others are continually collecting things, to take a break when others are on the fast track, to stop and help others when it is an inconvenience. Personally to go slow is not my normal mode of operation. I want to move. Yet, it is in resting that I am restored.<br /> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thank God for the Call to the annual retreat and the opportunity to take a vacation. Let us take time this summer to rest in God, have fun and be Re-vitalized to carry Jesus’ love to those in our ministries and communities. Having this time of renewal has prepared me for my Renewal of Vows on July 19. Thanks for your prayers and support as I continue on this journey to explore and live God’s love with others in helping the poor.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span>Whitneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17899564158979548377noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8745689372214847173.post-23262525973718640202019-07-08T07:23:00.000-07:002019-07-08T07:23:04.826-07:00Freedom for Who?<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">By </span><b style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Sr. Meg Kymes</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">, SC Federation Under 10 Years Vocation</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> <a href="http://futureofcharity.blogspot.com/p/meg-kymess-reflections.html" style="text-decoration-line: none; white-space: pre-wrap;">Click HERE to learn more about Meg</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> <a href="http://sistersofcharityfederation.org/about-us/" style="text-decoration-line: none; white-space: pre-wrap;">Click HERE to learn more about the SC Federation</a></span><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDLXniyYFoOpg7oYxtND9Nqw76Amya42hl3DnbKeODadBT2HDXEufiuIi59jcuaaIGPmpO0IvB_6kBuX2ZELWgGIyQC9rZlKEYyqvesMYtTZR_PIA8UnbA6KGd1Of80i0nu0Y_RWracx8/s1600/Hamilton_Star.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="310" data-original-width="540" height="114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDLXniyYFoOpg7oYxtND9Nqw76Amya42hl3DnbKeODadBT2HDXEufiuIi59jcuaaIGPmpO0IvB_6kBuX2ZELWgGIyQC9rZlKEYyqvesMYtTZR_PIA8UnbA6KGd1Of80i0nu0Y_RWracx8/s200/Hamilton_Star.png" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As we celebrated Independence Day on the fourth of July (and perhaps
into this weekend), I reflected on one of the key concepts of our country’s
founding, freedom.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In the musical,
Hamilton, the song, “My Shot” states this idea well, Hamilton sings, “A colony
that runs independently/Meanwhile, Britain keeps s****** on us endlessly/Essentially,
they tax us relentlessly/Then King George turns around, runs a spending spree/He
ain’t ever gonna set his descendants free/So there will be a revolution in this
century”</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Then Mulligan sings, “Yo, I’m a
tailor’s apprentice/And I got y’all knuckleheads in loco parentis/I’m joining
the rebellion cuz I know it’s my chance/To socially advance, instead of sewin’
some pants!” Laurens concludes, “But we’ll never be truly free/Until those in
bondage have the same rights as you and me/You and I. Do or die. Wait till I
sally in/On a stallion with the first black battalion.”</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">All of these ideals and struggles amid many
others contributed to the battle that led to this great country’s birth.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIMY3uxt3h9hx6UH4pVaREE7i12h7P108YdXYboPjgtSfB6DbJYi_a1Wxcx5vGyhIuQGeY8YjCMHYWi-5X-60wgJOV32Hy_NlSlbWEuicqI6nYM7VHOMbjpFqYaK-q8SUTqMEe8hDd9Oo/s1600/4263457299_d973374b2e_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="806" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIMY3uxt3h9hx6UH4pVaREE7i12h7P108YdXYboPjgtSfB6DbJYi_a1Wxcx5vGyhIuQGeY8YjCMHYWi-5X-60wgJOV32Hy_NlSlbWEuicqI6nYM7VHOMbjpFqYaK-q8SUTqMEe8hDd9Oo/s200/4263457299_d973374b2e_b.jpg" width="156" /></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In St. Peter’s first letter he states, “For the Lord’s sake accept the
authority of every human institution, whether of the emperor as supreme, or of
governors, as sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who
do right. For it is God’s will that by doing right you should silence the
ignorance of the foolish. As servants of God, live as free people, yet do not
use your freedom as a pretext for evil. Honor everyone. Love the family of
believers. Fear God. Honor the emperor.”</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">(1 Peter 2:13-17) Today, for too many people in this country freedom is
a faraway dream.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Children at our borders
are living in squalor and bondage seeking safety and freedom; women, men and
children are bought and sold for sex and servitude caught in the web of human
trafficking; others are stuck in their own personal prison of addiction,
homelessness and/or mental illness.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The
words St. Peter are just as valid today as they were to the early church.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">During this fourth of July weekend and every
day we should speak truth to power, but still respect those in authority over
us in government.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Challenge the
foolishness we see through speaking up and do our duty as citizens of this
nation by voting.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Most of all we should
show our love for our brothers and sisters in need by praying and working for
their freedom.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH7GxOjbX_BzRPgyUkDz35uuOpiBoqShxAzsk7tin4tom2e5iEUB3KmlsvSRthl-SVLC-nbHoDZp6RsgLGXo1pfPY18fG5Zp9bVufR1NnTxRjA6-p5YQqlN9RW1qN09eRVxttOAXGkXiM/s1600/american-independence-day-backdrop-1529646171Hgy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH7GxOjbX_BzRPgyUkDz35uuOpiBoqShxAzsk7tin4tom2e5iEUB3KmlsvSRthl-SVLC-nbHoDZp6RsgLGXo1pfPY18fG5Zp9bVufR1NnTxRjA6-p5YQqlN9RW1qN09eRVxttOAXGkXiM/s320/american-independence-day-backdrop-1529646171Hgy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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</style>Whitneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17899564158979548377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8745689372214847173.post-76751620993959834782019-06-18T18:58:00.000-07:002019-06-18T18:58:47.421-07:00Dreaming with Our Hearts Wide Open<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">By Sister Annie Klapheke, SC </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">SC Federation Temporary Professed</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
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<span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://futureofcharity.blogspot.com/p/anne-klaphekes-reflections.html">Click HERE to learn more about Annie</a></span></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://sistersofcharityfederation.org/about-us/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; white-space: pre-wrap;">Click HERE to learn more about the SC Federation</span></span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">“And you know you can’t go back again, </span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">to the world that you were living in,</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">‘cause you’re dreaming with your eyes wide open. </span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">S</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">o, come alive!”</span></i></div>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">“Come Alive”, from <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Greatest Showman</i></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">words by Justin Paul and Benj Pasek</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2CfZMlGBslodLKNYyOl5reUQ7DcETnhMBfKm0xwEy4y8YSt8i2eANJiwV2XrGu-g8FfACC87Y51TQtUNmpeWWe0kw6iLet_1zn8VZwYDKulLxq7Bn11Hc3A8a7MJ376yTn6pzK0k7gu3k/s1600/assembly+of+the+whole.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="960" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2CfZMlGBslodLKNYyOl5reUQ7DcETnhMBfKm0xwEy4y8YSt8i2eANJiwV2XrGu-g8FfACC87Y51TQtUNmpeWWe0kw6iLet_1zn8VZwYDKulLxq7Bn11Hc3A8a7MJ376yTn6pzK0k7gu3k/s400/assembly+of+the+whole.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Future of Charity members gather at the Assembly of the Whole </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Sister
Tracy and I pulled out of the Crowne Plaza Hotel parking lot in Chicago, making
our way back home to Cincinnati.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For the
first couple hours of the ride, we recounted favorite moments and memories of
the first ever Sisters of Charity Federation Assembly of the Whole.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After a couple hours of sharing, we put on
some tunes and sang along to the soundtrack of the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Greatest Showman </i>for the remainder of our ride.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I listened to the above lyrics of the song
“Come Alive”, I felt like it was an appropriate description of how many of us
felt leaving the Assembly of the Whole.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From
June 13-16, over 500 Sisters of Charity, Daughters of Charity, Charity
Associates and collaborators gathered together in Chicago; while hundreds more
joined us via livestream and in our hearts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Together we prayed, listened, shared deeply, dreamed, danced, sang,
cried and laughed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We each returned to
our home congregations, but in a new and transformed way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After experiencing a richer taste of our
Federation, we cannot go back to living the way we were before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We spent four days together as a Federation
dreaming, not only with our eyes wide open, but I would add with our hearts
wide open.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hearts open to each other and
open to the new possibilities of the Charity charism in our world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Two
insights stay with me from the Assembly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>First, our attentiveness to the ever-unfolding Charity story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In her keynote address, Sister Peggy O’Neill
stated, “God is evolving.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God is
becoming and God becomes what God loves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We too, individually and communally, are evolving, we become what we
love.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>None of us has a clear view of what
lies ahead, but what I heard over and over again this past weekend is that we
are ready for this moment of change.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This sentiment is well-expressed by our founder St. Vincent de Paul in a
quote used during our opening ceremony, “And that, my Daughters, was the
beginning of your Company; as it was not then what it is now, there is reason
to think that it is not now yet what it will be later on…”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Charity is evolving.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The second
insight that stays with me is our commitment to stay at the table.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It can feel so hopeful and optimistic as we
set out on this new part of our journey together as a Federation, and at the
same time none of us are naïve to the hardships and conflict that will
come.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some of the panelists at the Assembly
concretely named some of the things we will have to confront within ourselves: unconscious
biases, white privilege, inter-cultural and inter-generational tensions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I even experienced moments of conflict and
discomfort during the Assembly when some of our differences surfaced.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But through it all, I felt a sense of
commitment of the whole to stay at the table with one another.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Why stay?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Because the world and the Church
need the Charity charism, and we have been bequeathed with this heritage of
love to carry forward.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The world needs
us now, just as it needed Vincent de Paul and Louise de Marillac to open the doors
for vowed women to directly minister to those in poverty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And we are as much needed now as when the
Catholic Church in the United States was in its infancy and Elizabeth Seton infused
the boldness of Charity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And the same can
be said for all the places where our charism has spread: Korea, India, Botswana,
Belize, Ecuador, Peru and beyond.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now,
we are dreaming with our hearts wide open, the next chapter of our Charity
story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And we should never dream alone
what we can dream better together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><o:p></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b></b></span>Future of Charityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15504007893673355335noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8745689372214847173.post-33580144667738622862019-06-05T05:59:00.000-07:002019-06-05T18:37:43.518-07:00She Went Into The Desert To Pray... <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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By S. Romina Sapinoso, S.C.<br />
SC Federation Temporary Professed<br />
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<a href="http://futureofcharity.blogspot.com/p/romina-sapinosos-reflections.html">Click HERE to learn more about Romina</a><br />
<a href="http://sistersofcharityfederation.org/about-us/">Click HERE to learn more about the SC Federation</a><br />
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A retreat blog in pictures...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMhmupj__LylMKFx5tudPtLQG2WlTgAoJ0T2MyH-62mvDyz4HEWqViA5KKDkgkY_PirL7gtVSLF_wCVVPhF-sHTe705eVG5G5dsp1xJpJ0fBvbb_sBmxg4NvOUFbuTWKxPFz3e5TK4vdxp/s1600/Screen+Shot+2019-06-04+at+7.15.55+PM.png"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMhmupj__LylMKFx5tudPtLQG2WlTgAoJ0T2MyH-62mvDyz4HEWqViA5KKDkgkY_PirL7gtVSLF_wCVVPhF-sHTe705eVG5G5dsp1xJpJ0fBvbb_sBmxg4NvOUFbuTWKxPFz3e5TK4vdxp/s640/Screen+Shot+2019-06-04+at+7.15.55+PM.png" /></a><br />
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Before leaving for retreat (June 3-11) I was cleaning out my inbox and found this email sent 11 years ago by Janet Gildea, S.C., dear mentor, sister and friend who passed away last April 4th. I am grateful for Janet's reminder and am carrying this to be the theme of my retreat this year.<br />
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"In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went to a deserted place, and there he prayed." Mark 1: 35<br />
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"If you love to listen, you will gain knowledge and, if you pay attention, you will become wise." Sirach 6:33</div>
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"When you lose touch with inner stillness, you lose touch with yourself. When you lose touch with yourself, you lose yourself in the world." - Eckhart Tolle</div>
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"Look at a tree, a flower, a plant. Let your awareness rest upon it, How still they are, how deeply rooted in Being. Allow nature to teach you stillness." - Eckhart Tolle</div>
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"Listen to silence. It has so much to say." - Rumi</div>
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"Saints ripen in the silence." - Gregory Bernanos</div>
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Pray for me as I pray for you. - Romina</div>
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Future of Charityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15504007893673355335noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8745689372214847173.post-55093963944982243252019-05-26T11:23:00.000-07:002019-05-26T11:24:49.884-07:00Super Powers, AKA Fruits of the Holy Spirit<div class="MsoNormal">
By Sr. Andrea Koverman, SCC, First Professed</div>
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<a href="http://futureofcharity.blogspot.com/p/andrea-kovermans-reflections.html" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Click HERE to learn more about Andrea</span></a></div>
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<a href="http://sistersofcharityfederation.org/about-us/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Click HERE to learn more about the SC Federation</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In December 2018, I relocated to join our local community in
Anthony, NM. My primary new ministry is helping to develop the educational
programming for the Proyecto Santo Niño Clinic in
Anapra, Mexico, established by three of my Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati in
2006. This puts me in direct contact with the children with special needs, their
siblings and mothers who come to the center, and is one significant way my call
to direct service is being fulfilled.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Prior to this ministry, I ministered as a program manager at
the <a href="http://ijpccincinnati.org/">Intercommunity Justice & Peace
Center</a> in Cincinnati, Ohio where the majority of my work involved indirect service as we
addressed systemic injustices. While I wholeheartedly believe in the value and
the necessity of challenging our institutionalized systems (IJPC motto: Challenge,
Advocate, Transform!) I came to the realization that I also need personal
interaction with those suffering the mariginalization and injustice that we challenge. Direct service
grounds me and reminds me that there is to be no “us and them;” that we are all
God’s children and form one family. It’s very easy to become detached from the
people suffering the very injustices being challenged even when advocating for them,
but I believe God calls us to keep it personal, to not only to stand up <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">for</i> people but <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">with</i> people. The commandment to love our neighbor calls us to
relationship, and I think God expects us to be able to name names when we’re
asked if we fed the hungry, clothed the naked, and visited the imprisoned. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Direct service fulfills an essential Christian duty, but the
grace of it is that in doing so God provides for us a constant source of
spiritual growth and a deepening awareness of right relationship. Here is an
example of a recent insight I had and the teacher who brought it to me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkijS84KyJ8Bh0oDP4UxC-TqT-6QnRclb2ZZYAi4D6Gm-pF0uyTn5yyR2pKTaO7-5TXs6x-L4D1EL-lohijAmCp4NlyPSFScXkj0pPtHbIA4XphXsNvlKxs8K9XpmNT98SXXVqkTrnyI-o/s1600/Mirka+and+Her+Mother.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkijS84KyJ8Bh0oDP4UxC-TqT-6QnRclb2ZZYAi4D6Gm-pF0uyTn5yyR2pKTaO7-5TXs6x-L4D1EL-lohijAmCp4NlyPSFScXkj0pPtHbIA4XphXsNvlKxs8K9XpmNT98SXXVqkTrnyI-o/s320/Mirka+and+Her+Mother.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mirka and her mother at Proyecto Santo Niño</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">One recent Tuesday morning, I was greeted by Mirka as I
arrived at Santo Niño. She is a ten-year-old bundle of enthusiasm and joy
despite the fact that she has spina bifida and must rely on her wheelchair to
get around. She loves to practice the English she has learned and shouted out,
“Andrea! Hello! How are you?” as she rolled up to me with the infectious grin
that so often lights up her face. I greeted her back, but didn’t say my usual,
“Estoy feliz te veo,” which is part of my limited (but growing) Spanish
repertoire. Instead, I asked her how her weekend was. “Great!” she responded.
“My neice (who is six) and I discovered that we have super powers!” </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I said,
“Really? You do? What’s yours?” </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">She responded, “I can read minds!” “Wow! Then
tell me what I am thinking,” I said. At this, Myrka cocked her head and gave me
a long intense look before exclaiming, “You are thinking that you are very
happy to see me!” After an eruption of giggles from both of us, I said,
“You are so right, Mirka, that is exactly what I was thinking! You are
amazing!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This simple but joyful exchange stayed with me and lifted my
spirit for days. Though I’m not so sure about her ability to mind read, I am
absolutely sure that she and the other members of the Santo Niño community do
have super powers, in fact, we all do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Better known as gifts or <a href="https://www.loyolapress.com/our-catholic-faith/scripture-and-tradition/catholic-basics/catholic-beliefs-and-practices/fruits-of-the-holy-spirit">Fruits
of the Holy Spirit</a>, they are the observable result of being open to God’s
redeeming and transforming love. There are others, but the twelve traditional
“fruits” are: charity, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, generosity,
gentleness, faithfulness, modesty, self-control, and chastity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As are all gifts, these are meant to be
shared. They are what allow us to embody and spread God’s love as we encounter
one another. Mirka does an excellent job at this!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I further reflected on how monumentally impactful it can be
when one does fully actualize their gifts - when they put their super powers to
work for the good of another. As all in the Sisters of Charity Federation and
many more beyond are aware, we recently lost Sr. Janet Gildea after a miraculously
long survival streak with ovarian cancer. If you aren’t familiar with her and
would like an exemplary model of a fruitful spirit, I invite you to read <a href="http://futureofcharity.blogspot.com/">Sr. Tracy’s</a> last blog or this
tribute to her published in the <a href="https://www.globalsistersreport.org/column/ministry-spirituality/remembering-sr-janet-gildea-56088">Global
Sisters Report</a>. Janet’s ability to see God at work in me and to bring my
attention to it changed my life and how I want to spend it. She helped me
recognize how precious and beloved we each are and rather than being
discouraged and dejected about weaknesses and growing edges, to see them as
paths to personal transformation and conversion. As annoying and challenging as
they can be, these crosses we carry are often the blessings in disguise that
keep us turning to God for help. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I invite you to consider how the Spirit is made most evident
in you, and perhaps what other fruits you may want to cultivate. Here is a prayer
that you may find helpful. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxDo3yDrmN-aM4piAsyCvh_L1jKW-SBz383UZJLDdIr-fbNmP6Wwz5LtoiUvKQVQThr92V5CNoPwHp6uQEYW77Y-h_HXok2w5YZNI7D_aCdRNvvuTGwPdogfN4TV5grHf2YVjYiV_EhqfD/s1600/Carrying+a+Cross.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="719" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxDo3yDrmN-aM4piAsyCvh_L1jKW-SBz383UZJLDdIr-fbNmP6Wwz5LtoiUvKQVQThr92V5CNoPwHp6uQEYW77Y-h_HXok2w5YZNI7D_aCdRNvvuTGwPdogfN4TV5grHf2YVjYiV_EhqfD/s320/Carrying+a+Cross.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sr. Janet at the SOA Encuentro at the Border</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Prayer for Transformation<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Lord,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Here I am.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I trust that you have an incredible plan for me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Transform me. Transform my life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Everything is on the table. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Take what you want and give what you want to give.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I make myself 100 percent available to you today.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Transform me into the person you created me to be,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So I can live the life you envisioned for me at the
beginning of time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I hold nothing back.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I am 100 percent available.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Lead me, challenge me, encourage me, and open my eyes to all
your possibilities.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Show me what you want me to do, and I will do it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Amen<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Future of Charityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15504007893673355335noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8745689372214847173.post-92112977525735462632019-04-24T08:29:00.001-07:002019-04-24T16:58:16.239-07:00Easter Hope: Singing Alleluia with Janet<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">By <b>Sr. Tracy Kemme</b>, SC Federation Temporary Professed</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> <a href="http://futureofcharity.blogspot.com/p/tracy-kemmes-reflections.html" style="color: blue; text-decoration-line: none; white-space: pre-wrap;">Click HERE to learn more about Tracy</a></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: blue; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> <a href="http://sistersofcharityfederation.org/about-us/" style="text-decoration-line: none;">Click HERE to learn more about the SC Federation</a></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSGo1tJwqunauLefdwUfHPSYDWcYTyXcTQY9kfxDNAS2XIP-feMWIb3nn0xvjC4SqzStfdgejSlZWX5Qk0jGhlr_zjsJQKJLz9QRy7l7W6A7s1b0yGnQkbUrUyfB01ISNYpwDWo75XO6AB/s1600/Janet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="399" data-original-width="374" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSGo1tJwqunauLefdwUfHPSYDWcYTyXcTQY9kfxDNAS2XIP-feMWIb3nn0xvjC4SqzStfdgejSlZWX5Qk0jGhlr_zjsJQKJLz9QRy7l7W6A7s1b0yGnQkbUrUyfB01ISNYpwDWo75XO6AB/s320/Janet.jpg" width="299" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
I thought it might be harder to
sing the Easter “Alleluia” this year, since <a href="https://www.globalsistersreport.org/column/ministry-spirituality/remembering-sr-janet-gildea-56088">our
dear Sister Janet Gildea died on April fourth</a>. Instead, amid grappling with the
surrealness of Janet’s death, the power of Christ’s Resurrection
intensified. The Paschal Mystery became acutely real. Because He rose, Janet is
gone, but she isn’t. I felt her as sunlight bathed the Motherhouse altar on Easter morning. “Alleluia!” seemed to gush from deep within
me, tested but truer than ever. This is
the paradox of our faith: we hope always.
In life and death, Janet showed us how.<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
At
the outset of Advent 2018, Janet got word that her brain tumors were growing
back. Awaiting news about treatment
options, I experienced waves of terror and waves of trust. Some days, as much as I wanted to think
differently, I admitted silently that this relentless cancer could kill Janet. Despair engulfed me as I tried to imagine
life without her. Some days, I found
faith in my heart that nudged me to believe this didn’t have to be the
end. Miracles can happen. “Come on,
God,” I’d beg. “You can do anything.
Please, cure her!” I wrote in my
journal that I felt I was swinging between realism and hope. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
One Advent day as
I prayed quietly for Janet, an awareness broke over me like an epiphany. I’d been confused about hope, associating it
with only the positive outcome of Janet’s full recovery. Hope, I realized at that moment, does not
depend on results. Hope comes from
knowing who God is and what God has done for us. Hope is the sure, steady ground that anchors
us beneath fears and wishes. Hope is fully trusting God smack dab in the midst of reality, fraught with beauty,
horror, pain, possibility, and even the ordinary. I couldn’t choose hope or being realistic:
the two necessarily go together. Whether
Janet died or was cured, she was in God’s loving hands.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
Janet
knew that and embodied it. She endured her
third brain surgery in December and despite the circumstances kept living each
day with her characteristic zeal. When
in early 2019 she learned that her cancer had returned and treatment options
had waned, she wrote a blog entry called <a href="https://janetsc.wordpress.com/2019/03/08/coping-with-hope/">“Coping with
Hope.”</a> Surely she would have loved
to keep on living, as she did with gusto for eleven years since her first
cancer diagnosis. But she accepted what
came to her with wisdom, openness, and graceful surrender. Even in her suffering, she delighted in the
goodness of life, loved fiercely, and expressed sincere gratitude frequently as
she always had. She believed with all
her might in this Easter mystery we celebrate.
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWK7cGGKfTzOn10IMkd9RlDrt_EhYdODAcBbh2r_cxyis3rrerafKBaSjbequRqA1yHI2HcehdZ9Cgvh2999X-yRF1Bs-HjUa5n7fl0MY2h1x0VBEtrQnmq-rTP5K68AFjmEJGY-WojocC/s1600/Egg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1291" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWK7cGGKfTzOn10IMkd9RlDrt_EhYdODAcBbh2r_cxyis3rrerafKBaSjbequRqA1yHI2HcehdZ9Cgvh2999X-yRF1Bs-HjUa5n7fl0MY2h1x0VBEtrQnmq-rTP5K68AFjmEJGY-WojocC/s320/Egg.jpg" width="258" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
Janet showed us that hope isn’t vague optimism. It is a profound knowing that in our God,
love is stronger than evil, and life is stronger than death – no matter
what. Nor is hope a futuristic assurance that permits us to sit back, sights on the afterlife, and let the world go by. Hope calls for dynamic action. We await the full irruption of the
Kingdom when Christ comes again, and we simultaneously work to
make that Kingdom present here and now. All will be well, <a href="https://www.npr.org/2019/04/23/716337557/mass-funerals-begin-in-a-grieving-sri-lanka">but
it isn’t yet</a>. And so, we carry on Jesus' mission, radically committed to building a just world and lifting up the crucified people of our time. Easter people enter into suffering. We hope, yes, and we give ourselves to those
who have little reason to hope. Janet did that through precious years poured out in service, even until her last weeks of earthly life.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
Hope
does not depend on results. It depends
on our eternally faithful God with Whom Janet now lives.
I miss her already, and I haven’t even begun to process her monumental
impact on my life and the gaping hole left by her departure. The journey of grief will be
unpredictable. But I know she is with
us. I hear her whisper words of courage and care in my heart, and I feel her zeal
and love urging us toward hope. In this season, we again embrace the power of the Paschal Mystery. Jesus’ resurrection echoes throughout
history. Janet clung to that hope all
her days, and now she knows the Easter truth in fullness. I imagine her smiling radiantly, crying out
joyfully from the heavens with all the saints, and I can’t help but smile, too,
and join the chorus: “Alleluia!”<o:p></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>Whitneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17899564158979548377noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8745689372214847173.post-17052256257486649272019-04-10T06:46:00.003-07:002019-04-10T06:46:53.428-07:00Growing in Patience<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">By <b>Sr. Whitney Schieltz</b>, SC Federation Apostolic Novice</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> <a href="http://futureofcharity.blogspot.com/p/whitney-schieltzs-reflections.html" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Click HERE to learn more about Whitney</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> <a href="http://sistersofcharityfederation.org/about-us/">Click HERE to learn more about the SC Federation</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Now in the second half of my second year as a novice, I am currently discerning the next stage of formation: temporary vows. For the past few months I have been reading about, discussing, and writing reflection papers on the vows of consecrated celibacy, poverty, and obedience. While my understanding and appreciation of these three distinct yet related vows has definitely grown over time, I am still trying to define how they speak directly to me and how I am called to embody them in this time, place, culture, society.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Fortunately, many sisters have assured me that I do not have to--and most likely will not--have it all figured out by the time I am standing in front of the congregation making my first profession. In fact, it is normal and appropriate to constantly be growing into the vows and discovering ever new ways that they help me give witness to the reign of God. Of course, it takes time to grow into anything, and that takes patience. So I find it fitting that today’s Blessed Among Us is Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, whose prayer</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Patient Trust</i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">calls us to trust in the slow work of God.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Patient Trust</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Above all, trust in the slow work of God.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We are quite naturally impatient in everything</span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">to reach the end without delay.</span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We should like to skip the intermediate stages.</span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We are impatient of being on the way to something</span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">unknown, something new.</span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And yet it is the law of all progress</span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">that it is made by passing through</span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">some stages of instability—</span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">and that it may take a very long time.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And so I think it is with you;</span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">your ideas mature gradually—let them grow,</span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">let them shape themselves, without undue haste.</span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Don’t try to force them on,</span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">as though you could be today what time</span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">(that is to say, grace and circumstances</span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">acting on your own good will)</span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">will make of you tomorrow.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Only God could say what this new spirit</span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">gradually forming within you will be.</span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Give Our Lord the benefit of believing</span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">that his hand is leading you,</span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">and accept the anxiety of feeling yourself</span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">in suspense and incomplete.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, SJ</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
Whitneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17899564158979548377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8745689372214847173.post-58488126264537754812019-03-27T11:55:00.002-07:002019-03-27T14:13:06.182-07:00Living the "already" of mission and the "not yet" of vows<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">By Sr. Kara Davis, Daughter of Charity Under 10 Years Vocation</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Click <a href="http://futureofcharity.blogspot.com/p/kara-daviss-reflections.html">HERE</a> to learn more about Sr. Kara</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Click <a href="http://sistersofcharityfederation.org/about-us/">HERE</a> to learn more about the SC Federation</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I was registering for an
Archdiocesan Day of Reflection for Consecrated Life here in Chicago and
struggled to complete the form.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Name, congregation,
years of vocation… easy questions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then
there was a special section for those in initial formation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, that’s me!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were instructed to mark our stage of
formation from four choices listed:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>postulant,
novice, temporary professed, and perpetually professed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I immediately thought <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">well, none of the above</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is
there an option for a sister who’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">not</i>
a religious, who will <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">never</i> profess
temporary or perpetual vows?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Daughters of Charity are canonically
a </span><a href="https://famvin.org/wiki/Spirituality_of_Societies_of_Apostolic_Life"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Society
of Apostolic Life,</span></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> rather than a Religious Institute, and our structure and
terminology is a bit different than our Religious friends (including the
various congregations within the Sisters of Charity Federation).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This category of consecrated life first hit
the scene in the </span><a href="http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/_P2G.HTM"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1983
Code of Cannon Law</span></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, but we have been living out of our </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">particular
spirit</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> since our foundation in 1633.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>(</span><a href="https://spiritofthedaughtersofcharity.blogspot.com/search?q=vows"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Others</span></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
have written extensively on this topic, so be sure to click on the links if you
want to learn more.)</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A major distinction between
religious congregations and our particular identity as Daughters of Charity
that many folks get hung up on revolves around the vows.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our </span><a href="https://famvin.org/en/2016/04/01/renewal-vows-daughters-of-charity-explained/"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">vows</span></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
are “non-religious, annual, and always renewable” (Constitution 28a).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Folks seem puzzled at times when I explain to
them that I am a sister out on mission and haven’t made any vows.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m quick to clarity that I <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">live </i>the evangelical counsels (poverty,
chastity, and obedience) and am deeply committed to serving Christ in the Poor
(fourth vow of the Daughters of Charity), but I have not made any vows.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Daughters of Charity in initial formation
make vows for the first time between 5-7 years vocation, and then renew them
each year with all the sisters on the Feast of the Annunciation, a special day
in the community we call </span><a href="https://spiritofthedaughtersofcharity.blogspot.com/2019/03/feast-of-annunciation-vows-as-daughter.html"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Renovation</span></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To understand how a sister can be sent on
mission from the </span><a href="https://spiritofthedaughtersofcharity.blogspot.com/search?q=seminary"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Seminary</span></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
(similar to the novitiate) without any vows (typically religious congregations
profess temporary vows after the novitiate), it is important to clarify the
relationship between serving the mission and making vows, for us as Daughters
of Charity. </span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizAG943R269OduxdrtyqAvXQJjV6eyBUmvyI5yNPIOmvOHFp-C4mwHfn6n0jSwk7UTTJsaxStoMZ1xe_p84uHERg-BT7z43ZLqdj8ojLuGHydbEQZCoOzw2aVqlv1PeiopKu0lrX_9I-FC/s1600/Sr%252520Kara%252520Davis%252520entering%252520Seminary.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="616" data-original-width="621" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizAG943R269OduxdrtyqAvXQJjV6eyBUmvyI5yNPIOmvOHFp-C4mwHfn6n0jSwk7UTTJsaxStoMZ1xe_p84uHERg-BT7z43ZLqdj8ojLuGHydbEQZCoOzw2aVqlv1PeiopKu0lrX_9I-FC/s200/Sr%252520Kara%252520Davis%252520entering%252520Seminary.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Incorporation" (August 21, 2016)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="border-image: none; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In his article, “</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The
Vows According to the Specific Spirit of the Daughters of Charity</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">,” <a href="https://via.library.depaul.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?referer=&httpsredir=1&article=2900&context=vincentiana">Fr.Fernando Quintano, CM</a> explains, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“… vows
are not what make someone a Daughter of Charity; rather the nature and manner
of making them contribute to the identity of the Company and are a necessary
condition for remaining in it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
central point within religious consecration is the profession of the
evangelical counsels of chastity, poverty, and obedience by public vows, while
for the Daughters of Charity, the central point is mission, that is to say,
continuing the mission of Christ, Evangelizer and Servant, a mission expressed
through the corporal and spiritual service of poor persons.”</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(<u>Echoes of the Company</u><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">, </i>No. 4 July-Aug 2011, pg. 408)</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="border-image: none; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I have been a Daughter of Charity
since I was incorporated into the community and I have continued as a member of the community throughout
Seminary and now out on mission in Chicago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>My "Sending on Mission" was a significant moment on my
journey as a Daughter of Charity because I was sent forth to participate in the
mission of Christ, specifically sent to serve persons who are poor, which as
Fr. Quintano points out, is the central point of our lives: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>MISSION.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_3YPS-5Br8ug-Su-rwmzk5DcmV890xgO23lZe6QZ6CHRY9Oh9Q2uiTVNI-uWIT4qg6bPu0CJWCo9Qbi94Mqd7AYirCauIR3idqTmS0lVwSZ0COO5-msqFy-LlAxQcZMQNEpSVgIez81O6/s1600/37452461070_commerceproduct_7182_34_34.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_3YPS-5Br8ug-Su-rwmzk5DcmV890xgO23lZe6QZ6CHRY9Oh9Q2uiTVNI-uWIT4qg6bPu0CJWCo9Qbi94Mqd7AYirCauIR3idqTmS0lVwSZ0COO5-msqFy-LlAxQcZMQNEpSVgIez81O6/s320/37452461070_commerceproduct_7182_34_34.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Sending on Mission" (April 21, 2018)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></span></span></div>
<div style="border-image: none; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My day to day life doesn’t seem
too different than my sisters who have made vows.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We pray together, share community life
together, and serve alongside each other in various ministries.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet every March 25 there is something that distinctly
separates us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>During that quiet pause
after the homily during a Renovation mass, the sisters silently recite the vow
formula, making their vows to God for another year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is such a sacred moment to witness as a
sister under vows, as I feel the tension between the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">already </i>of mission life and the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">not
yet </i>of vows.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So, what does a sister under vows
do during Renovation?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I pray for my
sisters, those gathered at the present liturgy, and the 14,000 others scattered
across the globe saying “yes” under a variety of challenging circumstances.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Last year when I was in the Seminary, we
celebrated Renovation with our senior sisters missioned to the ministry of
prayer in St. Louis.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I accompanied one
sister during mass and was instructed to prompt her when it was time to renew
vows.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I held her hand, pointed to the vow
formula, and loudly whispered into her ear, “It’s time to make your vows.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She erupted into a broad smile and responded,
“uh-huh.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I pointed to the words of the
vow formula and watched her gaze travel across the page, with an occasional slight
nod of the head.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">In a few years, God-willing, I will make my own “uh-huh”
to God for the first time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But in the
meantime, I will continue to live in the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">already</i>
of mission life: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>strengthening my
identity as a Daughter of Charity, expanding my love for the Poor, broadening
my forms of service, investing myself in community life, and forever deepening
my relationship with God.</span></span></span></div>
</div>
Future of Charityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15504007893673355335noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8745689372214847173.post-64430389865374494842019-03-12T17:27:00.003-07:002019-03-13T06:47:34.966-07:00Leaning into Lent and others<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">By <b>Sr. Carlette Gentle</b>, SC Federation Perpetually Professed</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <a href="http://futureofcharity.blogspot.com/p/carlette-gentles-reflections.html">Click HERE to learn more about Carlette</a></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <a href="http://sistersofcharityfederation.org/about-us/">Click HERE to learn more about the SC Federation</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Gospel reading for the first Tuesday of Lent reminds us of a God of every season including a season of Lent, a season where we reap what we sow, a season where there is no need for distress or worry when what we do or seek is grounded in good and God. This is because our God is one who rescues the just. He seeks us not to babble like the pagans but a people who do. Read on to learn of a connection to trauma, and what I believe, we must do this Lenten season.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Trauma and our reading. </b>As a current master of social work student at St. Louis University learning about trauma in an advance Human Behavior and the Social Environment course, I see the link to this week’s readings. There are continuous studies, which show that children, even babies in utero, can be impacted negatively from toxic stress. Toxic stress response according to Nadine Burke Harris is when a child experiences strong frequent, and/or prolong adversity – such as physical or emotional abuse, neglect, caregiver substance or mental illness, exposure to violence, and/or the accumulated burdens of family economic hardship – without adequate adult support. This rather prolonged activation of the stress-response system can disrupt the development of the brain and other organ systems, and increase the risk for stress-related disease and cognitive impairment, well into the adult years. Burke (2018) states that toxic stress affects:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">· how we learn,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">· how we parent,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">· how we react at home and at work, and</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">· what we create in our communities</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All of us are sufferers of toxic stress. Is there something that can mediate these risk factors?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Link to the reading. </b>Trauma is an important conversation because as we venture into Lent, we are always looking for something to give up. In the light of the above knowledge, it makes more sense to add a Lenten ritual to help all people. Trauma interrupts the processing and receipt of love, hardening our hearts and how we see the world. Yet love is a mediating factor. Therefore, why not consider adding love, compassion, and care for the other to our Lenten season rather than giving up something random.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Closing. </b>As we look at our world surrounded by daily stressors threatening the equilibrium of our society, remember God is continuously there. We should be too. God provides seeds for the one who sows and bread for the one who eats ... as the psalm reassures us that “From all our distress God rescues the just.” Our world needs LOVE. Karen Young (2019) states that the environment might continue to be stressful and deeply painful for a child, but research has shown that with the support of a <b>loving</b> adult, the physiological effects of the stress response can be softened, minimizing the risk of long-term damage. During this Lenten season, let us lessen our babbling and show more love to our brothers and sisters. Let us take to heart that as God gives us our daily bread that we share that bread daily with our others and surround ourselves in love.</span><br />
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</style>Whitneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17899564158979548377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8745689372214847173.post-48988997845758335442019-02-26T18:02:00.000-08:002019-02-28T03:52:30.170-08:00Congratulations, Sr. Hyeon!<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">By <b>Sr. Judy Donohue</b>, SC Federation Temporary Professed</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> <a href="http://futureofcharity.blogspot.com/p/judydonohue-httpfutureofcharity.html">Click HERE to learn more about Judy</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> <a href="http://sistersofcharityfederation.org/about-us/">Click HERE to learn more about the SC Federation</a></span><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcJlFiBPAqgqnVIKief5V_urWtxkNTG0AQtOaCRj-FrSyQOzdMGeWAPlSgfqoYXHa6KV_ltOo0ugF7V6ejmz6B_ZNrL66ejcOQCxD3UWW_3k452iFA9Y_m6EwzAp6BZNUe8bablPsytKs/s1600/program.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1400" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcJlFiBPAqgqnVIKief5V_urWtxkNTG0AQtOaCRj-FrSyQOzdMGeWAPlSgfqoYXHa6KV_ltOo0ugF7V6ejmz6B_ZNrL66ejcOQCxD3UWW_3k452iFA9Y_m6EwzAp6BZNUe8bablPsytKs/s200/program.jpg" width="175" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">program of the vow ceremony</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sr. Hyeon Lee made her first vows into the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill at a 2pm Mass on February 23 at their Chapel of the Assumption. We Congratulate Hyeon Lee, our Future of Charity Sister, for making her commitment to Religious Life! Members of the Future of Charity traveled far and wide to be there with her in Greensburg, PA! Andrea Koverman from El Paso, TX, Tracy Kemme from Chicago, IL, Whitney Schieltz and Annie Klapheke from Cincinnati, OH, Romina Sapinoso from New York, Paris Slapikas and Judy Donohue from Louisville, KY. What a joy it was for all of us to celebrate with Hyeon, who exudes simplicity and gratitude. Her family came from South Korea and Canada to witness her vows of poverty, chastity and obedience.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">In formation for religious life, we have all moved through various transitions of living in different states/countries with a wide variety of local communities and ministry experiences. The presence of others in formation adds needed support during our common struggles. We each have made a commitment to a life of service through living out our vows. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDdTratsve3W_Go3xPJO0LC1vu1jFNiYs9PWHb15EQvht8sKHso6WI9tAJrrV71eFdbW6Ho_9n4t_8UrpYTFfE6bs1H9IeFImLrrvO8Hvay7x5V1aajxSOUKZwKcrwJGBZizGK3qRfC54/s1600/IMG_0877.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDdTratsve3W_Go3xPJO0LC1vu1jFNiYs9PWHb15EQvht8sKHso6WI9tAJrrV71eFdbW6Ho_9n4t_8UrpYTFfE6bs1H9IeFImLrrvO8Hvay7x5V1aajxSOUKZwKcrwJGBZizGK3qRfC54/s320/IMG_0877.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sr. Hyeon (center) signing her vows</td></tr>
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<i style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></i>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">“When we walk together, we walk farther.”</i><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"> - African saying</span></div>
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaSlVumOgys6gAHQPjBJC5-GaSs2sGwBbSsYXSpiXs9S6cuu82qGLjoYnRtHBTY3OcrbjXZm7nrlvp8SiZExf4dPxz1jsHcoBhcV79PK2EJCvRXo810UOtf2tUBLY-IHOr5Wk8C_Rk6pA/s1600/IMG_0876.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="1136" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaSlVumOgys6gAHQPjBJC5-GaSs2sGwBbSsYXSpiXs9S6cuu82qGLjoYnRtHBTY3OcrbjXZm7nrlvp8SiZExf4dPxz1jsHcoBhcV79PK2EJCvRXo810UOtf2tUBLY-IHOr5Wk8C_Rk6pA/s400/IMG_0876.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sr. Hyeon with members of the Future of Charity and other young women religious</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Hyeon was born in South Korea. She has her Ph.D. In Psychology from Brandeis University in Boston. She loves ministering with the elderly and having fun. </span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">It has been a joyful adventure getting to know Hyeon through our Future of Charity events. She has a great sense of humor and is very excited about traveling the spiritual journey with others.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">May God continue to bless Hyeon as she learns to live and share charity each and every day!</span><br />
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</style>Whitneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17899564158979548377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8745689372214847173.post-56381414534165490642019-02-13T05:00:00.000-08:002019-02-13T05:05:41.914-08:00Fog and SilhouettesBy S. Romina Sapinoso, S.C.<br />
<br />
SC Federation Temporary Professed<br />
<br />
<a href="http://futureofcharity.blogspot.com/p/romina-sapinosos-reflections.html">Click HERE to learn more about Romina</a><br />
<a href="http://sistersofcharityfederation.org/about-us/">Click HERE to learn more about the SC Federation</a><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1XeJbBPiRjx3vf6Iq1sXtdRGvfERmghxxGIWkYL5XKWYaPI3_75HH1dPPQPF4uHXyHA_ML1sHWLiP8QgV0kIVTMynK8mKZcdnfEX163RZXpjULNYQCP5MvL4aD-iKPOgD-h9eB19_89EH/s1600/El+Nido.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1XeJbBPiRjx3vf6Iq1sXtdRGvfERmghxxGIWkYL5XKWYaPI3_75HH1dPPQPF4uHXyHA_ML1sHWLiP8QgV0kIVTMynK8mKZcdnfEX163RZXpjULNYQCP5MvL4aD-iKPOgD-h9eB19_89EH/s400/El+Nido.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">El Nido, Palawan in the early morning</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Back in 2012 on a trip home to visit my family in the Philippines, we went to a beautiful part of the country towards the south called El Nido, Palawan. If you are familiar with the screen savers that flash on your desktop of exquisite crystal blue waters and various rock formations creating beautiful lagoons, that’s exactly what El Nido looks like. Needless to say, it was a good time to be together in a paradise-like place. However, on one of our island hopping days, we had quite an experience as a family that none of us would ever forget. <br />
<br />
<div>
The day started out with beautiful weather albeit with some clouds in the sky. Tourists usually contract with businesses that arrange for activities and transportation between the islands. Our family was being helped by four young men who cooked, provided equipment and navigated the groups of islands with a small wooden motor boat that fit about 20 people, just the size of our extended family of cousins, aunts and uncles. As we started wrapping up a day of snorkeling, swimming, building castles on the beach and eating, the skies darkened and a storm started brewing. Thinking it was still safe and we can reach our resort before the worst of the weather came, we all packed into the boat and headed out into open ocean. That’s when the fog descended and the waters became so choppy that without saying a word, we all started praying silently. Our small wooden boat powered by the increasingly struggling small motor was tossed helplessly by the waves. We couldn’t see more than five feet ahead of us and the motor sounded like it could barely keep going. At that point, turning back wasn’t an option anymore either.<br />
<br />
After what seemed like an eternity of part keeping faith and part managing our fears, we slowly saw the silhouette of hills and mountains that signaled we were close to land. It didn’t even matter to any of us at that time which part of the island we were heading towards or if it was even the right one. We just wanted to be on land, any land, and out of the scary waves and deep fog. We collectively breathed a sigh of relief as we got to the beach. Only when we were safely on solid ground did our boatman tell us that for the most part, engulfed in the fog, he didn’t know which direction we were going. He just knew where we came from and that we needed to keep heading north. He hoped that the waves didn’t move us too far out of course. It worked.<br />
<br />
Discussions during our Journeying Together gathering for our SC Cincinnati community last Super Bowl weekend made me reminisce this experience and how it felt. Our own community is preparing<br />
for chapter this year. I think it is safe to say that just like many other communities in religious life, there are many unknowns and uncertainties for us. However, we are certain that there is a future for our congregation and it is a future of life and hope. In a world that is fast changing, we continue to ask ourselves the deeper "why" questions of our individual and communal religious life. What direction is our own congregation called towards as we reflect on our role as women religious, the needs we feel called to answer and the margins we are called to be present to? What do we do now so we can answer what is ours to respond to?<br />
<br />
During the weekend gathering, one of the analogies offered for this time is being in a fog. There is <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Journeying Together participants last February 2nd</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
something beyond the limits of what we can see. There is a place we are journeying towards and we know it is there though we have very little vision of it at this time. It is a future that might look very different but no less full of promise and hope. However, it is but natural that we as humans want to have as little time as possible in the fog just like my family and I longed to be back on solid ground ASAP. The fog makes it difficult to see. It’s scary. The choppy waters of uncertainty make us want to turn around to the safety of where we came from and what we know. But we know there is no turning back. So we sit tight and we wait in the quiet. We look around at those who are there with us. We pray and become vulnerable together as the fog calls forth feelings from deep within. There might be fear and discomfort at first. But hopefully, as we move forward through the haze, there arises openness and freedom to hold on to one another as well. And because we are people of faith, we latch on to the hope that somehow, we will get there. <br />
<br />
May our memories of individual and collective journeys when God’s grace has held us through major changes and shifts in our own lives strengthen this conviction. May we trust that our Navigator, the Holy Spirit, knows and is with us all the way. May we stay the course with faith and openness and be assured that with every nudge forward, we will start to notice the silhouettes of the future taking shape before our very eyes.</div>
Future of Charityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15504007893673355335noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8745689372214847173.post-85912135767218367632019-01-27T19:45:00.000-08:002019-01-30T14:35:37.143-08:00Staying at the Table: Our Commitment to Community<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">By <b>Sr. Annie Klapheke</b>, SC Federation Temporary Professed</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <a href="http://futureofcharity.blogspot.com/p/anne-klaphekes-reflections.html">Click HERE to learn more about Annie</a></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <a href="http://sistersofcharityfederation.org/about-us/">Click HERE to learn more about the SC Federation</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Holy Father, Son and Spirit</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Holy Communion, Three-in-one.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Come with your peace,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With your invitation</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bind us together in Holy love.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(</span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Trinity Song</i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> by Sandra McCracken)</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">These words rang out, filling the center of a circle of twenty-six women religious, gathered for a weekend of prayer and fellowship. Each year in the middle of January, Sisters from a variety of congregations gather for the annual <a href="https://www.giving-voice.org/">Giving Voice</a> 20s and 30s Retreat. Giving Voice is a peer-led organization that creates spaces for younger women religious to give voice to their hopes, dreams and challenges in religious life. Praying with the image of the Trinity was the ideal way to introduce the retreat theme, Staying at the Table: Our Commitment to Community. The Trinity teaches us that God’s very existence is as community.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Circle of young Sisters at the Giving Voice 20s and 30s Retreat (photo: Giving Voice core team)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For women entering religious life today, community life is one of the biggest draws. Yet, as we immerse ourselves in this life, at times community is also one of the greatest challenges. Throughout our weekend together, we reflected on wisdom from Jean Vanier, founder of L’Arche communities. One quote, in particular, seemed to ring true for many of us:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>“We can choose to live in a community because it is dynamic, warm and radiant. We find happiness there. But if a crisis arises, with tensions and turmoil, we begin to doubt the wisdom of our choice: ‘Maybe I made a mistake.’ If we enter community because of our own choice, we will stay only if we become more aware that it was in fact God who chose us for this community. It is only then that we will find the inner strength to live through times of turmoil.”</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The call to religious life, and the call to a particular community, can feel exciting, challenging, and totally mysterious. And at times of greatest struggle, as Vanier suggests, it may even feel like a mistake. At these times, returning to the core of who we are, which ultimately leads to returning to the core of who God is – the all-loving community of three who first chose us – helps to reaffirm that God makes no mistakes. God is always working for our good.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Gathering with Sister peers helps each of us return to our core. The weekend together was steeped in meaningful conversations, voicing dreams and struggles, laughter, prayer, kickball, and breaking bread together. As we listened to and affirmed one another, we created community among us. And it is in community where we find our belonging; our belonging to God and to each other.</span><br />
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Future of Charityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15504007893673355335noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8745689372214847173.post-47763046085252803652019-01-16T06:39:00.001-08:002019-01-16T06:39:41.299-08:00The Dawn-Bringer<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">By <b>Sr. Rejane Cytacki</b>, SC Federation Perpetually Professed</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> <a href="http://futureofcharity.blogspot.com/p/rejane-cytackis.html">Click HERE to learn more about Rejane</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> <a href="http://sistersofcharityfederation.org/about-us/">Click HERE to learn more about the SC Federation</a></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">downy woodpecker in the tulip tree</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I have come to love winter as it is the time the earth rests and renews itself, and I try to follow nature’s example. When we allow our minds, spirits, and bodies to slow down in the amount of activity we do, we open up time and space in our hearts to reflect on God.<br /> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In these winter months, I have been praying and reflecting with Joyce Rupp’s book, <i>Open the Door</i>. I was praying with Joyce’s meditation on pgs. 78-80 “Opening to Oneness” and the first line is “Opening the door to the inner self is reminiscent of a new day dawning”. As I began this day, I was greeted by my friendly little downy woodpecker who sits in the tulip tree outside my window welcoming the dawn. He is the only bird at this time of year in the tree and he chirps and chirps for his mate as he turns and looks every which way for her. As he calls for his mate, his chirping reminds me it is time for me to pray with my Beloved. Joyce uses a quote from James Finlay to express what God is saying and a typical response – (God) “Open the door and come in, so we can experience just how one we might become. (Instead I) stand outside the door reading one more book about how to open the door.”<br /> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">How often do I do this! I say anxiously– I have one more thing to do, or let me read this book about prayer instead of actually opening the door. But once my heart’s door is opened there is interior space to sit and be with my Beloved. In the interior space of my heart, when I walk through the Divine door Jesus is waiting for me. I visualize him as surrounded by light emanating from his heart. If I can bring myself to grasp his hands I can feel the energy of his love flowing into my heart. I believe this is the oneness that Joyce writes about and this is my personal time with Jesus. I do not always succeed in oneness as exterior thoughts pull me out of my interior space. But just the commitment of time, space, practice and even failed attempts are valuable. These times teach me what being a religious woman is truly about: a personal relationship with the Divine. When I finally sit inside Jesus’ sacred heart, then I am able to explore my inner self with safety and security in the Dawning light of God’s love and find I have come home to my true self.</span><br />
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</style>Future of Charityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15504007893673355335noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8745689372214847173.post-74953272913398762862018-12-24T10:49:00.003-08:002018-12-28T09:05:19.713-08:00Welcome: Christmas Eve Reflections From The Border<div>
by S. Andrea Koverman, S.C., S. Romina Sapinoso, S.C., Sandra Ramirez</div>
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Andrea, Romina and Sandra are all spending their Christmas and New Year’s holidays down on the border at the Sister of Charity Casa de Caridad in Anthony, New Mexico. Andrea and Romina are Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati and Sandra Ramirez is a freshman at Mt. St. Joseph University who chose to spend her whole winter break with the SCs at the Southern border. These stories and reflections come from their days of volunteering at different houses of hospitality in El Paso, Texas this past week. </i></b><br />
<i><br />Romina:</i><br />
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This temporary shelter sits in the area of central El Paso overlooking the international <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dr. Veronica Rayas hanging out with SCs Romina Sapinoso, <br />
Carol Wirtz, Janet Gildea and Andrea Koverman back in 2013</td></tr>
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border <span style="text-align: center;">between US and Mexico. From the building, there is a good view of the border fence, the mountains on the other side, and the neighborhoods in central Juarez. The building is supposed to be a Religious Education Center initiated by a good friend, Dr. Veronica Rayas. She had a vision of a different way of teaching religion to young people in the church, incorporating their culture and day to day living in deepening their understanding of Catholicism. From these ideas, this place was born. Cooking, silk-screen printing, pottery, and painting are just a few of the ways Veronica and her religious ed teachers are teaching their students about their faith. However, these days, this center is serving quite a different purpose than what it was originally intended for.</span><br />
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Veronica, her sister Ana and a group of volunteers have been welcoming and serving warm meals to hundreds of asylum seekers released from ICE detention since the center opened its doors to them in late October of this year. Veronica often talks about how she never expected the way God has steered the center in the direction of becoming a house of welcome to immigrant fathers, mothers and their children. But her sense of awe and amazement at being blessed to have a place such as this to welcome them is palpable. It is also no coincidence that the center is connected to a parish just across the street whose parishioners allow their space to be used as an extension for the overflow of people. How appropriate as it is an opportunity to welcome the Holy Family in our midst today.<br />
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This past Saturday, this temporary shelter received its biggest number of asylum-seekers yet in one day - a total of 124. As the first big bus load of people arrived, Veronica called all the volunteers as well as guests that arrived earlier during the week to help welcome the new arrivals. Led by Veronica, everyone lined up outside ready, with big smiles on their faces. They held a hand-made banner with the word, “¡BIENVENIDOS!” written in big bright colors. Tentative faces looked back at us but as we continued greeting and welcoming them, the tentativeness slowly turned into shy but big smiles of relief and the knowledge that they are welcomed by people who see and care for them. As Christmas draws near, this beautiful image of welcome makes me stop and reflect about how ready I am, we are, to welcome Jesus in our midst this Christmas. As the celebration of Jesus’ birth draws nearer, it is my prayer that we never miss an opportunity to welcome him in our midst in whatever way, shape or form he presents himself to us.<br />
<i><br />Sandra:</i><br />
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"Hola buenas tardes," said each person I ran into at the shelter. As I entered the office I see four to<br />
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six different Sisters from different states running the center. Children gathered at the living room that was filled with many toys. Sisters who brought instruments singing christmas carols in spanish and the refugees singing along and smiling as if they can finally relax for a bit. As I did my normal walk around the center I always walk upon this beautiful cross. A cross that is a remembrance of God's<br />
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love for us that he gave his only begotten son. I stood for a minute and got closer to it. I have never given much thought about what was around the cross and as I got closer I realized what it was. On both sides of the cross I found a lot of Pesos. It sparked in my head that these beautiful people where leaving pesos as an offering to God. They have gone through so much mistreatment and had very little that they still found a need in their hearts to leave an offering. As I walked away I felt a sense of peace in my heart to know that these people truly have a strong faith in God even after this hard part of their journey.<br />
<br />
I walked by again and this time I stumble upon a little girl holding on to a rosary and kneeling in front of the cross. The girl was about five or six. She had two pigtails and a cute red summer dress. As I saw her it reminded me of the verse Matthew 18:2-4: “He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. And he said:“Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”<br />
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I walk by one last time and see a dad and his son. They both were kneeling in front of the cross. I got a little closer and realized they were praying in mum. They whispered quietly and then it hit me that I understood one phrase they were saying. The dad kept saying, “Thank you God, Thank you.” I <br />
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learned this phrase because my parents speak mum. Listening it reminded me of my dad when he prays. A man of strong faith who came to America 21 years ago to be able to give me the life I am living today. <br />
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My admiration for these people can’t be described in words. Their willingness to continue their relationship with God. I pray that they find peace and acceptance in this country because like God says in Mark 9:37: "Anyone who welcomes a little child welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes not only me but also my Father who sent me."<br />
<br />
<i>Andrea:</i><br />
<br />
I can relate to the various expressions I saw on the three busloads of refugees and migrants as the deboarded upon arrival at a shelter in El Paso. Some faces showed fear and anxiety, while others relief, joy and hopefulness. I, too have just arrived at the border, not knowing quite what my change in ministry and location will mean, and am a jumble of all of these emotions as well.<br />
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But there is something very very different when comparing my situation to those arriving from detention centers. Unlike them, my decision to migrate was not a result of abject poverty, a lethal lack of basic necessities for sustaining my very existence or that of those depending upon me for theirs. It was not a result of death threats or because I had witnessed family members and friends murdered or disappeared, never to be seen again. It was not because I was being hunted down or extorted for refusing to cooperate with gangs and organized crime. It was not because I was left unprotected and neglected by my government and social programs. I freely chose to migrate, they did not. <br />
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Part of my reason for returning to live at the border was the opportunity to encounter and be in relationship with people who have been marginalized by their refugee or migrant status and economic injustice. I hope to be of service in some way, shape or form and was happily reminded the other night from a line in the movie, A Christmas Carol, that “no life is useless that lifts the heart of another.” But more than coming to see how I can be helpful, I came for the ways these people are helpful to me. <br />
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I was rewarded immediately during the first night I volunteered to greet and assist newly released <br />
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detainees at the shelter. Not speaking Spanish very well (yet), I was most helpful in the kitchen preparing and serving a hot home-cooked meal to the 124 plus guests. Their earnest responses of “Muchas gracias” and the looks in their eyes that said so much more than their words ever could broke my heart and brought a quote of St. Vincent de Paul to mind: “It is only for your love alone that the poor will forgive you for the bread you give them.” These people are no less deserving of security and resources than anyone else, and it is an injustice we are all called to address that there is such economic disparity among the people of the world. But rather than being angry at such an injustice, I was met with only gratitude for what we were offering: food, a warm shower, a clean change of clothing, help in contacting the people they were trying to get to, and the display of pure pleasure to welcome and connect with these sisters and brothers coming into our country and into our hearts.<br />
<br />
I was given an early Christmas present of remembering who I am and what I am to be about. I am a beloved child of God no less and no more loved by God than any other. And I am to be about reflecting God’s unconditional, immeasurable, incomprehensible love that I have come to know with those who need to have that same experience the very most. Future of Charityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15504007893673355335noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8745689372214847173.post-46703084798448929492018-12-23T13:59:00.000-08:002018-12-23T13:59:06.711-08:00Who, Me???<div class="MsoNormal">
By Sister Andrea Koverman, SC</div>
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SC Federation First Professed</div>
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<a href="http://Click HERE to learn more about Andrea">Click HERE to learn more about Andrea</a> </div>
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<a href="http://Click HERE to learn more about the SC Federation">Click HERE to learn more about the SC Federation</a></div>
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The <span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">season of Advent never
fails to be a time of growth and deepening transformation when we dedicate
ourselves to an extended and deepened examination of how well prepared we are to
receive God. Our stumbling blocks emerge so that we can get to work making
straight the path, clearing away whatever keeps us from being receptive and
reflective of God so that we, too can honor the call to be Christ bearers in
the world, birthers of God’s love and life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">But this Advent has been an
even more intense period of discernment for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Though I have been very happy in my ministry in Cincinnati, I began
feeling a “holy dissatisfaction” several months ago that I couldn’t explain. I
spent a significant period of time trying to ignore, suppress and pray my
feelings away, thinking that I should be content with all that I had been
blessed with and intensely ashamed of not feeling more grateful. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">It wasn’t until my local
community hosted a discernment weekend for young women exploring what God might
be calling them to do with their lives, that I got some insight that helped me
recognize what was happening with me. In a video clip used by a member of the
planning team Fr. Michael Himes, SJ explained that God sometimes prompts us to move on from
perfectly meaningful and fulfilling ministry into something new through feelings
like the ones I was having. We experience what he calls a “holy
dissatisfaction,” a sense that there is something else God is calling us to
that helps us detach from what is, not to serve personal preferences or
ambitions, but for a purpose only known by God. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">It took months of intense
discernment for me to grow confident enough that my feelings really were of God
to share them with my community, but my heart had known at once when I heard
Fr. explanation. It was not easy to communicate this leap of faith I felt so
compelled to take, but my congregational leadership has given me their support,
and I am truly grateful. I have left one loving local community in Cincinnati
and come to another in a border town near El Paso. Though I do not know exactly
how God will put me to use, I do know coming to this place where migrants and
refugees are experiencing such pain and suffering is a crucial part of it.
These sisters and brothers need to experience God’s love through us, Jesus’
disciples more than ever before. We are called to encounter the most marginalized among us and in coming I am following in the footsteps of
our foundresses and predecessors who did what presented itself, going to the
places where great needs were identified, not with a ready-made plan, but in
obedience to their vows to go where God sent them, to trust God to reveal the
way they were to minister and to depend on God to help them do it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">The season of Advent is full
of examples of people who felt less than confident that they were the right
choice to answer God’s call to be Christ-bearers, ushering in God’s kindom of
justice, love and peace in a cold and suffering world. I am in the best of
company in responding, “Who, me?” and “How can this be?” I am called to respond through the religious vows I have made. The vow of celibacy means that I am free to love beyond my
immediate circle of family, friends and community and what enabled me to pack up and leave when I felt called to do so. My vow of obedience requires
that I pay attention and respond to the way God calls me uniquely and particularly
regardless of my own doubts and those of others. And my vow of poverty keeps me mindful and accepting of my dependency on God in all that I am and do. I feel
a deep joy and inner peace as I put myself at God’s disposal and wait to see
what good will come of it. I am confident, even in moments of questioning that
as in Jeremiah 29:11, the Lord is saying to me, “I know the plans I have for
you. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a
future.” That sounds very good to me, so here I am, Lord!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">May you all experience the
joy of receiving God within and among us, and be filled with the joy of this
love beyond all understanding this Christmas!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDL2ixnN8e6MLH4coTBt8xAzRmDSBnr31QYiEOYuB30DSQVc3Ap05RFYNSaFddGXzH-I2cvGzXllmHFEBbUVE4P_ismeHEOcN8TB-y-mPpU1UDqCJEe5lHZTjuhoUCugZ3CtsqX8ZSEMj8/s1600/Packed+Pilgrim.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="811" data-original-width="1080" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDL2ixnN8e6MLH4coTBt8xAzRmDSBnr31QYiEOYuB30DSQVc3Ap05RFYNSaFddGXzH-I2cvGzXllmHFEBbUVE4P_ismeHEOcN8TB-y-mPpU1UDqCJEe5lHZTjuhoUCugZ3CtsqX8ZSEMj8/s400/Packed+Pilgrim.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Packed Pilgrim Heading Out</td></tr>
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Future of Charityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15504007893673355335noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8745689372214847173.post-15795976783454159022018-11-20T21:22:00.000-08:002018-11-20T22:03:51.820-08:00Thanksgiving Report from the Border<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;">
By <a href="http://futureofcharity.blogspot.com/p/tracy-kemmes-reflections.html" style="color: #888888; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Sister Tracy Kemme, SC</a></div>
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SC Federation First Professed</div>
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I'm spending my graduate school Thanksgiving break at the border, a place dear to my heart and <a href="http://sisterintraining.blogspot.com/2013/05/home.html">central to my vocation</a>. Our Sisters have been ministering here, truly on the margins, for almost thirty years. <a href="http://www.srcharitycinti.org/news_events/gildea_border.htm">They're currently collaborating with hundreds of people of goodwill to welcome migrants</a> who are released from detention centers daily in huge numbers. <a href="https://annunciationhouse.org/financial-donations/">Annunciation House</a> coordinates the network of hospitality shelters throughout El Paso.<br />
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I came to volunteer in one of the shelters with the little time I have right now, and I wish I could stay so much longer. The beautiful people I am meeting are Christ among us: hungry, thirsty, sick, desperately in need of clothing, shelter, and welcome (Matt 25:31-46). Below, I offer you a snapshot of one beautiful and heartbreaking encounter. There is much more to tell, but for now, a glimpse into the current border reality:<br />
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The midday El Paso sun
sears into my forehead. I shield my eyes
and look up at Pedro, sitting on a cement block next to me. His 8-year-old son, Juanito, and a few friends
kick around a deflated basketball in the gravel lot, the first time they’ve
played freely since they left Honduras one month ago.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Pedro’s eyes are tired as
he tells me about their journey. For three weeks, he was on the road with his
son and other migrants they met along the way.
For three weeks, they slept and ate only intermittently. When Juanito cried, Pedro held him tight and
reminded him that he would get to see his mom in the United
States.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Once they finally arrived
to the U.S-Mexico border, Pedro and Juanito spent four days in detention.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“When we first got there,
they lined us up in the hallway, and we stood for four hours until they could
take our information. Then, they gave us
each an aluminum blanket and shuffled us into a small room with other dads and
kids, with barely enough space for us to crawl up on the floor to sleep. It was
freezing – the air conditioner blasted day and night. There was one toilet in our room. Twice a day, they brought a bean burrito,
still quite frozen, for each of us, and a small juice for the kids. We couldn’t go outside, except one day they
took us to a bigger detention center to finish processing us, and they let us
take a shower.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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It was the first chance
they’d had to bathe in weeks. That evening, immigration agents crammed forty fathers and
children into an even smaller room and told them they could sleep standing
since it would be their last night in detention. The dads worked together
to get their children accommodated on the floor, and then they did what they
could to rest. Some sat on the small floor of
the bathroom; others just stood and leaned against the wall all night.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Yesterday, they were
brought in a bus with fifty-eight other Central American migrants to this
center, one of several run by Annunciation House and staffed by
volunteers. Here, they are given good
meals, clothes, toiletries, showers, cots, pillows, blankets, and a warm
welcome that honors their God-given dignity, before they continue their
journeys to relatives and friends elsewhere in the United States. <o:p></o:p></div>
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“It’s been difficult,” he
says quietly. “I can deal with it. I’m
an adult, you know? But my little guy…” He
trails off as he beholds his only son with misty eyes. “I brought him because I want him to grow up
safe, and I want to be able to feed him every day. I never dreamed it would come to this.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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I’m in awe at his resilience and simultaneously overcome with sorrow. “You’re an amazing father. You know that? You’re so brave.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“I hope so,” he sighs. “Everything I do, I do for my beautiful boy.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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The duo will board a bus
later tonight for the final leg (for now) of their exodus. Tomorrow, they’ll arrive to the city where
Juanito’s mom lives. She will be able to
embrace her son for the first time in five years. Pedro and Juanito will report to court in
early December to begin asylum proceedings – which rarely end favorably. But this is no time to be hopeless.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“It’s an honor to meet
you, Pedro,” I tell him, and it's true. My heart is bursting with admiration. I feel like I'm in the presence of a saint. “I don’t know how you do it. You have been through so much, and you’re
still going strong.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Gracias a Dios,” he
asserts, gesturing to the sky, strength in his cheekbones. “Everything is all thanks to God. We’re alive.
We made it. I can never stop
thanking my God.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</div>
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<span style="background-color: yellow;"><b>**Please support Annunciation House </b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: yellow;"><b>and our beloved migrant sisters and brothers </b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: yellow;"><b>by donating <a href="https://annunciationhouse.org/financial-donations/">HERE</a>.**</b></span></div>
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Future of Charityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15504007893673355335noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8745689372214847173.post-5407839706273569572018-11-06T16:28:00.000-08:002018-11-06T16:28:49.733-08:00Fall Gathering in NOLA<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">This past weekend, eight members of the Future of Charity and one discerner gathered at the House of Charity in New Orleans for fellowship and faith-sharing. Guiding our prayer and conversations was the theme of self-awareness and identity. As we listened to Jesus ask his disciples, </span><span style="font-family: "arial";"><i>Who do people say that I am?</i> and <i>Who do you say that I am?</i> (Mk 8:27-30) we asked ourselves: <i>Who do I say I am?</i> and <i>Who do we say we are?</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsVhr-t73xc1N1DSFBWFg7uSKsPuLhckzSMoNPnpzo0fnYr1MDUoU_9iMjI_g88RBpRhQv98CjzaqGWvLWLF0NkfCvtsRPJdTBQzKX7vmGoAUamBbn9-tLL7sRW0-G8oV2mfSAS0HzuJ4s/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsVhr-t73xc1N1DSFBWFg7uSKsPuLhckzSMoNPnpzo0fnYr1MDUoU_9iMjI_g88RBpRhQv98CjzaqGWvLWLF0NkfCvtsRPJdTBQzKX7vmGoAUamBbn9-tLL7sRW0-G8oV2mfSAS0HzuJ4s/s400/1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial;">Utilizing a template of George Ella Lyon's </span><a href="https://www.sausd.us/cms/lib/CA01000471/Centricity/Domain/3043/I%20Am%20From%20Poem.pdf" style="font-family: arial;">I Am From poem</a><span style="font-family: arial;">, we reflected on our lives and how our unique backgrounds have helped form us into the women we are today. Then, we each selected two lines from these poems to compile the following We Are From poem...</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">We Are From…<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">We are from cardboard tubes,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">From playing sports and building forts.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">We are from the monster bush,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"> a secret fortress
in the yard.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">We are from the forest and oceans.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">We are from the Pearl of the Orient,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"> from brown
skin, white rice and coconut milk.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">We are from rotini and peanut butter-tomato
sandwiches,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">From the selfless giving of my father,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"> coaching
our teams, caravanning kids, and filling up gas tanks.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">We are from Sr. Armella and faithful Sunday
Worship.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">We are from St. John's and Catholic school,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"> God
the Father of light bless this Advent candle.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">We are from a sharp contrast between
independence and interdependence.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">We are from my Aunt who took me shopping for
school clothes</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"> and strong faith.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">We are from a house without borders.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">We are from the woods,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"> from untamed,
fascinating freedom.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">We are from the Mt. Giri that manifests the
sublime beauty of nature,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"> quietly surrendering me to its great power.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">We are from the peach tree in the backyard,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"> whose
canopy of leaves made the perfect place for singing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">We are from wise stewardship and peaceful
encounters,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"> though sensitive strings were rarely touched.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">From keeping one another accountable</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"> yet
embracing one another's faults.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">We are from the love that is stronger than the
wounds.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">We are from the Charity charism and all its
founders,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"> From the women and men on whose shoulders we stand.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">We are from the vision of sisters</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"> who not too long ago
dreamed of a future together.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhONdOdiJ9cQWU2Bz5svXa26IZXmRSjlACMOSpGNFYktt1tycbiJ2tD0G2TWFg_9d1o4G3wJXDOSNr_353ZlLHjb-xiWMWlFvEtbnkbQzCYUIaEidszQ5F5RsEzfYoOwDaDmNtx4m2Xh5dT/s1600/2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhONdOdiJ9cQWU2Bz5svXa26IZXmRSjlACMOSpGNFYktt1tycbiJ2tD0G2TWFg_9d1o4G3wJXDOSNr_353ZlLHjb-xiWMWlFvEtbnkbQzCYUIaEidszQ5F5RsEzfYoOwDaDmNtx4m2Xh5dT/s400/2.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEWk0ALhPgXR6ArJdlvJkNBSCTcQ4BxrwwFW1dUi3iUjeAOkx0Y4uSDYBIXvQZlhqrpYwCeh5yKo6zMYN32k2L7JfJNab9E0M8S85Udm2S5x1JXIgooD_cAy1D_141T9_R1M0E7IN-qJoH/s1600/3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEWk0ALhPgXR6ArJdlvJkNBSCTcQ4BxrwwFW1dUi3iUjeAOkx0Y4uSDYBIXvQZlhqrpYwCeh5yKo6zMYN32k2L7JfJNab9E0M8S85Udm2S5x1JXIgooD_cAy1D_141T9_R1M0E7IN-qJoH/s400/3.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">In another exercise, we each wrote five answers to the question <i>Who are you?</i> and put together our favorite responses to create somewhat of a mantra for ourselves as the Future of Charity. It reads...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><i>We are</i> women of courage.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><i>We are</i> generative co-creators.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><i>We are</i> bridge-builders and seekers of peace.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><i>We are</i> Sisters of Charity in a global world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><i>We are</i> women held, formed, and challenged in
community.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><i>We are</i> able to see the light in the darkness.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><i>We are</i> women vowed to God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><i>We are</i> human.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><i>We are</i> love.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Thank you to everyone who kept us in their prayers during our time together!</span></div>
Future of Charityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15504007893673355335noreply@blogger.com0