Unfinished Business

By:  Sr. Meg Kymes, DC

I have been reading Christian Life Patterns by Evelyn and James Whitehead.  In the introduction the Whiteheads describe that unlike many believe, when we become adults we aren’t completely settled or “finished products.”  We rather are still developing throughout our adult lives.  When I read this I found myself nodding my head.  I see changes in myself as well as in other adults around me.  My Sisters, my co-workers, even my parents are changing every day.  For so many of us change can be hard, but scripture reminds us, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7)  St. Vincent de Paul puts it another way, “So, do not dwell any longer on what you are, but consider Our Lord close by you and within you, ready to put His hand to the work as soon as you call upon Him for help, and you will see that all will go well.”  When I struggle with changes I try to remember that this is a way for Christ to work within me.  I try to remember to give my worries over to God in prayer and open my heart to let him work through me.

Pilgrimage with the Pope: Lessons in Divine Providence

By Kara Davis

All of the discerners, pre-postlant, postulants, and some 

of the Sisters who came to Philly for the Papal pilgrimage.

When the news of Pope Francis’ visit to the United States first broke out, I felt a deep sense of excitement and hope.  The holy man I had been praying with ever since he first greeted the world as Pope and asked for our prayers, was coming to the United States, was coming to visit me (and millions of other people too).  At that moment, I had a great desire to share in his visit, but had no idea that my desire would actually become a reality until the Daughters of Charity announced that they were having a discerner/pre-postulant/postulant discernment weekend in Philadelphia the SAME time that Pope Francis was scheduled to visit.  Days before he arrived to the United States, Pope Francis created a short video from the Vatican and ended his message by saying, “I will be there, because YOU will be there.”  I felt as though he was speaking to me and me alone.  Yes, I would indeed be there, filled with anticipation for how this encounter might impact my life.

Three postulants, one pre-postulant, nine discerners, four vocation directors, and one companion Sister, gathered from every corner of the country as pilgrims ready to greet the Pope in Philadelphia.  Our trip to Philadelphia was indeed a pilgrimage.  We gathered with open hearts and flexible plans, and by flexible, I mean we had no tickets for any of the Papal events and were expecting to sleep outside in order to claim a patch of grass for the Papal Mass.  Fortunately for us, God had greater plans (as always).

During the World Meeting of Families convention the week prior, the Sisters asked around and were able to acquire enough tickets for all of us to attend the Festival of Families that Saturday night.  This was perhaps the first strike of Divine Providence for our small group of eager pilgrims.  We were so thrilled and couldn’t imagine the other ways God would grace our pilgrimage.

On our way to the Festival of Families with 

our signs and prayers.

After beginning the weekend with prayer, visiting our Sisters in Philly, learning about a ministry that serves human trafficking victims, and celebrating Mass at the Shrine of the Miraculous Medal, it was finally time to head downtown for the Festival of Families (with our newly acquired tickets).  With sleeping bags and trash bags packed and ready, we discovered that the police were not allowing pilgrims to camp outside overnight.  The Sisters quickly put their heads together and pulled resources.  After several phone calls, and even more prayers, three hotel rooms were secured downtown, just blocks from the Papal festivities.  They were perhaps the ONLY vacant rooms in the city, and through Divine Providence, fourteen of us would be camping out in them.

During the World Meeting of Families convention, the Sisters were also able to secure nine tickets for the Papal Mass on Sunday, and we drew numbers to see who would be able to pass behind the gate for the Mass, and who would celebrate from the non-ticketed section.  Although we were thrilled to have these tickets, the idea of splitting up didn’t settle well with this group of pilgrims (#community), so signs were created for each of us to wear on our shirts and backpacks.  Some read, “Will trade prayers for 5 Papal Mass tickets.  Love, Daughters of Charity.”  We set out for the Festival of Families with our signs, filled with hope that generous hearts would provide the additional tickets we needed.

Wearing our signs at the Festival of
Families.

The Festival of Families was a beautiful celebration, with folks from around the world gathered on Benjamin Franklin Parkway, singing, dancing, praying, listening to the powerful testimonies of families, and reflecting with Pope Francis’ response to them all.  Also during this time, our signs attracted attention and many of the people around us were spreading the word about our quest for Papal Mass tickets.  Complete strangers were taking pictures of our signs and posting them on Facebook.  America Magazine found us and posted a video interview on social media.  Before long, we had acquired the five tickets needed, and several extra.  At first, it was uncomfortable asking strangers for something, but then when I experienced the kind, loving responses from others, I felt a sense of comfort and support.  Perhaps I felt just a small dose of what our friends in poverty feel everyday when they hold up their own signs in the streets.  Are they too greeted with such a kind, loving response?

Group shot with my youngest brother, a seminarian with the

Archdiocese of Denver, CO.

With all of our Papal Mass tickets in hand, and extras for the other Daughters in the city, we exited the Festival of Families and headed to our hotel.  Shortly after leaving the gates, I spotted a young group of men in clerics, one was a spitting image of my youngest brother who I knew would be in Philadelphia for the weekend.  He is a seminarian with the Archdiocese of Denver, CO.  I shouted his name across the street and the other pilgrims in our group shouted his name as well.  Before I knew it, I was being embraced by my baby brother.  Divine Providence strikes again!  God is so good!  It was truly the World Meeting of Families!  Before long, my brother’s Rector at the seminary and my vocation director were talking about our tickets, and the Rector mentioned that if we went to the Convention Center in the morning, we could exchange our regular Papal Mass tickets for seated, VIP tickets on the stage.  It seemed like this news was too good to be true, and after all of our efforts to just acquire tickets alone, I was like, “Can’t we just be satisfied with what we have?”  Perhaps we could just set out with our tickets in the morning and see what God has planned for us.

Gathering outside a security check point at 5:00am.

After camping out in our hotel rooms, we woke up the world early in the morning, and were among the first to stand in line at the security checkpoint for the ticketed section for the Papal Mass.  We sipped our coffee and prayed the rosary, and before long, we were staking claim on a patch of grass with a clear view of the altar for mass and prime space in the front for the Papal parade before Mass.  Yes!  It could not possibly get any better than this!  All we had to do was camp out until mass.  However, again, God had other plans.

Tying my prayer handkerchief to a tree in the

Prayer Grotto outside the Cathedral.  During

the Papal parade before mass, Pope Francis 

stopped at the grotto and prayed for all the

intentions.

In an effort to walk around and stretch our legs, a delegation from our group decided to walk to the Convention Center, just to see what would happen.  Could we actually just trade in our tickets to get on stage?  We were going to find out.  During our walk, we stopped at the Cathedral and placed some prayer intentions in the prayer grotto positioned outside the church.  I had carried a blue handkerchief with me from New Orleans, adorned with prayer intentions and messages for the Pope from residents, workers, and family members from the nursing home where I work.  I left the handkerchief tied to a tree in the grotto and gave all of our prayers to God, and we continued our walk to the Convention Center.

We approached the Convention Center and followed our confident vocation director as she approached the man sitting at the table to inquire about the tickets.  He looked at her, and looked at us.  Finally he said that he needed to check on something and asked us to wait.  While the others ventured to the bathroom, I sat down and said a prayer.  That Sunday was the Feast of St. Vincent de Paul, one of the founders of the Daughters of Charity, so I decided to say a prayer with Vincent.  It went something like this:  “Ok, Vincent.  I know that you ministered to the rich, VIPs but also ministered to the poor, common people on the margins.  Who do you want us to celebrate mass with on your feast day?”

Displaying our miracle VIP Papal Mass 

tickets.  Happy Feast of St. Vincent de Paul!

Moments later, we were all back at the table and the man was handing us the last tickets he had, the perfect amount for all of us to celebrate mass in the seated, VIP section on stage.  As I staggered out of the Convention Center in awe of just happened, I think I enthusiastically yelled, “Is this real life?!?!”  As we ventured back to our camp, we skipped around and sang the Charlie and the Chocolate Factory song, “I’ve got a golden ticket!”  Divine Providence strikes again!

The best part of receiving the VIP tickets was being able to pass on our regular tickets and prime seating on the grass to folks on the other side of the fence who did not have any tickets.  We passed on the generosity that was shared with us, which was something St. Vincent totally would have done in this situation.

Before I knew it, we were walking in front of the altar, the Eucharistic table where Pope Francis would be standing in just a few short hours.  I could never have imagined that I would ever be that physically close to the model of humility I have felt so spiritually close to for years.  Later, as we stood at the fence and Pope Francis rode by waving, I yelled in my best Spanish, “Oro por usted!  Ora por me!” (I pray for you!  Pray for me!)  I’m pretty sure he heard me (or at least that’s what I tell myself.)

One of my fellow pilgrims snapped this photo of the Pope,

while I was yelling my best Spanish.

Soon the cheering, energetic crowd became still and silent, and it was time to celebrate Mass.  As I watched the procession walk across the stage, I couldn’t find Pope Francis.  I kept waiting for the Pope to walk in, but never saw him.  Then, I heard his precious, English-speaking voice say, “In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,” and I saw a Bishop making the Sign of the Cross.  It was only then that I realized that this Bishop was the Pope! 

Later, as the Liturgy of the Eucharist began and this Bishop prayed the Eucharistic prayer, I found a Priest behind the altar.  I found a humble Priest celebrating the Supper of the Lamb, and I was at the table with him, accompanied by a couple million of our closest friends.  As he lifted the Host and proclaimed, “Behold the Lamb of God, behold Him who takes away the sins of the world…” tears streamed down my face, and I felt such a sense of intimacy with Christ as everyone gathered miles down Benjamin Franklin Parkway responded in one voice, “Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.”  My heart was so full, it was bursting!  Divine Providence strikes yet again!

The only picture I took during mass was during the homily.

This is with zoom from our seats.

So as I have attempted to journey down from this mountain top experience, I have reflected on this powerful encounter with our Lord, through a pilgrimage with a Priest named Francis.  I have learned that if you journey with an open heart and trust in Divine Providence, life as you know it will transcend beyond your expectations.  I cannot even begin to express my gratitude for this experience, and how I feel so unworthy to have received such a precious gift.  However, I hope that by sharing this experience, may we all remember to trust in Divine Providence.  Who knows.  You might end up on stage during a Papal Mass.

So long, Papa Francisco!  Come back soon!

Food for Thought

By Sr. Laura Coughlin

This post is written as a thankful offering on the sixteenth anniversary of my entrance into the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill.  The vigil of St. Vincent de Paul’s feast day marks my entrance into postulancy along with that of Sister Karen Cunningham, who ministers at a home for the elderly run by the Little Sisters of the Poor in Pittsburgh.  Happy anniversary Karen!

Although this date is special to me personally for what it represents of my own history, I offer here a slice of life from my present experience as an MDiv student at Boston College.  Enjoy the ride through some of the more interesting quotations gleaned in readings during the last few years.  My commentary is shown in red. 

“We should be average preachers in order for all of us to be uniform; for each man can become average, but few can attain loftiness.”

AVERAGE !?

St. Vincent de Paul, Correspondence, Conferences, Documents

* * *

“By vigils and fasts she mortifies her body…By a cold chastity she seeks to put out the flame of lust…by a deliberate squalor she makes haste to spoil her natural good looks  Let her treasures be not silks or gems but manuscripts of the holy scriptures…let her think less of gilding than of…accurate punctuation.  Let her begin by learning the psalter…Let her follow the example set in Job of virtue and of patience…Let her pass on to the gospels…Let her also drink in the Acts of the Apostles and the Epistles…the prophets…the books of Kings and…Chronicles…the rolls also of Ezra and Esther. 
When she has done all these she may safely read the Song of Songs…”

St. Jerome, advising his associate’s daughter-in-law on how to raise her little girl - Letter to Laeta

* * *

“It is possible to enjoy sad feelings.”

Augustine, Confessions, in a section entitled, Student Years at Carthage, Sex and Shows

* * *

“To put it as simply as possible: the old Easter Vigil was a very sexy affair, and the modern one looks as if Mrs Mary Whitehouse has been getting at it.”

Herb McCabe, O.P., in God Matters (Such a great book)

* * *

“Freedom cannot be sustained without a certain amount of dogmatism.”

Philosopher Slavoj Zizek in Spiegel Online, March 31, 2013

* * *

“Do you remember the beautiful penultimate scene in Manhattan where Woody Allen is lying on his couch and talking into a tape recorder? He is writing a short story about people who are creating unnecessary, neurotic problems for themselves, because it keeps them from dealing with more unsolvable, terrifying problems about the universe.”

Bill Joy in a Wired Magazine editorial, “Why the Future Doesn’t Need Us”, April 2000

* * *

“To liberals, fundamentalists and evangelicals often seem like naïve Bible thumpers.  Haven’t they heard about modern science or biblical scholarship?  Don’t they care about the truth?  Yet in the broad perspective, the fundamentalist stance – occasional anti-intellectualism and all – has succeeded in preserving much of what is most basic about the Bible, the ancient approach to reading it.”

(good Jewish news for my Adventist relatives)

James Kugel in a chapter entitled After Such Knowledge, from his book, How to Read the Bible

* * *

“Thanks to the qualities of the Christian message itself and the many signs given in history, the Christian religion may be described as ‘evidently credible’ “ (Vatican I, DS 3013).

(evidently credible?!)

Avery Dulles in Systematic Theology, Roman Catholic Perspectives, Fiorenza et al.

* * *

“We who have gone out from the world to God, return with him in his entrance into the world, and are nearest to him there where he is furthest away from himself in his true love of the world; there and in this we are nearest to him because, if God is love, one comes closest to it where, having given itself as love to the world, it is furthest away from itself.”

(what a romantic vision of mission)

Karl Rahner, The Humanity of Jesus

* * *

“On falling from the horse, he lost consciousness; when he recovered it, the present was almost intolerable it was so rich and bright; the same was true of the most ancient and trivial memories.”

Description of Ireneo Funes, fictional character of Jorge Luis Borges’ Funes the Memorius

* * *

And finally, lest you should think I would leave Vincent with only one quote encouraging the religious order he founded toward a mediocre standard, I offer this final thought from our dear patron.   Let us notice that the saint’s desire for “average” preaching was yet one more way of acknowledging that….

“Our Lord had made vows, not as God, but as man.”

St. Vincent de Paul, Conferences to the Congregation of the Mission

To the Sisters of Charity – thank you for a wonderful sixteen years, and thank you for those still to come!

Becoming a Candidate with a Pioneer Spirit

By Melissa Fisackerly

Mother Catherine Spalding was the first leader and superior of the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth. Spalding also founded a few educational intuitions, first private hospital in Louisville, and social services for children. Mother Catherine is a model for the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth to imitate in daily living.

On September 19th, I was accepted into the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth candidate program. During the ceremony, I had scenes from Mother Catherine’s book, “A Pioneer Spirit” running through my mind. I was thinking about how she made her first commitment along with other like-minded young women. I have such great comfort knowing that Mother Catherine doubted and feared, and also had such great faith and joy for her community and the future of the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth. 

I was somewhat nervous until the provincial placed upon me a Mother Catherine necklace. Once I was wearing Catherine’s necklace, I felt my fears trickle away. For me, wearing this necklace is a true testament to Mother Catherine’s life history, dedication to prayer, her perseverance, and her steadfastness. I hope to carry out her legacy in my everyday life! 

Sr. Nancy Gerth (Vocation Director), Melissa Fisackerly, Sr. Betty Blandford (Candidate Director), Sr. Adeline Fehribach (Provincial)

Melissa Fisackerly, Eva Kowalski, Nancy Gerth, Isa Garcia, and Paris Slapikas 

Welcome to the Family!

Denise Morris, Whitney Schieltz, & Romina Sapinoso (3 on the left) were received as Affiliates with the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati.

Melissa Fisackerly was received as a Candidate with the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth.


Join us as we pray for our newest members of the Future of Charity as they begin their formation journey with the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati and the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth.

Future of Charity Gathering: NOLA September 11-13, 2015

Participants from the Future of Charity Gathering share their reflections from the weekend:


During our Saturday morning prayer, one of the responses we used was, "We hear you.  We walk with you."  Each time we gather as Future of Charity, that sense of understanding and companionship is palpable.  In a world where sister-peers are hard to come by for newer members, this community is a gift that strengthens me and fills me with hope!  ~Sr. Tracy Kemme, Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati 

I came to the gathering because I enjoy being with other newer members in the Charity Federation.  We had an opportunity to share our experiences, ideas and dreams and to give and receive support from each other.  This weekend allowed me to deepen my relationship with others in the group and I returned home feeling inspired with a sense of joy and hope for our future as Charities.  ~Sr. Paris Slapikas, Sisters of Charity of Nazareth 

Gathering as a Vincentian Family and celebrating mass with 

Fr. Louis Arceneaux, a Vincentian Priest.

As I approach a milestone in my formation that requires significant transition, there's no greater support I could get than the opportunity to share my experience with other women who are in or have recently been in the same situation.  Even though each of our stories is unique, it is a blessing to be able to relate our challenges and hopes with one another, pray together, and know that we are not alone in our journeys.  ~Whitney Schieltz, Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati

[Something I have taken away from this weekend is] that there are women discerning with a similar heart and expressed differently. We are the future of religious life.  We desire a closer relationship with our God.  We are joyful women of faith, playful women, prayerful women, & women who seek the love of Christ in others.  ~Melissa Fisackerly, Sisters of Charity of Nazareth

Exploring the city on the St. Charles Avenue Streetcar.

It was such a gift to be together with younger, newer members of congregations within the Sisters of Charity Federation during the same weekend the 40th anniversary of the canonization of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton was celebrated in Emmitsburg, MD.  Although we all belong to different branches, coming together during these gatherings is a reminder that we are all rooted in the same Vincentian charism.  We are all rooted in a deep love for Christ in the Poor.  ~Kara Davis, Daughters of Charity

I came to the weekend to nurture the bonds of friendship and support that have begun across the Charity Federation.  I leave with a renewed passion to share the Charity of Christ, to connect with those on the margins and to dream about our future in religious life.  #gratitude  ~Sr. Marie Flowers, Sisters of Charity of Nazareth

I come away from the Future of Charity gathering feeling nourished and energized by the companionship of my Sisters.  I am grateful that we are on the journey together.  ~Sr. Annie Klapheke, Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati

Enjoying some local cuisine.