In HIS LoveIn HIS Love Winter 2014

Cardinal Dolan visits, p. 7

Profession(s), Reception of Habit, Postulants, p. 4-6

Jubilarians, p. 2-3

A Publication of the Dominican Sisters of Hawthorne

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Jubilarians renewing their vows in the presence of Mother Mary Francis

Sr. Mary Lucy Hitchcock (25 yrs.), Sr. Mary Richard Benanti (50 yrs.), Sr. Mary Kevin Clutterbuck (60 yrs.)

Honoring our 2013 Jubilarians

Sr. Mary Ellen Rahill, 50 yrs.

Sr. Mary Paul Cretello, 25 yrs.

Ourjubilariansof2013heardGod’scalltoreligiouslifefrombothsidesofthecoast.FromsunnyCaliforniawhereSr.M.LucyconvertedtoCatholicismandheardtheDominicanfriarspreach;toSr.M.EllenwhoheardGodcallwhileattendingdevotionsatSacredHeartChurchinBayside,NY;toSr.M.PaulobservingourSistersatMassontheirsummervacationsinElberon,NJwhichstirredtheideaofreligiouslifeinherheart;toSr.M.RichardataJesuitparishinManhattan;toSr.M.KevinwhofeltHiscallamidstthepartyingdaysofyouth.Thesewomenfromvariousplacesandtimescon-vergeinthisjubileebecauseoftheiryestoGod.SincetheydecidedChristwasthemostimportantaspectoftheirlife,thathasdecidedeverythingelsewhichhasfollowed.AlloftheseblessedyearswerecelebratedatajubileeMassatRosaryHillHomeinOctoberof2013withFr.JacobRestrick,OPpresiding,celebrationscontin-uedinNovemberatSacredHeartHomeandatOurLadyofPerpetualHelpHome. Fr.Jacobre lectedinhishomily:“Jubilees are a wonderful time to draw wa-ter from the well of gratitude. Givenourdayandage,withallthathastranspiredinourcountry,inourChurch,ourcommunitiesandourhomes–thatonehasheardthecalloftheLordandhassaidyesforover25,50,and60yearsisremarkable.The grace of perseverance is forged in the crucible of suffering, endurance, forgiveness and mer-cy.”

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AtSacredHeartHome,FatherDennisCarbonarofocusedupontheChristocentricaspectofre-ligiouslife:‘oursis“aloftyvocation.It is both the desire and the call of every religious that when we see you we see Christ, not the Christ of the miracles, but the Christ wandering the dusty streets of Palestine in worn and torn sandals;Christwishingforrestbutfrequently indingnonebecauseofthedemandsoflove;ChristeverpatientwithHisdisciples:ChristpreferringaCrosstoathrone.AHawthorneDominicanprofessesthisontheFeastoftheExaltationoftheCross,andseeksthisasherlife.Sheseekstoliveby,through,for,andundertheCrossofChrist.She doesn’t sanitize suffering or reduce the demands of Christ on His Cross – they’re real and she embraces them for love of Him.”

InadditiontorememberingthemeaningofthevocationinrelationshiptoChrist,thetimeof

jubilee,Fr.Jacobsaid,“isatimeofthanksgiving,atimeofremembrance,atimetolookbackandbeamazedbecauseonlywithtimedowecometoseethe ingerprintofGodinthestoryofourlives.Anditisatimetolookaheadwithrenewedfaithandhopeandjoyforthestoryisnotended.” FromyourSistersandonbehalfofallthoselivesyouhavetouchedthroughyourfaithfulnesstoChristandHisChurch,thankyou,andinthewordsofSt.Augustine,mayyoualwaysknowthat

“to fall in love with God is the greatest of romances,

to seek Him the greatest adventure, to find Him the greatest human achievement.”

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Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross September 14, 2013

Sr. Regina Marie Harper, O.P., made her first profession

in the hands of Mother Mary Francis, O.P.

Fr. Juan Diego Brunetta, O.P. was the principal celebrant and homilist for the Mass and Rite of Religious Profession in the Chapel of Our Lady of the Rosary, Rosary Hill Home. The following is an excerpt from his homily:

“Yourlifewillchangeasyou“deliberatelyandfreelypromisetoGod”(canon1191§1)your“wholeperson…thusbringingtoperfectionatotalself-givingasasacrificeofferedtoGod,throughwhichyourwholeexist-encebecomesacontinuousworshipofHimincharity”(canon607§1). HowaproposthatMotherMaryAlphonsawouldchoosethisfeastoftheExaltationoftheCrossforthedaythatallofherdaughterswouldmaketheirreligiousprofessions.EveryHawthorneDominicanhascomeforwardonthisfeastdaytoembraceinanewwaytheCrossoftheSavior,asshehasvowedtolivethelifeofthisCongrega-tionwithallthatthisen-tails--joysandsorrows.

You,Sr.ReginaMarie,willfollowintheirfootstepsthisday...alongwithanyburdenthatthislifemightbringcomesthegreatsupportandloveoftheotherofMotherAlphonsa’sdaughters--yoursisterstogetherwithwhomyouwilllivethislifeofprayer,thislifeofservice,thislifeofpenance.

Andwe,yourSisters,yourfamily,yourfriends,andyourpriests,gathertowitnessthisnewbeginninginyourlifeandthecontinuingmanifestationofGod’sprovidentialcarefortheCongregationandfortheChurch.”

Sr.ReginaMariewithherfamily,manyofwhomtravelledfromLouisianato

witnessherprofession.

Fr.JuanDiego,O.P.blessestheblackveil,signifyingSr.ReginaMarie’scon-secrationtoChristandtoHisChurch.

Sr.ReginaMariesignshervowsinthehandsof

MotherMaryFrancis

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RECEPTION OF THE HABIT (Vigil of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross)

Sr. Veronica Marie renewed her vows

for three years.

“Your baptismal name is Anna Wishall.

In the order you will be called Sr. Maria Gianna.”

“When my new name was announced at my clothing ceremony, I experienced a “spiritual joy” as God was con-

firming I’ve made the right decision answering His call to be a Hawthorne Dominican; as the Psalmist says: “This one

thing I seek, to dwell in the house of the Lord, all the days of my life.”

~Sr. Maria Gianna

Sr.MaryMichaelarenewedhervowsforoneyear.

Sr.VeronicaMarierenewedhervowsforthreeyears.

RENEWAL OF PROFESSION (during the conventual Mass, Sept. 14, 2013)

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“Afewyearsago,Ifollowedasuggestiontoseekspiritualdirection.Duringmy irstmeeting,thepriestaskedmeifIhaddiscernedmyvocation.Uptothatpoint,IhadalwaysassumedthatIwouldonedaybemarriedandhaveafamily.Myspiritualdirectoreducatedmeonthevariousvocationalpathsandhelpedme indareligiouscommunitytovisit.Overthecourseofseveralmonths,InolongerfeltIwascalledtomarriedlife,butitseemedGoddesiredmetoenterintoreligiouslife. Aftervisitingvariousactiveandcontemplativecommunities,IlearnedabouttheHawthorneDominicansthroughtheInstituteforReligiousLifewebsite.IthenheardthemonEWTNoneeveninganddecidedtocontactthem.ThoughIhadnonursingexperience,Iwasdrawntoboththeirprayerlifeandtheapostolateofcaringforthosesufferingfromincurablecancerandafteracoupleofvisits,IwasatpeacethatthisiswhereGodwantedmetobe.”

Stephanie

“IgrewupinUtahandCalifornia,andmovedtoWashington,DCin2006forgraduateschool.InDCIdiscoveredtheCatholicChurch,andacoupleofyearsafterconvertingbegantolookintoreligiouslife.AfterhearingabouttheDominicanSistersofHawthornefromtheDominicanfriars,IcametovisitinDecember2011.IwasimmediatelyimpressedbythebeautyanddedicationIsawlivedoutinthecareoftheresidents,inthelifeofprayercenteredaroundtheEucharistandinthewelcomingkindnessoftheSisterswhowerealsodowntoearthandstraightforward. Iwasblessedtovisittwomoretimesandthenappliedandwasaccept-edinMay2013.IamsogratefulthattheLordmadeitpossibletoenteronOc-

tober7th,2013andtohaveaclass-mateaswell.Afewmonthsintopostulan-cy,Ilookforwardtothecomingstepsinformation,togrowingintoaspiritualdaughterofMotherMaryAlphonsaandtolivingthelifewiththeSistersandresidents,whoallteachmesomuch.“Jenna

MEET OUR NEW POSTULANTS

Stephanie Zapfe and Jenna Andrews began their postulancy on October 7, 2013,

Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary

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Sisters,staffandresidentsofRosaryHillHomeweredelightedtowelcomeHisEminenceTimothyCardinalDolan,ArchbishopofNewYork,onDecem-ber8th,the2ndSundayofAdvent.FollowingMass,theCardinalvisitedandblessedeachpatientinhis/herroomandsharedmanyasmileandhugwiththecrowdgatheredintheSunroomtomeethim. Inhishomily,CardinalDolanofferedabeauti-fulre lectionontheteachingsofSt.JohntheBaptist.TheBaptistexhortsustorepent,foritisonlybyad-

mittingoursinfulnessthatweareabletoreceivethemercytheSaviorcomestobring.Johnpointsoutthe‘LambofGod,whocomestotakeawaythesinsoftheLord’,showingusthatJesusChrististhecen-terofourlives.TheCardinalmadetheanalogyofacouplewelcomingtheir irstchild:suddenlytheirwholelifechanges,theirveryidentitychanges, forthebabybecomesthecenteroftheirlives,every-thingtheydo,alltheirplans,areforthegoodofthatba-by.Andso,theSaviorcametous‘asababy,ababyatChristmastobepickedupandheldclosetoourheart,tobewelcomedintoourlivesandtotransformourlivesandbecomethecenterofourworld.’

“Hemustincrease,Imustdecrease”—JohntheBaptist,aspopular,asrenownedforholinessashewas,exhortedhisfollowerstolookawayfromhim,togotoanother—JesusChrist.Thisishumility:to‘knowthatsomeoneelseisGodandnotourselves,’tobeabletostepaside,topointtotheoneandonly‘centeroftheuniverse:’JesusChrist.

CARDINAL TIMOTHY DOLAN VISITS ROSARY HILL HOME

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I had eyes, but I could not see.

I had ears that heard little and understood none. The sense of touch was long gone . . . I was among the living but

I was dead. Then to my prayers came the answer: it was called Cancer. The pain which was to come was nothing like the pain I endured from my life of sin. Death would not come quick enough though,

so I returned to the way of life I lived. The life of the un-dead, the way of oh-so many before me and many to come, my life of sin.

Oh please remove me from this pain!! An empty room, a bottle of booze, and a vial full of pills . . . the phone rings!! Should I pick it up? I don’t know why, but I did. Hospice again, but this time they have a place called Rosary Hill ready, tomorrow 11:00a.m. I am told tomorrow or not at all. I didn’t know it at the time, but God put the word in my mouth: ‘Okay.’ July 6, 2010, 11:00a.m. I arrived in an ambulance still drunk from the previous day, at this place called Rosary Hill. Even being in the frame of mind I was in, I knew this was no ordinary hospital. For it shined with a gleam of which I never encountered and you could feel the warmth and love, like that of a mother cuddling her baby. I was met by a nurse, except her dress was unlike that of any in my prior experience. She and others like her had long white habits and black veils and were angelic in their manner. It didn’t take me long to realize they were nuns, yet they were so unlike the nuns I was told about in my youth . .

Then an awakening, a calling: hope: it came to me in a man wearing an alb. I asked for help and he, without hesitation, said the simple word I uttered from my lips on that July day: he said, ‘Okay.’ For I knew not what was in store, but I came to believe that maybe my life was worth living.

So it began a road to the unknown. Unlike many past attempts to change my life this one was not out of fear or desperation. This was for Love, love like I have never known before. . . I worked many an hour with this man whom was known as Father. So unselfish and giving was he, just like the Sisters, both seemed to have something I longed for . . .

Baptism . . . Confession . . . Confirmation: now I am a Catholic! The shame of the life I led has eased and now I can live the life God has intended for me. But what this was, I still did not know in detail, but I be-longed. Time comes and goes, and I find that there are times that the emptiness I once ran from, I can now em-brace. I am no longer alone and I know wherever I go God’s presence is with me. The more I learn, the more I feel, the more I want. I have been blessed in so many ways, and believe that around each corner with each new day God will reveal more. Not only do I receive fruits of His Divine Grace, but I can actually give and be useful to others with God’s help.

I know now, not only can I hear, but I can listen and understand the Word. Even though blind in one eye, I can see the beauty of all around. The smell of the air, the aroma of this gift called life is bountiful.

And now I can feel, I can feel the pain and hurt and overcome the uncomfortable moments that are part of life. But, so much more, I can feel joy and love. The love from those that tried to

love the unlovable me, and I, the unlovable, can love back. I love today, and after all, God is love.

Transformed by Grace Excerpt from Robert Jasuale’s conversion

account, in his own words . . . (patient at Rosary Hill Home, 2010-2013)

Bob with his parents

Baptized and confirmed in Our Lady of the Rosary Chapel

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Usually we have the blessing of our patients presence with us for days, weeks, maybe months; but every now and then we have a patient who is with us for years. Lucy was such a gift to us, who died at Rosary Hill Home on the eve of Thanksgiving 2013, after living with us for 13 years. She became a fixture in our home. Life at Rosary Hill included her presence. We knew her life story, her family, her laugh, her sighs. Every ear at Rosary Hill was open in expectation on Sundays to hear her loud “Amen” when she received Holy Communion, and was no doubt edified by it.

Every Sister who took care of Lucy had many a story they could tell about her characteristics: how she was ever prayerful, her great kindness, how she enjoyed a good joke, her patience, her concern for others and her devotion to family. When you have lived with someone for so long, their sudden absence, even though she was 103 (!), is jarring. Those you love are those you always want to be here with you. For the Sisters know the patients they care for. We live in the same house, we eat together at holidays, we tend their hurts, console their sorrows, share their joys, and in Lucy’s case, attend Mass together. With our patients, we are not just the givers though, but also the receivers; and we received Lucy’s love and her quiet constant prayerful presence which was a pleasure in a busy house.

For the last few years of Lucy’s life she was blind, but that didn’t keep her from enjoying her visits with Sisters, family and friends:

“I met Lucy 5 years ago and immediately formed a bond. We enjoyed each others company

and I loved hearing all her stories about her life. The thing we enjoyed most was singing together . . of all the many songs, ‘You are my Sunshine’ was our favorite. We weren’t the best singers and Lucy loved joking that I couldn’t carry a tune if I had it in a suitcase! But sing we did! Lucy, ‘you are my sunshine. See you later Alligator!’ (LizPipa,RosaryHillvolunteer)

Such loving reflections abound, and nearly all portray her clutching her little pink rosary. How many a rosary she said in her time at Rosary Hill only God knows. Blindness was not a hindrance to her to see what mattered, and one of those was getting as many rosaries in as she could each day. In an age of pro-euthanasia ideas, this woman who was unable to walk or see would seem a burden to some. But to us she was a gift. The gift she gave was her unique, unrepeatable self, and for those 13 years of gift of self we are truly grateful. Lucy, dear, may you rest in peace.

A Gift of Life and Love In gratitude for Lucy Hart

(patient at Rosary Hill Home, 2000-2013)

Lucy with her daughter and son-in-law

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Say, ‘Cheese’ !

Diane Kolsun (RHH patient, 2012-2014) is confirmed / received into the Church

Bishop Christopher Cardone, O.P. (Solomon Islands) visits the Sisters and

Patients at Rosary Hill

A surprise visit from Fr. Bruno Cadore, O.P.,

Master General of the Order

Thanh Nguyen (RHH 2013-2014) is baptized

Christmas in Philly

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Youngwomenwhoarediscerningareligiousvocationareinvitedtocomeexperienceourlifeandcharism.Partici-pantsresideintheNovitiatequartersattheMotherhouseandjoininourcommunityprayers,witnessourapostolateandmeetsomeofoursisters. Reservationsarerequired… pleasecontactSr.AlmaMarie(seereverse)

VOCATION RETREAT April 26-27, 2014

JOIN THE CAUSE

There is a lot happening with the Cause of Rose Hawthorne (Mother Mary Alphonsa). If you’re interested in learning more, join the Rose Hawthorne Guild. There is no cost to become a member. We are happy to have your interest. All we ask is that you spread the word about Rose Hawthorne and share with us any favors you know of that are received through her intercession.

The Rose Hawthorne Guild

600 Linda Avenue Hawthorne, New York 10532

(Please use the coupon to the left.)

DOMINICAN SISTERS OF HAWTHORNE Direct Inquiries to: Sr. Alma Marie, O.P., Vocation Director

Dominican Sisters of Hawthorne 600 Linda Avenue, Hawthorne, New York 10532 (914) 769-4794 (0114) E-Mail: vocationdirector@hawthorne-dominicans.org

Dear Sister Alma Marie: I would like to speak with you about

visiting your community. My number: ( ) ______-________ Please send me additional

information about your community. Please send me your Vocation Video

on a CD. (The video is also on our web site.)

NAME ______________________________ ADDRESS ___________________________ CITY _______________________________ STATE _________ ZIP ________________ Please add the above name to The Rose

Hawthorne Guild. Please add the above name to your

mailing list to receive IN HIS LOVE.

THE DOMINICAN SISTERS OF HAWTHORNE SERVANTS OF RELIEF FOR INCURABLE CANCER 600 LINDA AVENUE HAWTHORNE, NEW YORK 10532-1362

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

Rose Hawthorne (Mother Mary Alphonsa, O.P.)

Servant of God

Motherhouse: Rosary Hill Home