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Living Spring News in a Nutshell By Sister Anne-Marguerite Potchen, VHM Continued. Please turn to page 2 Monastery of the Visitation Mont Deux Coeurs 14 Beach Road Tyringham, MA 01264 September 2012 ELECTION YEAR In the Visitation the only campaign manager we have is the Holy Spirit. With this inspiration, on May 24 we re-elected Mother Mary Ruth Dolch to lead us through the next three years. Mother is an experienced superior and we are grateful to her for her selflessness in serving this Community. We hope you will continue to enjoy her column: “From the Desk Of Mother Mary Ruth” (see page 8.) SEASON OF FEASTS The time immediately following Easter has feast days back to back: Pente- cost, May 27, is such a big solemnity that we prepare for it with a retreat of three days. During Evening Prayer I of Pentecost, each Sister draws a card with one Gift and one Fruit of the Holy Spirit written on it. This is the best lottery of them all since it’s always a winning card! IN HONOR OF MARY The feast of the Visitation is celebrated on May 31. In addition to a beauti- ful Mass and day of Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, we had our May Procession. This year, Sister Joanna’s name came forth from the ballot box and she chose to crown the statue of Our Lady in the Sisters’ chapel. Sister Gemma Maria made a lovely crown for Our Lady and a petite one to match for the Baby Jesus! HOLY TRINITY Sunday, June 3, the Church celebrated the Feast of the Holy Trinity. In our diocese of Springfield, six priests were ordained on the preced- ing Saturday and had their “first Mass” on this feast day. Among the new ordinands was Father Matthew Alcombright. Fr. Matt is a dear friend of the Sisters and we were able to share his joy at Mass for us on Monday, June 4. Welcome back to “News in A Nutshell”. This issue of Living Spring spans the time between our Easter and Christmas editions. Many of you have told us that it is im- portant to you to keep connected with the Sisters. In this column, we share the daily events of our lives with all of you. Top to Bottom: Sr. Joanna crowning the statue of Mary; the statue with Sr. Gemma’s two crowns; Fr. Matt Alcombright

News in a Nutshell · 2019-09-18 · Living Spring News in a Nutshell. By Sister Anne-Marguerite Potchen, VHM. Continued. Please turn to page 2. Monastery of the Visitation. Mont

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Page 1: News in a Nutshell · 2019-09-18 · Living Spring News in a Nutshell. By Sister Anne-Marguerite Potchen, VHM. Continued. Please turn to page 2. Monastery of the Visitation. Mont

Living Spring

News in a Nutshell BySisterAnne-MargueritePotchen,VHM

Continued. Please turn to page 2

Monastery of the VisitationMont Deux Coeurs

14 Beach RoadTyringham, MA 01264

September 2012

ELECTION YEARIntheVisitationtheonlycampaignmanagerwehaveistheHolySpirit.Withthisinspiration,onMay24were-electedMotherMaryRuthDolchtoleadusthroughthenextthreeyears.MotherisanexperiencedsuperiorandwearegratefultoherforherselflessnessinservingthisCommunity.We hope you will continue to enjoy her column: “From the Desk OfMotherMaryRuth”(seepage8.)

SEASON OF FEASTSThetimeimmediatelyfollowingEasterhasfeastdaysbacktoback:Pente-cost,May27,issuchabigsolemnitythatweprepareforitwitharetreatofthreedays.DuringEveningPrayerIofPentecost,eachSisterdrawsacardwithoneGiftandoneFruitoftheHolySpiritwrittenonit.Thisisthebestlotteryofthemallsinceit’salwaysawinningcard!

IN HONOR OF MARYThefeastoftheVisitationiscelebratedonMay31.Inadditiontoabeauti-fulMassanddayofExpositionoftheBlessedSacrament,wehadourMayProcession. Thisyear,Sister Joanna’snamecameforth fromtheballotboxandshechosetocrownthestatueofOurLadyintheSisters’chapel.SisterGemmaMariamadealovelycrownforOurLadyandapetiteonetomatchfortheBabyJesus!

HOLY TRINITYSunday,June3,theChurchcelebratedtheFeastoftheHolyTrinity.InourdioceseofSpringfield,sixpriestswereordainedonthepreced-ingSaturdayandhadtheir“firstMass”onthisfeastday.AmongthenewordinandswasFatherMatthewAlcombright.Fr.MattisadearfriendoftheSistersandwewereabletosharehisjoyatMassforusonMonday,June4.

Welcomebackto“NewsinANutshell”.ThisissueofLivingSpringspansthetimebetweenourEasterandChristmaseditions.Manyofyouhavetoldusthatitisim-portanttoyoutokeepconnectedwiththeSisters.Inthiscolumn,wesharethedailyeventsofourliveswithallofyou.

Top to Bottom: Sr. Joanna crowning the statue of Mary; the statue with Sr. Gemma’s two crowns; Fr. Matt Alcombright

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News in a Nutshell continued from page 1.

EUCHARISTIC ADORATIONJune10,feastofCorpusChristi,FatherTuckerCordaniledusinanEucha-risticprocessionwiththecustomarytriplebenediction.ThroughouttheweekleadinguptothefeastoftheSacredHeart,wehaddailyExpositionoftheBlessedSacrament.Thistimeofprayerisoneofthehighlightsoftheyearforus.Thedaysarefilledwithmanygraceswonforourbenefac-torswhoareincludedintheSacredHeartTriduum.ItwasourpleasuretohaveFatherTomSchmidtasthecelebrantfortheeveningMassesinhonoroftheSacredHeartofJesusfromJune13–15.Onthisgreatfeastday,FatherYerickMendez,anotherofthenewlyordainedpriests,saidourmorningMassandgaveushisfirstblessing.

SUMMER FUNAlthoughwehadamodestbarbequeforMemorialDay,summergotintofull swingwith theFourthof Julypicnic. Themorningactivitywasabingogamecompletewithprizes!Theafternoonwassetasideforgameswithticketsredeemableformoreprizes!Now,youmaybewonderingwhatkindofprizesdothenunswanttowin.Iwillletyouinonthese-cret:toothpaste,shampoo,bodywash,stationeryofanykind,rosaries,photocardsandothersuchusefulobjectsthatcanbesupplied.Intheevening,webuiltafireandmades’moreswhileenjoyingsomeIndepen-denceDaysparklers!

GARDEN DELIGHTSSister Mary Francis and Sister Marie Jacqueline are our local farmers.Theirgardensareproducingsomanythings forus toenjoy including:potatoes, eggplant, zucchini, cucumbers, tomatoes, green beans andevencornonthecob!Ourtableisamplyprovidedforbythefruits(shallwesayvegetables)oftheirlabors.Therabbitsareeatingquitewell,too!

SISTER EXCHANGEOnJuly17,MotherandSisterMaryEmmanuelflewtoMobile,Alabama,toattendtheFederationCouncilMeetingwhichlasteduntilJuly20.Thesamedayastheirdeparture,weexpectedthearrivalofSisterIsabelClarkfromourmonasteryinSt.Louis,Missouri.HertravelarrangementswereinterruptedbyanunplannedovernightinthePhiladelphiaairporthotel.ThenextdaySisterarrivedinTyringhamviatheAlbanyairport.SisterIsabelwasabletomakeherannualretreatwithusandspendafewextradaystakinginthebeautyofoursurroundingsbeforereturninghomeonJuly31.

Left: Sr. Mary Francis in the cornfield; above l to r: Sr. Te-resa Cordes, Sr. Mary Jacqueline, Sr. Miriam Rose, Sr. Joan Bernadette, Sr. Isabel Clark, Sr. Mary Charles, Mother Mary Ruth, Sr. Joanna.

Top to bottom: Fr. Tucker Cordani on the Feast of Cor-pus Christi; Fr. Tom Schmidt at the Sacred Heart Triduum; Fr. Yerick Mendez giving a first blessing; Sister Mary Charles on the Fourth of July

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Vi s i t at i o n R o s a r i e s

8mm bayong wood Ave beads, cloissoné Paters, bronze pieces / $65.

7mm mother of pearl beads with all sterling silver parts / $100.

6mm orange carnelian beads with bronze crucifix and center / $35.

H a n d m a d e b y t h e S i s t e r s

i s i t at i o n

CALL us at 413-243-3995 to place your orders. Ask for Sister Joan Bernadette. All orders made by check at this time/plus $5.00 S&H. Custom made rosaries and chaplets available.

V8mm burnt horn beads with brass pieces / $40.

s

s

Black melon beads with French inlaid wood crucifix & silver center / $50.

ST. JANE DE CHANTAL, OUR HOLY MOTHERThefoundressoftheOrderoftheVisitation,St.JanedeChantal,hashadseveraldatesassignedforherfeastday,themostrecentofwhichisAu-gust12.FatherKazChwalek,provincialsuperioroftheMariansoftheImmaculateConception,wasthecelebrantatourregularmorningMass.Itwasourspecialjoytosharethisdaywithhim.LaterinthemorningFatheralsocelebratedthepublicjubileeMasshonoringhis25thanniver-saryofordination.Admoltusannos!

LIKE MOTHER, LIKE DAUGHTER MyMotherandIhadawonderfultimesubstitutinginthekitchenwhileArletteWebster,our faithful cook,wasonvacation forherdaughter’swedding. This was the first time in twenty-five years that we shareda kitchen! WewishmanyblessingsonNicole andhernewhusband,Shane!

NOVITIATE NEWSDuringthesummermonths,wehadseveralwomenvisituswhoaredis-cerningtheirvocations.PleaseprayforthemaswejourneywiththeminfindingGod’swillintheirlives.BythetimeyoureadthiseditionofLivingSpring,wewillhavetwonewpostulants:BernadetteHeffernanhasrejoinedusafterafewmonthsawayandJenniferMendinhall,whowasoneoftherespondersintheMayarticle:FAQ on the Call,enteredaswell. Joinus inpraying for those theSacredHeart iscalling to theTyringhamVisitation.Top: A sister at Adoration on the

feast of St. Jane de Chantal; bot-tom: Sr. Anne-Marguerite and her mother in the monastery kitchen.

There are more community pictures on page 8.

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The Guard of Honor of the Sacred Heart Taking Small Steps ...ByFr.SeanO’Mannion

Guard of Honor Enrollment FormNAME:

ADDRESS:

CITY:STATE:ZIPCODE:

COUNTRY: TELEPHONE:

____Iamrenewingmymembership.

____PleasesendmemoreinformationE-MAIL:

Lord Jesus, whose every action glorifies your Father, I consecrate myself today to your service by the offering of the activities of my state of life. As an Associate of The Guard of Honor, I choose the hour

from ___________ to ____________ as an offering of love, reparation, and mercy for the world.

(Optional) I choose an additional Hour of Presence as an Hour of Mercy from __________ to ___________ for this person(s)_________(initials only)

Returnto: MonasteryoftheVisitation,GuardofHonorEnrollment 14BeachRoadPOBox432 Tyringham,MA01264 [email protected]

In the Gospels our Lord Jesus Christ teaches ustobechildlike inourapproachtoGod—tobehumble,trusting,andteachable.AswestruggletoreorganizetheGuardofHonoroftheSacredHeartofJesus,weseemtobetakingHiswordstoheart!

Overthepastyear,oureffortstoorganizeourCenteroftheGuardofHonoroftheSacredHeartofJesushavemetwithallmannerofdifficultiesandreversals.TheseremindusofthemanytrialsbothSt.MargaretMaryAla-coqueandSt.Claude laColombièrehad togo throughinordertobringthemessageoftheSacredHearttotheworld.Wecantakecomfortinrememberingtheobsta-cle-ladenhistoryofthisdevotion,andtherockyroadSt.MargaretMary,St.Claude,andmanyothers traveled tobringthisbeautifulandlife-givingmessagetotheworld.WiththehelpofGod’sgraceandtheprayersandsupportofallofyou,continuetomoveforward—onesmallstepatatime.

Oneofthemoredauntingtaskswefaceisthetaskofgettingeverythingorganized,andstreamliningtheoldrecordswiththenew.Wehaveagreatdealofmem-bersoftheold“HourofPresence”andwewouldlikeyoutopleasenotifyusifyouareinterestedinrenew-ingyourmembershipundertheneworganizationandparticipating inkeepinganHourofGuard(akaHourofPresence).Ifso,weaskthatyoupleasecontactusandinformusofyourintent,andpleaseletusknowwhichhouryouhavechosenasyourHourofGuard(whichwouldbethesameasthe“HourofPresence”)and, if applicable,yourHourofMercy. Pleasenote:theHoursmustbegin“onthehour,”forexample,4:00to5:00asopposedto4:30to5:30.ThisallowsustoenteryourHourintoourDials.

Oncethisgoalisaccomplished,wehopetoimple-ment Masses of Enrollment. Another project is theEnglishtranslationoftheHandbookandStatutes,theFrench-languageoriginalofwhichwasupdatedandap-provedbytheHolySeein2009,sothereismuchtodo.

St.PaultheApostleteachesusthatoneofthethreegreattheologicalvirtuesisHope.Weholdontothishope,anditbringsusgreatenergyandenthusiasmforthefuture.

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I was recently re-reading our last newsletter andsomething in the interview with three aspiring Sisterscaughtmyeye.Sr.Joannasaidthatsomeonerecommend-ed restricting thenumberofcommunities shevisited toaboutfive.Thisisgoodadvice;and,Irealizedthattherearesomeotherthingstokeepinmindwhensearchingforthecommunitythat“fits”you.

Spiritualdirectionisessentialexceptforararesoulin-deed.Findingadirectormaybeeasyenough,butfindingtherightoneforyoumaynotbesoeasy.Togetmestart-edonmyway,myparishpriest,Fr.Jimputmeintouchwith two Sisters in thearea:Sr.Margaret,aCar-melitehermitess andSr.Lucille,aSisterofMercywho directs the localhomeless shelter. Eachone referred me to herownOrdertogivemeastartingpoint.

Originally, I wantedverymuchtostayinmyowndioceseofPortland,Maine. I found a pam-phlet of communitiesin Maine, but did notrealize how outdated itwas. It finally dawnedonmethatallthephonecallsIhadmadewerenotbeingreturned,andthatperhapsthenumbersoraddresseswerenolongerinuse.

Notallofthemweredefuncthowever,andItrackeddown the Little Franciscans of Mary located in Worces-ter, MA. I arranged with them for a weekend visit anddrovedownthere(drivinginWorcesterisnotsomethingI’dcaretorepeat!).FromthefrontyardIcouldseetheirlargenursinghomeattheendofthestreet.Iwasalittlealarmed at this as I was firmly not interested in nursingbecauseIwasseriouslyburntoutinthefield.

Nevertheless, I received a tour of the facility, all thetime emphasizing how much I did not want to nurse.TherewerefourSisterslivingthereandtheywereallsokindandaccommodating. TheSuperioroftheconventwasveryhelpfultomeregardingprayeranddiscernment.ItwasshewhotoldmethatIwouldknowtherightplacewhenIgotthere.ShesaidthatIwouldwalkintotheplacewhereGodwascallingmeandIwouldknow.Imightnotlikeit,butIwouldknow.Shewasabsolutelycorrect.

Finding Your Way: Discernment VisitingBySisterBernadetteThereseLash,VHM

ThenextcommunityIlookedatwastheFelicians,aFran-ciscancongregation.IknewthattheyhadahospitalinBan-gor,Maine,becauseIoftentransferredmypatientseithertotheirfacility,St.Joseph’s,ortoEasternMaineMedicalCen-ter.IfoundtheseSistersbyaskingtospeaktoaSisterafterIhadfinishedgivingreporttotheICUnurseatSt.Joseph’s.SincethenurseIwasspeakingtodidnotknowanyoftheSisterspersonally,hetransferredmycalltotheoperator,towhomIexplainedthatIwantedtospeaktoaSister.Whichone?Anyone!SotheoperatorconnectedmewithaSisterwhosenameIhaveforgotten,eventhoughshewastheCEOofthehospital!ThislovelySisterconnectedmetothevoca-

tionSisterandwearrangedtomeetinherhospitalcaf-eteriaforlunchinthenearfuture. From that initialmeeting, I visited them anumberof times,eitherattheirconventinBangor,orat theMotherhouse inEn-field,CT.

There were manythings I liked about theFelicians. Again,theFran-ciscanspiritualitywas(andstill is) very attractive tome. Although they hadan active ministry (health-care), they made time for

prayerandadoration.IalsolikedthefactthattheyarePol-ishinorigin,asIamPolish.ButyethereIwasagainlookingat anursing congregationwhile steadfastly insisting that Ididnotwanttonurse!

WhatIlearnedinvisitingthesetwocommunitiesisthatitisnotfairtodesireentranceintoanursingorteachingor-derwhileresistingworkinthatapostolate.Itdoesn’tmakesenseanditisdownrightridiculous!Ifyoureallydonotliketheministryofaparticulargroup,wellwhyareyoulookingatthem?YouseethatIdidthisverything,andsoIspeakfromexperience.

When you are discerning where to enter, you cannothavesomanypre-conceivedconditionstobefulfilledthattheHolySpirithasnospacetowork.If,say,youdesiretowearahabit,thatis legitimateenough.ButiftheveiltheSisterswearallowshairtoshowandyoudon’tlikethat,butyouloveeverythingelse,well,howimportantisthattoyou?

Ifyouhaveaspecialneedinyourdietsuchasbeinglac-Continued. Please turn to page 7

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Sisters of the Little Habit

InimitationoftheBeloved,we,atthehandsoftheDivinePotter,nowhavebecomeclay-workersofourown.Depictingthevariousaspectsofourlife,weintroducetoyouasetoffigurinesusinganoven-hardeningclaycompound.Arecenthomily,highlightingtheimportanceofremainingpliableintheHandsoftheAlmighty,seemedtovalidateourchoiceofclayasthispolyformcompoundremainssoftuntilbaked,evenifleftexposedtotheairfordays!Andso,weintroduce:The Sisters of the Little Habit.Thenameofournewcreationsreflectsthesizeofthefigures(approximately4.5”tall)andatermfromourhistorygiventoindicateveryyoungsisters.

ThefiguresareeachhandmadebyoneofthesistershereinthemonasteryandweartheofficialhabitoftheOrder,includingsidebeadsandprofessioncross.Afterforming,thenunisbakedinaconvectionovenandthensignedbythesisterartist.Theclaycomesinavarietyofcolorsandnodyesorpaintsareaddedduringthecreativeprocess.Eachfigureisuniqueandvariesslightlyinposture,coloration,andattitude.

Wecurrentlyhave four areasofour lifedepictedbyour little sisters:HeavenlyHosts,Prayer,Work,andPlay.Youwillnoticeinthebrochureenclosedinthisissuethateachcategoryhas3-5sistersavailable.ThesaintsofourOrderandadepictionofthenameofourmonasterymakeuptheHeavenlyHosts.InPrayer,youwillfindthesistersengagedinbothmentalandvocalprayer.Takingprayerintoactivity,youwillfindourWorksistersreadywithapronsonandheartsopen.And,ofcourse,nobodywantsagrumpysister…sothereisalwaystimeforholyrecreationandPlay.

WehopeyouallwithfindroominyourlifeforaSister of the Little Habit!

BySr.JoannaArmstrong

Vestment and Altar Linens for All Occasions

If you can't find what you

want on our rack,

Sr. Gemma will design

something special for you.

Call her at 413.243.0814

Visit us on the web

www.chantalartisans.com

Above: Sister Mary Emmanuel forming a Sister of the Little Habit.. Below: a Sister “in formation.”

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toseintolerantandyouapplytoaCarmelitecommunitywhosedietisprimarilydairyproducts,howcanyouex-pectthatthatwillwork?Theyhavebeeneatingameat-less,dairy-filleddietforcenturiesandforyoutheyshouldchange? Why are you looking there? If you need andmusthaveagoodnight’ssleeptofunctionevenminimal-ly,whywouldyouconsideragroupwhorisesforvigilsat2a.m.?Howsensibleisthat?

Now that I’ve lived the religious life for 12 years, Icansaythat“I’veseen‘emcomeandI’veseen’emgo”.Themainreasonwomenleaveunhappilyandmorecon-fusedthanever,inmyopinion,isaninabilitytobeflex-ible. If the discerning soul is looking for perfection inallherexpectations,shewillbedisappointed.However,if the sincere seeker is visiting a community and hearsfighting,complaining,uncharitableness in speechorac-tion,shemustleaveatonceandnotlookback.Ahousesuchasthatisinfectedwithbitternessandsuffersfromagrosslackofcharity.IdonotmeananoccasionalunkindremarkorcomplaintthataSistermayutterwhensheisjustplaintiredorstressedoutthatday.Asfortheformerhouse:prayforthem.

Idigress…Idonotrememberwhointroducedtheideatomeofacontemplativelife.Ieventuallyvisitedtwodif-ferentmonasteries. FirstImettheSisterAdorersofthePreciousBlood,locatedinPortland,Maine.

IspentawinterweekendwiththemandIlikedthemverymuch.Theirlifewassimpleandsincereandtruetotheircharism.Atthetime,therewasanovicewhowasabout10yearsyoungerthanI,butwedidnotgetonwell.I wanted to play in the snow, but she was standoffish.I wanted to talk about some things, but she was aloof.I learnedmuchlaterthatthosewhoareinthenovitiatewith you may not necessarily make it to solemn vows.Although thenovitiatemay indeedbeheavenonearth,itisalsoawinnowingfanorathreshingfloor,andthosewhoarenotsuitedtothelifewillbefoundout.Inotherwords,donotbaseyourdecisionuponthemembershipofthenovitiate.Atanyrate,althoughIenjoyedtheAdor-ersverymuch,Ididnotfeeladeepcalltothatmonastery.

Finally, I settled on this monastery here. I visited aweek, then two, then three months, and then entered.I think this community is just wonderful, but everyonedoesnotfeelthatway,oreveniftheydo,theymaynotfeelcompelledtojoinusfortherestoftheirlives.AndthatisO.K.

IcannotstressenoughtheimportanceofstayingopentothepromptingsoftheSpirit.Inthebeginning,Ireallydidnotwant tocomehere,but theSpirit sentsomany

signsthatIsimplycouldnotignoreorresistanylonger.Somaybesomeonementionsacommunitytoyouthatyou’veheardofbutfeelnoattractiontoit.Considerthattheper-sonwhospeakstoyoumaybethemouthpieceoftheSpirit.Howwillyouknowunlessyougo?Theremightbesome-onetherethatyouaresupposedtomeetwhowilltellyousomethingthatyouneedtoknow.

Beopen,flexible,andliveinthepresentmoment.Tryreallyhardtoputpreconceivednotionsaside(Iknowthisisdifficult).Rememberthatmonasticorconventuallivingwillnotsuityouexactlyaswouldlivingonyourown.Thisseemstobeanobviousfactoflife,andyetthissurprisesanddisturbspeople;somystrongrecommendation,inadditiontothosebelow,areforopennessandflexibility.

❤ Keep in mind the advice Sr. Joanna received tokeep thenumber toaboutfive. Manymore thanthatwillonlyservetoconfuseyou.

❤ Notethespiritofthecommunity.Isthereagenu-inejoythere?Isthereunionofhearts,thatis,dotheSistersseemtoloveandsupportoneanother?AretheSistershumbleanddevout?

❤ Takestockofhowyoufeelwhenyouarethere.Doyoufeelcomfortable?(Itisnormaltofeelnervousor frightened at first.) Or do you feel edgy or aprotractednervousness?Whenitistimetoleave,doyoufeelanxioustogetgoingorareyousorrytoleave? (Many, including myself, cried every timewe left.) Feelingsof confusionoruncertainty areO.K.andcanoftenbeassuagedbyprayerandare-peatvisit.

❤ Trynottoobsessabout“FINDINGGOD’SWILL”.Thisisimportant,certainly,butit’snotthathard.GoddoesnothideHiswill,thoughweoftenmissitbecauseourhopesanddesiresaresostrong.Ifitseemsthatyouarewastingyourtimesearchingandsearching,considerthelessonsyoumaybelearningandthatperhapsHiswillisforyoutolearnthem.

❤ When you are in between times of visiting com-munities,relax,forHeaven’ssake!ContinuegoingtoMass,prayingandreadingasyouhavebeendo-ing. Spendtimewith familyand friends. Pursuehobbies likeyou’vealwaysdone. Bydoingthesethings,youallowyourmindandbodytorelaxandthisallowsyoutoreceiveinspirations.Forme,hik-ing the mountains and rocky coast of Maine wasawonderfulwaytoshakeoffanxieties,enjoythewondersofcreation,andallowtheSpirittospeaktomyheart.

Finding Your Way ... continued from page 5.

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From The Desk Of Mother Mary RuthDuringthenextfewmonthswewillcelebrateanumberofMarianFeasts.OnAugust15wewillcelebratetheAssumptionofMaryintoHeaven.August22istheFeastoftheQueenshipofMary.September8,ismyfavoriteFeastsinceitismyFeastDayormyNameDay,assomepeoplesay.September15istheFeastofOurLadyofSorrowsandOctober7istheFeastofOurLadyoftheRosary.IthoughtthatyoumightenjoyreadingashortexplanationofeachoftheseFeasts.

TheAssumptionrecallsthespiritualandphysicaldepartureofMary,theMotherofJesus,fromtheearth,whenbothhersoulandherresurrectedbodyweretakenintoHeaven.Itwasfittingthatshe,whohadkepthervirginityintactinchildbirth,shouldkeepherownbodyfreefromallcorruptionevenafterdeath.ThisFeastis

aHolyDayofObligationforCatholics.

August22istheFeastoftheQueenshipofMary,establishedbyPiusXIIin1954.Mary’squeenshiphasrootsinScripture.AttheAnnunciation,GabrielannouncedthatMary’sSonwouldreceivethethroneofDavidandruleforever.MaryiscloselyassociatedwithJesus:HerqueenshipisashareinJesus’ownkingship.

TheChurchhascelebratedMary’sbirthsincethesixthcentury.WecelebratethatFeastonSeptember8.Mary’sparents,AnnaandJoachim,prayedforachild.TheyreceivedthepromiseofachildthatwilladvanceGod’splanofsalvationfortheworld.IfJesusistheperfectexpressionofGod’slove,Maryistheforeshadowingofthatlove.IfJesushasbroughtthefull-nessofsalvation,Maryisitsdawning.

September15istheFeastofOurLadyofSorrows.OurLady’scooperationintheredemptionoftheworldgivesusafreshviewofhermagnificence.Hersorrowswerenotnecessaryfortheredemptionoftheworld,butintheplanofGodtheywereinseparablefromit.ThesorrowsofJesus,herSon,necessarilybecameherownsorrowsbecauseofherMother’sloveforHim.

Finally,onOctober7,wecelebratetheFeastoftheHolyRosary.BlessedJohnPaulIItoldusthat“TheRosary,preciselybecauseitstartswithMary’sownlifeexperience,isanexquisitelycontemplativeprayer.”TheRosaryisanoutpouringoftheloveofGodforusandourtirelesslyreturningthatlovetoHim.

MaythesereflectionsassistyouinexpressingyourdevotiontoMaryduringthesenextfewmonths.

Mother Mary Ruth Dolch, VHM

8

left: Sisters line up for Eucharistic Procession; center: Sister Marie Jacqueline with basket of garden produce; right: Fourth of July fire: Jennifer, Sr. Joanna, Sr. Marie Jacqueline, Sr. Mary Francis.

More Pictures!