Redland Catholic

So Long!

I am off to religious life, so I will no longer be blogging.  Please enjoy reading over my previous posts - this blog will probably go away sometime next year.  Pray for me!

Vocation discernment opportunity with the Little Sisters of the Poor

The Little Sisters of the Poor have a Discernment opportunity coming up in October 2007

WHO: Single Catholic women age 18-35 who are open to the possiblility of a religious vocation

WHAT: Vocation Discernment retreat

WHEN: October 19-21, 2007

WHERE:  The Little Sisters' home in San Pedro, CA:

Jeanne Jugan Residence
2100 S. Western Avenue
San Pedro,  California  90732

CONTACT:  Sr. Maria Ann at 505-870-7452 or vcsanpedro@littlesistersofthepoor.org; or vocationinfo@littlesistersofthepoor.org

MORE INFO (from the flyer):

Join the Little Sisters of the Poor for a weekend of prayer and reflection in 2007. We will begin in an atmosphere of silence with Eucharistic adoration and a guided experience of “lectio divina,” the contemplative reading of Holy Scripture.  The discernment weekends will include Mass, the Liturgy of the Hours and the Rosary, an introduction to the Little Sisters of the Poor, and opportunities for both one-to-one and group discussion with the Little Sisters.

The discernment weekend will begin Friday at 6:00 p.m. and will conclude Sunday at noon.  Those who desire a more extended experience of our life may arrange to spend a few extra days with us before or after the weekend.

Cause for Canonization of Fr. Stanley Rother

The cause for canonization of Father Stanley Francis Rother will be officially begin October 5, 2007. 

At 7 p.m on October 5, 2007, Archbishop Eusebius Beltran will celebrate Mass at Holy Trinity Church, Fr. Rother's home parish in Okarche Oklahoma.  Immediately afterwards he will commission the Canonizaton Committee for the Cause of Saitnhood for Reverend Stanley Francis Rother.   

More details on the Archdiocese of OKC's Fr. Stanley Rother page and here.

This is an important step in a long process.  Here is the prayer approved by Archbishop Beltran for Fr. Rother's cause:

Heavenly Father,
source of all holiness,
in every generation you raise up
men and women heroic in love and service.

You have blessed your Church
with the life of Stanley Rother,
priest, missionary, and martyr.
Through his prayer, his preaching,
his presence, and his pastoral love,
you revealed Your love and Your presence
with us as Shepherd.

If it be Your will,
may he be proclaimed
by the universal church
as martyr and saint,
living now in your presence
and interceding for us all.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen

Little Sisters Video online

Also visit the Little Sisters of the Poor website to view the "Art of Accompaniment" video (it takes a while to download).

How Beautiful (Part II)

This is a continuation of an earlier post about a visit I made to St. Ann's Novitiate to attend the profession Mass for the Little Sisters of the Poor.  For Part I of this post on my visit to the Little Sisters of the Poor Novitiate, click here or scroll down...

Pictured are the newly professed Little Sisters and the new novices along with Novice Mistress Mother Mary Richard (far left) and Bishop William Murphy of Rockville Center, NY.

The day after I arrived at the novitiate, the postulants became first year novices.  They had planned their Mass of Entrance into the novitiate, but there weren't a lot of people there.  It was very solemn and beautiful.  I was anxious to see them in their habits for the first time, since I was already acquainted with one of them and had seen pictures of the others.  They processed in ahead of the priest, with very prayerful faces.  When Mass was over, their new religious names were announced.

They had received their habits at a ceremony earlier that morning, which I was not allowed to attend.  They were still on retreat, so I did not get to visit with them yet.  After Mass, I had lunch with a couple of other girls who had come for the profession, then I got to see the Little Sisters' home next door.  We also helped with the preparations for the Big Day, and were invited to recreation after supper with the first-year novices.

The novitiate chapel was packed for the profession Mass.  Sisters from other religious orders, including the Sisters of Life came.  The Missionaries of Charity (Mother Teresa's order) sat next to me!  The Brothers of St. John of God were also there - they have always been close to the Little Sisters of the Poor. 

When the Profession Mass started, the novices getting ready to make their vows processed in wearing the full habit and carrying candles - although their faces were bright enough to light up the chapel.  When it was time, the novice mistress called each one by name, to which they replied "You called me, Lord.  Here I am!"  Then each one made vows of poverty, chastity, obedience, and hospitality for two years (they will make them forever at their final profession about five years from now).  I regretted my decision not to bring along some tissues, because I started crying, especially when the musicians played this song by Twila Paris.  It was all very beautiful.

After Mass, everyone gathered in a room called "Our Lady of Joy" to hear where the new sisters' first "obediences" would be.  The Little Sisters of the Poor have three provinces in the United States, and each province got one of the new sisters.  They would hear their specific assignments later on when everyone was gathered for lunch.

I stayed for a few days after, and got to know the novice mistress and some of the newly professed sisters.  One afternoon I watched this adorable movie with one of the new sisters and her parents.  I also got to know some other young women who are thinking about entering the order.  It was nice to have a little quiet time also - even though the novitiate is in the middle of Queens, it was still very peaceful.

I hope this gives an idea of what it was like! 

Novena to Blessed Jeanne Jugan

August 30 will mark the Memorial of Blessed Jeanne Jugan, foundress of the Little Sisters of the Poor.  Today is the beginning of a novena in her honor.  Those who wish to make the novena can pray the following:

Jesus, you rejoiced and praised Your Father for having revealed to little ones the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven.  We thank You for the graces granted to Your humble servant, Jeanne Jugan, to whom we confide our petitions and needs.

Father of the Poor, You have never refused the prayer of the lowly.  We ask You, therefore, to hear the petitions she presents to You on our behalf.

Jesus, through Mary, Your Mother and ours, we ask this of You, who live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit now and forever.

Amen.

To read more about Jeane Jugan, visit http://redlandcatholic.typepad.com/redland_catholic/2006/08/memorial_of_ble.html

or

http://www.littlesistersofthepoor.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=feature.display&feature_ID=11

How Beautiful...

I had the opportunity to go see three Little Sisters of the Poor make their first profession of vows in July.  It was a beautiful experience!

I flew from Palatine to New York City (the novitiate is in Queens) two days before the profession.  I had a connecting flight in Cincinatti, and I ran into someone from my old job.  What a small word!

The postulants (soon to be first year novices) and 2nd year novices (soon to become Little Sisters of the Poor) were on retreat when I arrived.  I got there just in time for evening prayers and reposition of the Blessed Sacrament (their retreat included exposition and benediction).  After evening prayers, I had supper with the retreat master and another young woman in college who intends to enter the Little Sisters of the Poor in a few years.  The retreat master is a Jesuit priest and the Director of the Apostleship of Prayer here in the U.S.  I asked him if he knew of my great-uncle, who is also a Jesuit and was the International director of the Apostleship of Prayer.  As it turns out, he had met him! 

I will post more on the profession later when I get a chance.  Stay tuned!

Vocation Discernment with the Little Sisters of the Poor - Chicago

The Little Sisters of the Poor have a vocation discernment opportunity this weekend at their home in Chicago...

For: Women Ages 16-36

When: Saturday August 18, 2007 from 9:15 am until 5:15 pm

Where: St Mary's Home  2325 N. Lakewood Avenue Chicago, IL 60614

What:  "Journey in the Footsteps of Blessed Jeanne Jugan"

Will Include: Mass, Liturgy of the Hours, presentations on Jeanne Jugan and vocation discernment, and lunch and supper with the Little Sisters

For more information or to register, call Sr. Alba Luz at 773-935-9600 or email Sr. Maria de la Luz at vocationinfo@littlesistersofthepoor.org

I hope to see lots of people there!

I'm baaaack!

Well, at least for a little while :)  I have been spending the summer with the Little Sisters of the Poor in Palatine, IL and loving it!  I am going to try and keep up this blog until I enter on October 6th.  I have lots to talk about, hopefully I will have another post soon!

Please keep me in your prayers everyone!

Last Post

I have seriously neglected my blog over the past several months.  I really should have gone with one of the free services like Blogger because I haven't used it as much as I thought I might.  Oh, well.

Long story short - I don't think I will be posting to this blog any more.  I am not sure what my Internet access will be like over the summer, and I will defnintely not have access once I enter the Little Sisters of the Poor.  I will probably cancel my Typepad account in a couple of weeks, I will see if there is any way I can put my posts up on Blogger in case anyone still wants to check them out. 

Anyhow - I ask that anyone who comes across this to please keep me and my family in your prayers, and God Bless!  Thanks to all who have visited or linked to my blog!

If I do put my posts on Blogger, it will be at http://redlandcatholic.blogspot.com