December 2015 These last few days I have been reflecting on the power of the little word “yes!” This small word spurs gratitude, giving, and courage. This season of the year is filled with examples of how the gift of someone’s “yes” serves the common good, is a force for transformation, bolsters the evolutionary process, brings joy and hope in our day, and sets the stage for tomorrow’s surprising possibilities. Gratitude surges for the “yes” uttered over and over by Sister Mary William throughout her life; seventy-five years of it lived as a Sister of the Presentation. Gratitude surges for the courage, trust and hope for a new world present in the “yes” of Sisters Jessi and Mary Therese as they commit, like Nano, Mother Vincent, and today’s Sisters of the Presentation, to freely give of their gifts in order to live in solidarity with the crying needs of today’s local and global communities. Speaking of solidarity, it is overwhelming to reflect on all who walk within the initial formation process and promote life-long formation in community: the communities in Chicago and Tarija, Bolivia, Giving Voice, our gatherings of sisters and lay members, the hearth groups, spiritual directors and mentors saying “yes” to sharing with Mary Therese and Paola about how they live mission as disciples and how they strive to promote the values of Jesus which stir the hope “que otro mundo es posible,” “that a new world is possible.” We express our abundant gratitude for the “yes” of Sister Ann Jackson for her five years of walking with our sisters in formation discernment, and we welcome the “yes” of Sister Annette Kestel to continue this sacred ministry. In addition, we are mindful of the “sacred circles”, the Caritas groups, and the unfolding work of our Emerging Circles working to realize some of the hopes expressed in our community Dream Book in order to foster a life-giving present and future. It is overwhelming to ponder the great gifts of giving and courage present in each of our mission sisters, associates, employees and our Mt. Loretto community as all relate and work in their circles of influence to daily bring into the present, mercy, hope, compassion and the joy of the gospel. In January of 2016, it is possible that two Sisters from Vietnam will come to live in the Mt. Loretto Community. They have said “yes” to the challenge of leaving their community, families and homeland. They will be entering a new culture and learning a new language during their two years with us. Their language studies will prepare them for degree work at a university (perhaps in Houston) which will assist them to better serve their people in Vietnam. During the last two years we have been completing all the necessary documentation and interviews for Homeland Security, and have been approved to receive the Sisters. At present, they are working on getting the proper visas for entrance into the United States. Their names are 1 Sister Huyen Thi Phan, and Sister Nuong Thi Bui, members of the community of women religious, Lovers of the Holy Cross. We live in gratitude, as we celebrate the “yes” of the US martyred women in El Salvador who said “yes” to staying with the people in the midst of the horrendous massacres and violence taking place at that time, and to all who say “yes” today to continue to seek peace throughout America: Central, South, and North. We give thanks for the opportunities to foster peace in our time and place, as no one is free from violence. As Pope Francis has said, “Many powerful people don’t want peace because they live off war. Some powerful people make their living with the production of arms. It’s the industry of death.” May we continue to work for peace in our families, towns, cities, schools and states as well as support peacemaking groups throughout Earth, our common home. As one interrelated, interdependent community, can we say “yes” to live in relationship and dialogue? When pondering the power of the little word “yes”, we can only wonder at the “yes” of the youthful Mary, cited by National Geographic as “The Most Powerful Woman in the World”. She said “yes” to birth Jesus, who in turn incarnated mercy, hope, healing, compassion, the joy of freedom, and thereby changed the course of history by sharing a vision of an evolving, peaceful, world community that we yet struggle to realize. We are gifted by their courage and giving. We have the “yes” of Emmanuel, God with us, as we commit daily to say “yes” to living “Peace on Earth and good will to all.” Merry Christmas! 2 “Evolutionary Spiral” Artist: Mary Southard, CSJ www.MarySouthardArt.Org Courtesy of www.MinistryOfTheArts.Org Congregation of St. Joseph Ever Emerging This newly developed page in Community Notes is designed to highlight emerging circle activity and inspire conversations. Each month an emerging circle will be invited to feature its movement, stimulating insight and inquiry, as well as implications for other circles and our emerging Presentation future. This month we hear from the Wellness Circle. The Wellness Circle met November 16 at Mt. Loretto to discuss both recent and upcoming events regarding health and wellness. In this season of expectation and excitement, it can be easy to fly through the days and start to focus too much on what lies ahead. However, it is also important to do our best to stay present to the moment and appreciate what is going on each and every day, rather than just crossing another day off our countdown until Christmas. Advent Calendars do help us “count down” to Christmas Day, but they can also provide a great opportunity to pay attention to the importance of each day of the season. This year, the Wellness Circle has again created a calendar for our 2015 Advent Wellness Challenge, which can aid us in our task of slowing down and making a conscious effort each day to contribute something to the wider world, even in this especially busy time of year. The theme of this year’s calendar is “Caring for Our Common Home,” in reference to the recent encyclical by Pope Francis encouraging us to be responsible global citizens as well as followers of Christ in our daily lives. The challenge prompts participants to focus on three aspects of our lives: home, health and heart. It is in the format of a calendar that covers the entire season of Advent, designating one of the three categories for each day. You look at which category is for that day, and then go below to find a list of activities under the heading of each category. It is up to you to decide which activity you would like to do for that day. For instance, some of the activities include things such as turning off the lights when not in use, writing a letter to government leaders, eating fewer sweets that day, listening to prayerful music, visiting the chapel, calling an associate to share blessings, etc. No matter what the activity may be, it will contribute simultaneously to your own wellness and the well-being of those around you in the areas of home, health and heart. Besides creating this calendar, the Wellness Circle has been busy this past year. Along with producing a similar Advent Wellness Challenge Calendar last year, the circle has coordinated numerous efforts to encourage wellness in the past months. Last spring we hosted Brian Brown to give a seminar on energy, as well as a nutritionist from Hy-Vee that spoke about healthy eating. In the upcoming year, the circle is excited to organize more programs that contribute to the community’s overall health. Our circle’s intention is to be constantly working to promote physical, mental, psychological and spiritual wellness both within our community and beyond. We also always welcome new ideas, as well as new members. If you are interested in joining or simply would like more information, do not hesitate to contact Ann Jackson or Cassandra Busch (Wellness intern) at [email protected]. The members of the Wellness Circle will meet again in December. May we each know ourselves ever emerging… We are so grateful to continue to host student interns at Mount Loretto. Cassandra (Cassie) Busch, a Junior at Loras College, is interning at Mount Loretto this academic year. Originally from Cedar Rapids, IA, Cassie attended Xavier High School and is currently studying English at Loras and is editor of the Lorian. Last year Cassie studied in Ireland for a semester. She will be spending this J-term in Italy! Cassie is currently assisting with coordination of the Wellness Emerging Circle. She has also been assisting Sr. Ellen Mary Garret to sustain numerous slides stored in the library by converting them to digital form. Meeting one-on- one with the sisters at Mount Loretto to aid them with technology, Cassie reverences developing these relationships. Feel free to jot Cassie an email at: [email protected]. Engaging Contemplation … "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, God's mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. (Lamentations 3:22-23) Mercy seems to be the buzz word these days. As we begin the extraordinary Year of Mercy and continue through this season of Advent, we are reminded of our focus as Disciples of Christ, concentrating on service to others and a deeper personal relationship with the Lord, woven in the promise of Christ's coming.