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September Items of Interest Copy sisters of the good shepherd ~ province of mid-north america ! september 2014 ofITEMS interest Prayer Summer in Saipan Monastery Belles NAC Action Alert Sr. Theresa Pulk reflects on the Sisters Stella and Lioba spend Monica Lapuente adds her first The National Advocacy Center meaning of prayer while on the summer meeting the needs of Good Shepherd doll to her invites us to look at the face of spiritual retreat. clients and visiting students. ministry of making nun dolls. a lucrative crime. Page 5 Page 7 Page 10 Page 14 MIRROR, MIRROR ... Symbolism Focus for our Future was a guiding document for Contemplative communities from The mirror in the Focus for Our Future document reflects 2008-2014. It helped them understand how to live a contemplative lifestyle while hope for the future of the being a part of an apostolic congregation. Delegates from Contemplative Congregation in the eyes of both contemplative and communities in the congregation reflected on the document at CACS to determine apostolic Sisters. The color their new future and how they will risk together for mission. turquoise in the logo was used to symbolize opened lines of communication between the heart and spoken word. The friendly and happy color represents enjoyment of life. It helps with clear thinking and decision-making. The key concepts of the document were Essential Elements, Spirituality, Justice and Peace, and Internationality. The words were woven through the Assembly topics. The document’s symbolism and content shaped reflection and discussions at the Congregational Assembly for Contemplative Sisters (CACS) in Quito, Ecuador from August 8-21. items of interest 1! www.sistersofthegoodshepherd.com sisters of the good shepherd ~ province of mid-north america ! september 2014 QUITO ~ CACS items of interest 2! www.sistersofthegoodshepherd.com sisters of the good shepherd ~ province of mid-north america ! september 2014 QUITO ~ CACS & ICA About CACS By Sr. Maureen Johnson, Delegate elected to Chapter Contemplative Sisters in the Congregation decided at CACS our direction statement for the next six years. We went back to our beginnings and spoke on the revised prologue to our Constitutions and what we think is possibly missing. We How CACS came about looked at incarnational prayer as contemplative Sisters in an apostolic congregation. We looked at how key concepts of About ICA Focus of Our Future, a document that has guided the By Sr. Brigid Lawlor, Congregational Leader contemplative communities since 2008, impact us so we can Towards the end of the 2003 Chapter, there was a suggestion bring them into our own lifestyle. for Chapter delegates to have an international experience The concepts include justice and peace, eco-spirituality and prior to the Chapter in order to think more globally and internationality. We elected nine delegates to the Chapter broaden their vision of congregational issues and directions. It who will report back to ICA the first week of September on would have also been an opportunity to get to know one the thoughts and reflections of Sisters who attended CACS. another better. Thus, the General Council at that time, after Basically, we will be giving an overview of returning to the consultation with the Congregation, created the ICAs. By source and giving our theological reflections that came from doing this, we hoped also to strengthen regional bonds, engage our theme Focus on the Future. Elected delegates will also more sisters and lay partners in dialogue and learn how to be attend the Chapter in Angers next year. more international in our approach. As one of the delegates elected to represent the We had our first ICAs in 2008 in the Americas, Asia/Pacific Contemplatives at Chapter, I stayed for the Intercontinental and Europe/RIMOA. In addition to apostolic sisters and lay Assembly of Americas after CACS. At times ICA has been mission partners in attendance, there was representation from overwhelming because we have been absorbing a great deal among the contemplative sisters who had held their of information and the schedule has little white space. This Congregational Assembly and had elected delegates to the is especially challenging for me as a Contemplative because I Chapter. At the 2008 ICAs, the contemplative delegates gave a am accustomed to more silence and time to be alone to summary of what had occurred at their Assembly. At this ICA, reflect and pray. On the other hand, ICA is filling me with we will hear from them regarding the outcome of their most new knowledge and insight and a diverse array of points of recent 2014 Assembly held in Quito at the beginning of view. This is forcing me outside my comfort zone and August. energizing me in new ways to risk for mission. Excerpted from Sr. Brigid’s opening message to ICA delegates Captions for CACS photos on previous page: Captions for ICA photos on following page: Sisters met in small and large groups, shared Delegates shopped the ICA marketplace and bought items strategies and prayed together at the made by women in Paraguay, Ecuador, Mexico and Peru. An Congregational Assembly of Contemplative Sisters interpreter translates languages through headphones, making in Quito. They also spent time in conversation to it possible for delegates to understand dialogue and discuss the Congregational mission and presentations. Bible scholar and seminarian professor Sr. contemplate their role as contemplatives in an Rekha Chennattu, Religious of the Assumption, PhD, shares her apostolic order. Their schedule allowed ample time knowledge of Biblical women who took great risks to heed for relaxation and contemplation at Casa Maria God’s call. ICA came alive through music and dance, photo Auxiliadora Retreat Center. They also elected nine sharing, conversation, ritual, storytelling and the playfulness of delegates to represent Contemplatives at Chapter. getting to know one another. items of interest 3! www.sistersofthegoodshepherd.com sisters of the good shepherd ~ province of mid-north america ! september 2014 QUITO ~ ICA items of interest 4 ! www.sistersofthegoodshepherd.com sisters of the good shepherd ~ province of mid-north america ! september 2014 CONTEMPLATIVE CORNER Celebrating the Feast of St. Mary Magdalen By Contemplative Sisters of the Good Shepherd, Cheltenham, Pennsylvania The traditional preparation for the that we must pray that the spaces we The Bishop’s homily provided a clear Feast of St. Mary Magdalen began have left behind will be filled with understanding of who we are in the on July 19 and continued through new Vocations. Church, in the world and in the July 22. The community gathered in As we prepared for the Feast, Good Shepherd Congregation. the chapel in prayer and quiet to gradually our chapel began to fill We sang many of the hymns that we reflect on the wholehearted love that with increasing signs of celebration. keep reserved especially for this St. Mary Magdalen held for the The flowers began to appear. As they Feast. Fr. Janton, who often says Incarnate Word. were touched by the Sisters and Mass and officiates at our special Each year Sr. Jude Ellen prints on placed in the vases their gentle times, used his Basilica voice to banners the names and Profession aromas slipped quietly throughout strengthen our choir. dates of each Sister in the the chapel. After Mass concluded we went into Cheltenham community. The The hymns chosen for the Mass were the dining room, sat down to a banners are taped to the front of the taken from a collection of hymns delicious meal and began to altar. As the years pass and the that we reserve for this Feast Day and reminisce about the old days when it banners are updated, it is interesting span several years, so the memories was so hot that the candles on the to see how one’s name starts at the continue to grow. We were very altar would melt and lean over. bottom of the list and gradually happy that Bishop Joseph Martino We prayed that many will listen to journeys upward until it is finally and Father Janton were able to placed among the Jubilarians and the voice of the Good Shepherd and accept our invitation to concelebrate follow Him. beyond. Each year we are reminded the Mass and join us for dinner. The personal element of prayer By Sr. Theresa Pulk, RGS Webster defines prayer as 1: an earnest request and 2: an addressing of God. Let’s go to the catechism of the Catholic Church and ask, “What is prayer?” It is the raising of one’s mind and heart to God or the requesting of good things from God. There are many books on prayer and the Saints who spent their lives in prayer. For me, prayer is very personal. When I was young I said words. Do you remember when you were young and you were asked, “Did you say your morning and evening prayers?” Sometimes I could answer yes and other times no. Each of us can answer in a different way what prayer is. Prayer took on a different meaning as I entered religious life and continues to change as I get older. Jesus taught me how to pray. He walked the Earth, taught, and gave his life for me. Peace seems so far away in today’s world. When the days are dark and the devil tries to tempt me this is when my prayers are most earnest. Prayer helps put peace in my heart. It is my lifelong walk with Jesus, my Good Shepherd. I Sr. Theresa Pulk, contemplative love Jesus all the more through prayer. As I reflected during my retreat this July Sister and member of the 2014, I stop and ask myself: Where am I with Jesus this day? Florissant community in St.
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