Sharings Summer
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Franciscan Missionaries of Mary USA Province Volume 38 No. 2 Summer 2008 Paintings by Frances Falk, fmm of FMM Sisters representing all cultures and their ministries. Editors Notes Sister Death has been a frequent visitor these last months as three more of our Sisters departed for God’s Kingdom; Maria Silva, Mary D. Sullivan and Roseda Cabral. Then, we had cause for joy as we celebrated the Silver, Golden, 60th, 65th, 70th and 75th jubilees. During two weekends in June, Sisters in the USA Province were invited to join Mary of the Passion’s Journey in the Franciscan Way. It was a Pilgrimage that brought us together to encounter, personally and as a province the person of Mary of the Passion. Those present intensified their knowledge, understanding and love of Mary of the Passion. Barbara Dopierala and Nzenzili Mboma prepared the presentations and the Liturgies. Participation in these week- ends was voluntary except for those Sisters with temporary vows but almost all Sisters in the province attended and participated. Each Sister found new insights and a deepening appreciation of Mary of the Passion and her legacy. They succeeded “in unearthing together the treasure they hold and recaptured its spirit and substance.” Maryann Alukonis, fmm, Rosemarie Higgins, fmm, Anne Turbini, fmm 2 OUR DECEASED SISTERS & RELATIVES EULOGIES for Maria Silva, fmm Maria Silva, fmm In the Spiritual Notes of Mary of the Passion we read: (M. Caritas) “Simplicity is born of truth and purity is born of love. How can I describe this mediation which passed so quickly! I Born to Eternal Life think that I have received these two wings from Our Lady April 30, 2009 and that perhaps I have always had them. Above all, they were a gift from Jesus on the day of my vows (which I made well I hope) …” (NS: 39) In 1949 Maria received the religious name of Maria Cari- Mary Delphine Sullivan, fmm tas—LOVE. Throughout her religious life Maria lived up (M. Robert Southwell) to this name of LOVE. For most of her life Maria worked in ministries where she gave of herself to others in a Born to Eternal Life spirit of love. She truly exemplified the gifts of simplicity May 1, 2009 and purity that our foundress, Mary of the Passion, treas- ured so much in her own life. When Maria was working with our sisters in St. Antoine Residence she brought these gifts to our sisters, other residents and to the staff. No matter where Maria was she was always open to all Rosalina Cabral, fmm that was to come. She had a great love and apprecia- (M. Agathangelus) tion of everyone with whom she came into contact. Born to Eternal Life I think that we can agree that the wing of simplicity that is May 9, 2009 born of trust, and the wing of purity that is born of love, have safely transported Maria to the arms of her loving God. Querida Maria, Que a nossa Afetuosíssimo Deus vos acolher de braços abertos. OUR DECEASED RELATIVES Helen Greene, the niece of Alma Dufault, fmm Mary Delphine Sullivan, fmm OUR SICK RELATIVES & FRIENDS On December 2, 1886, Mary of the Passion wrote: “ ‘To Vincent Tinh Duc Nguyen, the critically ill father of My pray and to work, in the shadow of obedience is truly my Chan. Chan came from Kenya to be with him way.’ This was Mary’s way in the Temple, in Nazareth, in Saint John’s home. What it means to be Mary is some- Betty Keegan’s brother-in-law, George Fischer, diag- thing that I can understand better than I can explain. To nosed with liver cancer. He will undergo chemotherapy follow Mary’s example, by remaining silent and by hid- directly into the lesions on July 13th. ing my mission as much as possible, is what suits me best. Yet, Mary accomplished her mission and I am Michael McVann & Helen Sweeny Murray, cousins of urged interiorly to pray that mine may also be accom- Beatrice Sweeney, fmm plished. Rosetta Lavecchia’s first cousin, Nicholas Lanzisero, age In her lifetime, our sister, Mary worked with those who 87. needed special help and attention. She strove to make them as whole as possible with her care and attention in the classroom, in the shelter, wherever she met them. She did this with her whole heart and soul, while 3 at the same time, seeking the silence and solitude she de- Sr. Amalia Gandarillas who recently joined Queen of sired in her own life. She accomplished her mission Peace Community has been missioned to Trinity Com- here with us in much the same way as Our Lady did, munity. by praying and working in the shadow of obedience. Countless individuals have been touched by Mary who Sr. Cathy Tshitenge recently received from the College helped them to reach new levels in their own lives. of New Rochelle Education Department a Certificate of Her work with her students and their families, with pa- Achievement in recognition of perfect attendance, en- tients she met in her pastoral care ministry, with clients thusiasm and participation in her course: Reading2: at the Genesis Center in Providence, with those whom Integrated Language Arts. she encountered in her volunteer work in the public library, A big welcome to our sisters who are home for their and her participation in many workshops at the Gene- family visit: sis Spiritual Life Center helped both herself and others Sr. Margaret Mary Donlon home from Korea; to find God in all that was around them. Mary is now enjoy- Sr. Katherine Prince home from Pakistan; ing a special intimacy with her God whom she loved Sr. Mary Rose Nguyen due home from Pakistan throughout her life. May she rest in peace. Sr. Anne Dundin home from Korea. Our two pre-novices have completed their first year of Rosalina Cabral, fmm their pre~novitiate program. Kyong Vim and Thuy Nguyen have had classes given by Sr. Loan Nguyen In one of her meditations during the Octave of the and other FMM’s who have enriched the program with epiphany, Mary of the Passion wrote, “May peace be their classes. Kyong and Thuy also joined with the OFM in every territory. Such is Mary’s gift for the world. Je- postulants of the Holy Name Province with classes at sus is Peace and Mary wishes to give Jesus to the St. Anthony’s Shrine in Boston. This first year has been whole earth. We who are her missionaries ought to continue her work, give peace, give Jesus everywhere rich with input and sharing. Classes will continue until and always. Let us engrave on our hearts these words late August. At that time the pre-novices will have their as coming from our Queen: Be faithful messengers of community experience. Kyong will join our sisters in El Truth on all your journey.” Paso. Her ministry will be at St. Pius School as an aide in the classroom and other experiences as they evolve. For fifty-seven years as a Franciscan Missionary of Thuy will join our sisters in the Bronx and will be help- Mary and I dare say, even earlier in her life, our sister ing part time in Immaculate Conception School and Rosalina, in her quiet, gentle manner, continued she will also work in the parish program “Helping Mary’s mission by giving peace, giving Jesus wherever Hands” where the needy in the area are helped with she went. For more than forty years of mission life in hot meals and food as needed. These experiences will Peru and upon her return to the United States Rosalina add to what Kyong and Thuy have been doing during was a faithful messenger of truth to all who welcomed their first year. Kyong ministered one day a week at her, listened to her, and loved her because she lived Franciscan Hospital for Children and another day at St. in an atmosphere of inner peace. In a most unassum- Columbkille Parish in Brighton. Thuy volunteered two ing way she shared this peace and her love of Jesus days a week at Franciscan Hospital for Children. Both with all of us. She possessed nothing but Jesus and Kyong and Thuy gained much from their ministry ex- His spirit of peace, love and joy. periences and they gave much of themselves at the same time. Let us continue to hold them in prayer as May our sister, Rosalina, enjoy an everlasting peace they look forward to their new ministries. with the God who has been the center of her life. PROVIDENCE UPDATES Early in the spring Anna, one of the staff Sr. Alicia Alambra, our full-time Vocation Directress, at Cardinal Hayes has been missioned to St. Bartholomew Community in Home, Millbrook, was Waukegan, IL . Alicia is finishing up some projects on walking her dogs and the East4 Coast and in September she’ll join our sisters came upon Bambi! in Waukegan Two weeks later Mary told me that they had bought a statue for us. She brought it to our house and would accept no money for it. Our landlord (Kevin) offered to help us set it up se- curely. He decided cement would do the trick. After he finished we asked Fr. Mitch, my parish priest to bless the statue. We chose a Saturday for the blessing. We invited the Zamoras, our landlord and his friend, and a couple who has always been kind to us to attend the blessing. Fr. brought his Book of Blessings and read a lovely blessing over our little saint.