IMPRINT A PUBLICATION OF THE SISTERS OF LIFE / WINTER 2016 ISSUE Chosen in herHe povertymakes all things new. and simplicity He became little, that we MARY, UNTIER OF KNOTS might not fear our weakness. Dear Friends, These weeks of Advent invite us to prepare our hearts so that this Christmas we Holy Mary, you put in order and might step beyond the holiday trimmings into a mystery. The most wondrous, make more clear the ties that link hope-filled mystery and reality: GOD BECAME ONE OF US. us to the Lord. Mother of God The unapproachable, unchanging, all-knowing, all-loving God who is before all and our Mother, to you, who with things and in all things took a human face. He is the Son of God and the Son of Mary of Nazareth. A child conceived by the Spirit within Mary by her act of faith. motherly heart, untie the knots of In accordance with Judaic law this child was named by His Father (in Heaven): our life, we pray to you to receive Jesus, and sent into the world of men and women as the Face of the Father’s love. in your hands (name of person), At the Incarnation, the eternal Son of God took on our humanity in its great- and to free him/her of the knots est fragility as an unborn child in the form of a human embryo. The God of the and confusion with which our universe contained within one human cell! Nine months later, at Christmas, we enemy attacks. Through your welcome with renewed joy, Jesus, as a newborn baby. God became little, that we might not fear our own weakness and littleness. grace, your intercession, and your example, deliver us from all evil God meets us where we are, in the ordinariness of everyday life and, especially it seems, in those moments when our lives seem to be just a mess. It is then that and untie the knots that prevent us He opens His Heart that we may encounter His love and know our worth. As His from being united with God. mercy unties the knots in our hearts, we discover the joy of true freedom. This So that we, free from sin and error, edition of Imprint tells the stories of university students who have been surprised may find God in all things, may by God and of a woman who reveals the intimate and personal love of God, and so much more! God speaks in the language of our hearts. have our hearts placed in Him, and may serve Him always in our Let us ask Mary for a share in her child-like trust and confidence. Then with great simplicity of heart approach the Christmas crèche to receive an Infant’s love – brothers and sisters. that love that meets our own poverty, and in which we will find acceptance, Amen. healing and transformation. There we will discover our real identity, recognize the gift we are, and the capacity we have to give the gift of our love to others - Pope Francis because of the love we have first received. (taken from the Holy Father’s prayer As our Christmas gift to you, all of the Sisters and I will remember you and your to Our Lady, Untier of Knots) family in a Novena of Masses beginning on Christmas day. Wishing you a holy, happy Christmas season. In Jesus, our joy, Mother Agnes Mary, Superior General of the Sisters of Life ARE WE LIVING from the culture or from God’s gaze? By Sr. Mary Elizabeth, SV and Sr. Elizabeth Ann, SV CHASING THE WIND STEPPING AWAY / TIME WITH HIM istock: maximkabb istock: Too often we forget who we are. In our current media- By living within His gaze, I find the courage to step away saturated culture we are constantly bombarded with images from all the subliminal messages and currents of the culture and messages telling us who we should be and what we and make time for Him—daily. I leave fear behind, and I find need to be happy. But our hearts tell us otherwise. We can time to listen to Jesus speak truth into the lies I have believed spend a lifetime chasing after success, achievement, about myself. I give Him the space to reveal His and stuff, trying hard to look good and play the personal, unconditional love for me—the real part, but undernearth the surface the scene me, with all my limitations and weaknesses, is different. Beyond the laughter and “God comes to and let Him love me there, to show me fleeting pleasures, we’re actually feeling break open everything those special places in my heart that unsettled, empty and alone—longing make me uniquely me, those things for so much more. We ask, “Where’s that keeps you closed in. that make me unrepeatably loveable the purpose and meaning? I thought in His eyes. Most fundamentaly, my I would be happier.” We tend to He is encouraging you to identity is not something I create, it is a gift that I receive. silence these deeper desires and dream. He wants to make keep ourselves busy and distracted, THINKING BIG. TOGETHER. wondering, “Am I the only one who you see that, with you, the feels this way?” As I spend time living within God’s world can be different.” loving gaze, I begin to look at myself and THE GAZE: -Pope Francis the world differently. We look together— FINDING ME...IN HIM with His eyes. My goals begin to change, no longer limited, fleeting, and superficial, I dream big. There is another way. I shed the masks and and become We think big, together. My goals go beyond tomorrow, they who I really am. It’s that simple. Our deepest and truest are eternal. The most mundane can become exciting, for He identity lies in the unshakable gift of our Baptism, the reality weaves everything into His eternal plan. My world begins to that we have been made God’s children. It is not something I change from ME to YOU. And I forget myself and all my self- can earn or merit; it is pure gift, and no one can take it away seeking habits. I begin really living for the other. My choices from me. The truth is, God is my loving Father, who is con- and decisions are now not rooted in what others think about stantly looking upon me with love, awaiting me, thirsting me, but in truth, in what delights the Lord and is most loving for my love. It is within this loving gaze that I discover who I and life-giving to the other. And in this process, I find myself. really am and find the courage to live in freedom. I find my identity and lasting happiness — and the profound meaning of my life. The Beginning AS A POSTULANT P 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 The Freedom to be counter-cultural for love of Jesus Natalie Furka Madeleine Russell Karalyn Finnell 1 Age: 33 6 Age: 26 11 Age: 23 Hometown: Secaucus, NJ Hometown: Edmonds, WA Hometown: Edmond, OK School: St. Peter’s University School: Seattle Pacific University, School: University of Major: Biology and Philosophy, University of Vermont Central Oklahoma Medical Doctor/Geriatrics Major: Food and Nutritional Sciences Major: Contemporary Fun Fact: I have been to WYD Masters: Dietetics Vocal Performance with all three of our most Fun Fact: Singing is like breathing Fun Fact: Beatboxing is my recent popes – Toronto with for me, particularly vocal jazz. second language. I love St. John Paul II, Madrid with throwing down a beat. Pope Benedict XVI, and Krakow with Pope Francis! Stephanie Vorpahl 7 Age: 26 Brooke Fowler Jen Risper Hometown: San Antonio, TX 12 Age: 23 2 Age: 29 School: University of Houston Hometown: Highland, IN Hometown: Moreno Valley, CA Major: Hotel and Restaurant School: St. Mary’s College School: Vanderbilt University Management Major: Religious Studies Major: Human and Minor: Religious Studies Minor: Social Work Organizational Development Fun Fact: I love country dancing Fun Fact: I played college volleyball Fun Fact: I played professional and my red cowboy boots! at Saint Mary’s of Notre Dame. basketball in Europe. Rachel Foley Emma Brown Alida Taylor 8 Age: 25 13 Age: 23 3 Age: 29 Hometown: Blair, NE Hometown: Orillia, ON Hometown: Grand Coteau, LA School: Massachusetts Institute School: Carleton University School: University of Louisiana of Technology (MIT) Major: Journalism at Lafayette Major: Mechanical Engineering, Minor: English Literature Major: Fashion Design Minor: History Fun Fact: I have eaten a Fun Fact: I’ve hiked and Fun Fact: I’ve visited all 50 states chocolate-covered cricket… camped the Amazon rainforest. (34 of which were in the past year). I don’t recommend it. Martha Evans Alyssa Bezreh Colleen Dunn 9 Age: 25 14 Age: 23 Age: 27 4 Hometown: Mendota Heights, MN Hometown: Needham, MA Hometown: Pleasant Valley, NY School: Benedictine College School: Northeastern University School: Marywood University; Major: Spanish and Theology Institute of Pastoral Studies Major: Electrical and Computer at Ave Maria University Minor: Psychology Engineering Major: Religious Studies Fun Fact: I ran the steeple chase (track Fun Fact: I love to bike and Minor: Psychology & field) in college. do triathalons. Masters in Theological Studies Fun Fact: I love drinking Desirae Wieseler Julie Martin coffee – especially when 10 Age: 24 15 Age: 21 hazelnut flavoring is involved. Hometown: Faulkton, SD Hometown: Dallas, TX School: University of South Dakota School: Southern Methodist Lauren Brown Major: Mathematics Education University 5 Age: 26 Fun Fact: I grew up on a farm and Major: Accounting Hometown: Brewerton, NY my favorite food is steak.