Feb. 8 - First Internattional Day of Prayer in Awareness of Human Trafficking

Bakhita: Resistance and Solidarity - Global Sisters Report

February
8 is the feast day of St. Joseph Bakhita, which has been designated as
the first international day for prayer about and awareness of human
trafficking. Global Sisters Report is committed to ongoing
focus on this issue; you can click the orange link above for a full list
of all the trafficking stories we have posted, or choose from some
recent stories listed list below.

 

Vatican, religious orders launch international day against trafficking

by Joshua J. McElwee on NCR

Bakhita: Resistance and Solidarity 

by Susan Rose Francois, GSR
Horizons columnist - learn about the life of St. Josephine Bakhita, a
modern saint who died in 1947 and was canonized by Pope John Paul II in
2000; her story has become increasingly significant to the
contemporary Catholic church, particularly in its efforts against human
trafficking       

Q & A with Sr. Encarnacion Perez 

by Melanie Lidman, who talks
to this Comboni Sister from Spain who works with sisters across all 25
dioceses in Kenya to raise awareness about trafficking 

Starting where we are and Getting on the learning curve 

by Jan Cebula, who offers a
host of resources and ideas for how you can work to end human
trafficking, from spreading awareness to direct local action 

We have moved to: 
sistersofihm.wordpress.com

We hope you will join us there! 

September 10th, 2014

Spiritual Fitbit

by Ann Turner

 

Ok, I give in. Everybody I know under the age of 40 seems to have invested in these tiny, expensive Fitbits, which you snap on your wrist or clip on your shorts. They measure your steps, the flights of stairs you’ve climbed, general exercise, and calories expended. They talk to you. In cheery, shrill little voices very early in the morning.

“Hi, Annie!”

“Good luck!” (Did it say “sweetie” or did I just imagine that?)

“UcandoitAnn”

My take on this whole “I-am-going-to-monitor-every-activity-of-my-day stuff” is that, sure, it can make sense. It may help you get more control over your eating and exercise. But, really? I need to know all of this?

I have a proposal. A fine one, I think. Let’s invent a “Spiritual Fitbit.”

Daily Examen Infographic

Check out Busted Halo’s^® Daily Examen Infographic that guides you through the simple steps of this introspective prayer.

Right-click or control-click the image (depending on your system) to begin downloading.

Here’s how it would work: It would record how much time you spend in prayer daily, with extra points for being on your knees. It would tally up how many Hail Marys you did on your Rosary, with cute little icons to celebrate. It would measure how much time you sat in Centering Prayer and how many breaths you took per minute. It would mark down acts of charity each day — served at soup kitchen, drove elderly lady to doctor. And it could indicate how often you went to Mass with a festive icon of the Eucharist surrounded by jaunty yellow rays.

At the end of the day, you could total up how you did, and perhaps feel modestly proud of how well you are following Jesus. Perhaps you could turn in your points at some future time for Holy Cards or Saints’ Medals. At the end of the week, your computer would have a readout: “Your Spiritual Fitbit Report. Charity — 5 actions (You could do 10!); Prayer — 2 hours (Next week try for 5!); Mass Attendance — once (Next week try for 2!).”

But wait. I just remembered. While I imagine the technology for this would be possible, we already have a way to do this. Doh! It’s called The Examen. Every night I can lie in bed, fighting sleep, going over my day: inviting God’s light in as I remember when I felt close to God, and when I pulled away; which actions made me feel ashamed and squirmy; and at the end a promise to do better with God’s grace. And just think how cheap it is. No Fitbit products need to be ordered. No credit card bill to pay off. No clipping it to my shorts. Just — grace. Prayer. Confession. Hope.

"God Calls" - Young Adults meet at Catholics on Call in Albany, NY

http://albanyvocations.org/catholicsoncall/

Events > Catholics on Call in Albany October 10-12, 2014 Thinking about a life of service in the Church as a lay minister, or perhaps a religious sister, brother or priest? Need some time to explore, learn and listen? Young adults (age 18-30) are invited to get away from the hectic pace of their lives and come together to share stories, dreams and concerns. You’ll gain insight from renowned speakers and skilled church ministers, and have the time to listen as God speaks within you. It’s a no-pressure experience that provides you with a better understanding of vocation, prayer, and discernment, and offers skills that will support you as you make decisions for your future. CATHOLICS ON CALL IN ALBANY NY will take place at the Carondelet Hospitality Center. The fee is $100 (contact us if assistance is needed). Space is limited. Apply today at www.AlbanyVocations.org. For more information, call 518-674-3818 or email catholicsoncall.inalbanyny@rcda.org.

Sunday reflection

Today I went to a small church that is a sister Church of a conglomerate parish in South Scranton, my new home.  The pastor is someone I have known for years and I am grateful to be in his parish home! 
I am still reflecting on his homily and what a profound gift he gave with his words about the gospel today.  I didn't know anything about Caesarea Philippi where Jesus took his disciples after experiencing so many things that Jesus' ministry was about.  I came to learn that it had been a very lush place and the home of King Philip who followed one of the Caesars...hence the name!  Where Jesus brought the 12 was a hillside that had niches in them where people had placed idols of their various gods.  Jesus stands before the disciples, his back to the hillside, and asks, as they look at the various gods, "Who do people say that I am?" and then, more personally, "Who do YOU say that I am?" 

I sit at my window of my new room and see the mountains surrounding Scranton.  If is lush and green....no niches but -- what niches have I carved out for other gods?  ego? self-image?  material goods, obsessive looking at e-mails, texts, facebook?  engaged in a world of media and consumerism?  is it that have fed the god of importance, entitlement, greed?  What room do I have for my ONE GOD? 
I heard one man exclaim after the homily a comment about the time.....
can we not spend one hour or more a week for God?  what about one hour or more a day?  Go outside and sit in the air and sunshine!  Enjoy the rain that waters our earth!  Love the people with whom you are and listen to them whole-heartedly, with love!  Be of service to someone in need!  This is the God I know....Who is Jesus?  Who do I say that you are?
You are spending quality time with You, with myself, with others. You are love. You are friendship and family union. You are all I breathe in.  You, Jesus are the Son of the LIVING God (Fr. Mike said that today, too) ....LIVING God....not dead gods that bring us destruction and lies.  OUR LIVING, LOVING GOD.....

Take time today to give up any gods you've been worshiping.... worship the one God with smiles, warmth, hugs, a phone call, bake or create a meal, sing, dance, be Jesus for someone today!  Show that you know the LIVING God.

Who do you say I AM?  Tell Jesus what you think and feel and know.......
Have a good Sunday! 

A new time

It's hard to believe that change is good -- when you are going through it, sometimes, it is very, very difficult.  Many of us in religious life and academic life go through changes in August.....a new ministry, a new community, a new year for classes, student groups, a new residence hall or roommate, new teachers, new places, new faces.  Sometimes we are called to go far from where we have been....to travel to a different city, country, home, school.....job, etc., etc., etc.

I am going through this right now after eight years of ministry at Chestnut HIll College and twelve years of living, mostly by myself, to a new ministry, a new home, new sisters to live with and a new learning curve.  I've not gone through this stage for a long time and in the past, I was not always unhappy to leave where I was.  I am happy to say that I've cried buckets leaving my support system, my friends, my sisters, my home, my cat, the familiar, the students at CHC!  And even in the tears, I know the change is good....it has potential, it is a wonderful place to be with my sisters of IHM and being a Vocation Director.

I just moved into my new home, a new room, a new office......

What are the lessons?
Many.
1.  Gratitude -- for all that has been and all that is gift and what has been shared and gained in the years I have had happiness in CHC - in friendships - in student life - in ministry - in opportunities - in spiritual growth and learning - in wisdom, grace and age
2.  Gentility -  to be gentle with myself during these transition days and not go full force into unpacking, getting into lots of activity and stuff...... being quiet, taking time to nap, reflect, be with the memories and the real-ness of what has happened.
3.  Acknowledge feelings - the tears, the sadness, the grief of leaving a place of love and comfort.  It's good....it feels yucky but it's so good.  It's a real death and dying...it's real bereaving the losses of things, people, knowable, tangible places, etc.
4.  Allow for gladness - I am happy to be here, called by my own Congregation to do this ministry of vocation work with women who are interested in knowing what religiuos life is about and maybe discerning a lifetime with us as a vowed religious woman or maybe volunteer with us or become associated with us or.....who knows where God is calling......just to be with men and women who are serious about a spiritual life, living the Gospel or learning about prayer or faith or whatever......I am so glad!  I am glad for the opportunity to once more be close in physical distance to our "mother house"......to new friends, to old friends.  For new opportunities and experiences
5.  Prayer, always prayer - to notice, to allow God in, to be present to self, and to be aware of all that God created and is in the world for others are hurting, are in need, are in danger......and if my life is changing what are others going through in change?  God has brought me here.  God is with me always.  God's closeness will always be the glue that holds me to what
I left, what I will keep, what I will discard and what newness I will open my life toward.

Here's to new life, new change........here's to tears and joys.....
May we all be blessed and graced these days ahead!

GRATEFUL: A Love Song to the World