Dear Friends, Family, Sisters and Brothers,

November is an exciting time for the Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon (SSMO). Several Sisters attended the Valley Catholic School Gala on Nov. 2. We are always so happy to see many of you at this annual event. November is the month when we remember our loved ones in a very intentional way. The Sisters have banners on the walls of the Motherhouse Chapel of Our Lady of Perpetual Help with the names of all our deceased community members. We remember their happy smiles and dedication to the SSMO community and to our Lord and Savior. Many of you have sent in post cards so our Sisters can pray for you and your loved ones. We have your prayer requests in our book called “In Remembrance.” We are in prayer for you.   

On Nov. 10, our SSMO community will have Sunday Mass offered for all of our benefactors. After Mass we will have the blessing of the new statue which will be placed in the center of the front circle of the SSMO Motherhouse. The statue’s dedication and name is, “Mary, Mystical Rose.”  The statue was commissioned by the SSMO and generously gifted by the Pearse family – Harper, Geri and Tippi. We were fortunate to have Firebird Foundry from Troutdale create the statue. The talented artist, Alison Brown, met with SSMO Leadership as she approached this beautiful project. The Leadership Team found her to be dedicated, prayerful and detailed.   

The image of “Mary, Mystical Rose” is inspired by the painting at Maryville and the award of the Mystical Rose which is given to Valley Catholic High School students who exemplify the SSMO spirit.    

The title of the Mystical Rose can be traced to ancient times and particularly to the Litany of Loreto from 1587. This invokes Our Lady as “Rosa Mystica,” our Mystical Rose. 

In the book, “The Mystical Rose” by St. John Henry Newman, there is a collection of writings on the Virgin Mary.  As I read this book and pray with it, various images emerge as Mary is associated with the rose. Our Lady’s virginity is symbolized by the white rose and her charity by a red rose. Mary made roses a sign for St. Juan Diego, and Mary has revealed her own Immaculate Heart to humankind, encircled by a garland of beautiful roses. 

There are many attributes of the Mystical Rose: 

• Beauty – Mary is considered to be perfect in her beauty and sweetness. 
• Hiddenness – Mary is called the Hidden Rose because her tomb is in heaven, not on earth. 
• Strength and gentleness – The rose is a fragile flower with delicate petals attached to a strong stem with thorns, which is similar to Mary’s gentle heart being pierced with sorrows. 

Also included in Mary’s attributes under the title of the Mystical Rose is a promise to increase vocations to religious orders who venerate Mary.   

My friends, I invite you to pray with me to Mary, Mystical Rose as we walk together in faith.

Yours in Christ,

Sister Michael Francine Duncan

SSMO Superior General