Responding with courage and personal sacrifice to the call of Christ in the Church, our foundresses lived out their desire to become Women of Prayer, Community and Service. SSMO Constitutions, Article 1
Dear Friends,
In this issue of the SSMO Vocation Newsletter, you will read about two more of our nine Jubilarian Sisters who celebrated with the Community, family and friends on July 30 here at the Motherhouse in Beaverton. Check out the “Upcoming Events” which I hope you will share in your parish’s bulletin. Contact me at 503-805-6201 for more information.
May these summer days provide opportunities for a change of pace and moments for prayerful reflection.
Blessings,
Sr. Charlene
Meet our Jubilarians
Sr. Janet Slingerland
70th Jubilee
Born: Portland, Ore.
Attracted to SSMO by: The Sisters who taught me. I saw them as very human, good, prayerful, and kind. I was impressed by their way of life, sense of humor and how they taught.
Favorite:
- Ministry: I loved both my ministries. Teaching for 30 years and Chaplaincy for 20 years.
- Style of Prayer: Meditation
- Saint: St. Anthony and St. Joseph
- Food: Chineses
- Movie: Musicals
- Holiday/Holy Day: Christmas
- Recreation: Gathering with friends
Discernment advice for young adults: Listen to your heart. That is where God speaks to you.
Sr. Rita Stohosky
70th Jubliee
Born: Vesta, Minn.
Attracted to SSMO by: I was taught by the Sisters and wanted to be one of them as early as 6th grade.
Favorite:
- Ministry: Serving in my own Parish, Our Lady of Sorrows, where I graduated, was confirmed and later taught for 17 years.
- Style of Prayer: Meditation, Stations of the Cross
- Saint: St. Joseph
- Food:
- spaghetti, crab louie salad, and rocky road ice-cream
- Movie: “Sound of Music”
- Holiday/Holy Day: Christmas
- Recreation: Play cards
Discernment advice for young adults: It is essential to have a firm, steadfast prayer life which is the foundation of all decisions. Prayer is listening for God’s directions and plans for us.
Discernment questions
If you have been thinking about religious life and have a desire to serve God, you may be full of doubts or you may be quite clear. In either case, it is important to ponder and pray.
See the May, June, and July newsletters for additional questions to consider.
Questions: Are You Involved?
- Are you supported in your faith and inspired to be of service in your involvements with various groups? At school, parish, work, recreation?
- If you are established with friends/family who inspire service, charity, and generosity, does that inspire future goals for your life?
- Or, is there room in your life to initiate a group that is supportive of your ideals of faith and service?
Religious Woman Saint – July
St. Mary of the Cross MacKillop
Born in Melbourne, Australia in 1842, Mary was often her family’s main source of support. In 1860 she moved to the small rural town of Penola to serve as governess for the children of her aunt and uncle. She provided her cousins with a basic education and to the poor children of the town. A young priest, Father Julian Tenison Woods, encouraged her to continue this work, assuring her that educating the poor would be an ideal way to serve God.
In 1866 Mary and Fr. Woods founded Australia’s first order of religious, the Sisters of St. Joseph of the Sacred Heart, and also established St. Joseph’s School in a converted stable in Penola.
In 1867, Mary took vows and became the first general superior of the Community. The following year the Sisters opened schools in other Australian cities, as well as an orphanage and a refuge for women released from prison. Their ministry continues today.
St. Mary MacKillop died on August 9, 1909.
Marian Feastday – The Assumption of Mary
Aug. 15 is a special day of rejoicing and celebration for the Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon. This major feastday of our patron, is the day that most of the members of the SSMO Community were received as novices.
This significant feast day recalls the spiritual and physical departure of the Mother of Jesus Christ from the earth, when both her soul and her body were taken into the presence of God.
Venerable Pope Pius XII confirmed this belief about the Virgin Mary as the perennial teaching of the Church when he defined it formally as a dogma of Catholic faith in 1950, to proclaim, “that the Immaculate Mother of God, the ever-
Virgin Mary, having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory.”
Mary, mother of us all, pray for us!
