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,
As the celebration of Christmas joy and peace continues, it is the perfect time to ponder what gift God has given you to share with the world around you. Such pondering may be helpful to making a New Year’s resolution!
This issue of the Newsletter is early this month because I will be on retreat on the usual publishing date. Please keep me in your prayers. I promise that you will be in my prayers.
Blessings in the New Year!
Sr. Charlene
SSMO HAPPENINGS
The Community’s hallmark characteristics of Prayer, Community, and Service were exemplified repeatedly during the preparations for Christmas. Here are photos of some activities and a video of my Nativity scene collection.
Vocation Facts:
Characteristics of New Members
- 73 % attended Catholic school for at least part of their education
- 73% grew up in middle-class households
Religious Women Saints – January
They saw a need and they responded
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton (1774-1821)
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton was a wife, mother, widow, convert to Catholicism, and the first native born person to be canonized (1975). She is highly regarded as the foundress of the Catholic School system in the United States.
St. Marianne Cope (1838-1918)
St. Marianne Cope was German-born, but moved with her family to the United Sates at a young age. She became a member of the Sisters of St. Francis in Syracuse, NY. She was an outstanding hospital administrator before answering the call in 1883 to relocate to Hawaii to care for those suffering from leprosy. She served those with Hanson’s disease for more 30 years and never contracted the illness. She was canonized in 2012.
St. Angela de Merici (1474-1540)
St. Angela de Merici was instrumental in establishing educational opportunities for girls by opening her home to them. Although it was never recognized as a religious order in her lifetime, Angela’s Company of Saint Ursula, or the Ursulines, was the first group of women religious to minister outside of the cloister and it became the first teaching order of women in the Catholic Church. She was canonized in 1807.
Feast Days of Mary – January
The Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God is celebrated on Jan. 1. By celebrating a solemnity dedicated to Mary’s motherhood, the Church highlights the significance of her role in the birth and life of Jesus.
Q and A:
After being a canonical novice, what is the next step in the formation process?
During the next phase of formation, the novice transitions to a fuller life of ministry or continues her education in order to engage in a ministry in service to God’s people. If the second-year novice is uncertain of a ministry to pursue, this is a good time to sample works of service through short stints of engagement.
In addition, some formation classes and conferences with the novice director continue to be scheduled.
Upcoming events:
Discernment – Would you like help with your discernment? We are here to assist. Send a note to [email protected] for more information.
Every Thursday is Holy Hour. You are invited to the weekly Holy Hour with the Sisters. On the first Thursday of each month, the special intention is for vocations to religious life and priesthood. Join us at 6:30 p.m. at the SSMO Motherhouse Chapel.
Please call ahead so someone can meet you at the front door.
January 31 – College age men and women are invited to join the first meeting of the Vocation Discernment Group at the University of Portland. Send a note to Sr. Charlene at [email protected] for more information.
