We have 50 days during the Easter season to rejoice and give praise that our Savior, Lord and God has risen, Alleluia.
As the Easter season continues, it brings us to Ascension on May 12 and Pentecost on May 19. These special celebrations remind us that Jesus rose, ascended to heaven and that on Pentecost we receive the Holy Spirit. The Easter season is a tremendous gift to us from God and allows us to open our hearts, minds and souls to the Holy Spirit.
Ascension is the celebration of Christ going up to heaven to enter into full and final glory at the right hand of the Father, where He intercedes for us and exercises His power over the whole universe.
We celebrate Pentecost on the 50th day after Easter. On this day we recognize Christ’s new presence through the Holy Spirit. In scripture (Acts 2:1-42) we read and recall the day when the Holy Spirit descended upon the disciples. Peter preached to the people and pilgrims in Jerusalem and around 3,000 people accepted his message and were baptized. During this Easter season, many of our sisters and brothers are coming into the Church through the Sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation. Similar to St. Peter, our Church welcomes and celebrates those who are coming to believe and live in the light of Christ.
The Sacraments are the visible sign instituted by Christ which reveals and communicates grace. Our SSMO Sisters rejoice in welcoming all who embrace the love and grace that God gives freely. The fullness of Christ’s grace brings us new birth and the gift of the Holy Spirit makes us adopted children of God and members of Christ’s body.
Pentecost is celebrated on Sunday, May 19. Please know that the Sisters will be praying you for in a very intentional and special way that day. As we accept the gifts of the Holy Spirit: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord, we know these are gifts we want to embrace, develop and share. I invite you to open yourself to the Holy Spirit and accept the life-giving gift of grace God offers.
Blessed and Happy Mother’s Day! With peace and joy.
Sr. Michael Francine Duncan
SSMO Vocation Newsletter – May 2024
A monthly publication of news, events and topics important to the SSMO Community and religious life. Click here to view the May issue.
Imprisoned Without Cause – An Asian American family’s story of resiliency.
Join us on Monday, May 13 at 6:30 p.m. via Google Meet for a special event in honor of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month.
Jana Iwasaki ’98 will share her family’s WWII experiences as Japanese Americans removed from their homes. Hear how her family, including her grandfather’s younger brothers who were drafted into the U.S. Army, navigated through this period of history.
Discover the resilience of the Japanese American community, including the Iwasaki family’s legacy maintained through the support of their German American neighbors.
Visit our website for more info.
Registration closes Friday, May 17.
Register today to secure your spot and be part of the 11th Annual Whole in One Golf Tournament on Wednesday, May 22, at Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club. It will be a fun-filled day at Pumpkin Ridge as friends of the Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon, parents and alumni of Valley Catholic School and supporters of Maryville all come together as one community.
| Thanks to You, Give:24 was a Blooming Success! The SSMO campus community experienced the power and spirit of collective giving as we celebrated Give:24. We are grateful to those who generously participated in our day of giving. Thank you for cultivating the faith, excellence, and service that resonates through the Motherhouse, Valley Catholic School, and Maryville. You are an important part of the faith-filled community that sustains our legacy. Your kindness seeds a future of hope and opportunity. |
For more than 121 years, the Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon have championed an educational mission that values inclusivity. Today, their mission thrives through the support of need-based tuition assistance at Valley Catholic School.
We’re excited to share that the OCF Joseph E. Weston Public Foundation has again presented us with an extraordinary matching gift opportunity. All donations to the Weston Challenge will be matched up to $105,000, for a total of $210,000. These dollars will provide access and opportunity for today’s students and generations to come.
Consider different ways to give, such as stocks, donor-advised funds, or qualified charitable distributions (QCDs), which may offer tax advantages while supporting VC students’ educational journeys.
Your generosity provides tuition assistance and empowers students to excel intellectually, physically, and spiritually.
Be a champion for Valiants – donate today!
The Distinguished Alumni and Emerging Leader Awards are presented by Valley Catholic School, the Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon Foundation and the Alumni Advisory Committee annually during the VCS Gala. The deadline to nominate a Distinguished Alumnus/a or Emerging Leader is June 1, 2024.
This year’s Distinguished Alumni Award theme is Small Business.
The Distinguished Alumni Award recognizes an alumna/us who, as an owner, founder, partner or manager of a small business, has excelled in his or her life’s work, demonstrates a high standard of personal integrity, strives for excellence, and lives a valiant life.
The Emerging Leader Award recognizes one alumna/us of VCS who has graduated in the last fifteen years and shows promise as a leader in their field. Alumni from the classes of 2009 – 2024 are eligible.
