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, Pilgrims of Hope,
As I was developing content for this Newsletter, our Community was holding its General Chapter meetings called the Chapter of Affairs and of Elections. This is a time of prayer and collaboration that we partake in once every five years.
For eight days our facilitator plied us with questions to help us envision and
articulate what we want to set as hopes, dreams, and a plan of action for the next five years. After the Chapter of Affairs was complete we elected a new Leadership Team. They will be installed during a special Mass on June 29, 2025. Check out our blog post to meet the SSMO Leadership Team and learn more about this important meeting time for our Community.
Lenten Blessings,
Sr. Charlene
Meet our Jubilee Sisters
We are celebrating the Jubilee of several Sisters in 2025.
Sr. Marie Bernadette George – 70 years
Sr. Marie Bernadette George wanted to be a Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon since she was in the sixth grade. She had a Sister who inspired her through her love of God, and Sr. Marie Bernadette wanted to be like her and inspire others to love God.
Sr. Marie Bernadette was born in Butte, Montana, and grew up in Portland, where she attended Holy Cross Grade School, Immaculata Academy, and St. Mary of the Valley High School (now Valley Catholic). She entered the SSMO Community and continued her education – receiving a bachelor’s in education from Marylhurst College.
Sr. Marie Bernadette taught at many schools in western Oregon and worked at Maryville, where her mother resided in her last years until she was 103. She had the opportunity to travel to Medjugorje, Lebanon, France, and Italy. Now in retirement, Sr. Marie Bernadette is studying French and continues her education through Bible study programs.
Visit Sister Marie Bernadette’s bio page to learn more about her inspiring journey.
Discernment Opportunities
Vocation Events for April
The SSMO Vocation Committee will be in California this month.
Check out our events page for specific dates and locations.
If you happen to be where we are, please join us and say “hello.”
Please pray for our safe travels.
Thank you.
Questions:
Besides Candidacy, what are the other stages of Formation?
After Candidacy and Novitiate, the novice, after prayer and discernment, requests to profess the vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience for a limited time of two years.
During that time, she may be attending school or serving in a ministry approved by the leadership. She also meets regularly with the Director of Temporary Professed Sisters and continues to meet with her spiritual director.
Visit Five Formation Steps to learn more about the intentional and patient transition into religious life.
Myths about Religious Life:
Myth: Most new members are older or second-career candidates
Fact: The average age for entering a religious community is 30, and almost half of the entrants are under 25. The average age for professing final vows is 39. There has been and always will be a place for older or second-career candidates in religious life, however multiple studies confirm that an increasing number of younger people are looking at religious life as a possible life option.
*Sources: National Religious Vocation Conference and “VISION” magazine
Quotations by Historic Religious Sisters
Venerable Nano Nagel,
Foundress of the Presentation Sisters
“Love one another as you have hitherto done. Spend yourself for the poor.”
-Photo from St Patrick’s College, Sutherland, Australia
St. Julia Billart, Cofounder of Notre Dame de Namur University
“Let us always go on sowing the good seed; then live in the peace of God.”
-Photo is an 1830 painting of Saint Julie Billiart by an unknown artist
St. Catherine of Siena, OP. Doctor of the Church
To the servant of God every place is the right place, and every time is the right time.
-Statue of St. Catherine of Siena in Rome
