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,
With the passing of Pope Francis on Easter Monday, we all have a new advocate in heaven. We know how he will continue to shower mercy and kindness on those in need. His final day (Easter) was spent with the people he loved and served for
12 grace-filled years as Pope.
Let us attempt to honor his legacy by imitating his gracious life which he fully lived until the day he died. May he rest is God’s loving embrace.
Easter Blessings,
Sr, Charlene
Meet our Jubilee Sisters
We are celebrating the Jubilee of several Sisters in 2025.
Sr. Marcella Parrish – 70 years
For Sister Marcella Parrish, the journey to religious life began with a pair of shoes.
At just four years old, she accompanied her mother and brother to register for school at St. Mary of the Valley. When Sister Theresa Margaret welcomed them, young Marcella looked up and was captivated—not by the habit, but by the shoes. “Whatever she is,” she told her mother on the walk home, “that’s what I want to be.”
Born in 1938, Sister Marcella spent her early childhood in a logging camp on the Little North Fork of the Santiam River, where her father worked as the head sawyer of her uncle’s mill.
After joining the Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon she ventured into a remarkable career in education and service.
Now marking 75 years of vowed life, Sister Marcella remains grateful for the challenges and blessings of her vocation. “Religious life can be demanding, but it’s joyful and fulfilling,” she said. “I’ve been blessed with good health, deep friendships, and the chance to serve in many ways.”
Visit Sister Marcella Parrish’s bio page to learn more about her inspiring journey.
Discernment Opportunities
Vocation Events for May
The SSMO Vocation Committee is traveling out of the country 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.
Vocation and Formation Directors Meeting
On April 23 the Vocation and Formation Directors in the Pacific Northwest gathered for their annual meeting at the Motherhouse of the Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon. In addition to sharing about what has been happening in our respective ministries, they set dates for Zoom meetings to begin planning the annual Vocation Retreat that will be held on November 7-9 this year at the Peace and Spirituality Center in. Bellevue, WA.
On the second day of the meeting the group was graced with a Day of Reflection prepared and presented by Dr. Elaine Park. Her theme was Pilgrims of Hope.
Questions:
What is the difference between a sister and a nun?
Although people use these terms interchangeably, a sister is a woman who belongs to an apostolic, or active religious order that is dedicated to ministry, such as education, social justice, health care, parish ministry, etc.
By contrast, a nun is a sister who belongs to a contemplative monastery where most of the day is dedicated to prayer for the good of the world. Contemplative nuns are usually cloistered, that is, they rarely leave the monastery property.
Visit Five Formation Steps to learn more about the intentional and patient transition into religious life.
Quotations by Historic Religious Sisters
Blessed Mary Catherine of Cairo
Feast day May 6
“The will of God is my perpetual hunger, my thirst and my yearning.”
-Photo of St. Catherine Monastery in Cairo by Berthold Werner.
St. Magdalene of Canossa
Feast day May 8
“The Religious Life is only the Gospel translated into practice.”
-Photo of her statue in Verona, Italy.
St. Ursula Ledochowska
Feast day May 29
“It is not enough to pray, ‘Thy Kingdom come,’ but to work, so that the Kingdom of God will exist among us today.”
-Photo of St. Ursula Ledochowska in St. Petersburg from 1907.
