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Sunday, April 29, 2012

World Day of Prayer for Vocations... April 29th

For further info click here

Something I did not know until I ventured onto the Society of the Sacred Heart web page is that today marks the 49th annual World Day of Prayer for Vocations.  

Apparently in 1963 Pope Paul VI designated Good Shepherd Sunday as World Day of Prayer for Vocations and ever since, this day is celebrated on the fourth Sunday of Easter.  Sr. Kathleen Hughes, RSCJ and former Provincial for the U.S. Province wrote  the beautiful prayer below. 

Prayer for Vocations 

God whose power is love and whose heart is infinite,
You have called the Religious of the Sacred Heart
to discover and reveal your love
by living as women of the pierced heart of Christ,
attentive both to your presence
and to the anguish and hope of your people.

Keep us faithful to your longings for us:
contemplative by vocation
desirous of communion
generous in forgiveness
and passionate for justice.

By our witness
attract other women to this same spirit and mission.
Join to our number those who
are great-hearted and ready to reveal your face.

Give us companions who, despite the ambiguities of this age,
will lean on the love of their sisters as they root their lives in you.

Invite to the Society of the Sacred Heart
those who are generous and joy-filled like Madeleine Sophie,
those who are courageous and daring like Philippine,
and renew us all in these habits of heart.

We ask this in confidence and hope through Christ,
risen and reigning with you and the Spirit,
now and forever.  Amen
- Kathleen Hughes, RSCJ

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Biking & Hiking Retreats Organized by RSCJ

For more info click here - vocation.rscj.org
This afternoon I had the opportunity to speak to Sr. Diane Roche, RSCJ about the upcoming Spirituality Retreats that she and Sr. Mary Pat White, RSCJ have planned for this spring and summer. Below is further info.  If you should be a participant at any of these upcoming retreats, please be sure to take photos and send them along with commentary on your experience to the AASH National Office and if you have participated before, please write a comment below.  

Wishing all a blessed Easter season!  


Spirituality in Nature: Four Retreats Planned for 2012




Prayer for Discernment
Loving God, holder of my days, I know that I am destined for a great mission in life.
There is some special work in the world which will remain undone unless I do it.
There is some place in life which will remain unfilled unless I fill it.
Help me to discern what my gifts are and give me the generosity to use them to benefit others.
Guide me in your ways that I may know with confidence that the gifts you have given me, if used well, will bring new life and blessing into the world.
Then I will fulfill the great dreams you have for me.
Empower me with the assurance that I am your beloved daughter, that I am truly anointed by you Spirit to act with Justice and compassion.
Show me how to live out my mission to be, truly, your Love, your Heart, in a suffering world.
          Amen.

(Based on words of Mother Janet Erskine Stuart, former Superior General of the Society of the Sacred Heart)


Sunday, April 15, 2012

To her cousin Josephine Perier, Baronesse de Savoye-Rollin

The convent at Florissant - for more info
April 15, 1837 ~  Mother Duchesne writes to her cousin, Josephine Perier, Baronesse de Savoye-Rollin, "It seems to me I have outlived myself, and I see the time coming when I shall be good for almost nothing. The children here at Florissant all speak English now; very few know French, and I cannot even teach religion to the little children in the parish school, for although I can read English, it is quite another thing to understand it when it is spoken or to speak it myself."

Taken from the book:  Through the Year with Philippine Duchesne



Sunday, April 8, 2012

St. Madeleine Sophie writes to Philippine Duchesne, "the Cross is the greatest of all treasures..."

Taken at the Shrine in St. Charles, MO

April 7 - 8, 1805 ~ St. Madeleine Sophie Barat writes to Philippine Duchesne, "You realize now that the Cross is the greatest of all treasures.  A large portion of it is in store for you, but be courageous and ready to accept it willingly, without, however, asking for it. You will have crosses that come from yourself, but there will be others far more painful to bear.  Only let your soul be steeped in love for Jesus, then no cross will be too heavy to carry."

Taken from the book, "Through the Year with Philippine Duchesne"


"Mickie" Ryan  (my mom and a treasure!) taken on Easter Sunday 1959


I received an email from a fellow alumna asking me,  "I have not received a blog notice from you… have you stopped posting????"  I responded with a short message stating, "The last blog I wrote was from Palos Hospital the day of my Mom’s surgery (3/15).  She fell and broke her hip and is now in rehab at..." Well, after two weeks in a rehab "Mickie" (my mom) developed a MRSA/VISA infection in her hip wound and was taken back to the hospital for treatment.  She is getting along but her road to recovery is a long one.  


St. Madeleine Sophie's words above are very meaningful at this juncture in my life, as well as my mother's - "Only let your soul be steeped in love for Jesus, then no cross will be too heavy to carry." 


I wish all a joyous and blessed Easter season!