Gathering the Graces...

How do you follow up an awesome celebration of saying “YES!!!!” to God’s ongoing call? Well, the answer is very simple: RETREAT! Ah, yes, blessed time of taking a step back and reflecting on God’s call, what has been and where He is calling me. In short, a long period of “gathering the graces.”   

I was blessed to be on a silent retreat at the Motherhouse of the Sisters of St. Joseph in Baden, Pennsylvania. How true it is that where one is, we all are. I felt very welcomed and at home there.  While there, I had had an opportunity to catch up with my friend, Zita (before silence started, of course), who will be with me in Chicago at the Federation Novitiate.  It was a week of stretching and resting in the love of God who continues to call me forth on this journey.  Now…some of you might ask, “what does one do on retreat?” The short answer is: nothing. Since God does much of the work, we simply need to be open.  There were many opportunities for walking and reflecting outside in the sunshine and relishing God’s love. I had plenty of time for prayer, reading, sitting on a swing, reflecting, listening to music, walking the labyrinth as I let go to make room for what might be, and all good things.  I was blessed that my biggest grace was a massive reminder of God’s gentle, loving, growing, call and that He can walk us through anything. And that is a promise we can all take to the heavenly bank!

The next step

So . . . I left off with the fact that I was being received as a Novice. Those  who weren’t present for the ceremony might wonder how it was.  First, my reception as a Novice took place during our June community (Sisters and Associates) weekend otherwise known as Summer Days. The weekend started on Friday night with a beautiful prayer service, which just so happened to fit right in line with my reception ceremony (the scripture passages used were identical!)  I tell ya…God has his ways of reminding us of truth! J Then it was to the Sisters' Gathering Space for trivia, snacks and music, dancing, karaoke and fun! We started off with a polka which left my head swimming, we were spinning so fast (Those who have seen my uncles polka or who have polkaed with my uncles understand!) It was a blessed night of fun and just being together.Some wondered how I was going to get up the following morning but, I was up at and at ‘em. Saturday was a day full of looking at our (the Sisters) future and what it might hold. It was a blessed day of prayerfully sharing hopes, dreams, and vision of what God’s dream for us as a “community” might be. Our day ended around 3:00 pm and then for me, it was off to spend some time with my own family. We had a nice dinner out and a ferry ride on Lake Erie aboard the” Lady Kate."  Then it was to Sara’s Diner for ice cream treats!!!! Yum!!!!!!!  Sunday was the big day! It started with my reception as a Novice. It was a beautiful ceremony filled with readings, imagery, and people who mean a lot to me. The ceremony started with an entrance hymn to the tune of Ode to Joy that my housemate Sr. Nancy Prenatt helped rework to fit the occasion. She also played tambourine,both were very special to me. My other housemate, Sr. Carol Morehouse, read Jeremiah 29:11, which I chose as my scripture reading. Sr. Mary Ann White, a member of our Leadership, read from the Sisters' Constitutions as well as received my request to become a Novice and continue the journey forward. That was extra special as she walked with me when I first began on this journey.  At the end of the ceremony Sr. Linda Fusco, the Vocations Director, entrusted me to Sr. Joyce Lowrey’s care as Novice Director. The community  then affirmed my call to move forward. It was a beautiful ceremony. Before we knew it, it was time for Liturgy where Sisters of Saint Joseph Associates and my family joined us to celebrate.  We also had a picnic luncheon and concert that my family was able to enjoy, there  they were able to meet a number of Sisters who were most gracious and welcoming. Then it was time for all to head home after a full weekend. Once I got home and we unwound for a bit,  my housemates gathered as I opened cards and gifts from everyone. I was very touched by the many and varied expressions of love and care as I journey onward.  Prayers, holy card, and journals my land!!!!!! I don’t think I have ever seen so many journals in my life time, but I suspect that it won’t take too long to fill them during this coming year.  There will be many things to ponder and thank God for along the way. It was a full and love-filled day. Needless to say, I was more than ready to head to retreat the following week!!

Below I am putting in some pictures of the big day!

Sister Joyce and me

Srs. Mary Herrmann, Mary Ann White, and Clare Marie Beichner and me (our Leadership)

My family and me: Ryan (brother-in-law, Holly (sister) Julie (sister), Dorothy (mom), and Peter (dad)