Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

National Vocation Awareness Week – November 1 – 7

October 29, 2015

National Vocation Awareness Week Calls Catholics to Foster a Culture of Vocations

A culture of vocations is one that provides the necessary support for others to hear and respond to God’s call in their lives.

The Catholic Church in the United States will celebrate National Vocation Awareness Week, November 1 – 7, 2015. This observance, sponsored by the U.S. bishops’ Committee on Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations, is a special time for parishes and all Catholics in the United States to foster a culture of vocations for the priesthood, diaconate and consecrated life.

Pope Francis, in his message of April 26, 2015 on the 52^nd Day of World Prayer for Vocations, stated, “Responding to God’s call means allowing Him to help us leave ourselves and our false security behind, and to strike out on the path which leads to Jesus Christ, the origin and destiny of our life and our happiness.” The Holy Father stresses, “The Christian vocation, rooted in the contemplation of the Father’s heart, thus inspires us to solidarity in bringing liberation to our brothers and sisters, especially the poorest.”

National Vocations Awareness Week is designed to help promote vocation awareness and to encourage young people to ask the question: “To what vocation in life is God calling me?”

Encouraging others to recognize the promptings of the Holy Spirit and to follow Christ without reservations are key elements in supporting a culture of vocations,” said Bishop Michael F. Burbidge of Raleigh, North Carolina. “With God’s grace, we can have a positive impact on others who may be open to considering a vocation to priesthood or religious life, by simply inviting them to think and pray about it. Our enthusiasm and willingness to speak directly to others about vocations just might be the conversation someone needs to respond to God’s call.”

“Over and over again when asked, newly ordained priests and newly professed women and men religious, credit the encouragement of family members, co-workers, friends and clergy, as being a significant factor in their pursuing a vocations,” said Fr. Ralph O’Donnell, USCCB’s executive director of Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations.

The observance of Vocation Awareness Week began in 1976.

NRVC Symposium on New Generations of Catholic Sisters Held at Immaculata University

October 12, 2015

On Saturday, October 10th at Immaculata University, Immaculata, PA, a special gathering was hosted by the National Religious Vocation Conference (NRVC) in collaboration with Immaculata made possible through a grant from the GHR Foundation.

The central topic of the symposium was a book entitled New Generations of Catholic Sisters written by Mary Johnson, SND de N; Patricia Wittberg, SC and Mary Gautier, Ph.D.

New Generations of Catholic Sisters: The Challenge of Diversity offers a comprehensive examination of contemporary religious life among women who have entered religious institutes in the United States since the end of the Second Vatican Council.

The authors each presented a different facet of their work. Dr. Mary Gautier spoke on the changing demographics of US Catholic and institutes of women religious. Sr. Patricia Wittberg, SC spoke on the generational differences among women religious and Sr. Mary Johnson spoke to where we go from here.

A panel of recently professed religious moderated by Sr. Mary Johnson brought forth the stories of their individual calls to religious life.

Cabrini College Hosts Involvement Fair

September 17, 2015

On Thursday, September 10^th, the staffers at the Cabrini Cottage attended Cabrini College’s annual Involvement Fair. The event is focused on providing students, both incoming and veteran, with information about clubs and organizations that are available to them on campus. Our staff wanted to be sure that we maintained a presence throughout the event to welcome students and to become familiar with or be reintroduced to our MSC sponsored organizations.

As some Cabrini students are looking towards their post-graduate future, our staff was there to remind them of the opportunity to possibly volunteer with the Cabrini Mission Corps. Cabrini students were also reminded of the urgency of anti-human trafficking efforts and the awareness that is being raised through the Cabrini Action and Advocacy Coalition (CAAC).

Our staff, as well as having a presence at the fair, wanted to informally introduce the new CMC missioners to the college community – Ashley Block, Vanessa Miranda, Morgan Perry and Rachel Recolcolin.

Lastly, another of our goals was to create increasing familiarity of the Missionary Sisters as the religious sponsors of Cabrini College; to meet Sr. Christine Marie Baltas, MSC and Sr. Grace Waters, MSC whom we are blessed to have on our campus; as well to heighten awareness of the MSCs’ presence and ministries throughout the world.

Interfaith Sharing in West Park, NY

September 11, 2015

The MSC Formation Com Brudderhoef Community 5 cr munity in West Park, NY was privileged to receive a recent visit from the Bruderhoff Community which is located in nearby Esopus. Our brothers in faith came with their wives and together we had a beautiful faith sharing.

The MSCs had already been invited a few months ago to visit the Bruderhoff Community where the members shared their apostolates and activities. There are over a hundred members—men, women and children—who live and work in community there. They have a private school for the education of their children in the faith on the property, as well as several manufacturing efforts to sustain their programs.

The two couples who came to visit us were very interested in everything we could tell them and share: our life, our spirit, our apostolates. They feel that both MSCs and themselves share many beliefs and attitudes, as well as many desires to promote our Christian path in today’s world. How important it is for religious groups to work together for the kingdom and spread the good news of the Gospel!

Both leaders were very interested in our missionary work around the world and shared our enthusiasm for promoting a deeper faith and ongoing commitment to Christianity. Here in West Park, we are blessed to have such interfaith possibilities. Let us together hope and pray that other interfaith groups will grow and flourish so that together we can contribute to a genuine renewal of Christianity.

Joy Abounds at Profession of Vows

June 4, 2015

Joy! Joy! Joy!

No other word can sum up what the perpetual profession of Sr. Laura Baldini, MSC was like. Even before the day – May 31^st – came, our house was filled with greeting the many guests for the occasion. The guests came from Argentina (Laura’s home country), Guatemala, Nicaragua, Mexico, Rome, and the United States. Among the guests from Argentina were Laura’s mother and aunt.

The mix and mash of English-Spanish, Spanish-English reverberated everywhere and always with a joyful sound. It gave us here in the U.S. a great opportunity to get to know our Latin American Sisters.

When the time came for the vow ceremony all plugged into the prayer and the solemnity of the occasion. There were three con-celebrants: Fr. Kirk Reynolds, S.J. and the two OFM Caps: Fr. Thomas Faiola and Fr. Michael Ramos. The chapel was full – downstairs and up in the choir loft. The liturgy was bi-lingual and inclusive.

After liturgy, all were treated to a sumptuous meal where the camaraderie continued with festive joy.

Serving with the Sisters – Celebrating The Year of Consecrated Life

May 6, 2015

In celebration and commemoration of Pope Francis’s declaration of this year being the Year of Consecrated Life, the National Religious Vocations Conference Region 3 hosted an inter-congregational day of service on Sunday, May 3^rd in the Kensington section of Philadelphia.

Sisters from eight religious congregations and young adults were invited to join each other in serving communities in need of some TLC and what a beautiful day we had!

We kicked off the day at 11 a.m. with a gathering at Community Center at Visitation where we had a lovely “sending forth” with our groups to our respective worksites. The air was palpable with excitement for what the day was to hold for each of us.

When I signed up for the event, I really had no idea what kind of impact we were going to have on the communities in which we were going to be serving. [However, due to the cadre of volunteers] La Salle Academy now has fresh, new ground murals of the United States and the world, a new foursquare court, and a beautiful hopscotch court. Several local churches have fresh coats of paint on their walls and doors and the Providence Center has a charming community garden.

I had the great honor of floating from worksite to worksite, taking photos of what was being done at each place. Leaving each site, my heart was filled with joy and gratitude to be able to witness the good work that was being done with a shared objective – to permeate each location with the insurmountable love, joy, and hope of Jesus. Throughout the day, a verse from the book of Matthew kept coming to mind – “For where two or three come together in my name, there I am with them.” What a privilege to serve alongside Jesus.

Around 3:00 p.m., we once again gathered at the Community Center at Visitation for pizza, snacks, and group sharing. The room buzzed with enthusiastic chatter as each person described their individual experiences from the day. Throughout the time of sharing, there existed a common thread of beauty seen in these communities that have been hit so hard by poverty; beauty in the people they encountered, beauty in the sites themselves, and beauty in the experience of service. Each reflection contained not only pride in the work that had been done, but a sense of privilege to have been a part of it all. With humble gratitude, I can say that I am so very blessed to have had this opportunity to serve alongside so many beautiful servants of the Lord. What a privilege, indeed! ~ submitted by CMC missioner Ashley Block

World Day of Prayer for Vocations is April 26th

April 17, 2015

The Message of Pope Francis for the 52st World Day of Prayer for Vocations was released this week. This commemoration is traditionally the fourth Sunday of Easter and will be celebrated this year on April 26.

You can read the Holy Father’s Message at https://nrvc.net/256/article/message-of-pope-francis-for-the-52nd-world-day-of-prayer-for-vocations-7482

Pope Francis’ 10 Secrets to Happiness

March 12, 2015

Members of the Stella Maris Province Vocation Promotion Team (VPT) are always seeking opportunities to engage others in conversations about faith and discernment – prayerfully seeking guidance from God on all matters of life.

One such gathering happened this week at The Cottage in Radnor, PA where the MSC Mission Offices are based. VPT member Sr. Patricia Spillane shared Pope Francis’ 10 Secrets to Happiness with a small group of Cabrini College community members, CMC missioners and Mission Office staffers. Sr. Christine Marie Baltas, MSC and Sr. Grace Waters, MSC joined in the conversation.

Sr. Patricia was full of missionary zeal as she spoke about her call to religious life and the many roles she has held throughout her years as a Missionary Sister. She told the group that she has had a wonderful life – some years spent as Superior General and Assistant General of the Missionary Sisters, some years in the Philippines and early years spent on the Cabrini College campus as a student and as the Dean of Students.

Sr. Patricia led a dialogue on the 10 Secrets to Happiness by Pope Francis. Members of the group read each “secret” and a discussion ensued. For each secret, Sr. Patricia offered her own insights and wisdom. All of the participants were fully engaged in the discussion and the interaction was animated and heartfelt. We felt blessed by Sr. Patricia’s presence and so grateful for this opportunity to share these practical aspects of our faith journey.

As Sr. Patricia reminded us, “all of this challenges us to be authentic disciples of Jesus in the 21^st Century and to promote true peace and reconciliation wherever we can.”

Pope Francis’ 10 Secrets to Happiness are:

1. Live and let live. – How would your life be happier if you stopped trying to change the lives of others?

2. Be giving of yourself to others. – How have you experienced happiness through reaching out to help others?

3. Proceed calmly. – In what ways can you cultivate peacefulness in your life?

4. Develop a healthy sense of leisure .- How do you balance work and leisure in your life?

5. Make Sunday a holy day. – What kinds of things would you have to change in your life in order to reclaim Sunday as a holy day?

6. Create jobs for young people. – How can you help young people find dignity and happiness through meaningful work or service?

7. Respect and take care of nature. – What is something you can do to become a better steward of God’s creation?

8. Stop being negative. – What steps can you take to eliminate negativity in your life?

9. Respect others’ beliefs. How do you respect others’ beliefs and at the same time witness to your own.

10 Work for peace. – In what ways do you work and pray for peace?

Opening Wide Our Doors

February 23, 2015

Pope Francis urges religious congregations to “open their doors” to the public.

The Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (Cabrini Sisters), from the House of Formation and Discernment in West Park-Ulster County-New York, heeding the words of Pope Francis opened their doors to various parish communities last Sunday, February 8, 2015.

In attendance were parishioners from various surrounding towns including Beacon, Poughkeepsie, Highland, New Paltz, Esopus, and Kingston.

The focus of the Open House was on the following themes: the Life of Mother Cabrini as Patroness of Immigrants; charism and spirituality; the Cabrini Missionary vision; formation of various vocations; consecrated religious life; Cabrini Lay Missionaries; Cabrini Mission Corps and Cabrini Companions.

The ministries that were presented included: Cabrini Advocacy and Action (CAAC) which involves raising awareness regarding human trafficking issues; direct assistance for issues of immigration including legal consultation, obtaining citizenship, teaching English as a Second language, running a food pantry, and pastoral ministry on all levels. Visitors were all able to see on a world map the extension of the Cabrini Mission on the six continents.

The Missionary Sisters received their guests and took them on a tour of the expositions, explaining details of their life style and charism.

Our guests were able to witness the history of the Cabrini orphanage through pictures and a narrative. They saw a movie of the Cabrini heritage prepared by The National Shrine of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini in Chicago.

One aspect of the Open House was a visit to the sister’s quarters, followed by refreshments in the dining room.

One of the MSC aspirants took the visiting children aside and entertained them with age-appropriate fun activities.

By the sounds of laughter and joy, we could tell that everyone had a very fruitful and enjoyable afternoon. As the guests were leaving, they expressed that religious life was not as much of a mystery to them now.

We, Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, since Vatican II, have had our doors open to many lay collaborators, friends and family members, but, this is the first time that we made an extensive formal invitation to all that could come and share with us an informative and pleasurable afternoon.

Pope Francis, thank you for encouraging all of us to “Open the Doors” to our home.