Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Bringing Christ's love to the world
Saturday, Dec 2 was a busy day of retreats at St Frances Cabrini Shrine in New York City. In the morning we had a Spanish-language Advent retreat followed by Mass and confessions. In the afternoon Sr. Bernadette Anello, MSC, led a group of 14 through a powerful reflection on hope. “This was outstanding!” participant Greg Gartner exclaimed.
On Saturday, December 9th, the Cabrini Lay Missionaries (CLMs) of the Guadalupe Province, held an Advent prayer service. It was a time to come together in faith and pray that our hearts will be ready to receive the Christ-child. The theme of our prayer was faith. We focused on Mary, our Blessed Mother and Our Lady of Guadalupe.
Sr. Lucille Souza, MSC, gave a beautiful reflection on the way Mary said “yes” to God. She spoke about how that required great faith on her part. Sister went on to share how her own faith has empowered her to say “yes” to God. As part of her reflection, Sr. Lucille invited each of us to share the ways that faith has helped us to say “yes” to God.
Digna Merchan, CLM, shared about her devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe. She also shared a very meaningful video with us.
We wanted to include prayers of peace for our world. Srs. Genet, Abaynesh and Abebech sang, ‘Peace for the World Song’ in Amharic, their native language. We ended with everyone singing, ‘Let There Be Peace on Earth’ in their native languages.
A special thank you to Susan Pierson who prepared the prayer service in both English and Spanish.
~ A Reflection by Sr. Terezinha Esperanca Merandi, MSC originally written for the Global Sisters Report.
Advent is a coming, an awaiting, expectation. It involves emptiness, an openness, eyes, heart and spirit awake! Wanting to be filled, looking for something more and better.
It spells H-O-P-E and b-e-y-o-n-d the here and now of all around.
In South Sudan, in this fragmented country of conflict and shattered dreams, having completed a decade of independence and yet living in the constant, haunting shadow of war, ambush, kidnappings, torture and brutal killings, this youngest and newest country in the world can choose!
Choose what? Choose to “put pain to purpose”!1 There is so much pain and trauma here in this “adolescent of a country”, whose dreams waver on nightmares when faced with everyday threats and obstacles. Where is God? Where is change? Where is hope? How to “feed” hope? Teach our hearts to hope, dream for the future, hope in impossible times of sadness and tragedy? How?
First and foremost: to stay with; not cloud, abandon or mystify reality. Join hands (hearts and spirits), even in this time of Covid; defy mistrust and fear to find energy, that can be renewed, in a community of believers who know that Emmanuel is on the horizon.
Relationship and sharing enable a unifying process, beyond revenge, separation, hatred and exclusion. Is this not what the promises of the Incarnation, of God’s Advent into our human history brought about? Hope! And hope in abundance feeding our life in need (Jn 10,10).
Mustering up a maturing in growth for mindful re-evaluation: God is light, His light has come into the world (Jn 1,4-5.9). Reaching out, willfully, in dialogue, going towards encounter: exer-cising a freedom, true and deep, which breaks down barriers (Jn 4,10). Making love real, tan-gible, present in the situation here and now: affectively not withdrawing and being inclusive of all ailing parties (Jn17,21.26). Where there is great suffering, only great love can endure,2 to give meaning and motivation for the struggle ahead, forging the pathway forward with purpose: accompanying/building/ encouraging the newness of life being born, strengthening faltering and slumping hope, be-ing a bridge in the breach for reconciliation and peace.
Advent of Jesus’ Incarnation in South Sudan: Come, Lord Jesus, Come! Oh Wisdom, oh Adonai, oh Stem of Jesse, Radiant Star, David’s Key, King of all Nations, Emmanuel,3 Come! Walk with us through tragedy into the joy and hope of your ever-coming Advent Presence! Christmas Peace on South Sudan, Sudan, Ethiopia, Eswatini, Nicaragua and All!
~ Terezinha Esperança Merandi, MSC November 27, 2021 Kit, South Sudan
To read a related article in the Global Sisters Report please click here
1 Jane “Nightbirde” Marczewski, CNN interview, Chris Cuomo Prime Time, June 23, 2021.
2 Richard Rohr develops this theme at length in “The Universal Christ”, p.83.
3 “O” antiphons of the Advent Evening Prayer Magnificat, December 17 – 23.
Each week during the season of Advent, one of the Cabrini Lay Missionaries will be offering a reflection.
This reflection by author and poet, Madeleine L’Engle is shared by CLM Marianne McGowan.
First Coming
He did not wait till the world was ready.
Till men and nations were at peace.
He came when the Heavens were unsteady,
And prisoners cried out for release.
He did not wait for the perfect time.
He came when the need was deep and great.
He dined with sinners in all their grime,
Turned water into wine.
He did not wait till hearts were pure.
In joy he came to a tarnished world of sin and doubt.
To a world like ours, of anguished shame
He came, his Light would not go out.
He came to the world that did not mesh,
To heal its tangles, shield its scorn.
In the mystery of the Word made Flesh
The Maker of the stars was born.
We cannot wait till the world is sane to raise our songs with joyful voice,
For to share our grief, to touch our pain,
He came with Love: Rejoice! Rejoice!
Each week, during the season of Advent, one of the Cabrini Lay Missionaries will be offering a reflection.
COVID-19 DURING ADVENT
In light of this once in a lifetime pandemic the humankind is sadly experiencing,
We ponder and wonder what message it wants to bring.
Would it be an absolute sting? Would it be an extreme suffering? Would it be completely devastating?
Or
Would it be a future full of hope?
Would it be our longing to responsibly cope?
Would it be a unified response at this gigantic scope?
Your answer is as good as mine
As seen from all the front-liners who put themselves
fearlessly on the line.
Let this Advent Season be our journey full of hope and healing.
~ by Vicky Lucio, CLM
First Week of Advent
Opening Song: Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord – Godspell
Reflection: The song, ‘Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord,’ was sung by John the Baptist in the play, Godspell. He was telling the people to prepare the way for one greater than he who was to come. How appropriate those words are to also announce the coming of the one who is greater than us. It is a call to prepare ourselves for the coming of the Christ Child.
The year 2020 has certainly been a hard year. COVID-19, the elections in the US, wildfires, landslides, mudslides, earthquakes, etc. etc. have all made this such a difficult time for everyone. It has been so hard to silence our minds and hearts. And yet, despite all of this, we are assured of the coming of Jesus. Despite all the despair and the chaos, we are assured that the Christ child will be born on Christmas Day.
In the Gospel for the first Sunday of Advent (Mark 13:33-37), we are told three times to be watchful. We have been listening for hours and hours to reports and updates about COVID-19, the elections, the different storms, etc. I find myself sometimes becoming numb to all that I am being bombarded with.
How can I silence my heart, my soul and my mind to prepare the way of the Lord this Advent?
What can I do to assure myself that despite all that is happening in this world, I will have Jesus born in my heart? What do I need to be watchful of to obtain the peace and love in my heart?
I know that it can be very frustrating when the words of some songs stay in my head. Perhaps, this Advent, it would be good to keep the words of ‘Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord’ in your head. Let it be a reminder that we are starting a very sacred and powerful journey to Bethlehem.
Lorraine Campanelli, CLM