New Members and New Events!

Congratulations Amy and Suzanne!  Both of these women attended the Come and See weekend in Enfield, CT this past fall and have decided to discern religious life with the Felicians.  We are proud to have you journey with us!

 

 

 

 

 

On February 14th, the three of us second year novices will be headed to different areas of the country for our apostolic experiences...

 

...I, Sister Desire' Anne-Marie, will be going to Coraopolis, PA to spend time at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart High School.  I will be there for approximately four weeks gaining experience in the classroom as a substitute teacher, shadowing the campus minister, talking with the students and doing whatever it is they need a novice to do!  Afterward I will spend eight weeks in Milwaukee, WI at St. Joseph's Academy.  Sister Mary Brenden, who is the head of mission and outreach for the school, will be my mentor during this time.  I am excited about the fact that St. Joseph's Academy has a high Spanish-speaking population.  I will get to practice my conversational skills!  I'll do my best to keep you updated on how it's going :)

 

Our Lady of the Sacred Heart High School website:

http://www.olsh.org/

 

St. Joseph's Academy website:

http://cdcsj.org/

 

...Sister Bridget Mary, that's me!  I am going to start out at St. Brigid's Parish in San Antonio, Texas!  I love the snow, but I also love the Southwest, so I'm willing to part with the cold weather for awhile.  Sister Dorothy Moczygemba will be guiding me through experiences in both religious education and youth ministry.  After about four weeks there, I will fly to Buffalo, NY to be with our Sisters at Our Lady of Pompeii Convent.  Sister Therese Chmura will be my main connection with religious education.  When my four weeks in New York are up, I will be under the guidance of Sister Faith Balawejder at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Convent in Coraopolis, PA.  There I will be involved with the St. Louise de Marillac Parish.  I am excited about experiencing ministry in a parish since my interest is in pastoral ministry.  Initially I thought I would rather teach adult religious education, but after some time with the children at the Montessori School of Enfield, CT, I am considering religious education with children.  I trust this might help me discern where I am being called!

 

St. Brigid Parish website:

http://www.stbrigidcc.org/

 

St. Louise de Marillac Parish website:

http://stlouisedemarillac.org/

 

Enfield Montessori School website:

http://www.enfieldmontessorischool.org/

 

 

...Hello!  I am Sister Mary Angelise.  I will be starting my apostolic experience at the St. Ignatius Nursing Home in Philadelphia, PA.  I will be focusing on pastoral care and senior activities.  As a postulant, I was fortunate enough to spend a month with our Sisters in the care center at Our Lady of Good Counsel Convent.  I was involved in pastoral care and senior activities there as well and really enjoyed it, so I am glad to have the chance to explore this ministry once again.  After Philadelphia, I will spend time at Felician Village in Manitowoc, WI, where Sister Mary Odelle is the local minister.  There are many possibilities for ministry there, so my specific outreach will be decided when I arrive in March.  I will complete my apostolic experience at the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Convent in Buffalo, NY.  The opportunities for ministry in the Buffalo area are just as plentiful, so again we will look at the possibilities for ministry when the time comes closer.  Please keep us in your prayers!

St. Ignatius Nursing Home website:

http://www.stignatiusnursinghome.org/

Meet the First Year Novice

Me with the new dog, Sammy

Hello everyone.  I'm the new 1st year novice.  My name is Sister Maria Louise Edwards.  I'm from New Jersey, but I don't have much of an accent.  Honestly not many people I've met from New Jersey have that accent.  It's more common the closer you get to Bayonne and Jersey City.  Anyway, I'm from Saddle Brook, New Jersey, which is a small town near Hackensack (the county seat) and about 20 minutes from Manhattan.  I have a degree in Theatre from NYU and I pursued a career in acting for about ten years.  My vocation story was recorded for our website when I was a postulant:

http://feliciansistersna.org/become-a-felician-sister/vocation-stories/louise-edwards

Since entering the community I have grown to love and deeply respect the Felician Sisters, not only in their commitment as Franciscan women, but also in their commitments to the Church, following in the footprints of St. Francis and Blessed Mary Angela, and committed to the spiritual renewal of the world.

As Franciscans the Felicians have helped me to be a better steward of the earth, making a conscious effort to choose a lifestyle that takes the environment into consideration.  I've learned to clean with vinegar and baking soda rather than products that hurt the environment.  As a house we rarely eat beef and try to buy locally grown produce, if possible.  Just recently we had a class on nutrition and since then I've been keeping a food journal hoping to make healthier choices in what I eat, praying to be a better steward of my body.  I've only been a novice for three months, but physically I feel much healthier than I have in years.



Photo of S Maria Louise taken by Sister Desire' at Talcott Mountain

I've been discerning a vocation to religious life for the past ten years.  It takes some of us longer to get to where the Lord wants us to be.  I felt the Lord calling me to the Felicians because I was drawn first of all to their love for Mary and for the Eucharist, two components in my spirituality that were not optional.  Also not optional was a community that was not only actively faithful to the Magisterium, but recognized the spiritual value in living this truth.  I've seen the Sisters grappling with a lot of the same issues that the Church is grappling with, but their hearts always move toward hopeful obedience.  As I study the letters of our foundress I realize that this was so important to Blessed Mary Angela that she mentioned obedience in nearly every letter she wrote.  This is a great grace and blessing that I think she obtained for our community.  May it always be so going forward.

If you are reading this know that you are in my prayers!
All through the Heart of Mary in honor of the Most Blessed Sacrament!

(Left to right) S Maria Louise, S Bridget Mary, S Desire' Anne-Marie and S Mary Angelise

Thanksgiving Day All Year Long

With Father Michael Blastic, OFM

One of my favorite events during the year is going to Graymoor, NY to spend time with other men and women who are also discerning their call to the Franciscan way of life.  This year our presenter was Father Michael Blastic of the Order of Friars Minor (OFM).  He spoke to us about Franciscan and Clarian prayer and included some of Saint Bonaventure and Blessed John Duns Scotus as well. One of the important points he made was about how most of the prayers we have from Saint Francis and Saint Clare are prayers of praise and thanksgiving.  He went on to say, "Francis and Clare believed with every fiber of their being that God was always there for them, to be with them and take care of them.  If we were to truly believe this, what would we really need to ask for?  I think that was the poverty of Francis and Clare, giving praise and thanksgiving, always aware of God's goodness."  This idea stuck with me and I am still considering how I can better implement this on a regular basis.

Four Future Friars

In my case, I would say that my prayers of both petition and thanksgiving are quite even in number.  However, I am now considering the fact that God does always take care of me, even when I do not ask, so should my prayers of petition really be as numerous as my prayers of thanksgiving?  To give an example of a time in which God took care of me without my asking for a specific favor, I will share a piece of my vocation story with you.

It was 2010 and I was finishing my Spring semester in college.  I was halfway through my Candidacy with the Felician Sisters, living on my own, going to school and working part time.  I was scheduled to enter Postulancy with the Sisters that Fall, but was facing some debt that would prevent my entering if I could not pay it off before then.  It was $3,000, but I still needed to take classes in the summer which would add on another $1,000.  It wasn't much compared to the debt that many of my classmates had, but to have to pay it off in about three months seemed nearly impossible, especially since I couldn't work full time in the summer.  I finally said to God, "I trust that You can do whatever needs to be done.  If You want me to enter the convent, You'll have to find the money for me because I don't have it."

Sister Clara Maria, my Poor Clare friend

Since it was the end of the semester I knew all the Scholarship money would be given away, so I applied for a loan to pay for my summer classes.  I turned in my application only a few days before the deadline and anxiously awaited the response.  I had never applied for a loan before (my previous debt was on a credit card), so I wasn't too sure what to expect.  Finally I received a bank statement showing that I had just over $4,000 in my account.  Was this my loan?  I didn't quite understand, so I looked online and the description next to the amount said something about a Grant.  "A Grant?" I thought, "I didn't apply for a Grant..."  I told my mom and she said not to touch it, thinking it might have been a mistake, so I decided to call the school.  "Your loan was approved," they told me, "You will receive the check in the mail shortly."  I was so confused.  "But I received money from the University in my account already," I explained, "Is that not the loan?"  Then the woman on the phone delivered an answer that I knew came straight from God, "No, there was leftover money in our Grant fund, so we awarded you a $2,000 Grant for each of the two semesters you just completed.  That's what you have in your account, but you will also be receiving the check for your loan."

So this is what happened: I never even had to use the loan.  Instead, I cashed it and then paid the University right back.  The Grant money they had given me for the past two semesters (I never knew you could receive money for classes already completed) added up to the exact amount I needed -- $1,000 for my summer classes and $3,000 for my debt, and I didn't have to pay it back.  The $4,000 standing between me and the Felician Sisters had vanished just like that!

Praying Together

You may consider the prayer I had uttered to God a petition, but I do not.  To me, a petition would have been more along the lines of, "God, I want to enter the convent, but I need You to take away my debt.  Please find the money for me."  Instead, my prayer was more directed toward what God wanted for me, not what I wanted for me.  It is true I wanted to enter the convent, but rather than focus on the obstacle to my hopes, I trusted God would take care of me even if that meant I wasn't going to be able to enter the convent.  There is nothing wrong with prayers of petition, but because of Father Michael's comment, I am learning how to fashion my prayers based on a deep sense of trust in God and His goodness.  Whether that means saying, "Alright Lord, do what You gotta do," or "Lord, I praise you for knowing my needs and always caring for me," I know that this has begun to shape my relationship with God in yet another new and exciting way.

How about you?  How does God care for you?

HAPPY THANKSGIVING, dear friends!  May this holiday be a special reminder for you of God's goodness as well as preparation for the many blessings yet to come :)

With much love and many blessings,
Sister Desire' Anne-Marie


November 2012 Graymoor Group

Come and See 2012 - Enfield, CT

The "Come-and-See" Women with the Novices

This weekend we were fortunate to have five women visit us in Enfield, CT to "Come and See" the life of the Sisters.  In the back row, left to right, we have: me (Sister Desire' Anne-Marie), Suzanne, Sister Maria Louise, Michelle and Sister Bridget Mary.  In the front, left to right, we have: Tina, Sister Mary Angelise, Amy and Caitlin.  The women came from all over -- even as far as California! -- and stayed in the central convent from Friday to Sunday.  They spent Friday evening at the novitiate, asking practical and insightful questions after a delicious pizza snack.  One question was about travel.  Michelle asked how often we were able to go home and visit family.  As novices, we explained, we go home twice a year: at Christmas and again in August.  It comes out to about three weeks all together.  Caitlin was curious about what life in the postulancy was like.  We told her that it's very different from the novitiate because in postulancy the focus is on getting to know the Community, both through classes and through travel.  We went somewhere different almost every month, but in the end we felt that we really knew who our Sisters were and what sort of ministry opportunities were available.  In the novitiate focus is on our interior lives more and how to incorporate our prayer into our ministry.  We had a wonderful group conversation and we ended the evening by saying night prayer together.



Visiting with Sister Margaret, our 102-year-old :)

Before the group left on Sunday, they were able to stop in our care center and visit with the Sisters for a while.  Sister Margaret shared her enthusiasm and wisdom, promising to pray for them and Sister Anastasia asked the novices to serenade everyone with our musical instruments.  The Sisters really enjoyed having the women over.  Tina and Suzanne even received surprise gifts!  Sister Edmund, whose favorite past-time is crocheting, handed them her last two knitted caps, delighted to give them a good home.  They will all surely be missed!  Please keep them in your prayers too, as well as all those who are taking the time to discern what God may be asking of them.

Also, the next "Come and See" weekend will be held in beautiful Rio Rancho, NM from Friday, April 19 to Sunday, April 21.  If you have ever wanted to 1) visit New Mexico and 2) see what life as a Felician might be like, then this is the perfect opportunity for you!  Feel free to contact Sister Mary Beth at smarybeth@feliciansisters.org for details.  May God continue to bless and keep you!

This is My Life

It was suggested to me by a friend (Paula Binsol) to write a blog about my daily activities.  An excellent idea, dear Paula!  I will also mention, as suggested, my favorite prayers and/or ways to praise God.  This is for all the men and women out there discerning their vocation!

 

Our schedule is basically the same Monday through Friday with a few variations here and there, so I will share what a typical day is like:

 

• 5:15 a.m. -- (Not a requirement)  I go for an hour walk with any Sister who wishes to join me

• 6:40 a.m. -- The Sisters gather together in Chapel for 40 minutes of silent meditation
• 7:20 a.m. -- We pray Morning Prayer from the Franciscan Office together
• 8:00 a.m. -- Mass at a nearby Parish
• 8:45 a.m. -- Breakfast together, my favorite meal :)
• 9:45 a.m. -- Class with one of the Professed Sisters in the house
• 11:40 a.m. -- Common Rosary (on Mondays and Wednesdays)
• 12:00 p.m. -- Lunch together
• 1:00-2:00 p.m. -- Adoration in half-hour shifts  (on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays)
• If you are scheduled to cook, somewhere in here would be your prep time
• 3:00 p.m. -- Second class of the day
• 4:45 p.m. -- We pray Evening Prayer together from the Franciscan Office
• 5:00 p.m. -- Dinner together
• 7:00 p.m. -- Recreation (on Tuesdays and Sundays)
• Times may vary due to individual sleeping habits J -- Private Night Prayer

Sister Bridget hammin' it up for the kiddos!

That is our basic schedule, although as I said it does change from time to time.  For example, Tuesdays are our outreach days, so we do not have classes or Adoration.  When I say "outreach" I mean it is the day we go out for ministry.  Our ministries vary from spending time with children to visiting our older Sisters who live next door.  We also help tutor adults who are learning English and entertain our neighbors at the Adult Day Care.  In the fall and spring we also attend a Scripture class through the Archdiocese, which has been a wonderful source of wisdom and friendships.

 

As for the weekend, Saturday is usually a day of relaxation, so Morning and Evening Prayer is private.  Sometimes there are special events to attend, or we novices go shopping together for our monthly outing.  On Saturdays we are also given the option to attend 11 o'clock Mass with the Little Sisters of the Poor (Sleep in?  Oh yeah.), and on Sundays we spend time with our Sisters in the central convent.  We have breakfast with them as well as Morning Prayer and Mass, and then one Sunday a month we help at a local soup kitchen where the Sisters provide a hot meal for the guests.

 

At the Mashantucket Pequot Museum and Research Center

On occasion the novices and their directors go on outings together, or educational trips.  One such trip was a visit to the Pequot Tribe Museum; another was accompanying our Sisters to the Aquarium in Mystic; there were also a couple of trips to the water; even some trips to Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey.  I have found that both our daily routine and the special events are equally exciting.  What we learn during our time at home seems to enhance our time outside of the house.  Due to what I learn through our novitiate classes, I am able to laugh with strangers, share myself with others and give from what I have received.  Although this year has not been easy, it has been a blessing.  I have struggled with confusion and frustration, but in the midst of it, God has taught me patience and communication.

A large part of our lives is prayer.  Beyond the prayer we experience together in Chapel, we are also encouraged to spend time in prayer on our own throughout the day.  Here are my favorite ways to praise God and to converse with Him:

• making rosaries
• praying outside, whether with a book, an Office (Divine Office, Franciscan Office, or Office of the Passion), or simply by enjoying the outdoors
• walking
• talking with my Sisters... and sometimes with plants, such as Joseph my tree
• journaling -- I love to write!
• making candles
• dancing
• drawing
• painting

Yup, I made that candle and those Rosaries!

When it comes to praying on my own, I have discovered that there are a multitude of ways to enjoy my time of reflection or meditation.  The type of environment I need to create for myself shifts from day to day, or even by the hour.  Sometimes I enjoy listening to music (Danielle Rose mostly) and sometimes I prefer silence.  Sunny weather and rainy days are both great for me; each have their own ways to inspire!  When I pray at night I usually enjoy a dark room with candles lit to remind myself of the mystery of God.  I consider sleep a prayer, too!  I love to sleep: it is the only time when all my senses have been quieted and I can be 100% open to the Lord.  I take my dreams very seriously and they usually end up becoming a large part of my prayer life as well.  Prayer is not always exciting or instantly gratifying, but faithfulness to prayer produces an abundance of grace which may not always be recognized or felt.  It took me a while to learn this, but I think I finally caught on ;)

 

I hope I was able to answer some questions or satisfy some curiosity, but if any questions remain, do not hesitate to post them in the comment box below!

~May God continue to bless and keep you~