All posts by Anne Tschanz

News, Papal Address

Pope Benedict XVI: Three Keys to Vocations

Leave a comment

On February 13, 2012, Pope Benedict XVI, in a message for the World Day of Prayer for Vocations, asked all the faithful to be attentive to the men and women who “sense a call to the priesthood or to a special consecration.” It is important, he said, to “provide helpful guidance and direction along the way.”

According to our Holy Father, the three things that nourish vocations are:

1)     Scripture – love of and familiarity with God’s Word

2)     Prayer – attentive and unceasing, personal and in community

3)   Eucharist – “the heart of every vocational journey: it is here that the love of God touches us in Christ’s sacrifice, the perfect expression of love, and it is here that we learn ever anew how to live according to the ‘high standard’ of God’s love.”

For the complete text of this article visit Zenit.

News

Courageous Cardinal Down Under

Leave a comment

We don’t often think about our fellow Catholics in Australia but an Archbishop there deserves our prayers and thanks for building up the kingdom of God, particularly in his native land.

A wonderful article by George Wiegel, who is a personal friend of Cardinal George Pell, describes what the Cardinal had to face as a prelate and what he has accomplished. To put it bluntly, he says that Cardinal Pell is the man who saved Catholicism in Australia.

To wit: “When his seminary faculty threatened to resign en masse because he insisted that the seminarians attend daily Mass, Pell called their bluff, accepted their resignations, filled the seminary with new faculty — and never looked back.”

He reformed religious education, brought in new orders of religious women, began the John Paul II Institute on Marriage and the Family, helped create Vox Clara as a check on English-language liturgical translations and, incredibly, brought World Youth day to Australia.

As Mr. Weigel says: “Australia and the entire world Church owe George Pell a large debt of gratitude.”

General interest

Free Priest Retreats – Hanceville, Alabama

Leave a comment

The Knights of the Holy Eucharist, founded in 1998 to serve the needs of the guests and nuns of Our Lady of the Angels Monastery and the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Hanceville, AL, offer free private retreats to priests, seminarians, brothers and deacons.

The website, for those who wish to make a private retreat on the Poor Clare Nuns of Perpetual Adoration’s beautiful grounds, provides information about  accommodations, travel arrangements, daily schedules, and reservations. They also have a Facebook page.

Nestled just a short walk from the Shrine, “The Barn,” a modern building with a rustic look, has twelve fully furnished guest rooms with private baths and a beautiful private chapel for prayer and Mass. All meals are complimentary. Guests are free to roam the 400 acres of wooded countryside, attend or celebrate Mass and participate in community activities with plenty of time for personal prayer.

Each year, over two hundred priests and seminarians enjoy the beautiful accommodations provided by the Knights of the Holy Eucharist. Come and enjoy a restful personal retreat in the peaceful countryside of Northern Alabama!

Cloistered life, Women's Communities

A ‘First’ for the Poor Clare Sisters of Perpetual Adoration in Arizona

2 Comments

On December 12, 2011, Sr. John-Mark Maria made her first profession of holy vows with the Poor Clare Sisters of Perpetual Adoration, in Tonopah, AZ. She is the first Poor Clare Sister of Perpetual Adoration in Arizona to advance this far in her discernment of religious life.

Sister’s joy on this day was evident, particularly when the “always smiling” Sr. John-Mark Maria received the Eucharist.

Prior to 2005, the Diocese of Phoenix had never had a Contemplative Order of Nuns.  Their Chapel was dedicated by Bishop Thomas Olmsted on May 7, 2011. They continue to raise funds for the construction of their actual cloistered monastery. Temporarily, they live in modular homes near the Chapel.

May the Sisters presence and prayers bless the people of the Diocese of Phoenix.

 

 

Cloistered life, Women's Communities

Dominican Nun Makes Solemn Profession

Leave a comment

February, 2, 2012, the Feast of the Presentation, was extra special for Sr. Mary Amata, O.P., who professed solemn vows as Nun of the Order of Preachers with the Dominican Nuns of Summit, New Jersey. Placing her hands into those of Sr. Denise Marie her prioress, Sr. Mary Amata made profession of obedience until death.

It had been 62 years since a bishop presided at a profession at the monastery. Bishop Manuel Cruz was the main celebrant and assisted with the veiling but as one of the nuns said, “We have an idea that Bishop Cruz had no idea how many straight pins it takes to keep a nun together!”

During the veiling the beautifully haunting Amo Christum was sung. (You can hear it on the video.) The Dominicans of Summit are an IRL Affiliate Community. Their mission is to pray for the salvation of souls and to support the preaching mission of the Dominican friars.

May God bless Sister Mary Amata with many years of faithful service to her community and to her Jesus.

Liturgical Year

Our Lady of Lourdes

Leave a comment

O Holy Virgin, in the midst of your days of glory, do not forget the sorrows of this earth.

Cast a merciful glance upon those who are suffering, struggling against difficulties, with their lips constantly pressed against life’s bitter cup.

Have pity on those who love each other and are separated.

Have pity on our rebellious hearts.

Have pity on our weak faith.

Have pity on those we love.

Have pity on those who weep, on those who pray, on those who fear.

Grant hope and peace to all. AMEN

Abbe Perreyve

 

Cloistered life, General interest, Men's communities, Women's Communities

Franciscan Friendship

Leave a comment

On February 7th, the Conventual Franciscan novices of Mishawaka, IN, visited the Poor Clares of Kokomo for the feast of the sister’s patron St. Colette. The friars spent time with the sisters in prayer and visited at the parlor grill. The Sisters explained their life of enclosure to the friars. It was a wonderful afternoon of sharing Franciscan joy together.

The Conventual Franciscan Friars of the St. Bonaventure Province are an IRL Affiliate Community who have as their spirituality St. Francis’ simplicity, love for the Eu­charist, and devotion to the Virgin Mary. They strive to further St. Maximilian Kolbe’s mission of evangelization by promoting Marian Consecration and expanding Catholic media to build up the “Culture of Life.”

The Poor Clare Colettines Nuns of Kokomo, Indiana, also an IRL Affiliate, have Saint Clare as their Mother and Foundress and Saint Colette as their second “Mother.” Saint Colette preserved for them the primitive rule of Saint Clare. The Poor Clares are called to praise and worship God, especially in His Eucharistic presence.

News

Cardinal Caffarra & Consecrated Life

Leave a comment

Last week, on the World Day of Consecrated Life, Cardinal Carlo Caffara of Bologna said that the consecrated life is a sacrificial offering because “dying and leaving behind the structures of this creation, you enter into the incorruptible life of the risen Lord.”

“Your chastity exalts the spousal meaning of your body; your poverty is for the possession of the good that is only satiated by the person of Christ and communion with Him; your obedience introduces you in an experience of freedom that the world does not know and cannot know,” he explained.

According to the prelate, “perhaps we are moving toward a time in which the Church here in the West will be stripped of many things.”

“But she will not be able to do it without holy priests, capable of sanctifying and of offering sacrifices in keeping with justice.”

“Therefore, remain firmly attached to Christ, and nothing will trouble you,” concluded Cardinal Caffarra.

Please visit Zenit to read the entire article.

 

 

News

Apostolic Visitation Testimonials

Leave a comment

Mother Mary Clare Millea, A.S.C.J., Apostolic Visitator for Institutes of Women Religious in the United States, recently presented an overall summary of her findings to Archbishop Joseph Tobin, C.Ss.R., Secretary of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life (CICLSAL).

It is interesting to read the testimonials on the official “Visitation” website. Here are a few samples:

It was very obvious that Mother Clare’s concerns were for the good and holiness of religious life in the United States and for the Church. Mother Clare asked questions but allowed me the opportunity to pursue responses of my interest.

My experience of sharing with Mother Clare had the qualities of the Gospel account of Mary and Elizabeth’s visitation.  We were mutually respectful of and receptive to one another and I believe the Spirit hovered over our exchange.  I continue to seek clarity on the underlying motivation for the Apostolic Visitation.  I thank Mother Clare for her warm hospitality and gracious receptivity.

General interest, Men's communities

Order of Mercy Scapular Makers

Leave a comment

The scapular of the Order of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mercy has been in demand by many of the faithful over the centuries. In recent months, its demand in the U.S. has increased.

The Order of Mercy (Mercedarians) is looking for a cloistered religious community who would like to make the scapular for distribution. The Mercedarian community in the U.S. is growing in size, and due to the importance of this part of their apostolate, they are expanding their website to include a page that will make the sacramental available.

The Mercedarians were founded by St. Peter Nolasco in 1218 to redeem Christian captives from their Muslim captors.  In addition to the vows of poverty, chastity and obedience, their members take a special fourth vow to give up their own selves for others whose faith is in danger.  The Order exists today in 17 countries, including Spain, Italy, Brazil, India, and the United States. In the U.S., its student house is in Philadelphia, and it also has houses in New York, Florida, and Ohio.

The Order is seeking a scapular maker in the United States, and is willing to pay a fair price for bulk orders. This would be a great cottage industry for a religious community.

For more information, contact Fr. Joseph Eddy, O. de M., at 267-670-0503 (cell), or vocations@orderofmercy.org.