This week has been one of beginning to transition home. Thoughts of my upcoming vow ceremony and moving are creeping in, while I try to remain grounded in the moments of now. We had some wonderful reflection/evaluation time with Hna. Maria Rubina here yesterday. She has already listed a few times that would be opportune for us to visit again. I think she might be almost as pleased with our visit as we are, if that is possible.
For me the best part of these two months has been getting to know our sisters. One of the sayings of the Sisters of St. Joseph is ¨We are one,¨a sentiment I have felt very strongly here in Peru. Despite the differences in language, culture, age, etc. there is that thread that somehow connects us, somehow makes every place we visit ¨home.¨ To be included in the prayer of our sisters when, at first, there was no way for us to give the contents of our hearts in that mutual sharing, was quite a gift. There are only two sisters in the whole vice-province that we have not met; one is on sabbatical in Chile and the other on vacation when we visited Tacna (there is a slight chance we may see her today). Without any formal teaching we have seen the customs, heard the history, been included in the traditions. I came with very little knowledge of what this time would hold, and leave knowing that I want to continue to learn that which I do not yet know, especially in terms of relationships with our sisters. There are, I think, eleven sisters in formation here, mostly in their twenties. It is the group of women with whom I will go into the future. How best to continue to get to know one another is just one question with which I leave. How to include our vice province of Japan in this communion is another. The strongest thing I leave here with is the awe I have for the unity of our sisters in Peru around Jesus´call in the Gospel, especially in relation to the poor. Day after day, prayer after prayer, sister after sister prays and lives that message in a very intentional way. I take that with me in a renewed way as I go.
While I will still be in Peru for a week, I´m not sure that I´ll have another chance to post anything on the computer. I´ve put a couple of pictures from the last week or so...
This first is a picture of our barbeque in Tacna. One thing I´ve noticed is that in almost every place we sit in round. It is an image I love. From left to right--me, Hnas. Gloria, Andrea, Zeida, Rosa, Florencia (a two month volunteer in Tacna), and Martha. It was quite a feast.
And this photo is of the procession we had here in Lima two days ago for the feast of Our Lady of Carmen. The tan building with the wooden slated garage is the center house here in Lima where we have been staying. Different homes and businesses in the neighborhood planned little prayers where the procession would stop. Our sisters were part of that. The streets were closed. It took twenty-four men to carry the image of Our Lady. Little children were raised up in front of the statue. People sang and clapped. These sorts of things happen all the time. As I type I can hear the band of one of the schools playing for the children who are dancing in another sector. How cars ever know how to get from one place to another with random streets shut down all the time I´ll never know. Thank goodness I never had to drive here!
Okay, off to finish packing. Most probably, so long from Peru.
--Sarah
Wonderful wrap up entry - what an experience, for you and I think for them - I'm sure you did us proud. Looking forward to seeing you soon.
ReplyDeletePeace,
Amy
Sounds like you have had a wonderful time...learning and experiencing lots! Enjoy what time you have left in Peru, but selfishly we can't wait to have you home!
ReplyDeleteI love you - MOM
Sarah dear...what a great job you've done in keeping us in touch. You have a great gift of describing everything so beautifully. I am getting excited about seeing you soon.
ReplyDeleteSafe travel.
Love, prayers and hugs. Paula
Like the others, looking forward to seeing you again. Can't tell if you've really tanned or if its the lighting in that photo! Guess we'll see soon!
ReplyDeleteGM
Sarah,
ReplyDeleteMuchas Gracias for all your postings. I felt like I was traveling with you! It's enlightening to see how spirituality permeates the lives, the streets, the hearts of persons in Peru.
Love shines in your heart too as you are one with them.
Ah yes we all are one!!
love,
Margaret
Ah, Sarah Jane! Delight, rejoice, enjoy and ponder AND, then, "come on home"--we are all waiting.
ReplyDeleteAs Amy said, what a great wrap-up piece; thank you. I was happy to see the Center House. Though there only a little more than 3 weeks it warms my heart to see it and know all the wonderful people and wonders within.
Love to you. See you Saturday night at Burger King!
Love,
Pat
Dear Sarah,
ReplyDeleteI am very happy for you that your time in Peru has been so grace filled. What a gift. I can tell that you have been alive to the moment. And I am especially glad to hear that you will be "moving into the future" with your peers.
Thank you for all you wrote.
I look forward to seeing you soon.
Love,
Rita
Hello Sarah,
ReplyDeleteYou don't know me, but I met you through your blog spot. Jenn Graus put your latest post on her new blog site. I am a good friend of Jenn's and belong to the new Congregation of St. Joseph and am of the Nazareth group. I was delighted to see some of my Peruvian friends in the photo. I lived and worked in Peru from 1983-1995 and was frequently with the Carondolet's in Lima and Ica. We are one big, loving family.
Thanks for your great description of what's happening for you novices and your reflection on the experience. One of your sisters of the L.A. Province and I live together in Nicaragua - Julie Marciacq. She has been telling us about your trip and we've been praying for you each evening when we gather for prayer. There are three of us here. The other one is from the Medaille-Louisiana group. Enjoy your last few days. Travel safely and someday our paths will cross, of that I'm sure!
Con carino y abrazos, Jeanne Gamache, csj
P.S. I really appreciated the photos. The Center House looks good with its new look! Also, I appreciated seeing Rosa, Gloria and Zaida!!
ReplyDeleteLionel’s E-News for the week August 25-31, 2008
ReplyDeletePETITION FILED AT ARCHBISHOP BURKE’S OFFICE: BISHOPS IN MORTAL SIN PARTICIPATE IN SACRILEGE
Archbishop Raymond Burke’s attention has been called to Catholic bishops in mortal sin participating in sacrilege. Also a petition has been filed against an American bishop denying the Catholic Church’s teaching on salvation and the Jews.
The petition (dt.24.08.2008) was faxed (25.08.2008) to the Prefect of the Apostolic Signatura, Vatican by a Catholic layman in Rome.
Bishops and priests in Washington, San Francisco and Boston are participating in a sacrilege he said. They give the Eucharist to actively pro abortion politicians. These Catholic religious are promoting abortion by their actions and so are in mortal sin. They have been repeating this action with full knowledge and freely over a long period. They know that abortion is intrinsically evil and grave matter.
1) They are automatically excommunicated.
2) They meet the objective conditions for mortal sin (Veritatis Splendor ns.68, 70, 56, 81 etc Catechism of the Catholic Church ns. 1751, 1756).
3) They have no right to celebrate Holy Mass without first announcing that they will stop promoting abortion by their actions.
A priest in mortal sin cannot celebrate Holy Mass without absolution in the Sacrament of Reconciliation and publicly ending the scandal.
4) We have juridical persons who are not Catholic (they support an intrinsically evil act by their giving the Eucharist to persons in mortal sin).Canonically only a Catholic can be a juridical person and hold the office of a juridical person.
5)
‘All ministers of the Eucharist must deny Communion to pro abortion legislators as they are ecclesiastically bound to obey Church law, regardless of whether their bishop or pastor does or does not obey. In fact, canon 915 places the responsibility on the minister — 'ne admittantur' — who, in some canonists' opinion, could be punished themselves according to canon 1389 §2, should he unlawfully administer the sacrament with the consequent danger of scandal. (Bishop Bruskewitz will deny Kerry the Eucharist by Barbara Kralis April 6, 2004, Renew America)
Some of the politicians say that abortion is bad but yet they support abortion. Some of the Bishops and priests also now say abortion is evil, it is stated, yet they promote it with their actions.
Some of the politicians say that abortion is bad but yet they support abortion. Some of the Bishops and priests also now say abortion is evil yet they promote it with their actions.
The Most Rev. George H. Niederauer, Archbishop of San Francisco permits the Eucharist to be given to politician Nancy Pelosi, Cardinal Sean O’Malley, Archbishop of Boston permits the Eucharist to be given to politicians John Kerry and Edward Kennedy and Archbishop Donald Wuerl, of Washington permits the Eucharist to be given at Mass to all pro-abortion politicians. These Archbishops are also in mortal sin. They are participating in a sacrilege. They are promoting abortion.
They are not in communion with Jesus and the Catholic Church.
They have lost Sanctifying Grace and have no right presently to claim they are Catholics.
A juridical person needs to be a Catholic. They have no right canonically to hold their office until they make public amends to end the scandal and go for Confession.
They need to immediately stop celebrating Holy Mass.
They stand automatically excommunicated just like the pro-abortion politicians Nancy Pelosi, Edward Kennedy, John Kerry and others.
Archbishop Raymond Burke, Prefect of the Supreme Trubunal (Signatura) was asked to clarify this issue and rectify the scandal. Receiving the Eucharist while being in Mortal Sin, brings Jesus much pain it is stated by St. Maria Faustina Kowalski (Diary). This is a subject the petitioner said that brings much pain to him and to many other Catholics.
ARCHBISHOP KEVIN C.RHOADES IN HERESY
He also mentioned that he had received abrupt or no replies to his two questions, from the Archdiocese of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, USA.
The Archbishop Kevin C. Rhoades is unable to say publicly that the Catholic Church teaches that Judaism is not a path to salvation and that Jews in general, barring the exceptions, those in invincible ignorance etc, need to enter the Catholic Church for salvation (to go to Heaven and to avoid Hell).
The Archbishop it is alleged denied the Catholic faith on the website and blog of Catholics United for the Faith (CUF), with respect to his two questions. The bishop has said that Jews do not have to convert according to a newspaper report posted on the CUF blog.
Robert Sungenis, an apologist and member of the archdiocese of Harrisburg on his website, states that Bishop Rhoades is in heresy. He has based his accusation on a few questions which the bishop will not answer. Sungenis has asked Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades if: Jews, barring those in invincible ignorance, known only to God, need to convert into the Catholic Church to be saved? In other words, he asks, ‘Do Jews need to believe in the New Covenant of Jesus to be saved?’ There is no reply from Bishop Rhoades over the last few months.
Instead the bishop is silent as a hate campaign is underway against Robert Sungenis. The campaign against Robert Sungenis is being conducted by the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), a Jewish Left organization, and by Catholics writing on the website and blog of CUF and the blog Robert Sungenis and the Jews (RSAJ).
Bishop Rhoades has never ever defended Sungenis from the accusations of the SPLC, who interpret Vatican Council II according to that of the Jewish Anti Defamation League (ADL). They say publicly that the church teaches that Jews do not have to convert.
There are four questions answered by Bishop Rhoades on the CUF website and RSAJ. His four answers suggest that the Jews are saved in Judaism, implicitly and in general, by Jesus and the Church.
Similarly Leon Suprenant, a teacher at the Franciscan University of Steubenville, Ohio along with propagandist Michael Forrest by not answering the two questions indicate 1) Jews are saved in Judaism, implicitly and in general, by Jesus and the Church and 2) Catholic Faith and the Baptism of water are not needed for Jews in general, barring those in invincible ignorance etc, for salvation.
The questions asked by Sungenis (available on his website: Catholics Apologetics International My response to Bishop Rhoades Regarding the Old Covenant) are not being discussed by the CUF or RSAJ blog. Catholics are aware of the calumny.
Bishop Rhoades and Fr. James Massa (USCCB) asked Sungenis to remove material from his website which was objectionable to the Jewish Left. The material was similar to that on the website of Pastor Ted Pike, who also has video documentaries and research, often using Jewish sources to make a point. They are available on Google and YouTube. Sungenis removed the material from his website. Yet the intimidation continues with the silence of Archbishop Rhoades.
Now the campaign continues to get Sungenis to change his Catholic theological position which some Jews consider anti-Semitic. Slander and detraction are contrary to the Seventh Commandment it is stated. It is stealing the good name of another in this case, the target is Robert Sungenis. They want him to accept Bishop Rhoades ambiguity and drop his heresy charge.
The CUF blog (Suprenant) now also claims that the petitioner has approved of the ‘orthodoxy’ of Bishop Kevin C. Roades. CUF will not post his denials.
FIRST CLASS HERESY
The two questions and their answers, it is stated are linked to the Nicene Creed and the Apostles Creed. Not affirming them is a first class heresy.
Catholics pray, “We believe in one baptism for the forgiveness of sins...” and “We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Catholic Church”. They are saying that they believe that the Holy Spirit guides the Magisterium of the Catholic Church on this issue and others.
In the First Commandment it is said, God tells us that we should worship Him as he wants to be worshipped. If we worship God as we feel like, it is idol worship, we have made an idol of our ego. Christian Revelation has always taught that the Catholic Church is the one, true Church in which God wants all people to worship Him. For a Catholic not to do so is also a sin against the Theological Virtues of Faith and Hope. This is a first class heresy.
So there is a first class heresy which is grave matter and a grave sin.
Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades continues it even after being informed it is stated. He has not affirmed the Catholic Faith in public over the last few years. He has not witnessed to the faith. He has contributed to the scandal. Neither has he defended a member of his diocese who has affirmed the Catholic faith on his website (CAI) and on the internet (YouTube-Outside the Church No Salvation).
It is stated:
1) Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades, Archbishop of Harrisburg, USA is in manifest mortal sin, known to many (CUF website and blog, RSAJ blog, CAI website). He has no right to celebrate Holy Mass until he rectifies the scandal publicly and goes for Confession.
2) A juridical person needs to be a Catholic according to Canon Law. A Catholic in continued-manifest mortal sin has lost Sanctifying Grace. He is not in communion with Jesus and the Catholic Church, His Mystical Body. Bishop Rhoades is not in communion with the church and in mortal sin. He cannot be a Catholic (canonically) and have the responsibility of a juridical person.
3) Mr. Leon Suprenant (CATHOLICS UNITED FOR THE FAITH,827 North Fourth Street, Steubenville, OH 43952, (740) 283-2484) ) a professor at a Catholic university needs to affirm the faith with respect to the above points, before receiving the Eucharist at Mass in the chapel of the Franciscan University of Steubenville, Ohio. Likewise the Vicar General, of the Archdiocese of Harrisburg needs also to affirm the faith with respect to the above points before he celebrates Holy Mass.
4) Fr. James Massa, Executive Director, Secretary for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has not answered the two questions a few months back. Nor has he clarified other reports sent to him. For the petitioner this is a denial of the faith. This is confirmed in the Catholic News Service report, in which Fr.Massa suggests that Jews do not have to convert in the present times for salvation, by entering the Catholic Church. He has no right to celebrate Holy Mass and hold his office until he makes public amends and goes for Confession.
St. Alphonsus Ligouri says that a Catholic should not go to receive the Sacraments from a priest or Eucharistic Minister in mortal sin (Teologia Moralis Bk.3, N.47). The Doctor of the Church says that even though the Eucharist is valid do not go to receive it - unless there was a compelling reason e.g. one had no other place to fulfill ones Sunday Mass obligation.
He says that by your going to the priest to receive the Eucharist you commit a sin against religion and charity.
It is not charity that you go to the priest in mortal sin as if all is well, when you know that his soul is oriented to Hell.
The Prefect of the Supreme Tribunal was asked to clarify this issue and rectify the scandal.
Catholic are not to keep the faith ‘hidden under a bushel basket’ it was noted. They should be proud of their faith and be willing to give an account of the hope which is within them said the petitioner. It is never given for a Catholic to deny the faith.
The two questions Bishop Rhoades is not willing to answer are:
1) Does the Catholic Church teach that non-Catholic religions (Hinduism, Judaism, and Islam) are not paths to salvation (to go to Heaven and to avoid Hell)? Yes or No
2) Does the Catholic Church teach that Catholic Faith and the Baptism of water are needed for all people in general, barring the exceptions those in invincible ignorance etc, for salvation? Yes or No.
The petition was filed and personally delivered at the office of Archbishop Raymond Burke (Supremo Tribunale della Segnatura Apostolica, Palazzo della Cancelleria, Piazza della Cancelleria 00186 Roma Fax: 06-69887553 Tel: 06-69887520) on Tuesday (Aug.26.2008) by Lionel Andrades (E-mail: landrades@tiscali.it
Blog eucharistmission.stpaulstube.com http://www.youtube.com/LionelAndrades )
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The origin of the Catholic Church is divine. The Church has been founded by God
-Padre Livio Fanzaga ,Radio Maria.
The origin of the Catholic Church is divine. The church has been founded by God and God is present in the Catholic Church.
The Catholic Church is not just an organization for the social and cultural good of the people. It is a means of salvation said Fr. Livio on Sunday morning( 24.08.2008).
The church has been given the ‘keys’ for salvation he said in his Italian homily on Radio Maria, and no power can destroy the church. It will continue until the end of time.
The rock on which Christ created the Church is St. Peter and is represented by the Holy Father.
The Holy Spirit is within the Catholic Church said the popular 24 hour Catholic FM station founded in 1998.
It was a great joy to hear him on Sunday morning.
Lionel Andrades
E-mail: landrades@tiscali.it