Little Design

The Conversations Continue

2012-02-03T14:45:00.000-06:00

The conversations about the emerging future of religious life are expanding and deepening. For more information on the conversations, see the giving-voice.org website. Religious women in their 20s-30s gathered in Phoenix for retreat in January. Women religious across the country are exploring the characteristics of intentional communities in today's world. Locally, a group of religious women from various communities are gathering once a month for supper, prayer and conversation. Keep these movements in your prayers.

Online Symposium on Consecrated Life

2012-01-02T17:34:00.002-06:00

First Session - January 8, 2012, 2pm ET

A Prophetic Moment:

Transforming the Shadow and Bringing Religious Life into the 21st Century

Religious
life is a call from God to be a distinct voice in the wilderness.
Within this wilderness is shadow material that begs to be uncovered and
transformed. Is this the prophetic work that Religious are called to in
the 21st century? In light of the vows and the trends of the Church,
these shadow elements and their transformational possibilities will be
explored.

Presenter: Linda Buck, CSJ
is a Sister of St. Joseph of Orange. She is a Licensed Marriage &
Family Therapist and holds a Master’s degree from Pepperdine University
in Clinical Psychology. She is an Adjunct Professor at Pepperdine
University and a Certified Spiritual Director. Linda provides workshops
and retreats focusing on the integration of spirituality and psychology.

Register: www.ahereford.org/symposium

Some opportunities for women religious to explore their future together....

2011-11-15T18:44:00.000-06:00

2012 Online Symposium on Consecrated Life

Join us in 2012 for an ongoing, online conversation on emergent Religious Life which will be Regional and Local, Online and Face-to-Face, Interdisciplinary. The symposium is organized and presented by women religious under the age of 60.

Giving Voice in partnership with Amy Hereford, CSJ (Attorney and Canonist who works on legal issues in Religious Life today), is offering four online events in 2012, each convened on a Sunday afternoon and lasting about 90 minutes. Presenters, responders, and participants can participate from their computers, either individually, or in group settings. Small groups can gather in community rooms to participate, others can gather in larger group settings. These groups can then continue the conversation locally and share their insights in an online forum. For more information or to register click here.

Emerging Religious Life, Community Life that Energizes for Mission: From Conversation to Action

Do you sense the urgency to commit yourself to the future of religious life as it is emerging today? Do you find yourself longing for community living that energizes you for mission? At the Giving Voice gathering this summer, a group of us sisters in our 40s and 50s felt a new energy stirring among us, and expressed a desire to continue the contemplative process and conversation, moving into action.

Responding to this desire we invite you to participate in a process beginning this Advent and running through Pentecost. We will use the 12 Marks of the New Monasticism to frame our prayer and conversation. Every two or three weeks, we will take up one of the twelve marks, taking it to our contemplative practice and listening deeply to our God and to the stirring in our hearts. Then we will gather in circles, face-to-face, on skype or in other creative ways to share what has been happening for us around that mark.

Click here for more information. Email us to join the conversation.

Musings on Community

2011-10-08T07:21:00.001-06:00

"Living in community" is key for me.
Many sisters today talk about "living in community" as gathering regularly for sharing prayer and sharing meals yet living singly. I don't quarrel with that choice for them, but it's not for me.
For me, living in community means gathering regularly for sharing prayer and sharing meals AND living in the same house with other sisters.
Community is "something people do now." It's like we're rediscovering what we've always known. But in this case choosing it deliberately. Maybe in the whole development of religious life and planetary life, some had to choose to live singly so that we could make this rediscovery.
The thing I would add is this. If there is to be a future to this thing we call religious life as Sisters of St. Joseph, then I think it's important that some of us choose to live in community (in the same house) with sisters. I think it is these communities of sisters that hold the key to sustainability for the life, the key to attracting, and sustaining new members. And sustaining our lives as well.
Living in 'intentional community that may or may not have other sisters' can also be good. But my concern is the relationship between identity, boundaries and sustainability. In the intentional community movement, people acknowledge that there's a tension between boundaries and sustainability. It's great to include everyone, to open the doors, to open the community. But that isn't sustainable in the long run. The intimacy and identity of the group are dissipated.
Sustainability of the Sisters of St. Joseph isn't everything, but personally I feel called to live this life, and to do what I can to ensure its sustainability for the next generations.

What a delight!

2011-09-26T06:30:00.000-06:00

Yesterday we had our first Housing Fair in the St. Louis province. This was an event to invite sisters who will be changing their residence, or are beginning to think about that. We invited them to share prayer, conversation and a picnic.
It was a delightful gathering. We shared about the blessing that community and home has been to us over the years. How nice it has been to have sisters to share our life, with its blessings and challenges, to share prayer and work and laughter and fun. It has been important for us. We also reflected on the hardships of our brothers and sisters who don't have a home or family or community. How blest we are, and how we pray and work that all may have the basic necessities and the blessing of family, friends and community.
As I ask myself where community is leading me, I also admire the courage of the women who are facing changes in their lives and supporting one another along the way. I heard many say I would like this to be my last move. That is the reality of many of my sisters. They are coming to their last moves. Very much alive and vibrant, but conscious of where they are in life.
I too face a future and they encourage me to go forward with that same honesty and courage. And along the way, we support one another and enjoy the journey, even as our ways lead us on divergent paths at times. The one God who lives and loves in each of us, also draws into the union that is deeper than uniformity of path. God is so much bigger than that.
Blessings for the week!
Amy

Dreaming of Something New

2011-09-06T17:23:00.000-06:00

I had an interesting conversation recently about emerging future and the challenges of thinking and dreaming of something new. I was sharing some of my hopes for living vowed religious life in vibrant communities and beginning to live into this now.
The face of our congregations will be changing a lot over the next 10-20 years, and there are groups asking about merging, reconfiguring, etc. But my perspective is that merging the whole congregations is probably not a good idea at this point. It takes a lot of time, energy and resources to do that, and it doesn't address the underlying issues. But some of us will need a unified group, particularly those of us in younger cohorts. Can we imagine stepping out into something new, taking the risk and responsibility for building the future we dream of, yet still staying in relationship with our home congregations as they build the future that works for them? I would love to try.
--Amy

Commitment

2011-08-26T19:00:00.001-06:00

I've been thinking a lot lately about commitment....
What is that was commit

in religious life,
in a local community,
in a faith community?

I think there is a certain dance that I/we do when we make a commitment to a community.
On the one hand, each of us needs to be free enough to be who we are and to be the best of who we are and who God calls us to be. That's how we manage to bring the best of who we are to the group. And it's really up to me to be that 'best'. So no group-think, mob mentality.
On the other hand, the commitment I make is serious too. It is my gift to the group to agree to live together, work together to build up the good of the whole group, community, etc. It is my gift to the group to yield some of our freedom in order that there can be a life of the group. And then we each get back a place and space where we can live and grow together. I can rely on my community just like they can rely on me. We'll all give something so that we all can reap the benefit.
I think that this has to be negotiated - how committed am I and what do I need from the group and what can I give to the group. In my experience, when it gets down to people feeling they 'give, give, give' and aren't getting what they need, there is a big problem. When community is going well, I've generally felt like I receive, receive, receive.... and I want to do my part to give back.
Especially as we talk about moving into an emerging future, I think it's important that we know what we have to offer, and what risks we are taking. It's also important to know what commitments we are making to each other so that we can live into a unity that appreciates its richness and diversity.

Sisters of St. Joseph Newsletter

2011-08-07T14:20:00.001-06:00

The CSSJ Email Newsletter is a grass-roots effort to enhance communication among Sisters of St. Joseph across the federation. Several mailings have gone out in the last few months, and now there's a blog to archive the newsletters. The blog is at http://cssjnews.wordpress.com.
Hopefully this will be a way of strengthening the sharing for information and ideas. Communication is the glue that holds a society together, and it is the tool for enhancing social cohesion during times of change. Hopefully that's the role that this new initiative will play as the various groups of Sisters of St. Joseph move into the future.

Echos from the Federation Event

2011-08-01T18:12:00.001-06:00

This is a video that gives a little of the spirit of the Federation event. Some good energy and lots of great conversations in the halls and at the tables. It gave a sense of our global presence - mainly US, but also the global reality that we are, and the spirit of the Little Design in its many realities.

Giving Voice

2011-07-28T10:21:00.000-06:00

We had the opportunity to attend the Giving Voice gathering in Chicago last weekend. Great gathering - great conversations - great networking. Lots of energy for "engaging the emergence" as the conference theme said.
You can get a taste of the meeting by going to the Conference Blog which has some of the presentations and fruits of the conversations. Note especially a presentation by our own Alison McCrary - a CSJ Candidate from New Orleans.

Ahhh.... Summertime

2011-07-18T12:11:00.000-06:00

I biked up to the garden and picked corn, beans, tomatos and onions - then biked home and cooked it up in a savory summer slurry..... mmmm.....
Our community garden is really going well. I have a plot and Sandy helps with the chickens - so we have fresh eggs. I love getting out in the spring and starting to plant, but it is a real treat to start to get the fresh veggies in.
Last week, we finished up our congregational and federation events. I'm sure I'll have more to say, but it was a great set of meetings, 70 people for two days, then 400 people for the next two days, and the final event was 900 people for four days.
Lots of great conversations - new and old friends. There was a lot of interest and energy around the emerging CSSJ future conversation. I'm just holding that and praying with that now. Later this week we go to Chicago for the Giving-Voice conference. This is an intercommunity intergenerational conversation about religious life.
So - stay cool and enjoy the gifts of summer!
Peace,
Amy

Le Puy Welcome Video

2011-07-07T18:24:00.000-06:00

This is a little video I put together with photos of my trip to Le Puy. It has some of the sights that surrounded the first six women who gathered to form the Sisters of St. Joseph. It will be used as a background for the gathering of the emerging future group at the federation event. It is a reminder that God has been with this project of the Sisters of St. Joseph for very many years. We can count on the presence and guidance of the Spirit as we begin to step out into our next steps.

Keep us in prayer.
Peace,
Amy

Federation Event Approaching

2011-06-28T09:55:00.000-06:00

"Consult not your fears but your hopes and your dreams. Think not about your frustrations, but about your unfulfilled potential. Concern yourself not with what you tried and failed in, but what it is still possible for you to do."

--Pope John XXIII

We're approaching several national gatherings of Sisters of St. Joseph that will occur between July 4 and July 13. There are actually three back to back gatherings of varying configurations of CSSJs. There are three different organizing teams and it's been a challenge to figure out what's happening when and such.

As we look to the CSSJ emerging future, we're hoping that this gathering will be an opportunity to deepen some online conversations that we've had over the past several months.

As this conversation continues, I find that many of us who have become Sisters of St. Joseph since the federation started have had a strong sense that this federation would provide us with the forum for the emergence of a new way of being Sisters of St. Joseph. The conversation has continued through the decades and is coming into a level of maturity.

As I look forward to the Federation Gatherings here in St. Louis next week, I sense that we are at an important point in the unfolding story of the Sisters of St. Joseph. We will have an opportunity to share face-to-face with our facebook conversation partners, and others who are interested, in Jefferson D meeting space in the Millenium Hotel from 2:30 to 5:00pm on Saturday, July 9, 2011, before the opening event. We also invite Sisters of St. Joseph who could not be here to join us online:

See www.ahereford.org/emergingcssj for details on the online forum
Join us also for an online celebration of Founder's Day the 366th anniversary of the gathering of the first six women in Le Puy, France. More information on this event is at www.ahereford.org/cssj

Please share this email with others who may be interested.
And so the conversations continue....

Peace,
Amy Hereford
Carondelet - StL

Summer Retreat

2011-06-08T18:38:00.004-06:00

Retreat in Concordia, Kansas. I didn't bring any school stuff with me and am enjoying the time outside, inside, wherever to pray and be and give thanks. Two poems from the week already:

Yellow.

Beautiful, buttery, brilliantly yellow
Bird.

Takes flight,
purposefully playing against the wind,
standing itself still.
All the toil of motion,
but going nowhere.
It's effort grace to me.

Earth's breath
holding still above me the magnificence of God,
laid out in this moment just for me.

Two creatures smiling,
held in Creator Love's early morning kiss.

___________________________________________________________

Cocooning
Wrapped up
Drawing in
Dissolving in safety,
all part of the process.
To be re-built
Stronger.

Emerging
New
Struggling through layers of assurance
Wriggling towards freedom
Life's conditioning
Unfolding
Now what?

Continuing in gratitude...
Peace,
Sarah

Go Cards....

2011-06-01T21:04:00.000-06:00

Sarah, Sandy and Clare went down to the stadium to watch the Cardinals game and to collect recyclables as part of the Ice Mountain Green Team.
Although the Cardinals didn't win, they had a great time at the game and came back with stories of their adventures. Some of us will be going to another game later this month. Sounds like a great way to enjoy an afternoon, take in some baseball and do good in the process.

Spring

2011-05-21T15:16:00.001-06:00

I see the last post was Easter - wow, how time flies. Though there hasn't been much blogging, there is lots going on in the Little Design community and with friends of the Little Design. School is over or nearly over, so that means lots of us are finishing up papers and projects, or grading final papers and projects and submitting grades.
We've had some new life / resurrection happenings: lots of eggs and some first greens and turnips from the garden. It's been a really good year for growing, and the community garden is just a few blocks up the street from us. We are regular visitors, tending the plants and animals. It's also a great green space to soak up some nature in the middle of the city, prayer space, etc.
Our facebook conversation is moving along - we're having some great conversations, and exploring what it means to live religious life in this 21st century. What does community look like? Who holds it as a value and why? How do you maintain vibrant communities? What do the vows mean?
For me it's been an opportunity to really ask myself, beyond the stock answers, what do these things really mean to me? Why is it important? How are my answers to that today evolving? It's been a great space to explore with other sisters of similar age and experience.
I also had an opportunity to do a presentation on poetic spirituality. I worked on this topic in theology thesis some years back. This was an opportunity to share that with a live audience. For me, poetry is such a great way to connect with God because poetry tries to explore the great transcendent themes: love, beauty, nature, wisdom. And those are all the places we find God as well. Some of the poems and notes are on my website at: www.ahereford.org/lingering in case you like this sort of thing and want to follow up.
So - lots happening, I'll have to see if one of my fellow bloggers is up for getting a post online from her point of view.
Peace,
Amy

....risen indeed!

2011-04-28T22:46:00.000-06:00

Oh death, where is your victory?
Death where is your sting?
Easter is a story of ultimate victory,
of true and lasting peace,
of creation's ultimate triumph,
of love stronger than death
- or violence
- or hatred
- or anger
- or stupidity
- or distraction
- or just dumb luck.
God IS Love,
Creative Love
Unending Love
Poured out and overflowing Love
Heart of my heart Love
Searing, violent tornadic Love
Gently kissing away the tears Love.
This Love Lives!
and gives life
and heals and reacreates in Love.
Yes, despite appearances sometimes, Christ IS risen - risen indeed!
Easter Blessings!
--Amy

Great Conversations....

2011-04-08T12:44:00.001-06:00

At Little Design, we do manage to have great conversations:

Who are we (CSJs)?
What are we about?
Were are we headed?

Over the past few months, we've had the opportunity to expand the conversations. We have the regular conversations in our living room, but we've had the opportunity to share our dreams with other sisters who've happened by for one reason or another. Great!
Then as the conversation grows, others hear the new life and new energy and want to know what's going on. We've been able to share some of the hopes and dreams with various sisters in and about St. Louis, and with others by phone and email. Great!
So whose idea was it to launch a facebook group and invite all the CSJs we know across the globe??? Well, that idea was the result of one of those conversations, and the question:

Are there others out there who share the hopes, dreams and enthusiasm for an emerging CSJ future?

- - - well as it turns out, yes there are! Great!
There have been more conversations which have fanned the flame of hope. There are conversations online and side conversations that help to refine and clarify the hopes and dreams.
The most recent addition is an online survey seeking sisters' input on some key issues we've been discussing:

Religious vows
Group living in community
Canonical Status
Readiness for more conversation, or for concrete plans and action

As our Lenten journey continues, I think I too am in a mode of listening - listening to the Spirit, and listening deeply for the movement of the Spirit in the hopes and dreams of my sisters. I also feel the rising hope of new life - the "greening" of springtime, a "greening" of CSJ life and ministry. This greening does not replace the dominant story of the graying of CSJs, but weaves in a delightful counterpoint to it - a symphony that unfolds as we each sing the melody of who we are and who we are called to be. And so the conversations continue....
Peace,
Amy
P.S. CSJs who want to participate in the survey - friend me on FB or email me @ ahereford @ csjsl.org
P.P.S.: My article in Review for Religious

Listening and Healing

2011-03-23T21:16:00.004-06:00

Sacred silence
Holy ocean
Gentle water
Washing over me.

Help me listen
Holy Spirit
Come and be with me.

Lyrics to the song that have been in my heart and my head since last Friday when it was sung at the St. Joseph's Day mass at St. Joe's Academy. St. Joseph's Day was Saturday, so I took a half of a day off of work on Friday to begin the celebrations. The Jubilee mass on Saturday was delightful. As always, my favorite part is the hour or so before the mass when everyone gathers. Such wonderful chatter and joy in being together ensues that I almost wish that was the whole of the celebration. Then, however, we get to celebrate Eucharist together and a delicious meal--so the day just gets continually better.

Sunday I had the opportunity to do a presentation for the SLU campus ministry graduate students on "Listening", more specifically I had titled my piece, "Listening to God with Purpose and Awareness." It was a lovely evening. I think my favorite part was actually the ice breaker/get-to-know-you activity. I began with what seemed like a common activity--two people interview each other and then introduce the other person to the group. The twist I put on it was that when it came time to introduce the other person, the speaker could not use any of the information the person gave directly. It definitely made things fun. We really had to listen deeply and "between the lines" and, in the end, I think everyone was amazed at how well listened to we were. I would do that activity again.

Monday morning I took off for the coast. I am staying with a good sister friend in Mobile, AL. Beautiful weather here. We spent today at the beach. We walked and talked and had great prayer time together. I ran and drew and didn't even get sunburn. Tomorrow I think I'll have to spend a little time on school stuff so I don't have to do it all this weekend when I get back, but I am grateful for the break.

My prayer intention for the last week has been that of healing. So many things, so many people, so much brokenness in so many ways. I think healing is an amazing process--a cycle like so many other things. When I am healed I then have more healing power for others, AND, when I reach out in healing to others, I, in turn, am healed. It is amazing how many things work that way.

So, I think my two Lenten focuses thus far are listening and healing. Two different graces definitely connected.

Here's to Cinderella crashing the big dance...

2011-03-14T19:17:00.000-06:00

Houston prepare for Liftoff!!

It's time for NCAA March Madness!!! Also known as "the Big Dance"!!! For reference: this is the annual college basketball tournament that begins with 64 teams and eventually dwindles down to the final four (in Houston,TX this year) and finally a national champion is proclaimed.
I do not know who coined the term the "Big Dance", but a sports aficianado did and it stuck. Hence, the nickname "Cinderella" was given to the teams who were/are considered the underdogs and they went on/will go on to beat the powerhouse teams! Some of these games are classic David v. Goliath situations, which to me makes them so thrilling to watch.
So in the spirit of the CSJ's, here's a tribute to the underdogs-those Cinderella's who went on to crash the Dance; or those David's who defeated Goliath!
Courtesy of BleacherReport.com and Espn.com, here are a few great stories:
1.) Villanova Wildcats 1985: Came as a virtual unknown into the tournament. Went on to beat teams such as Maryland, Michigan, North Carolina and ultimately defeated Georgetown for the National Championship!
2.) Penn Quakers 1979: Yes, that U. of Penn, the Ivy League school! Against all odds, the quakers made it to the Final Four!
3.)Gonzaga Zags 1999: I can not believe its been 12 years since the Gonzaga zags were put on the map by their run in the '99 tourney! I remember this year as the Catholic university team came out of nowhere to make it to the Elite Eight before getting beat! Since then, they have been back to the tourney and are hardly a Cinderella!
4.) George Mason Patriots 2006: The Patriots impressively made it to the Final Four!
5.) and in 1996 My Alma Mater Mississippi State Bulldogs made it to the Final Four against the odds!!!
So for this year here are some teams that could be Cinderella crashing the ball:
the Oakland Golden Grizzlies; the Richmond Spiders
the Belmont Bruins;the Utah State Aggies
the Bucknell Bison; or the St. Peter's Peacocks!!
I say one of these teams will indeed be Cinderella this year but go Notre Dame Fighting Irish!!!
Later~Clare

Mon Dieu

2011-03-01T10:27:00.000-06:00

I've started reading the Marguerite Vacher book on the early CSJ foundations in Le Puy and environs, up to the French Revolution (in French - bien sûr). It is really interesting and gives great context. One of the elements that has caught my attention is her discussion of the loose network of houses that characterized the initial foundation. Once the group sent a group off to a new diocese or area, that group then because quite autonomous, eventually forming the various congregations of France, which have subsequently federated, and in some cases merged.

I like the idea of a loose federation, with the authority remaining close to the community and to the mission. There are things that are centralized, for the good of all, but there is also an agility and a mutual responsibility in community if the buck stops right here, in each local community or cluster. It is related to the Vatican II notion of subsidiarity, however with a significant difference. In subsidiarity, the power is presumed to 'belong' at the central level, and is only delegated to the local level for practical reasons. In federation instead, the power is presumed to reside locally, and is only given to the central authority if it is best exercised there. Basically you come to the same result, but the federation is more flexible and more adaptable.

I was talking with a Vietnamese sister about her congregation which was founded in the 17th century, like the CSJs. She said that her community also split into separate congregations so that they would be smaller and more able to adapt to local needs and conditions. They have resisted merging, because they see the benefits of the current arrangement.

This has been an interesting discovery as we begin to discuss emerging CSSJ futures.

--Amy

Living, Working, Praying....

2011-02-24T04:55:00.000-06:00

For me, the three aspects of living, working and praying together really capture what we're about in religious life. The life is set up so that these three aspects, prayer, community and ministry mutually support one another. We're all about mission - yes, absolutely, and all about prayer and community at the same time. I think this is something that I've learned by doing, or rather learned by living. It is such a blessing to share this life with others who can share the joys and challenges.
I'm looking forward to continuing conversations as the younger folks connect on how we can mutually support one another and also how we can provide a community that is lifegiving and supportive of ministry. God bless us in this exciting movement.
Amy

A New Voice

2011-02-18T15:35:00.003-06:00

I have not posted on this blog before. I too am a csj, and belong to the Little Design. Belong being the operative word. I really feel like I cannot help but be a part of this Design as long as I live. We talk about the design of lace, the weaving of threads and the life it involves. The thread that is my life is in the middle of the Little Design.

The picture here was taken while I was on vacation. Where I was at on vacation does not matter so much as the memories of the people and the way I was on vacation. It was a good vacation with happy shared memories. Was the weather good? Not really, but the people I was with, now that was another matter. That was the real reason the vacation was good. That is what made the scenery so nice, and the weather not so bad. So it is with life. The people that I travel with are what make the difference. Sometimes the weather is bad, but what I learn is how I see the beauty in the storm, just as the sun is coming out of the clouds in this picture.

Sandy

Echo of an email from a year ago....

2011-02-13T14:37:00.000-06:00

Why did you enter?
Why do you stay?
What gives you energy?
What sustains you?
Where will we be in twenty years? Ten? Five? Tomorrow?
Where do you see yourself?
Do we create?
Do we wait?
Where is the Spirit in all of this?

On the edge of possibilities....
Take the plunge?
What will it look like?
One? ... or more?
Energy and life ... expanding ... creating ... where will it lead?
For ourselves, for the people of God, for vocations, for all of our sisters....

Yes, these are exciting times - the Spirit is moving .....
--Amy Hereford

Adding Poetry

2011-02-03T19:46:00.002-06:00

I thought I would add a little poetry from prayer this morning to Amy's great poem last week:

Your arms holding me--
gentle, firm, secure, restraint--
losing me in You

I've been writing a lot of Haikus lately.

Two snow days this week. We did have school today. I did fine until the hill into the parking lot. I ended up backing into a spot on the street only to realize that there is no parking on that side on the first Thursday, which today is. (Yes, I did think that there was little chance of any street cleaner coming by, but I suppose I hoped maybe a plow or something--to no avail.) So, I continued backing my way down the hill to a spot on the other side of the street into which I parallel parked. Needless to say, I couldn't start up the same icy hill this evening from halfway up, so I backed down the rest of the hill and turned at the nearest stop sign. I think we could ice skate on our yard here. I know we could skate on the sidewalk.

I am working on my seventh novel (reading not writing) since Christmas and have enjoyed the resurgence into one of my favorite pastimes immensely. I read the three books in the Hunger Games series and am on the third of the Inheritance series. As the last I count all the middle school literature I've amassed looking for the next book to read in class. I'm looking for a good one based in South America if anyone has any good fifth grade recommendations. I'm kind of a stickler for high quality literature, though, so be picky.

Next week our leadership is meeting for their monthly gathering. A few of them have mentioned that they would like to get to know me a little better, so I am plotting and preparing a little art "exhibit" sharing some of my story through poetry, pictures, and art. We'll see how that comes together this weekend.

At this point in the evening (nearly 8:00), I am ready to brush my teeth and change into some pajamas. No, I'm not quite falling into convent hours at this early age; Thursdays are my long work days--7:00 a.m.-5:30 p.m.--and for those of you who have never taught, it is exhausting to be "on" for that many hours straight. So, onto one my other favorite pastimes--teeth brushing--then prayer, then hopefully to finish the last forty-six pages in my book.

Friday looms large!

Peace--
Sarah

Sacred Kiss

2011-01-28T08:31:00.000-06:00

Feather blown about with ease.
   Alone falling weakly --
      Gently danced aloft.

Dream tossed in the seas.
All surrendered;
          All gain.

      Mist wafted on the breeze,
       Sun-caressed,
        All lost --

-- in Love.

--Amy

To Journey & Dream...

2011-01-16T19:59:00.000-06:00

Dinner @ the CSJ Motherhouse! Yum!

Catholics celebrate Vocations today/this weekend to promote Vocations to religious life. In order to promote vocations we, the CSJs, co-hosted a "come and see" weekend with the Franciscans of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. We call the weekend "Journey & Dream", because it is a weekend to talk about your life's journey & where that journey might be taking you.

Last year at this time I participated in the retreat and this year as a candidate with the CSJs, I helped host it when the women arrived at our Motherhouse. During the weekend we share with the participants what it means to be a CSJ, a Franciscan, and a Poor Clare. The Poor Clare's are a cloistered order, the Franscicans are an evangelical order, and we are an apostolic order. I was glad to be a part of the weekend because I found it energizing as we celebrated the religious life that our sisters have made a commitment to.

It is always fun to share, meet new people, and pray! (Which I certainly did this weekend!) Thank you to the Vocation directors, Kathy Eiler,CSJ,, Linda Markway,CSJ, and Ellen Horn, OSFOLPH, who put the weekend together!

In football news: The Green Bay Packers will face the Chicago Bears in the NFC Championship!!! This will be an epic game for the ages!! We have many sisters from the Green Bay area and a few from Chicago as well! Who will win?! I personally want to see the Packers win with Rodgers as QB!

The NY Jets will face the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC championship! Go Jets!

I hope everyone has a great week! ~Clare

Epiphany Experience

2011-01-07T21:57:00.000-06:00

The Epiphany is traditionally celebrated on January 6. It's the day we remember the Magi coming to reverence God among us, and the day that God was revealed (epiphany - ἐπιφάνεια) to the whole world, not just the chosen people.

My epiphany story is about CSJs gathered for year end retreat:

20 gathered at the Carondelet motherhouse in St. Louis,
14 gathered at our retirement center at Nazareth in St. Louis, and
many more gathered around 35 internet connections across the US, and one in Gulu.

We're not sure of the total number that gathered for the event, but we felt ourselves to be one as we reflected and prayed about being and becoming the Community of the Great Love of God.

Comments of participants:

Just wonderful!
We are ONE!
The Double Trinity will come alive in my life in the future.
Thanks so much for making this happen. Have a peaceful night.
Thank you Sr. Helen for sharing your daily prayer with us. It brought tears to my eyes.
Thank you for sharing the mystical dimension of our union with God.
Lisa, thanks for sharing your prayer, reflection with us.

What a great experience of prayer, reflection and sharing. Response was positive and we all hope to give and receive the blessing of Love in 2011.

Peace,
Amy

Blogging Update

2011-01-01T19:51:00.002-06:00

Happy New Year! What a year it was. We just had a great retreat during which we were invited to review the year that was and look forward to the year that is now upon us. Twenty or so of us here at the motherhouse, plus another twenty or thirty that joined us from across the country and the world. It was amazing to know that our sisters in Gulu, Uganda were able to hear the same talks and prayers.

School starts on Monday. I'm almost ready in terms of lesson planning. I will hopefully get just a tad more done tonight with time to finish up tomorrow. Even though I do love what I'm teaching and the girls whom I am teaching, I wouldn't complain about a few more days off.

Okay--blogging update. For those of you who have been loyal followers, you may or may not even remember when and why this blog was started. Amy set it up when I began the novitiate. The plan was for the sisters with whom I was sharing community during the novitiate and myself to take turns updating people on novitiate happenings. I think all of the sisters might have posted once, and then I just kept it going as I have moved and moved again. At this point I'm finding it difficult to keep up (as is obvious in the month spans between postings). A group of us here has been talking for some time now about doing a joint blog again. So, I think we're heading that direction. No fear (as if anyone is afraid)--I'll still post at least once a month (I know you're relieved). You'll just get postings in between that will add charm and life to all that is the internet. So, until next time...keep up those New Years resolutions and enjoy all that our amazing God has to give.

Peace,
Sarah

Busy About Thanks

2010-11-24T20:09:00.002-06:00

Thanksgiving weekend. Half of the fifth grade must have begun celebrations early today, as I had lots of students absent. But, it has officially begun for all of us now. As I type, I am sitting with community watching a (LONG) documentary on the Mayflower. Sandy loves documentaries and she got to pick tonight. We're having a movie marathon of sorts for those of us who are home on various days this weekend. I'll be heading tomorrow to see my family, but I should be back for the Saturday and Sunday flicks.

We are blessed to have a college student living with us from Wisconsin who is doing an internship at school. Erica is great. She has joined right into prayer and even cooked dinner last night. There are not too many college students who would be willing/interested in living with a group of nuns for a month. We've got some St. Louis sights planned amongst the school days.

In other exciting news, I am meeting with leadership this Saturday about my request to make final vows. There is lots of conversation to be had and I am excited to be at a place to have it.

I can't believe that November is almost through and that Advent begins this weekend. Who knew?! My spiritual director asked me yesterday what I had planned for Advent. I haven't given it much thought, but I do always love Advent, so I'm sure some personal theme will arise.

Mostly just school, community, and prayer. I wish the ordering of this were a little different, but school is taking lots of time right now. I can't wait until next year when I have even half of what I need created. I like to think I'll have a bit more time next school year. One can hope.

That being said, God continues to call and request my heart and my time. Those little moments of quiet and prayer, wherever they may be, keep me whole and in love.

More as the season moves on...

Managing Life

2010-10-17T14:34:00.002-06:00

Yes, as my dad writes, it is time for a new post--busy or not. Busy it is. It is my first year at a new school, new curriculum, new staff... Although I am living back at the motherhouse, it is a new community and new space, physically and personally. So, I am busy. Sandy, one of the sisters with whom I live, has been giving me suggestions on how to better "manage my life," and I'm trying, but I think it will take awhile. A few days ago I was out running or walking or something, and I was caluculating in my head how many hours I worked last week. It is an occupational hazard in which one should never partake.

Community is great. Right now we have someone in every phase of formation with others interested in joining us. There are some 370 CSJs in the St. Louis Province, so three or four coming in might not seem like a bunch to some of the group. But, when it doubles the 55 and under population, it is huge for us. We are having Friday night dinners (open invitation for anyone in discernment) to eat and pray and play. So much fun. Great energy in the now. Great hope for all that is to come.

I did make the trek back down to Ripley for the dedication of the church. That was a phenomenal event. The church is beautiful. Nothing in comparison to the radiance of the people, but pretty nonetheless.

Last weekend I did mission appeal talks at a parish three hours from here. I went to mass six times last weekend. I would say I'm done until Christmas, but I do like the Advent masses way too much to do that. It was the first time that I have ever done something like that in Spanish. When people ask how it went, I tell them that I read very well. Always some new adventure.

Other than that, it's mostly school, a little volleyball, and as much time enjoying the beautiful fall weather as I can fit in. I'll try to include updating the blog here a little more as I learn to "manage my life."

Happy autumn.

Assembly 2010

2010-08-04T08:13:00.009-06:00

Meetings, meetings, and more meetings. That's what the last week has seemed like. I will say that nun meetings may or may not be in one's traditional form. Our first full day gathered was a day of reflection on Consecrated Life--i.e. What does it mean to live Consecrated Life today, and what does the life look like? It was a fabulous day with a great turn out. Amy started the day using official church documents interlaced with some of the thoughts of contemporary scholars to explain where thoughts of the life have alternately spread and come together. I actually gave a little piece in the afternoon using stories from my few years to illustrate how the life looks in concrete. We've already had a follow up meeting to that day to see what we do next.

Friday's "meeting" was an all day workshop on non-violence, a.k.a. "Peace Building." A side column of my notes from that day restates non-violence or peace building in yet other ways: the love that does justice, not just looking at the violence but building a culture of peace and love, relieving suffering--enhancing potential, difference without division. One of the thoughts offered for reflection was, "If I were not afraid I would..."

No meetings would be complete without a social gathering (as if that's not the real purpose of the whole gathering). So, Friday night a group of us came together for root beer floats, Bunco, and a game called Things. Any excuse to get together and play.

Saturday was the business side of things. We actually began with prayer that capped off this past year dedicated to reconciliation. In various stages we had contributed threads to the healing hoop that was completed, blessed, and hung as part of the prayer. We got a rousing invitation from the vocation/formation team to continue to INVITE people to share the charism with us. We heard from our province team as well as our congregation leadership and did some shared visioning for the future. Different committees gave brief progress updates, etc., etc. The day ended with a cemetery blessing at the new plot where our sisters are buried. It was an awesome, tear-filled, celebration of life that has been and continues to be.

July

2010-07-27T18:54:00.004-06:00

From volleyball camp to summer school to St. Paul...

Last week I was in St. Paul, MN for Ho'olaule'a, which in Hawaiian is akin to a family reunion of sorts. We are having inter-provincial gatherings at all of our different provinces in an effort to get to know more sisters and associates/consociates from around our congregation. I went up a few days early to spend some time with the sisters with whom I had lived when I was there as a novice. It was so easy to pick up where we had left off. One of the memories my body holds is of the smell of the kitchen there; always something wonderful cooking. The event was based on our congregational "communions"--with each other, earth, the dear neighbor, and the church. We sang and prayed, painted and ate, laughed and toured. I was invited to act out the resurrection Gospel from Luke as Mary Magdalen for the prayer service hosted that day. A beautiful service for the apostle to the apostles. I had dinner with some of our sisters from Hawaii, one of whom is working on a water project in Kenya. Amazing pictures and amazing work. I got to see the new center for the school the sisters sponsor for immigrant adults. What a beautiful building. Wonderful for the opportunity to surround myself with a week of beauty of all kinds.

We hit a crazy-bad storm on the way home. The rain wouldn't have been so bad if it weren't for the wind blowing sheets of rain, and attempting the same with our car. It was great to get back home.

(For more information and pictures on the Ho'olaule'a events going on check on the blog at: http://csjhoolaulea.wordpress.com/)

This week we are mostly preparing for our yearly nun meetings that start on Thursday. I am on a committee that is planning Thursday. It will be mostly a day for us sisters to talk about what it looks like to live the Consecrated Life today. I have a little presentation piece on which I'm still working, but today is only Tuesday, so there's still plenty of time. Friday will be a larger provincial day on non-violence, leaving Saturday for the general business agenda. We're also putting on a Bunco social with root beer floats and attendance prizes, to which I am looking forward.

I managed to sprain my ankle playing volleyball on Saturday. It was a great tournament. Forty-eight women signed up ranging in age from 22 to 72. We were split semi-randomly into eight teams and took turns playing each other. The secretary at school had invited me, and hopefully I can get in on another tournament or two this year. Hopefully by then the pretty purple and black patterns on my foot will be gone.

Although I am looking forward to it, school starts too soon. More later.

Random

2010-07-02T21:51:00.003-06:00

Not that anyone cares, but when I got home tonight I emptied the kitchen trash can. It is fifty-one stairs down. That's one hundred two stairs down and back to take out the trash.

Mid-October (2011?)

2010-06-29T20:52:00.006-06:00

As I have moved back to St. Louis, I am very aware of the transition, and told my community the other day that I was looking forward to the routine I expect to have by maybe mid-October--a little less transition space hopefully by then. As we looked at all that could be possibly coming, however, we decided we may need to extend that transition timeframe to October 2011.

Although I "officially" moved back June 1st, I have been busy about many things in the meantime. Retreat was mostly disaster including a spider bite and trip to urgent care, but the care of the sisters and my director there was certainly a gift of the week. Then I headed to Concordia, KS for the initial vow ceremony of my good friend, Julie. It was delightful to be with the sisters there, as well some other initially professed from across the Federation. I can't tell you when I have most recently laughed so hard. Then it was home for a few days of work in my classroom before driving back to MS to pick up three vanloads of high school volleyball players for a week of volleyball camp here in St. Louis. While it was quite a bit of work and energy, it was a great week. Wonderful young women, polite, hardworking. My family was amazing. They hosted the group and did lots of the driving. I couldn't have done it without them. Now, hard core classroom time in preparation for summer school.

Ahhh, life. Lots of wonderful life happenings. Happy summer to all.

Moved

2010-06-05T14:51:00.002-06:00

I am ashamed to say that it has been over a month since I last posted. Numerous times I thought about it, but endings and packings got a little crazy.

The end of religious education and youth group ended in high spirits with wonderful prayer and remeberings and, yes, of course, a water balloon fight. It was very funny to sit in a circle for our final prayer all dripping wet. Luckily, we knew no one would need to sit in those chairs until Sunday, so it was all good.

School finished up well, also. The number of students dwindled little by little as those who were exempt from exams came only until they needed to. The state track meet was great. We had some great performances and wonderful memories. I left everything as ready as I could for the next person who might come take some of the responsibilities that I had.

One of the things I did before I left was to prepare a survey that I thought might be particularly useful for the district and the Spanish speaking families therein. I did it in English and then translated it into Spanish. I didn't know the word, "pair" in Spanish, as in to "pair bilingual families with strictly Spanish-speaking families," so I looked it up. When I finished, I brought it to one of the women in our parish to check for me. It's a good thing I did. She said the "pair" I had used was pairing as in "animal mating pairing." I don't think very many families would have signed up for that. Too bad I had just finished teaching connotation and denotation. I could have had another wonderful example.

The last Sunday at church, they had a lovely little going away for me. I was prayed over, we shared lunch, and I received a great card and a new backpack. The teens got down on their knees in front of one of the women at church who they are trying to convince to take over youth ministry responsibilities. I think that might have done it. We'll see.

The walls are going up in the new church and I understand they picked wall and floor colors last week. I can't wait to see it the next time I go back.

It was definitely sad to leave. Kate and I both choked up a few times, but our closure was good. We had good prayer and good conversation and good laughs. I kept telling people that it was really only a see you later, as I have to return to Ripley a couple of weekends from now, and hope to be back again for the church dedication.

So, now I am here in St. Louis. It's funny to be back in much the same physical space, but in very different space personally than I was when I started the novitiate four years ago. My room is mostly arranged, and Amy, Sandy, and I had dinner together two nights ago and got our living room set up for now. It came almost completely furnished, but we had to make it our own. What is really funny is that we moved all the furniture in numerous configurations ultimately to return everything to its original location except one side table which was moved next to the chair rather than the couch. We decided that we like it much better now. I don't know if it really made a huge difference or if it is just the fact that we chose to put the furniture where it is instead of having it already set for us. I don't know.

One thing that I am already lamenting here, is that I don't know anybody. That's not exactly true, but what I mean is that when I go to the grocery store I don't know three-fourths of the people there. It wasn't the secretary from school or the local banker on stage at Shakespeare in the Park last night. No one waves when I'm walking. Okay, it isn't always a good thing to know everyone everywhere as the gossip in a small town can be crazy, but there is something comforting and identity defining about it. Just one little thing I miss already--other than the people, of course.

I am pretty tired this Saturday afternoon after a week of packing and unpacking. After packing in Ripley and unpacking here, I have spent the last two days packing, moving, and cleaning in my classroom. I'm going to be teaching summer school in a month, so I have to get things ready there as well. Luckily, I leave for retreat tomorrow: pray, eat, walk, sleep, pray, eat, walk, sleep, pray, eat...sometimes to be alternated. Sometimes I run instead of walk. Sometimes I go for a swim. Sometimes my prayer includes writing or painting or reading, but you get the gist. I make light of it, but those of you who have ever had the opportunity to make an extended retreat know the gift of the time to still oneself, to sit in gratitude and reflect on the journey, to listen to God and fall in love all over again. Yes, it's a lot of quiet, and sometimes I think I might go crazy, but I always leave very renewed and ready to go again.

The transition continues, as does the blogging. Thanks, Dad, for keeping me up on my lack of posting. More after retreat.

Severe Weather

2010-05-02T18:55:00.008-06:00

Last weekend a major tornado hit a few hours south of here

in Yazoo City, MS and surrounding areas. This weekend, the city tornado warnings went off five times in twenty-four hours. Kate and I were at the neighbor's brick house once, a little sturdier than ours here, and up at 4:00 a.m. this morning watching the news to see if we should move again. We got lucky here in Ripley--power poles down, a quickly contained gas leak, a few roofs off--but, two small towns near here were hit. A tree fell into the corner of the house of some of our parishioners, crushed their car, but really they were so lucky. The couple was in Chicago, so we moved furniture and put a tarp on their roof until they can make it back tomorrow. I think the severe weather is past, but flooding continues to be an issue. No school tomorrow, so I'm headed first thing to help translate as best I can for a Spanish speaking couple whose trailer was damaged who have an appointment to talk to the insurance agent. Then out to see where I can help.

These sorts of things really make me realize how connected we all are. Sometimes when the disasters are far from home, it is easy to stay removed. These days it is easy to feel with those on the coast awaiting the oil spill, those in Haiti still without housing, those in places of war, etc., etc. Keep the prayers coming, for here and everywhere else. We are indeed all one.

Peace,
Sarah

Wildlife Creatures

2010-05-01T17:33:00.002-06:00

This morning I saw my first live armadillo. I was heading out for a morning run and it was just walking across the yard. I wanted to go touch it. It was moving pretty slowly. I totally think I could have caught it. We have a woman staying the weekend with us, and it was hilarious to hear the stories she told about the things she and her family and friends used to do with armadillos. Who knew?

Wednesday morning as I was leaving for work, I had a little conversation with a squirrel on the powerlines above our driveway. Talkative little fellow.

Last weekend as I ran, I came across two male birds fighting over a female. I have never seen a more vicious fight. One bird actually had the other pinned to the ground. I tried to whistle and holler at them to get them to break it up, but they were pretty oblivious to my presence.

Cute, little birds in the parking lot yesterday. An amazingly blue bluebird this afternoon. A fox that ran across the street three feet in front of me as I walked to school. A groundhog near the library. All these little creatures. I'm so glad our world is shared space.

Too Many Time Gaps

2010-04-27T18:47:00.002-06:00

Sorry, with so many time gaps between posts I hadn't realized what I had shared and what I had not. For those of you who only catch up here online, I will be moving back to St. Louis on June 1. I have a job teaching fifth grade for next school year and I will be living at the motherhouse. Community wants me to have one more experience before I might ask for final vows. Moving is always bittersweet. I'm sad to leave the people here, but there are always fun things ahead. I'm sure there will be more to come as the transition unfolds.

Easy to Celebrate

2010-04-25T20:02:00.010-06:00

What a delight it is to live with a golden jubilarian. We celebrated Kate's jubilee at the parish here today. She is so easy to celebrate. A couple of weeks ago we had a "secret" planning meeting. Of course, Kate decided to stop by church while we were all there. She's called me a "sneak" on more than one occasion lately. But, it was all worth it. It was the perfect way to celebrate the international day of prayer for vocations. We blessed Kate and she blessed us. We did, of course, finish with a delicious dinner together. One of the women at our parish made her famous cakes. So good! I think this is Kate's last official jubilee celebration for the year, but I do hope she celebrates all year.

Things have been quite delightful lately. While I have been aware of my impending departure, it came to a new level of awareness the other day with a phone call about my new school contract and an e-mail about an evaluation I get to complete before I go. I hadn't been counting down, and I don't know that I really want to, but I think it is inevitable. Kate brought another load of my stuff up to the motherhouse when she went today for a committee meeting. My room is getting emptier and emptier.

I've been reading some great books that have really stuck with me lately. The quote from yesterday was, "There are two types of people. The first type walks into a room and says, 'Here I am.' The other type says, 'Here you are.'" Some people make me feel important immediately, like I am the only one in their world at that moment. It's quite a gift. I think it is about presence and energy. I want to give people energy, make them feel loved and special. God continues to work with me as I put myself into her hands.

Where Did Lent Go?

2010-03-25T18:17:00.008-06:00

Babies, flowers, Jubilee, stations...the week that was! Heavens it was a crazy, busy, wonderful one. I am amazed at how I welcome the school week. I am also amazed by the fact that Easter is soon to be upon us. Where did Lent go?

As I sit here I am distracted by the almost too strong scent of the flowers here on our living room table. The season has turned here, I would say notably in the rain, but it has rained so much here since last fall, I don't think that would be a good indicator. I went out for a quick run this afternoon between engagements and got caught in a downpour. I was right at the midway point in my run when the big, black, rain cloud rolled in. It is a surefire way to make the last half of a work out faster than the first.

The week here has really been one of Paschal Mystery and grace. I have decided that the greatest prayer is, "God, I can't--help!" Always something to learn, always room to be opened and emptied, knowing that always I am filled.

Marianne Keena, our vocation director, e-mailed me this morning asking me to include a link on the blog here. So, after trying a few times to copy and paste, I am giving up. Really, truly, I do know how to copy and paste, so I'm not sure why I can't get it. So, if you are interested try the Catholic Religious Vocation Network Vision Newsletter.

Okay, time has again gotten away from me. This feast of the Annunciation, may the fiats of our lives be true.

Lenten peace.

Happy Feast

2010-03-19T09:45:00.002-06:00

Happy St. Joseph's Day to any and all. It couldn't be more beautiful. St. Joseph's Academy, an all girls' high school founded and sponsored by the Sisters of St. Joseph, always has the most beautiful liturgy on this day. We sisters are invited to the mass, and, after the homily, face the sea of young women and publicly renew our vows. Seeing as I am still in initial profession, I simply omit the word "perpetual", the rest is the same. The young women here are incredibly talented. Such singing!

Now, I am off to the Botanical Gardens to enjoy God in the sunshine, flowers, and families who have the same thought.

Joseph isn't mentioned that much in scripture at all, but what we do know is the integrity with which he lived, his generosity of spirit, and his depth of prayer and relationship to God. I don't know how the whole God coming to people in dreams thing works, but I think it can only be through a consciousness and whole-body giving towards which I am constantly called that Joseph must have nearly perfected.

On this day of oasis in the midst of Lent, may a spirit of fidelity and courage reign/rain.

P.S. To those of you who are faithful followers to the blog, you might remember a posting just after Christmas about the crazy game of Clue my family plays (if not, check back in the archives), an update: the game continues. That's all I can say right now.

Peace.

Spilling into Lent

2010-02-18T20:37:00.003-06:00

So, yesterday, Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent, a fasting day, started in high style. I typically eat all day long, so fasting is not something that sits well with my stomach--literally. I was thinking, "Maybe if I eat a bit of oatmeal rather than cereal, it might last a little longer." So, I fixed that little bowl of oatmeal, added a few blueberries and was bringing it to the table, when somehow, I managed to drop it. Didn't trip, no explanation--dropped. Ceramic bowl on ceramic tile--nothing broke, but no one could not have made me believe that oatmeal could splatter like that. Eight feet out, six feet up, smeared all over the floor and wall and anything else it could possibly hit, with little blueberries popping like big paintballs upon impact. Pretty blue streaks like a child's fingerpaint all over our pretty kitchen walls. 5:45 a.m., maybe 6:00 by now, I kept the kitchen in dim light and wiped up as best as I could not really wanting to see all the damage. Then went ahead and poured myself that little bowl of cereal.

Funny God.

Happy Lenting.

Youth Convention 2010

2010-02-07T19:48:00.005-06:00

Just returning from a weekend in Jackson with our wonderful young church. Two late nights, some great prayer, jazzy music, and lots of laughs later, I am recovering here with a laptop and the Superbowl. It was the 50th convention for the Jackson diocese with a theme of "Solid Gold." Every group prepares a skit of some kind. St. Matthew did "The Three Little Pigs," novela style--hence the pig noses. The music group Popple provided us with songs about peanut butter sandwiches and bank robberies, and we held our breath (okay, so some people actually cheered) as we waited to see if blindfolded volunteers would end up with flour and eggs on their heads. We followed that up with mass and Eucharistic adoration, pizza and a dance party. While I am always tired after such an event, I am also energized and glad for the opportunity to spend the weekend with such wonderful young people.

Our young church group here was honored with the overall "Cross Fire" award for Parish Ministry, Community Service, and Christian Unity. They were half sleeping when their name was called and weren't expecting anything, so I don't think they really heard their introduction, nor do I think they really understand why they received the award. They are such an integral part of our parish, helping with religious education, planning and executing Vacation Bible School, dancing, leading the rosary, staying to help clean up. They are our Sunday choir. There is so much we couldn't do without them. So, a big shout out to awesome teens who are such an example to the rest of us of how to use our energy for the people of God.

Glassy Eyed

2010-01-24T19:41:00.004-06:00

Three weeks and too many computer hours later I am finished with my on-line class. I took a class on methods of teaching English as a second language. Very applicable. Other than feeling like my eyes are going to fall out of my head, it was a good experience. Our final project was to critique an already existing unit. I actually used a unit I had written during my student teaching six years ago. It was very interesting to go back and critique my own work, to see how my teaching has changed with my experiences of the past few years. With such a short class, I would wonder how much one might retain, except that I have the opportunity to implement the material daily in my classroom. It was a good class--but I am not totally sad to say it is over. A little more time for the usual things.

Last weekend I was in St. Louis for a "Nun Run"/Come and See Weekend (yes, family, I was in town--I knew I wouldn't get to see you all, sorry). We had four full-time and two part-time discerners with us journey from the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Help to the Poor Clares to our place by Sunday. We ate lots of pizza and ice cream (the one thing we would change upon evaluation, although it was definitely delicious), had some great prayer and sharing, and even got to bed at a decent hour. I had never been in a cloistered convent like the Poor Clares before. We had to meet with the sisters behind the grill (okay, so I didn't mention that I was in town, but aren't you glad that you don't have to meet with me four times a year behind a metal grill?). While I know that is not my calling (mostly due to the fact that the sisters maintain a perpetual fast), it was fun to hear the stories, see the sisters tease each other, and really, I guess, to realize that we have more in common than I would have thought. I hate some of the stereotypes that people have of sisters, but I have to say, I held many myself going into that setting. My favorite memory of the weekend was coming out of the Poor Clares and immediately snacking with the group on the hood of my car. I think just the idea of a perpetual fast was enough to make my stomach growl.

Now I'm sitting here watching the Saints and Vikings, folding laundry, preparing myself for the week ahead. I can't believe this is the last week of January already. I'll be in Jackson three of the next four weekends for various things--personal, church, and vocational. One of the weekends is our youth convention, so I'm sure I'll have pictures to share after that. Happy continued new year.

Peace.

Snow Day

2010-01-08T13:24:00.003-06:00

As I listen to the news and see the amazing pictures of massive snow amounts in other parts of the country, I thought I would share some pictures from Mississippi. This consitutes a snow day in MS:
Now, for those of you who are laughing, I will say, in defense of those who call off school on days like this, that the thought of being in the high school parking lot with all of those teens who have never, ever driven on snow or ice before scares the bejeezes out of me. That, and who complains about two day off to do homework and make some homemade soup and pie? Not me.

Back to it. Be safe and stay warm.

Christmas Break

2009-12-29T11:42:00.002-06:00

First things first--for those of you who have been eagerly waiting to hear--I did indeed survive beyond Christmas day in our annual game of live, family Clue. That is at least one day longer than I have any of the years previous to this one. I cannot reveal whether or not I am still "alive" as some of my family reads this and it might give them an unnecessary advantage. That's all I can say about that.

Christmas was wonderful. Our celebration in Ripley was great. The children's choir did a wonderful job. The church looked beautiful. Everything was just lovely.

Christmas day, I headed north and have spent the last few days with family, friends, and community eating, playing, opening little gifts. I LOVE my family. They are so much fun and so easy to get along with really. We played sardines one night. If you are unfamiliar, it is like reverse hide-and-go-seek. In hide-and-go-seek, everyone hides and one person seeks. In sardines, one person hides and everyone else seeks. When a person finds the person in hiding, he or she squeezes into the same hiding space. Eventually everyone is in the same hiding space, and the last one to find the group then goes and hides. In traditional Heger fashion, we have to add a twist--we play in the dark. Way more fun. Especially now that most of us are in our late teens and twenties, so we are a little big to find too many good hiding spaces. It does get interesting groping around in the dark, not knowing if anyone else is in the room with you, and, if you happen to run into someone else, the conversations that transpire as we ascertain who it is. My mom didn't want to play with us, but she had a great time sitting on the living room couch in the dark just listening to the conversation happening around her. I was a little sore the next day. I actually think it was from so much laughing rather than any injury I incurred.

Right now I am at the motherhouse. We have a community tradition that has been re-encouraged in recent years of making an end-of-the-year retreat. Retreat begins with dinner tonight, but I was in the area this morning, so I am here a bit early to get settled, get some computer work out of the way, and prepare myself for the next few days. It is a wonderful tradition around which to gather, and I'm looking forward to spending the last days of what has been a great year with my sisters.

Happy and safe New Years to all.

Peace.

Posadas

2009-12-19T21:10:00.007-06:00

Night number four of nine for Posadas. Our thirteenth night of prayer and gathering this December when you add our novena for Our Lady of Guadalupe. For those of you who are not familiar with Posadas, it is a reenactment of sorts of Mary and Joseph looking for a place to stay. The children take turns dressing as Mary and Joseph and those of us gathered sing a song, first telling them there is no room, but eventually welcoming them with instruments and merriment. We then move into the rosary and a litany of prayers before finishing--of course--with something "muy rico" to eat. Kate and I hosted two nights ago. We had only fifty or so in our little house this year as compared with the seventy we had last year. I have never experienced a community of all ages coming together so faithfully, prayerfully, and with such fun. I was actually thinking tonight of Bethlehem and the crowds and the lack of space, but knowing after these nights, that there is indeed always room for one more. Christmas comes soon. May our hearts have more than enough space for the joy that comes with knowing Christ alive with us.

Parades and Advent Prayers

2009-12-09T20:31:00.003-06:00

The Advent season began as it always does, sharing a message via float at the Ripley parade. Our float theme this year was, "What gift can I give you for Christmas," with adorable children coming out of boxes marked, "Love," "Peace," "Forgiveness," "Hope." The night was brisk, although not as cold as last year, and spirits were high. What a fun, large community event.

After that novena for Our Lady of Guadalupe began. We meet every night at the home of a family from our parish to say the rosary, sing songs to Our Lady, and, of course, share something wonderful to eat. It is really an awesome way to build community (and to learn prayers in Spanish, in case anyone is looking to do so).

Last weekend I helped staff a high school retreat held in the Jackson diocese called Search. About thirty or so high school teens spent the weekend Searching, sharing faith and experiences, and building relationships with each other and our God to carry with them on the journey. We were actually about 40 miles south of Jackson, but got about an inch and a half of snow. We prayerfully threw snowballs and made snow angels as well. We don't get snow very often down here, and it was totally gone by lunch the next day, but it certainly made for a gorgeous prayer walk the next morning.

Yesterday was the feast of the Immaculate Conception. It is my most favoritest day of the year (yes, I know that is not a word--but I have to emphasize somehow). Six years ago yesterday I chatted with Sister Becky, who was the vocation director, to ask how to begin the process to become a Sister of St. Joseph. It was an awesome day all around with a thought provoking homily at noon and an amazing, candlelit, prayer concert that evening. The e-mails fly on Dec. 8th in recognition of the yeses we say on our journeys and the questions each leg brings.

For now, it is early enough to get in some good prayer and maybe even a couple chapters of the novel I am reading. I am amazed at how much time the evening holds even with the novena. Must be some kind of space-time prayer continuum.

Peace all.

National Catholic Youth Thanksgiving--I Mean, Conference

2009-11-29T18:24:00.009-06:00

What a whirlwind week! I left last Thursday and worked my way northwest to Kansas City. I could have probably used a nap upon arrival, but instead, left immediately for the convention center and the 24,000 teens who were just waiting to hear about vocations and the Sisters of St. Joseph. Actually, our booth was staffed the day before I arrived. With full-time and part-time staffers, there may have been eight or nine CSSJs in the vicinity. Sister Julie and I began two new vocation ploys: reverse pickpocketing and handstands for vocations. Our reverse pickpocketing efforts included putting a Federation pen and one of our cards into the open bag or pocket of any young woman. I remember attending World Youth Day when I was in college and praying about my vocation. I went into a similar vocation booth area telling God that if religious life was to be my vocation, that I needed a sign. I figure, if any young woman was saying that same sign prayer, boom, she opens her bag when she gets back to her room, and there it is! Our pen and card. That, and it was just really fun. Our booth was in the inner circle of activities and not on the well-traveled path. So, to get some young people to stop (and to have some more fun) we challenged people to handstand contests in the middle of the aisle. We told them that if we won, they had to become Sisters of St. Joseph, and if they won, we would give them a pen (which had the CSSJ Federation website on it). Fair trade, right?! One of the habited Franciscan friars near us also joined us in our handstands. It was really fun to see him pin his habit up. I wish I had his picture as well. A wonderful event. Energizing and exhausting at the same time.
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Sunday morning, after a great brunch at a delightful little coffee shop-ish place--"You Say Tomato"--I headed to Concordia, KS to spend a couple of days with the sisters there. I got mostly caught up on sleep in between my first Thanksgiving dinner and plenty of Rummikub.

Then to my mom and dad's for Thanksgiving. The two new games of the season seem to be Bananagrams and Things. Both are very fun games that I highly recommend. Delicious meals. Lots of laughter. Baby Charlie holding.

And now home again. On one hand, it seems like I have been gone FOREVER. On the other, the past week and a half seem hardly to have been real. And Advent has begun! I think Advent is my favorite season. I think I have decided to pray with one of the women from the Bible each week--Sarah, Hannah, Elizabeth, and Mary. I haven't totally worked out how that will happen, but I'm looking forward to praying with them. Back to school tomorrow.

Peace.

Weekend St.L.

2009-11-15T15:31:00.003-06:00

There is something nice about being within driving distance of St. Louis. I took a half a day off of work to drive up on Friday. Got to have a delicious chilli dinner and play some games with family, see my brother and sister-in-law's new dog and new fence, feed baby Charlie some prunes.

The rest of the weekend has been spent as part of what we call a Wisdom Circle around vocation/formation issues. It was awesome to share with sisters and associates who are all energized around future possibilities that are coming to be now. In a day it is difficult to delve too deeply into any topic, but I feel like we have a lot of fodder with which to play, and I know the conversation is far from over. It is an interesting balance to dream the future and live the now and see how they come together and when. I love it all.

I don't love the sinus issues I've currently got going on, but hopefully some rest will be healing.

Another week of possibilities ahead. Yeah God!

Happy Halloween

2009-10-31T12:17:00.007-06:00

It seems as if so much happens between one post and the next. That's probably because it does.
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Last weekend I had the opportunity to drive to St. Louis to share my sisters and motherhouse with a wonderful young woman who is discerning religious life. Neither of us arrived early and we had never met in person before, so we spent the first night talking until what was probably too late to be good for either of us. Saturday was filled with time with sisters, a tour of the motherhouse, Eucharist, a great root beer float at Fitz's, a bit of CSJ sightseeing, prayer together, and a movie (to which we both fell asleep on our respective couches). Sunday was more of the same before we parted ways around noon. I took advantage of the short trip to meet up with some of my family for lunch. Although it put me home a bit later, I was very grateful to be with them. Really, the whole weekend was one of gratitude. It was awesome to be able to share faith and discernment with someone so on fire with listening to God. I've really been very conscious lately of my own prayer time and the need for that place and space with God, and weekends like that only reinforce the desire.

Then, Monday, back to work.

The beginning of the week was spent preparing for our church Halloween party on Wednesday night. Our religious education classes have been getting bigger and bigger with 70 or 80 students a week. Well, we had over 130 children at the Halloween party. On one hand, I wonder where they all are every Wednesday. On the other hand, I'm glad they don't all make it every week--I don't know where we would put them. We had apple bobbing, face painting, musical chairs, a haunted house, pizza--the usual. The haunted house was a big hit. Our teens had decorated with spider webs, hanging legs, strobe lights, a fog machine. One room was filled with balloons that a fan blew around. The other room was decorated cemetery style. Out of every nook and cranny jumped the high school students all too ready with a scream for any unsuspecting little one who walked past. I am amazed at how kids like to be scared.

Then today I went on a long bike ride. One of my cross country runners is getting her gold award in Girl Scouts, and as part of that award, she organized a bike ride. I rode with her mom a couple of months ago and she gave me the flier. For those of you who regularly read my blog, I did an entry at that time about the 20-25 mile bike ride I did that day. I haven't ridden since. So, the 27 mile ride today with some major hills was killer. I cannot tell you how good the barbeque lunch tasted as I rode in and dropped my bike. I did manage to come in a good twenty-five minutes ahead of the serious riders who did the 48 mile ride. Thankfully, after another week of rain, the day is perfect, cool and sunny (although I could have done without the head wind on those hills). It will be perfect for trick-or-treaters tonight.

Now off to work on questions for trivia night next weekend. We are trying to do a bit of fundraising for our youth convention in the spring. Our youth group continues to grow, and I know the interest will be more than double what we had last year, which is wonderful. It does mean, however, that we have to find more than double the funds. Our teens have really been fabulous. They are helping to teach religious ed., they sing every week at mass, four or five stayed until Kate and I locked up Wednesday after the party vacuuming, moving chairs, etc. So, I'll do what I can to get them to Jackson. It's a great opportunity for them to celebrate with other Catholic teens. It's hard down here; yet another way in which they are the minority. If you find yourself in the Ripley, MS area next Saturday, stop by. Doors open at 6:00. Ten dollar suggested donation, although no one will be turned away. Let me know in advance and I'll even clean my sheets for you to stay the night.

Have a great week.

Peace.

The Ultimate Gift

2009-10-18T19:20:00.003-06:00

Regan and Heger give it two thumbs up. Just finished watching the movie, The Ultimate Gift. If you haven't seen it, I'd get it and a box of Kleenex for a thoughtful evening at home. Life--God--offers so much. For every second of awareness I do have during the course of a day, there are a million during which I have no clue. Kate reminded me that one can't change a life just like that. It takes time. Little-by-little. Moment-by-moment. Choice-by-choice. One of the lines I am remembering is about dreams. Jason shares that he doesn't know if he has a dream of his own, but he does know that he has the ability to make others' dreams come true. If that could be the dream of all of us.

Ahhh...so much to learn. So many moments in a day during which to be aware. Aware of what? Who knows for sure.

Yeah, it's one of those feel good, sentimental movies where you have a pretty good idea of how it is going to end. Happily, of course.

May our week be filled with unexpected surprises, moments that make our jaws drop, and bright lights we can't see beyond.

Peace.

Haiku

2009-10-04T17:13:00.003-06:00

It drizzles outside

Drips gentle my waking soul

Good morning, Dear Heart

____________________________________________

Rain patters above

Won't need walking shoes today

Called inside instead

_____________________________________________

Moon rises early

But I'm not ready for bed

Won't anyone stay

______________________________________________

Trees' red-tipped branches

Our sun's warmth through cool breezes

Autumn glory has arrived

Thought I'd Share

2009-10-02T17:34:00.015-06:00

One of the birthday gifts I got this year was a fabulous homemade t-shirt through which I get to share my adorable, little nephew. I had to share it with you in picture here.

I also thought I'd throw in a wedding picture of my handsome brother and gorgeous sister-in-law from the wedding two weekends ago. (When I get the pictures from my sister's wedding this past summer, I'll post one of those, too.)

It has been a wonderful week. We went from hot and humid, to having 18--yes, count them, 18--days of rain in a row (there was actually a count on the front of the newspaper), to this amazing, fall-ish weather. I ran with my volleyball girls today during seventh period athletics and then again after school. After school, I went to the lake near here, ran a bit, then laid on the dock and listened to the water rippling in the wind. Then home for some delicious homemade chicken nuggets--it might be my new specialty--to here on my living room floor sharing my day. The football game is away tonight, so I didn't feel obligated to go. I will, however, try to make it to the cross country races tomorrow morning. Then off to spiritual direction. It has been way too long and I am in such different space now than I was the last time I went, I doubt Sr. Eileen will know what to do with me.

This week has been one of desire. I have been e-mailing a delightful young woman, currently in college, who is considering religious life as her vocation. Her sharing about her relationship with God and her hopes for deepening, expanding, and using that are inspiring. I suppose it is like any love relationship; there are times when the sparks are flying and there are times when it is a slow, steady burn. My prayer today was that I allow myself the emptiness for God to enflame my heart.

For now, maybe some ice cream and a movie. Happy weekend.

Birthday "Non-"Party

2009-09-16T20:37:00.007-06:00

I cannot tell you the looks I got from a few when I explained what I had in store for my day: teaching, volleyball practice, religious education, and youth group. What, no party? I can't tell you what a great party it was!

I had three phone calls before Kate and I finished prayer this morning, two more before school started. I think I had three when I checked at lunch, and five more when I started towards volleyball. Another three between then and religious ed., and a final five from then until the end of youth group. Unfortunately, I didn't have the opportunity to answer any of them. But, I did get some fun songs--sung and recorded--and some very sweet messages. I did, finally, get to answer the last two phone calls of the night.

At the end of volleyball practice I told the girls that I had two gifts for them. The first was that I was headed to St. Louis for my brother's wedding this weekend, so they do not have practice. The best gift I could have gotten...are you ready for this...they groaned. "Can't we practice anyway?" Music to a coach's ears. They did cheer when I told them of their second gift--cupcakes.

Religious education is always fun. We worked on trying to learn double-dutch. We weren't too successful. Then, instead of donuts tonight, Kate had a big cake made for me. I got a beautiful Spanish song sung and subsequently got my face pushed into my cake. Had to see it coming. Fun colored icing up my nose. Youth group was fun as usual. Human pyramids and prayer. What more, really, could I have asked for?

Crazies

2009-09-13T15:22:00.007-06:00

Last Thursday my crazy dad drove down for our home volleyball game and then back to St. Louis again. Crazy--yes, but it was great to have him there. At one point I looked up in the stands and couldn't find him, only to catch him sitting among the thirty or so high school boys teaching them appropriate volleyball cheering. Thank you dad!

This weekend I traveled south to Okolona to be with some of our sisters there. Our leadership was meeting and invited the sisters in the MS/AL area to join them for some conversation and community. I went a night early to hang out and ended up, as I always do in Okolona, spending Saturday morning doing physical labor. Four of us moved all the major appliances and big furniture pieces out of a home. I did get to ride on the back of a trailer around town holding various pieces in place. After our sharing time Sat. afternoon, we headed to a catfish restaurant near Okolona. Who'd have thought one could get such great catfish in the middle of the woods in northern Mississippi?!

Everything is in full swing here now. Tomorrow we re-start our adult English class and Wed. will be our second night of religious education and youth group. Our first week was a good one. After making pizza I used Lectio Divina to pray with the teens. I was so impressed with their sharing and always to their openness to new prayer styles. Hopefully the rest of the year will be as good as the first night.

No volleyball games this week. Instead I head back to St. Louis this coming weekend for my brother's wedding. Will be fun to connect with family that I haven't seen in a while. Should be a beautiful sacrament.

Peace on your week.

Just Noticed

2009-08-31T19:54:00.002-06:00

So, I have been in Ripley for a little over a year now. I've been walking to school most of that time, weather permitting. And I just this morning realized something: I walk into the sun in the morning and into the sun in the afternoon. Maybe it's just this time of year and walking home a little later with volleyball practice, but I would have thought I'd have noticed that before. It was kind of a fun prayer piece today.

That's it. Random musings from Sarah.

Home this coming weekend to see my family and my little nephew. My youngest sister turns 13 tomorrow! I get to be home for her party! Yeah! Lots of moments to be lived between now and the weekend, though.

Peace.

Teaser Appreciated

2009-08-23T19:27:00.002-06:00

For an August afternoon in Mississippi, today was incredible! The weather was amazing, sunny with a cool breeze. Some friends here in town saw my picture in the paper riding my bike home from school and invited me to join them on a bike ride this afternoon. Twenty miles was a bit more than my usual mile to school and mile back, but I kept up well. I'm sure I'll feel it tomorrow. The volleyball girls will all wonder what is wrong when I'm not out there pacing their usual Monday mile run tomorrow.

But, it really couldn't have been more glorious. The roads we rode were full of farm homes with gardens and animals. I couldn't not slow as I passed a pond with a blue heron perched on a rock. The green and the shadows and the air...a God-spoil for which I was most grateful.

Back to school tomorrow. Work and volleyball will make for a busy week. Kate is home for a few days between Glenmary meetings and vacation, so hopefully we can be home together a couple of nights. So much for which to be grateful--ALWAYS.

Peace.

Tired

2009-08-16T06:52:00.002-06:00

Two weeks of school down. Volleyball practices have been hot, but good. Had our first game experience this weekend at a tournament in Jackson. I think it was the only way to get a full introduction to this sport I've been trying to share. Hopefully the excitement will continue to build.

As tired as I am from all that's been happening, my brother and sister-in-law are exponentially more exhausted, I'm sure. I am a new aunt. Baby Beans is here for the holding. I am already looking forward to a trip north over Labor Day weekend.

Right now, as much as I'd like to crawl back into bed, I'm going to get ready for church. Then this afternoon to a play in Oxford. Our neighbor's grandson is performing in a one-man play about a man who had gone on a hunger strike in Ireland. It is supposed to be excellent. The performances are actually a fundraiser for their trip to perform as part of an international festival in New York. Kate went yesterday, and after the play the actor said how grateful he was to have had her reactions in the audience as so many references are made to Catholicism, the Pope, etc. to which many patrons are unfamiliar.

Wish I had pictures to post. They would be...#1 a hot, sweaty, volleyball team in an excited huddle; #2 a reddish newborn and beaming parents; and #3 a bearded hunger striker on a mattress and otherwise dark stage.

Show Up and Smile

2009-08-07T20:54:00.009-06:00

I don't know God.
"What?" you might ask.
Exactly.
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Why is everything such mystery? Why does what seems like chaos somehow come to make sense, and what I happily believe begins to make sense dissolve into chaos?

How do you appear always when I need you and always when I am not looking?

What mission specifics you have in mind for me, I never get right. Just show up, I say, and smile.

An excerpt from Father Nepper's "Portrait of a 'Daughter of St. Joseph'" that I've taken to reading every morning:

"Eyes open, ears attentive, spirit alert...

sleeves rolled up for ministry,

without excluding the more humble, the less pleasing,

the less noticeable.

Finally, in her face the reflection of the virtue

proper to our Congregation

"continual joy of spirit."

This is the quiet innner glow

of the Sister whose life in the service of Jesus Christ

has been successful.

One week of school down. The heat has re-emerged just in time for un-airconditioned gymnasiums and running tracks. Still waiting on my new baby nephew. Another family wedding in a month. So much for which to be grateful.

A Bit of Poetry

2009-07-24T07:10:00.004-06:00

I leave my shoes on the shore and feel my way with my toes along the smooth, slippery rocks of the creek. Arms outstrethced I sing a tune feeling more like a creation dancer than a girl-child trying to keep balance. I see my rock, partly sunny, big enough to sit and maybe lay, mostly clear of moss and other forest foliage. I sit in revernce. I sit in awe. I sit and open my senses, receptive to what Creator God might speak to my heart this day.

The rush of the water and occassional bird song fill my ears. The persistent flies partially distract me as I wiggly my toes, then shake my foot, then wiggly my toes again to invite them off.

As I watch the stream, my eye catches on a single, white flower; a Rhododendron cup taken by the current, yet it doesn't seem to mind. It floats, perfectly content to be moved by the water's mind. Over a rock it twists, but doesn't lose balance. It stays vertical almost like it, too, is watching the stream, being spoken to.

Around another rock the flower floats close to shore and gets catught in a tiny, silent pool. It circles the pool once, twice, looking for a way back in, but the rushing current holds it in the stillness of this new place. Eventually, the flower, too, stills, relaxes. It's as if it says, "Okay, I can like it here, too."

I am amazed at how long the flower stays at rest, knowing that at any moment the current will catch a petal and pull it back into the rush of things. But, no, it floats still and calm and beautiful.

I take my eyes upstream for just a moment, a glance beyond my little Rhododendron novella, then back to the empty pool.

Hodge Podge

2009-07-11T08:17:00.007-06:00

The days go quickly and there is much and little to report.

My sister's wedding was fabulous amounts of fun. From the rehearsal dinner at Bass Pro Shop, to the massive amounts of girly prep., the bulldog ring bearer to the family rendition of Neil Diamond's "Brother Love's Traveling Salvation Show," I don't know how things could have been better. The typical wedding day snags, but nothing serious.

I am now back in Ripley until I leave for retreat on Monday.

Yesterday Kate and I had the pleasure of attending the swearing in ceremony of 42 new U.S. citizens--four of our parishioners included. The diversity of folks was amazing--Haiti, Mexico, Columbia, Germany, Jamaica... The ceremony itself was also very lovely. They had a great speaker, a professor from the University who himself had been sworn in 18 years earlier. The presiding judges were funny and relatively laid back. They were very welcoming of families and photos and the like. A wonderful celebration.

Now home for the day. I'm beginning preparations--logistical and spiritual--for my coming retreat. Finding my art supplies and hiking shoes. Bought a new poetry book. It's only 9:30 a.m. but it feels like it should be the middle of the afternoon.

Speaking of books, I have a couple of recommendations that I am reading:

The first is Called to be Sent by Anthony Gittens. Like many of his books, and other spiritual reading, there are some chapters and sections that I find more relevant, challenging, inspiring more than others. One paragraph on E/eucharist I particularly liked:

"We do not simply 'remember,' as in 'call to mind' or 'evoke'... Anamnesis entails active remembing. That is more like 're-member-ing': 'putting the members back together,' 'reproducing,' or 're-embodying' in our own lives and communities some vital past experience." (p. 65)

I mentioned the new poetry book I got: Thirst by Mary Oliver. I love her stuff. I've really only read two poems thus far. One titled "Praying" of which I was previously familiar and that was part of the reason for my buying this particular book, and a second, the first in the book, titled "Messenger" which begins, "My work is loving the world." Very CSJ. Mary Oliver uses a lot of nature in her poems which I thought would be great to accompany me on my mountain hikes during retreat and thereafter.

So, until after retreat, most likely...

On Location

2009-07-03T06:22:00.002-06:00

Two weeks of summer camp and a few days at the motherhouse later, I am now at my mom and dad's preparing, with the rest of my brothers and sisters, to drive to Springfield, MO for my sister's wedding this weekend.

After visiting Mobile for a few days, I rounded up some of our Ripley youth for two weeks of Glenmary summer camp. The rustic setting, awesomely hot temps, and wonderful counselors from all over the country provided lots of wet and wild entertainment.

The last few days have been spent touring CSJ and St. Louis sites with a friend. Some fun gatherings and full days.

When I got to my mom and dad's last night it was just in time to help my brother and sister-in-law (a different set than the one getting married tomorrow) pack vans and load trailers with belongings to bring to the new house they had just closed on. So last night I unloaded furniture and scrubbed bathrooms. A really cute house with lots of potential not far from the motherhouse, actually. I'm sure they neighbors were wondering just how many people were moving in with all of the family help that had taken over their part of the street.

And now, wedding time. I'm hoping to have a little time to head to the store this morning before driving down to Springfield, MO. The girls have a hotel room together where we will paint nails and primp in high style. That is, after we decorate and get everything ready, of course. So many family happenings these next months. Lots of trips to come.

Vacation Mini

2009-06-11T17:16:00.003-06:00

From Jackson to Mobile to a quick day trip to Biloxi and back. While it seems like a whirlwind to write, it was actually a relaxing long weekend.

I stopped first in Jackson, MS to see Sr. Donna. We had dinner with a two week volunteer there to help with a summer enrichment program. Sunday I had the opportunity to pray with the congregation at Sacred Heart in Camden. Sacred Heart is different from my usual St. Matthew's community, as it is primarily African American, a culture very much reflected in the liturgy.

Sunday afternoon I then headed to Mobile, AL to be with my good friend Sr. Becky and her family. I just sent them a thank you card this afternoon, thanking them for opening all their doors for me--front door, a bedroom door, the refrigerator door... Becky and I always have a great time together, doing a catching up sharing of the heart. There was time for sleeping in, doing puzzles, taking walks, eating ice cream--the usual R&R activities.

Tuesday morning we left for a day trip to Biloxi, MS. We started with a walk on the beach. The beaches in Biloxi are protected with little island reefs out a bit, so there are no waves and the water is very warm. We didn't have time to swim, but I did, of course, manage to get the bottom of my capris wet and sandy. Luckily they were dark colored capris and the mess was not noticeable as we then headed to a wonderful, French restaurant called Mary Mahoney's for lunch. We met Clare, a young woman interested in our community, and her family there for a delicious lunch. Dessert was included in the meal, but unfortunately, I was so stuffed by then that I'll have to go back some time for the bread pudding. Even better than the food was the company. Clare and her family are great fun. We were regaled with wonderful tales of family history, heard some funny jokes that I wish I could remember, and were even treated to seeing her grandmother's martini stockings she had on that day. Clare and her mom will be joining me on a trip to St. Louis in a couple weeks, and I am looking forward to it already.

Yesterday, on the way home, I stopped at the camp where I will be spending the next two weeks (so don't look too much forward to a post during that time). It is a Glenmary church camp, to which a dozen or so of our young people will be attending. Mass in the morning, arts and crafts, swimming. I'm helping with "Catholic Corner." Pretty rustic, as camp should be.

Anyway, there's the update. More when I get back from two weeks on bunkbeds and camp food.

God's Great Gifts--Vacation Bible School 2009

2009-06-05T19:20:00.007-06:00

Vacation Bible School has come and gone. A very full, wonderful week. We looked at God's gifts of creation, each other, and Jesus and had a very fun time doing it. From story telling to flower planting, puppet shows to Eucharist, I can't think of a more delightful way to share Gospel.

Sam and Adriel, our two volunteers for the week were awesome! A big help in so many ways, just fitting right in and making themselves at home. I think they've made some lifelong friends.

And...Go!

2009-05-31T07:21:00.002-06:00

Our last day of work at school for the summer was Tuesday and I have already switched from busy, school-year mode to overly busy, summer mode.

Last weekend was fabulous amounts of fun, traveling back to St. Louis for my sister Christie's wedding shower and girls' night out. The weather couldn't have been more cooperative as we sat out at my mom and dad's playing our version of "The Newlywed Game." The "soon-to-be-weds" Christie and Chuck tied with my grandparents, married 57 years, for the most questions answered correctly. The next day we asked random strangers wedding questions and had fun trying on dresses. (For Christie's sake I mention that the picture is one of those fun photos, not the actual bridal party wear.) I think one little girl had the best answer. Maybe 9 or 10 years old we asked her and her little sister how they know someone is old enough to be married. She pondered and gave the answer of, "After they have a college degree," to which my mom high-fived her mom. Smart little one.

Friday, Sr. Linda, one of our sisters (of the CSJ variety) came down with her younger blood sister and two nieces, Sam and Adriel, who will be staying with us for the week.

Yesterday Sam and Adriel came with us to a Hispanic youth Encuentro (Encounter)--kind of a retreat day. Much of it was given in Spanish, which I think the girls actually enjoyed. Our teens were great; very welcoming, as always. Last night they were texting each other to make sure everyone will be coming to church today so they can see them. We've got bets on one young man.

After church today we will be working in earnest on the details for our "God's Great Gifts" vacation bible school that starts tomorrow. Hopefully, I'll have some great pictures from that.

For now, off to church myself.

Peace.

--Sarah

Patch of Earth

2009-05-21T17:00:00.005-06:00

So, we don't have recycling here in our little town, but we do our best.

This is a picture from our back yard. The black can on the left is for cans and plastic that we take to the closest bigger town. The white barrel in the middle collects rain water (the barrel a gift I received when I made vows from one of my dear CSJ sisters). There is a hole on the top with a wire mesh strainer over it and the water just flows in. I can attach the hose to the spout on the bottom or just let the water run into a bucket. I washed my car and watered my garden with rain water this afternoon. On the right is our compost. It is a mix of food scraps and lawn stuff. Hopefully, eventually, it can be used in the garden.

Our garden is a small patch of earth. I hand dug it with the help of our neighbor who was out watching that afternoon. We have tomatoes, beans, zucchini, squash, cantaloupe, peppers, and cucumbers. Only a few plants of each since our little plot is small. Yesterday was actually the first day since I planted the garden about three weeks ago that I had to water. We have had so much rain. We've actually had a little too much rain for the liking of the tomatoes, but I think they'll make it. If not, at least I had fun getting my hands dirty in the earth.

Last weekend was clean up day in our county. Volunteers met at 7:00 a.m. and were assigned streets as groups. Our church group had cleaned two streets at religious education the Wednesday night before (a story for another night), but Sr. Kate, our friend Clare and I were out nice and early for another assignment. It is amazing the amount of trash that was collected. Lots of McDonald's Happy Meal bags. I was doing well until I punctured the tip of my finger on some broken glass (No I was not picking up the glass, it was under something else I was picking up and the weeds were too high to see it. Yes, I've had a tetanus shot recently and my finger is just fine.). We finished up with hot dogs and soda at the fire station. Maybe next year we'll have somewhere in town to recycle our soda cans.

--Sarah

God's Treats

2009-04-29T19:56:00.002-06:00

Aren't they beautiful?! The rose bushes in front of our house have exploded this week. And they just keep coming. The bushes on either end are red, with a pink bush in the middle. There is one pastel pink rose in the middle of the bush that is so out of place. It is beautiful, but just so different in comparison to every other bloom on the plant. God's little treat for anyone who is looking.

I started a little garden this week. I was out back starting to turn some dirt, when our next door neighbor came and offered to help. It was great to hear his story as we worked up a good sweat together.

Things here are "involved" as of late and I felt pretty exhausted much of the afternoon, not so much from activity but from being part of the lives of many people. It's a wonderful exhaustion, I suppose, but a good sleep tonight would probably help to keep me from being crabby tomorrow.

When the walk involves plenty of sunshine, sneaky pink flowers, and wonderful relationships, who can complain?

...For the Life of the World

2009-04-21T20:34:00.002-06:00

Gathering the Daughters for the Life of the World: That was the theme of our weekend excursion to Skaneateles, NY. About 100 newer/younger CSSJs and directors met to swap stories of life and ministry, to share the state of our hearts, to pray, and eat, and laugh, and dance. It was a grand time. A very emotionally involved time. The stories some of our sisters from India and Mexico and all sorts of places here in the States were incredible. I was glad, also, for the opportunity to share my own stories. When I was in high school and college I loved to serve. I loved service trips and volunteering and campus ministry. And at least half of the reason was selfish. While I always hoped that my ministry was good for those with whom I served, I loved the way it made me feel, I love to help other people find their smile. Sometimes I lose that. It becomes work and not ministry. But, trips like this always get me refocused. I come back to Ripley with a burning desire for prayer, to listen to God and have the Holy Spirit push me on. The Spirit was definitely at work this past weekend.

It was also good to come back home. I am so grateful for community--CSJ and small town Ripley. I am grateful to be in the lives of my students and my track team and my youth group and anyone else who will let me in. I'm grateful to be aware enough to see the tiniest tear in a teen's eye, to wait in line at the grocery store behind a family with a million groceries even though they just opened up the next lane so I can sit and talk to their two little kids, grateful to come home for dinner and prayer and to be able to share who I am and what I feel with my sister. Life is good--and I am grateful.

Peace.
--Sarah

Holy Week Hail

2009-04-12T14:38:00.005-06:00

HOLY WEEK!

I was awakened this morning to cries of, "The Lord is risen, Alleluia!" as Sr. Kate came out of her room for coffee. We had a visiting priest this week to celebrate Holy Week with us, and I don't know how many times I have joyfully acclaimed that truth in both Spanish and English in the last two days.

It is a very different celebration of Holy Week having a little bigger hand in the work of the parish than it takes just to show up every night and pray. Holy Thursday went off without a glitch. Then came Good Friday. We arrived at our church property at 11:00 for Stations of the Cross, with the rain and hail following just behind us. I am amazed at how many people can fit in a little, tin, storage shed. The only thing more powerful than the deafening sound of the hail on the tin roof and the smell of gasoline leaking from the weed eater was the energy and contentment of the people. When it cleared enough to continue, we ventured out, returning as needed for shelter. Fr. Arturo did a nice job including all of the people in the carrying of the cross. Although (as always) I chose to include pictures of our youth and teens, it was also very powerful to see the men of our parish and then the women carrying the cross as well.

I hardly even remember Good Friday services, so they mustn't have been too trying. My youth group read the parts of the Gospel, and did a fine job.

Holy Saturday has become one of my favorite liturgies of the year. The contrast of light and dark, the reading of our story from Genesis through the Resurrection that continues with us today. Again, having a more intimate role in the carrying out of the mass,

and the fact that it was, as was true of all of our services, bilingual made things interesting. The songs are never sung quite the same way as we practiced, and never quite with the same melody as they might be traditionally sung in a traditional Anglo church. But, as was true of all of our services, it was lovely.

I was up early this morning and out to the property to hide the 900-some Easter eggs that my youth group had helped to prepare the day before. None of the teens made it up quite early enough to help, so I got a nice pre-Eucharist work out. After a wonderful liturgy, it was back out to the property to watch our kids take four minutes to find the eggs that had taken me over an hour to hide. They are beautiful.

Now, home to rest. Another storm is just rolling in which means any yard work I might have done is out of the question. So, a few odds and ends before buckling down for a rough evening of maybe "The Sound of Music." It's back to school tomorrow. We start our first round of track regionals on Tuesday, so hopefully the rain will be out of the system by then.

Easter blessings and prayers of peace.
--Sarah

Weeds? Not So!

2009-03-24T17:19:00.006-06:00

Weeds. Just saying the word makes me bare my teeth and wrinkle my nose. But, whoever included the beautiful, delicate wildflowers that cover the ground before the first grasscutting in the weed category needs to pray more. White, purple, and yellow tend to be the most abundant here, but I also saw a gorgeous red variety on my walk home this afternoon. I tried to count all the different types from block to block, but it was impossible. That's not counting the purposefully planted flowers, redbuds, dogwoods, bradford pears, and other flowering bushes and trees. While my track team and I find that all the pollen in the air makes it difficult to get out a satisfying spit, I suppose it is worth it for the beauty of spring's start.

Spring break was fabulous. I spent a few days with my family shoveling mulch, playing frisbee golf and lots of board games. At about 8:00 we decided maybe we ought to stop and make something for dinner. I found out the new baby we are expecting will be a boy. Between that and the two weddings being planned for this coming summer, there is lots happening.

Then time with community. We celebrated St. Joseph's Day and Jubilee in high style with Eucharist, lunch, dinner, photos, and lots of hugs and laughter. It was the first time that I had the opportunity to renew my vows with my community. I renew them every morning, but there is something special about saying it with the group of women with whom I have committed my life.

Now, back to school. We are preparing for a month of testing at school. Not my favorite way to spend the day usually, but we'll find a way to make it enjoyable nonetheless. Thankfully the weather has been wonderful for running, so the afternoons end on a high note no matter how monotonous the days get.

Lent continues with an awareness of the theme of healing in the gospels. So I ask what it is that needs healing in my life and leave myself open to those things yet to be revealed. God, as always, is great, and I am grateful for so much in my life.

Peace.

Sarah

Facebook Time Warp

2009-03-23T19:47:00.003-06:00

I didn't really expect to like Facebook; joined mostly for professional/youth group reasons/connections. And I don't really spend that much time on it, but it is fun. That being said, I'm going to have to wait until tomorrow to post, as I spent the last half hour on Facebook instead of here on the blog. Argh! Where does the time go?
Later--
Sarah

A Night Off

2009-03-10T16:48:00.005-06:00

Ahhh...relish the moment...it is not even six yet...I have finished track practice with my team, showered, eaten, and have the whole evening ahead with nothing planned that requires that I put on shoes. I very much appreciated the workshop I attended last week and all of my after school activities, but there is also something necessary in a night off every so often. The weather here was gorgeous today, nearly 80, although it is turning colder again tomorrow. The Bradford Pears are in full (smelly) bloom and most of the daffodils survived to tell of the snow. Spring Break is next week marking the beginning of the end of the school year. From here on out I will mostly be doing lots of testing at school, which is not exactly what I went to four years of college to do, but I'm sure I'll find a way to enjoy whatever it brings.

A few pictures...

Winter Jam concert in Tupelo with some youth from Church. The concert was more than sold out. If we had arrived five or ten minutes later we wouldn't have gotten in. Tony Hawk, New Song...ear plugs...

I Do Believe!

2009-03-02T15:26:00.003-06:00

Two nights ago, the forecasters were predicting snow. Now, the last few times people talked about snow, there were indeed flurries, but nothing in the way of accumulation. So, as they prepared us again, I kept saying, "I'll believe it when I see it." Well, I am now a believer. Our poor little daffodils are not looking too hot any longer. It was a Sunday, so no snow day, but I'm sure the kids had a great time nonetheless.

I am currently at Lake Tiak O'Khata near Louisville, MS taking part in an acculturation workshop the that Diocese of Jackson offers for persons who are new to ministry here in MS. It's only part way through the second day, so I'll fill you in later. But, the surroundings are great, the speakers have been good, and it has been wonderful to connect with others transitioning to the area. I'm off now to a session on Hispanic culture in the diocese. More later.

--Sarah

Spring Warming

2009-02-22T18:17:00.005-06:00

The daffodils are in bloom! Maybe my heart's warmth in anticipation of spring will turn the weather soon. One spring day with three windy days and two frosty mornings following. I will be excited when the warmer days begin to outnumber the colder ones.

I am almost fully recovered from the respiratory flu/cold that grabbed me a week and a half ago. After two days of making it through, I did end up taking a sick day from work. Kate couldn't understand why I wasn't taking them earlier. There's just something about my make-up that doesn't like to miss a day. I remember in Kindergarten sitting in the car with my mom at the bus stop hot with fever and crying as she tried to talk me into staying home. The chocolate milk bribe did eventually work. Or the time I cleaned up my own throw-up so no one would know I wasn't well. Too bad I didn't remember to clean up the towels. Although, with a field trip the next day, there was no way I was going to be talked into staying home that time.

This time around I did nothing but sleep for two and a half days. I got my stretch breaks walking to the kitchen for food and back. But, sleep is a great healer. That and some Vitamin C.

Sr. Jean came and stayed the weekend with Kate and me. Jean is the leadership liaison assigned to vocation/formation. She came Friday and stayed through the second mass this morning. I gave her a tour of Ripley and afterwards we walked around the lake to have time to chat. Jean, Kate, and I chatted Saturday evening. While it is very different than the novitiate in that my director does not live with me and my check-ins are more spaced out, there are still pieces of accountability and discernment in this stage of the process. I realize (again) more and more how much I still have to learn in terms of community and ministry and life, and it is great to have such wonderful mentors both assigned and just naturally in my life as examples and with whom to reflect.

And so begins the week. School, track practice, dentist appointment, Ash Wednesday--WHAT?! Yeah, Lent begins. How that can possibly be, I'm not sure. God and I will have to talk about what that time of preparation and turning will mean this year. God, full of grace and challenge and surprises, will be no different this time around, I'm sure. So, may the anticipation of spring warm the spaces of life in need of a little warmth.

Peace.

--Sarah

"Yes, LORD"

2009-02-11T18:04:00.003-06:00

Besides being a much sung song this past weekend, "Yes, LORD," seemed also to be a theme the Catholic teens of Jackson echoed in their plans and desires throughout Convention 2009. Just over 300 high school teens gathered at the Jackson Marriott (with a few of us youth ministers) for a weekend of song, games, skits, prayer, and too much Chick-fil-a. Steve Angrisano was our keynote presenter for the weekend engaging students in verse as well as story. Five seminarians from the diocese filled in the prayer times with Liturgy of the Hours and Eucharistic Adoration. The teens themselves came prepared with skits of all various shapes and sizes along the theme, "Rock of REAL Love." Boys in wigs and broken Guitar Hero guitars ruled the evening. I had the opportunity to speak as part of a vocation-type panel first to the whole group and then in a breakout session to the young women. Myself and the other woman presenter, Ann, did have a presentation prepared. The young women, however, had wonderful questions and kept us going for long over our allotted time with their curiosities. It was delightful. I did present in my "I Love CSJs" t-shirt and pajama bottoms with CSJ across the rear. I told the group that while I did not have a habit, I did have lots of theme clothing and stories about pajamas. I decided that maybe it was my grandma who first illuminated the CSJ charism in me of "Loving God and neighbor without distinction" when she unkowingly bought me a pajama set with the words "LOVER" plastered across them in glow-in-the-dark paint. With that story, a picture of the vocation poster I made our vocation director, and the story of the firefighter meeting me at the motherhouse during a late night firedrill and wanting to go on a date, the time went quickly. Really, my goal was just to be real. To show that nuns are normal people who like to have fun and love and serve at the same time. I had fun. I hope they did.

Anyway, it was back to work on Monday. Today, actually, I am a bit under the weather. With an opposite attitude from normal, I was glad the students had their six weeks exams so I had a few periods to just sit and read. I came home from school and went straight to bed. Kate is filling in for me at religious ed. tonight, for which I am grateful. No doubt I'll be back to normal tomorrow (positive thinking) and ready for another trip to Jackson this coming weekend to visit Sr. Donna, my temporary professed director. I hope the wind doesn't blow the warmer weather away, although I'm sure another cold snap is in order before we can officially usher in spring. For now, back to bed.

Peace.

--Sarah

Week in Review

2009-01-23T17:22:00.003-06:00

Photos from last week's Teen Trivia Night Challenge (was that REALLY only last week?!):

Our fearless leaders/question maker-uppers Chance and Lori. (Really, I had been waiting as I was taking pictures that night to take one of the two of them together and never could manage. This is kind of a posed picture from the next morning. But, you get the idea.)

Our winning teen team. A couple of baseball players. A couple from my youth group. A good mix of high school students, and obviously pretty smart.

Another smart team: my seventh and eighth grade religious ed. class and friends. They seemed to have so much fun. Unfortunately, the pictures of them dancing during the music category didn't quite turn out since they were moving so much.

Did I mention how much fun it was?!

As for this week, it has gone quickly. With Martin Luther King Day off school and a faculty day on Tuesday (which meant I got to watch much of inauguration day), that left only three days with students. I love teaching! Having had taught elementary school before I wasn't sure how much I would like high school, but my students are a lot of fun. I love to make them think and talk and challenge themselves to learn more. Track started also this week. My legs are tight from racing the sprinters (yes, the boys) in a 400 at the end of practice (I think three beat me, but I didn't do too badly), but I love that, too.

For now, I'm headed back to school for the basketball games. We have a small gym, so I'm hoping there will be room when I get up there. To the big city to drop off some recycling tomorrow. If I'm going to drive that far, I'm thinking I may as well see a movie while I'm there. Who knows what the day could hold...

Peace and all things good.

--Sarah

I know, I know!

2009-01-15T20:46:00.002-06:00

I know, I know! But, where does the time go? How can it have been over a week since I last wrote? Easy, I tell you. My novice director (not currently on duty) prefers the word "involved" to busy, so "involved" I am. I had so much fun with my religious education class last night. We were minus a couple of teachers so I combined my seventh and eighth grade with the first grade. My older students were going to be looking at God's promise of a savior starting with the Nativity story, so I paired them with a little one, each group taking a character from the Nativity and discussing the importance of that character as they created a puppet to share. My teens were awesome! We did, of course, conclude after our sharing that all of the characters were important because they, in some way, led us/prepared us/took care of/welcomed JESUS--the reason for the season!

Track has started part-time this week. A few of us had a great run on Tuesday, but I'm wondering about tomorrow. Like most of the rest of the country we are having some bitterly cold temperatures. I know our six is nothing to negative fifty, but really, once you get to a certain temperature, I don't know how you distinguish between bitterly cold and bitterly cold. I just keep praying for all those people without shelter tonight. I hope there are warm hearts leading people to warm beds and maybe some hot chocolate.

Saturday is our Teen Trivia Night Challenge fundraiser for the upcoming youth convention. So, if you think about it, send a prayer our way Saturday night as we try something a little different here in Ripley. In St. Louis everyone hosts a trivia night, but here they are unknown. We have youth coming of different ages from different parishes to our little church. I have no idea how this one will go over, but I'm hoping well so that we might do it again next year with a little excitement from those who will have already been.

No pictures tonight. I'm getting tired and heading towards my room before I get too tired to spend some good time in prayer before nodding off.

So many places in need of peace tonight, so...

peace.

--Sarah

New Year (and School) Begins

2009-01-04T19:36:00.003-06:00

Home again. Home again.

After two weeks off, it is hard to believe that I'll be headed back to school tomorrow morning. I had a wonderful Christmas with my family (I'm assuming Clue is still in progress), had a few days to visit friends, and enjoyed a rousing Rock Band Rock Concert at my brother's on New Year's Eve. We all dressed like rock stars and had a smashing good time.

On New Year's Day I headed to St. Louis for the beginning of our End of the Year Retreat. In our earliest documents, our founder, Fr. Medaille, calls all the sisters to days of recollection as we end one year and begin another. Sr. Marcia Allen, a Concordia CSJ, presented on the connections between our CSJ spirituality, our Maxims, and our consecration to the Trinity and the Holy Family. We shared our prayers and desires, our accomplishements and our challenges. We continue to deepen relationships, key to what it means to be a CSJ. The material was great--lots to think about--and the time with my sisters even better. I was amazed once again, and always, at the connectedness of all things, everything with a common thread. My closing reflection was on awareness and how a deeper awareness leads me to deeper relationships, to deeper loving, which brings me again to deeper awareness into deeper loving, to deeper awareness, to deeper loving, etc., etc. So many cycles to life.

At this point I've got almost all of my things unpacked and am looking forward to going to bed a bit early tonight in preparation for a busy week ahead.

Peace.

--Sarah

Out Already

2008-12-27T08:24:00.002-06:00

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Advent finished up nicely in Ripley with wonderful community Posadas and Christmas Eve mass. Kate and I prayed together Christmas morning and had waffles before I got in the little white Cavalier and trucked it north to St. Louis. A beautiful morning for some Christmas tunes and prayer.

I arrived home where my brother, already engrossed in our live game of family Clue, greeted me suspiciously. I coaxed a hug only after I convinced him I hadn't even been inside yet to get my Clue game pieces. For those of you who are not familiar, we play a version of Clue similar to the board game. Each player gets a location, a weapon, and a person. For example, I might have my dad in the kitchen with a golf ball. If I can touch my dad with the golf ball while he is standing in the kitchen he is out of the game. I then take over his pieces and move on to my next victim. The last person in wins. This year we added an immunity clause--a few cards with times of the week where the person holding that time is safe. The immunities are cumulative, so if I took you out and you had an immunity time, it could then be added to my immunity time. Some of the locations are a driveway, a garage, a porch, on a couch. My brothers will drive in the back way so no one can see their car, park in the yard, and come in through a living room window to avoid places where someone might get them.

If you read the title of this blog, you will know I am already out. I was the first one out last year taken out by my mom as I was helping her with some job. Last time I'm going to offer to help. This year my dad was out before me. I'd give you the details of my untimely demise, but then, if any of my family were reading this it might give an unfair advantage. Last year the game went on for six months. We're hoping for a quicker resolve this year.

My mom and sisters and I are headed out in an hour or two to try on bridesmaid dresses. My sister Christie is getting married this summer. It should be a fun afternoon.

Again, Merry Christmas to all. May these days be filled with the knowledge of Jesus with us, the Mystery of all that is, and celebration and memories.

Peace.

--Sarah

I Live Here

2008-12-19T20:39:00.005-06:00

It has been two weeks of Novena and Posadas. The first nine days were in anticipation of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Meeting at different homes each night to pray the rosary and share food. We are now meeting for Posadas. Again we meet at a different home each night. One boy and one girl dress up like Joseph and Mary and, with a group of adults, stand outside the door singing a request for room at the inn. The people inside respond in song that there is no room. Eventually they are let in and the prayer continues. Again we say the rosary and end the evening sharing food. Sr. Kate and I hosted last night. What a sight! Counting babies in the womb, we had nearly seventy people in our little house. It was so crowded people couldn't even bend over to pick up food that had been dropped on the floor. What's a little cookies in the carpet? But, really, what a beautiful gathering. I typically sit on the floor with the kids. Last night we worked together to learn how to follow the prayers on our beads. You should have seen these kindergarten, first, and second graders trying to keep their fingers on the right little beads. My favorite part of the evening was when the adult leaders accidentally did an eleventh Hail Mary on the last decade. The eyes of the little ones were so big as they looked at me either confused or exasperated with all the praying at that point. I just shrugged my shoulders and we finished the prayer.

One night earlier this week as Kate and I were getting home we were getting out of the car laughing about something and I had a thought: "I live here." It has been four months, and in the pattern of last year, it would be about time for me to be packing and transitioning and moving. But, I live here. I don't have to pack or move or start over yet. At least for the time being, I get to immerse myself even more in the community here that I am getting to know. It's a good feeling. I'm glad to be here.

School is officially out for the next two weeks, a break for which I am grateful. Now I can start on some cards and presents. Oh, and sleep in. Sleeping in might mean seven o'clock, but even that will be great.

Posadas again tomorrow night. I played football with the boys after prayer this evening. They never think I'm any good until we start playing, then they're all sorry they didn't want me on their team. It's been too long since I've had grass stains on my jeans. I love it.

Happy Advent-ing!

--Sarah

Advent Events

2008-12-10T16:24:00.003-06:00

A week ago yesterday was our Christmas parade. Our theme of bringing Jesus' light and peace to the world (with the help of twenty-five beautiful children) won second place. It is hard to tell the size of the globe from the pictures, but Asia and Africa each took up nearly our whole kitchen. The globe was so high up, parts of the top got ripped off as we drove underneath trees on the route. (P.S. My camera broke part way through the parade, so I don't have the pictures I'd like to share, but here is one to give you an idea.)

Since then much of the Hispanic component of our parish has been meeting for Our Lady of Guadalupe Novena. It is a wonderful devotion. Every night we meet at a different house, sing, say the rosary, and, of course, eat. I knew the Hail Mary and Our Father pretty well in Spanish before these nights but now I think I've got them down. The rain has made things a bit challenging as porches and lawns are not an option. I am consistently amazed at how many people we can pack into a house.

Last weekend I was down near Jackson helping with a diocesan retreat program for high school students. It was a very long weekend with limited hours for sleep, but great to be part of. Again I got to connect with other youth directors and meet lots of students. I was asked to give the religious life component of the Commitment talk and, more than anything, was just a presence on the weekend. I hardly knew what to do with myself with so little responsibility. It was probably a good thing since I was pretty tired to begin with.

With all of the Advent events, I've had to be very intentional about prayer. It is a good thing that God puts in me a real desire to be with him/her. May the desire to know Christ continue to drive our actions this Advent season.

Peace.

--Sarah

The Fun We Have

2008-12-01T20:57:00.005-06:00

Time with my family is never boring. After a long day of working in the yard, my dad showered and arrived at the dinner table for our Thanksgiving meal in a nice shirt and sport jacket. Feeling underdressed, the rest of us then headed upstairs to find old prom dresses. Our dog Molly didn't have a dress, but then, she didn't eat with us at the table either. Looking at the picture here of my brother Joey in his blue jeans and baseball cap, I'm surprised he made the cut. A delicious, wonderful time with family as always.

Now to Advent. I know I said in the last blog that Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. Well, Advent is my favorite season (liturgically that is, as summer is my favorite season weather wise). To add more confusion, or clarification, I'd like to think, December 8th, the feast of the Immaculate Conception is my favorite day of the year, period. A week from today it will be five years since I peacefully heard and joyfully accepted the call to be a Sister of St. Joseph. I'll have to go back and look at the blog for the last two years at this time, but I'm sure I've recalled some of that day. I haven't yet decided how I'd like to celebrate. Not like in a big, wear prom dresses to dinner, kind of celebration, but in a private God and I, more Thanksgiving, YES! kind of way.

Tomorrow is the Ripley Christmas Parade. Look soon for pictures of our amazing float! Then begins novena for Our Lady of Guadalupe. A wonderfully, busy month ahead. I'm working to keep Advent the peaceful, prayerful searching that I so enjoy, while fully partaking in as much Advent activity with our church community as I can. Like always, living the moment seems to be the key. For this moment, off to complete my bedtime rituals and chat with God.

Peace.

--Sarah

Thanksgiving Visitors

2008-11-23T17:22:00.004-06:00

Happy (early) Thanksgiving! Although, is it ever really early for giving thanks? I think not.

As you can see from the photo above, my parents and my youngest sister, Megan, came down to visit in Ripley. It was a relatively short trip, but so good to have them here. They got the grand tour of town, the church, school. We stopped in all the little shops around the square. Had some good Mexican food. We even worked on the flags for the float for the upcoming Christmas parade. It was nice to be able to say as they left this morning, "See you Tuesday." Kate and I will do some odds and ends around here tomorrow, teach English in the evening, and then I'll head to St. Louis Tuesday morning to spend Thanksgiving with my family. My mom's side of the family will also celebrate Christmas this weekend so the snowbirds can head south at their leisure. That means I get to do a little Christmas shopping this week, which I do enjoy. I don't actually shop much unless there is something in particular for which I am looking. Even then it's usually get in and get out and spend as little as I can. Christmas shopping, however, is a different story. I love to spend time thinking about what to get, how to personalize it, how to make it fun. I might even browse to get ideas. Often times the gifts are homemade, it just depends on the year. I'd share some of my ideas here, but I can't give away the Secret Santa surprise.

Thanksgiving, however, is probably my favorite holiday. For me, a spirit of gratitude keeps everything else in perspective. Even in difficult times, God's creative, abundant spoiling is delightfully overwhelming: enjoying every bite of my meal, a hot shower, time for a nap and actually falling asleep, hugs from little kids, watching the morning clouds that look like snow even though it is too warm, crawling into bed thankful for this day and looking forward, God willing, to tomorrow.

Thank you God for family and community and friends. Thank you for relationships, especially the relationship with you that sustains and excites and brings life. May gratitude always be my heart's greatest prayer.

Happy Thanksgiving every day!

--Sarah

Fall Faith Fest

2008-11-12T21:54:00.005-06:00

I do love energizing, youthful, spirit-filled events. I was able to go with five of the teens from church to the diocesan Fall Faith Fest event this past weekend. Held at a beautiful ranch, we played basketball amidst the pines, stood at a midnight bonfire under the stars, and even took a little boat ride to rescue a group who capsized in their canoe (Number one--VERY COLD! Number two--thank goodness there was an adult in the boat also and they were all wearing their life jackets.) The theme was "Catholics Rock!" so you can imagine the music and bit of dancing and may even be able to guess the theme (who's "the rock?"). It was fun to see the young church gathered and to share in their excitement, and it was equally as great to meet some other youth directors and to watch their example. I am a bit tired as there has been lots going on, but I find that the spiritual energy from those types of events far outweighs the physical drain.

Still more days ahead this week, so I'm off to bed rather than type much more. Peace and all things good.

--Sarah

Cats and Sheep

2008-11-06T20:15:00.002-06:00

The Gospel this morning was the reading of the lost sheep and the lost coin. It reminded me of one summer that I housesat for some of my college professors. They had a cat that they had recently gotten from a shelter. Along with watching the house and watering the plants (of which I think I only killed one--plant, not cat), I let the cats out of the basement, fed them, put them back in their basement home at night. Well, this one cat wouldn't come out of the basement the first day. The second night I couldn't get her back in. The third night I was having the same problem, but was determined. She was under the master bed, so I shut the door and laid next to the bed with a little dish of food. I called the kitty, put the food out, coaxed and coaxed. I laid at that bed for over an hour before she finally came out for a good petting before putting her in the basement. But, you know, after that night she always came up out of the basement and always went back down at night. And beyond that, she would snuggle up to my feet when I watched TV or sat at the table to eat. I was thinking of God, patiently laying, head on the floor calling me gently, but mostly just waiting until I am ready to come. From the Gospel, I pictured myself as the lost sheep just found. Being put up on Jesus' shoulders as he sang and petted and made me over heading back to the rest of the flock. Who wouldn't want to be in that cozy position, being carried joyfully home?

Peace.

--Sarah

Happy Halloween

2008-10-31T17:03:00.003-06:00

From our church Halloween party on Wednesday, to Ripley's Halloween on the square last night, to trick-or-treators tonight (of yet, we've had none) it has been a week filled with spooky fun. The children from church are so easy to entertain. Organized or unorganized they know how to have a great time with each other. With pick up games of flag football spontaneously starting all around us, we also had bobbing for apples, face painting, scavenger hunts, and mummy wraps (as you can see below--what a good sport!). The party on the square last night was good, small-town fun. Businesses and groups set up booths with chili tasting and trick-or-treating. Little goblins, ghosts, pumpkins, and even a habited nun, who, by the way, won the prize for "Most Original" costume (I'm not real sure what that says about Kate and me.). The high school marching band played and there was a little pep-rally for the football game tonight. Lots of families out having a good time.

Tomorrow is All Saints' Day, also known as The Day of the Dead in the Latin American culture. The altar is being set up at church as we speak (I left an hour ago, but I'm sure they're still at it). I'll have to take a picture when it is all finished and do some explaining as to why certain things are there.

For tonight I think I'm heading to bed. I am bringing one of the cross country runners to Jackson tomorrow for the state meet; the young man also plays football and, with the game tonight, wasn't free to travel until tomorrow. It should be a beautiful day to run, but, then, what day isn't.

Peace.

--Sarah

Autumn Cycles

2008-10-25T18:01:00.005-06:00

I wish this picture were bigger so you could see each individual face. There is a little guy about three rows back on the right side in a blue shirt. In every picture (and I think we took three) he is making the same silly, half-grinned, Popeye face. Each one so precious. Our parish frequently gets donations, so we took the picture to use for thank you cards to send out. It's better only in person.

Usually life treats me pretty well, but there are some times when the death part of the Paschal Mystery cycle seems to linger longer than I might like. Kate's brother-in-law, the husband of her sister who just died, passed away last Wednesday. She's gone to San Antonio for the funeral and to be with family until early next week. So much loss, especially for the couple's children. Her sister was very sick around my birthday and her brother-in-law died the day before Kate's birthday, so we've decided that one of these days we're going to have one, big, belated, birthday celebration. We'll have to wait until there's some spectacular event to attend, couple it with dinner or dessert, treat ourselves. If we've made it together through these first few months I think we'll make it through anything.

I think one of the best cures for me at times like these is to find something to do for someone else, get out of myself. I feel some leaf raking for neighbors coming on tomorrow (assuming they have rakes, because we sure don't). That is, of course, after mass 1 and 2, Renew prayer group, and Halloween party planning. What to be for Halloween? I was thinking about going with the Saint theme. I was looking up party ideas and one website suggested dressing as the various martyrs, and while I think it is a great idea, I would feel slightly disrespecful as a roasted Joan of Arc or a headless John the Baptist. I may have to go with Jonah in the whale again. It's an easy costume and they haven't yet seen it here in Ripley.

My prayer table is looking kind of fall. I've got an earth stone, my sunflower picture, my reminder to "breathe," and now some leaves sent by a sister who was on retreat in Kansas. Sunflowers have slowly become my new favorite flower. Part of it, I think, is because of the picture I used for my vow invitations: a young woman reaching with her whole self and breathing into a sunflower with the Julian of Norwich quote, "The fullness of joy is to behold God in everything." Sunflowers are Kate's favorite flower, too, and I think I feel a painting developing. Or maybe I could work it into a quilt. We'll see what happens.

My last painting, at the time it was done, was a reminder to me of life's connecting threads. As the last couple of weeks have unfolded, however, it has nuanced in prayer to remind me more of the ways we are held together. For each person, I think what keeps us going is slightly different. Sometimes I have to step back, reevaluate, recommit. I'm hoping my day today has done that a bit for me--reenergize, refocus--for the weeks, months, years ahead.

For now, I think I'm going to go eat some of Kate's birthday apple pie and watch a movie. (Yes, I put some in the freezer so she can have some when she gets back! Did you really think I'd eat it all without her?!)

Peace.

--Sarah

No Set End

2008-10-14T20:09:00.002-06:00

When I was in college and stopped to breathe, I remember my campus minister saying that maybe it was a chance to let God catch up. Sometimes in the formation process I've gotten frustrated with various directors or sisters in leadership slowing me down in one way or another. Eventually, maybe, I'll get the hint. Today it was funny to consciously say, "I don't need to move on this right now." Part of it, I think, is that I'm still adjusting to not having an ending date on my time here in Ripley. It's not like a year in college where each year ended with exams spring semester and I returned in the fall to a new dorm, new season, new classes. It's not like the last four years of formation that were marked in one year, four month, three month intervals. I can be Gospel Love in the moments that mark each day and I can be Gospel Love in the years of commitment to a place and a people. I don't know where God will call me, or for how long. So, my prayer is for the joy of knowing and giving Love from sun up to sun down, and, if I'm lucky, even in my dreams.

That being said, the hours in the career office are too good for planning. I've got too many ideas for summer programs than can possibly fit into one summer. I suppose I'll see which ones stick and toss those around with some interested parties and see what floats. I've had lots of time to study Spanish (although I am stimied at the reflexive direct object nouns and pronouns--will have to study that again tomorrow) and to read up on English Language Learners myths, best instruction practices, etc. Maybe I'll look back at my time in the office as a great learning opportunity for myself.

Off to pray.

--Sarah

Handing Overs, Gales, and Marshmallows

2008-10-08T20:32:00.005-06:00

There is something comforting about the ability to turn things over to God--the Eternal Embrace. While I know that God always watches over those I love, whether I hand them over or not, it is then not my burden. I know they are being taken care of in a way I can never match.

My extra-curriculars were very fun this evening. We got soaked at cross country practice. It was kind of drizzling during our warm up, but it turned into a full-fledged gale as we started our sprints. So, practice was cut short which gave me time to wash my car and get dinner before religious ed.

I did a modified cosmic walk with my seventh and eighth graders, first having them guess where on the timeline stretched out across the parking lot different events would fall.

It was team/leadership building activities with the high school youth group. We had out tennis balls, blindfolds, marshmallows, you know, all the usual from my bag of tricks.

Now, it is past my bedtime as usual, so a short posting it is.

Peace.

--Sarah

Moving Right Along

2008-10-02T16:59:00.005-06:00

Common questions from my days:

"You're not from around here are you?"
"How did you end up in Ripley, MS?"
(These two I get asked almost immediately when I meet someone.)

"Do we have to run today?"
(My cross country team.)

"Hungry again?"
(Sr. Kate)

The days continue to move right along. Wednesday/Thursday I've decided is just one, big, long day, so I'm down to six days of the week. I'm trying to keep a good balance of contemplation in action/prayer in ministry. I tell myself that I want to at least start getting ready for bed at 9:00 although it rarely happens. Typically I would get ready for bed, pray, and then read before bed. At this point I am more likely to be nodding off in my prayer chair and not get to my book, but I'm glad I'm at least getting to prayer.

I painted some last Sunday with my prayer and was very aware of the spark that God is in my life: getting me going, keeping me going, spilling out into every part.

Tomorrow Kate and I are headed after I get finished with school to Mobile, AL for our CSJ Sectional meetings. It will be great to gather with our sisters in the south, to chat about directions for mission and ministry, passions, the state of each of our hearts. To, of course, laugh and eat ice cream and be together in fun as well. Lots of driving these days, but hopefully it balances some with the lack of driving I do here around town; the days have been too gorgeous not to walk. Although it does show on my car as I park under a pecan tree and there is constantly stuff falling on it. I'll have to give it a good scrubbing one of these days.

For now, off to pack so I'll be ready to watch the vice-presidential debates. But, only until 9:00! Then I've got to start getting ready for bed.

--Sarah

Now is the Time

2008-09-26T17:52:00.004-06:00

The first reading today said there is a season--a time--for everything. Now is the time to add something to my blog.

I apologize that it has been so long. I ended up traveling first to St. Louis for what was going to be a weekend visit and then to San Antonio for Kate's sister's funeral. As you might imagine, the reading from this morning was very pertinent in all kinds of ways.

My heart has been emotionally taxed (not to mention my rear end with so much driving). I remember a prayer night in college on compassion and feeling that I really couldn't at that time be with people in their suffering and joys; I was hardly able to acknowledge my own. Last week I was exhausted with all of the suffering and pain of people I know and love. I teased with Pat as we traveled back from Texas that the darn novitiate thing of the past two years continues to stretch me and make me think in all kinds of ways. I would never have guessed the thinking and analysis that would have come with attending a funeral: the power of presence, the gift of community, the difference between community and family, the implications of the experience for ministry, how I was attentive to others' needs, what actions were because of my own needs, etc., etc. It's probably a good thing there were lots of car hours for processing.

Tonight doesn't feel like a Friday night. Probably because I only had two days of school this week. Kate and I are both home for the first time in a long time. We had a simple supper, long prayer together, and will both meet, I'm sure, dressed in our "softs" for the presidential debate in a half an hour or so. At one point I thought about driving to Oxford to be on the lawn tonight for the debate, but that was before all of the happenings of the last two weeks. Right now I am grateful to be watching from my living room from whence I can crawl into bed whenever the desire overwhelms me. Off to a cross country meet and spiritual direction tomorrow. Let the routine of home commence.

--Sarah

Vision of Faith

2008-09-11T05:37:00.003-06:00

A quote from Marcia Allen's reflection in our Maxim book on Maxim #12...
"Here I recall my vision of faith; that is, my vision of the world--that one through which I fall in love with the world."

The topic that we started with in religious education yesterday with my seventh and eighth graders was faith. So, yesterday morning when I read this during my personal prayer, it challenged me to live what I was going to teach. Although, I don't know that teach is the right word. I hoped to find a way for each student to illuminate for himself or herself the gift of faith in his or her life. Okay, maybe an impossible task for seventh and eighth graders. If they only came away with a greater understanding of what faith is so that they can later recognize it in their lives, I suppose we were successful. I'm going to re-teach next week.

But, I spent the day and some prayer around how I see the world, my life, the people, places, things, and events that make up my days. Do I choose to use lenses that make me fall deeper and deeper in love? Sometimes it is challenging as I come into relationship, and through relationship, the struggles of individuals and families made worse through systems of injustice and injurious individuals. I can't fix it. But, while working on what I can, I fix as images to remember the smiles, hugs, faith of the people. Those are the visions upon which I choose to focus.

The high school youth group commenced last night and we were sharing about how each of us prays. I talked about the Sharing of the Heart that we Sisters of St. Joseph use in our prayer--how God has worked in our lives each day, in the beautiful, grace-filled ways, in the challenges, how we, then, feel called to live God's presence--and I mentioned the sky here when I go running in the morning. It is purple. This picture doesn't do it justice; it looks more blue and black. But, when I am out for my morning meditation and there is this silver sliver of a moon against a purple sky, I take a deep breath and say, "Good morning, God" (again).

So, this morning, again, I "recall my vision of faith; that is, my vision of the world--that one through which I fall in love with the world."

--Sarah

Kin-dom Commencing

2008-09-07T06:25:00.003-06:00

Transitioning from the novitiate into ministry has, in some ways, been easier than I might have thought, and, in other ways, more difficult. Typically when I move somewhere new I have a week or so of, "What in the world am I doing here? Get me out of here!" homesick, disillusioned-type feelings, which I haven't really had (yet). It is also different in that I am not here for three or four months, but a longer stint of time (I'm pretty sure, anyway. One can never say with 100% certainty.). That changes my being, my actions, my relationships a little. Some of the commitments that I am making go beyond Christmas time if you can imagine! I haven't lived in any one place for more than a year since living at my parents' before college. I'm a little stressed about expectations (which I realize I'm putting on myself) and I am trying to remember that, more than anything, kin-dom living is all about relationships; if nothing else, can I be a smiling, interested face, some listening ears for people today?

Yesterday morning I went to Tippah Lake, a recreation spot/campground about ten minutes from home. It was cool and slightly overcast--perfect for a good run and some time with God. Not a full prayer day maybe, but some good breathing space.

Today--church. Mass number one and mass number two. Then a bit of grocery shopping for youth group Wednesday. It is our first real time together, so we are going to make some homemade pizza and chat about ideas, hopes, prayer. This is going to be an especially busy week with lots of new things starting up. We'll see where my head and heart are at the end of it all--not really an end, just the beginning.

--Sarah

Southern Culture

2008-09-01T11:25:00.005-06:00

I mentioned before
the yellow-meat watermelon that the neighbors gave us. No need to go to Peru to try new foods. It was delicious.

I took some of the high school students from the parish to a free Christian music concert in Corinth on Saturday--Sonic Flood, Todd Agnew, etc. Great music. I was glad that the youth minister next to me had extra ear plugs as we were front and center and the bands really got going. Seeing as we are in Baptist/Protestant/charismatic country, about two-thirds of the way through there was a prayer time in which the teens could claim Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior. Just interesting to be in different cultural climates. Lots to learn.

We are thinking the hurricane won't effect us too much here, but they are forecasting some rain and storms tomorrow. I might have to drive to work.

Happy Labor Day!

--Sarah

Working Girl

2008-08-29T20:04:00.003-06:00

What a week it has been! I finished my first week of work at the high school today. I am spending my days staffing the career office--helping students find college and job information--and teaching an ESL based, study-hall type class in the afternoons. After school time has actually been more consuming with unexpected guests, visiting at the hospital, setting up tutoring sessions and preparing lessons, youth group activities, and the parish garage sale tomorrow. I wanted so badly to tell the cross country coach that I'd love to help there as well, but I do have to remember to say no to some things.

While I have certainly been busier at various times in my life (namely my sophomore and junior years of college), this is a different way of being busy. The last two years especially have given me an increased awareness of myself and my motivations and a desire to be as fully as present to others as possible. This awareness and effort to be present makes the struggles of others and the accompanying emotions I feel much more immediate, deep, and real. I am very grateful for all that I feel and for the response I then desire to give, but it is also totally exhausting.

I am already looking forward to Sunday night when the activities of the weekend are over and I have Labor Day Monday for a bit of stillness, but in that looking forward, I also pray for the grace and energy to be present and aware to the moments of busyness. As one of our sisters encouraged us during a session of our intercommunity novitiate two years ago, I'll do my best to "walk in a relaxed manner," I'll take some deep breaths, and I'll keep centered on the mission of Jesus that leads and guides me when I remember to let it.

Happy weekend!

--Sarah

Daily Events

2008-08-24T14:21:00.007-06:00

So, really there is not a whole lot to report here from Ripley, MS. I just got back from a run to the grocery store. Actually, I walked. Already two people in town have been pointed out to me as people who are always walking. It probably won't be long until I'm included in that count. If I am staying in town, there is not much that is farther than a mile or so, and with gas prices what they are, why not walk? Anyway, I thought I'd bring my camera on my walk today, so here you have Main Street with one of the many stores of the "Dollar" variety. Next to that is Southern Video--WAY cheaper than St. Louis. I got a new release yesterday for $2.49 plus tax, and I get to keep it for a week. Not bad. Next to Southern Video is E.W. James' Grocery Store. Very friendly, very talkative staff. I don't think they know what to do with me when I bring in my canvas bags. I did notice today, however, that they too are now selling such bags. It's catching on. Now if we can just get some recycling started here.

(P.S. You are supposed to read this with a Mississippi accent, so work on that.)

Outside of grocery shopping and all of the planning and cleaning that Kate and I did, I've done lots of reading and praying this week, the contents of which always come together in some really meaningful ways. One book I read was called The Shack. I'm not sure if I'd give a full recommendation or not; you can read some reviews and decide for yourself. But, one quote that I loved and with which I really resonated was, "You can always count on her (God) to throw you a curve or two. She loves surprises, and even though you might not think it, her timing is always perfect." This was especially pertinent this week for me in terms of my search for ministry. Just when I am getting overly frustrated some connection is made, or I get a call of some kind. I do have one position that I am currently considering. It might not be ideal, but there are also some really good points to it as well. More questions for the principal tomorrow.

I know you can't tell it as you are reading this, but I'm back writing now after about a half an hour away from the computer. Two of the neighbor boys came by on their bikes to say hello. Then the mother of one of them. The family lives one block down. I just got a yellow-meat watermelon as a welcome gift. I'm supposed to cut it up and get it nice and cold before I eat it. I'll have to tell you what I think.

Anyway, one of the other books I'm reading is called Catching Up With Jesus, by Diarmuid O'Murchu. In similar fashion to The Shack it really emphasizes the relationality of God. It looks at some of the ways that Christians have trapped Jesus into certain labels or ways of being, and tries to free up some thinking. An academic-type book, yet easy to read.

Well, if you are looking for some reading materials, there are a few ideas to consider. I think I'm off to cut up our watermelon. I'm glad now that the little produce stand was closed today and I was unable to get a cantelope. We'd have had too much. Could it again be some of God's perfect timing? Actually, God probably just didn't want me to carry home the cantelope and the gallon of milk from the store.

--Sarah

Early Advent

2008-08-20T07:15:00.003-06:00

Waiting! While I am not always good at waiting, Kate and her prayer of working in God's time always with hope have been very good for me these days. We went to the Rotary Club meeting yesterday and Kate personally introduced me to the Superintendent of Schools here. So, with time, hopefully...

While we were there Kate was presented with a certificate and medal for an award she received. Kate was officially named a "Paul Harris Fellow in apprecitation of tangible and significant assistance given for the furtherance of better understanding and friendly relations among peoples of the world." I think it spoke very much to her living of the CSJ charism of unifying love.

We spent most of the morning yesterday at church on disaster control of the mess we had made the day before as we cleaned out the store room. Between the rusted-out, leaking bottoms of paint cans and mice nests I disposed of, I felt like I got in a good day's work. Hopefully we'll get everything put away this afternoon.

Prayers and blessings for the Advent waiting experiences in each day. Only 127 days until Christmas!

--Sarah

Pine Nuts?

2008-08-15T07:16:00.003-06:00

Here I am in Ripley, Mississippi. I have gone running every morning since I've arrived. Nice, almost cool, very humid, morning air. No shoulders on the roads. School buses around since school started this week. Wonderfully friendly neighbors. Kate and I are headed out swimming this afternoon with Miss Ruth at her daughter's house. We've been invited to dinner tomorrow night with Miss Janet. I just met Mr. Roger, a neighbor down the block. He has very limited sight, but walks around the block seven times every morning for his exercise. We see him, actually, as, when we are here, we typically keep the front door open. People know when we are here and we get frequent visitors. Some of my favorites are two boys from down the street--Michael and Bryan. They ride their bikes every day after school and come by to see if we have any Coke or goodies for them. Typically we don't, but they like to come and tell us the happenings from school anyway. I'm working on remembering names and connections and stories. If there is anything that has been important in these first days, that has been it--relationships. I don't yet have a full-time job, an official "missioning card," but I don't think that is what is important necessarily. In Baptism, and in a specific way as a Sister of St. Joseph, I am missioned to be Jesus for every person I meet, wherever and however that might be. In the book I am reading for some spiritual/educational reading, one section is all about Jesus and the centrality of relationships. Our Carondelet CSJ Acts of Chapter constantly remind us of the communion of unifying love tying together all in the "web of life."

That being said, I spent the last two days in my car traveling from little town to little town dressed in my professional finest turning in applications, getting my drivers license and being fingerprinted. All of those things needed to complete the job application packets (not to mention get a membership card at the movie store and the library). I decided not just to mail things in, but to go in person, introduce myself, make small talk with as many people as I could on my way in and out of the offices. People were just lovely. Actually, I think my favorite interactions yesterday were at two of the local grocery stores. I had found this great sounding recipe that I wanted to make for supper, but I needed pine nuts and fresh basil. Four people who tried to help me had never heard of pine nuts before, didn't know where to look. I assured them it wasn't a big deal, but they insisted on my staying right there while they went to find someone who might know. They smiled and laughed and said they were learning something new. The fifth man at the second store knew what I was talking about enough to tell me that they didn't carry any. No basil either. The fifth man said that he, too, loved pesto and the manager wrote all of the things for which I was looking down so that maybe they might carry it in the future. I used garlic, tomatoes, and some parmesan instead and we had a lovely dinner. What great people. So, I've got a few errands to run this morning. I want to check on recycling possibilities. But, really what I want to do, is see whom I'll meet, what stories I'll hear, what relationships will happen as I walk this day.

--Sarah

Little Design

The Conversations Continue

Online Symposium on Consecrated Life

First Session - January 8, 2012, 2pm ET

A Prophetic Moment:Transforming the Shadow and Bringing Religious Life into the 21st Century

Some opportunities for women religious to explore their future together....

Musings on Community

What a delight!

Dreaming of Something New

Commitment

Sisters of St. Joseph Newsletter

Echos from the Federation Event

Giving Voice

Ahhh.... Summertime

Le Puy Welcome Video

Federation Event Approaching

Summer Retreat

Go Cards....

Spring

....risen indeed!

Great Conversations....

Listening and Healing

Here's to Cinderella crashing the big dance...

Mon Dieu

Living, Working, Praying....

A New Voice

Echo of an email from a year ago....

Adding Poetry

Sacred Kiss

To Journey & Dream...

Epiphany Experience

Blogging Update

Busy About Thanks

Managing Life

Assembly 2010

July

Random

Mid-October (2011?)

Moved

Severe Weather

Wildlife Creatures

Too Many Time Gaps

Easy to Celebrate

Where Did Lent Go?

Happy Feast

Spilling into Lent

Youth Convention 2010

Glassy Eyed

Snow Day

Christmas Break

Posadas

Parades and Advent Prayers

National Catholic Youth Thanksgiving--I Mean, Conference

Weekend St.L.

Happy Halloween

The Ultimate Gift

Haiku

Thought I'd Share

Birthday "Non-"Party

Crazies

Just Noticed

Teaser Appreciated

Tired

Show Up and Smile

A Bit of Poetry

Hodge Podge

On Location

Vacation Mini

God's Great Gifts--Vacation Bible School 2009

And...Go!

Patch of Earth

God's Treats

...For the Life of the World

Holy Week Hail

Weeds? Not So!

Facebook Time Warp

A Night Off

I Do Believe!

Spring Warming

"Yes, LORD"

A Prophetic Moment:

Transforming the Shadow and Bringing Religious Life into the 21st Century