Charley enjoying his creation

Charley and Liz Bowland working on the garden mural

Sr. Anne Mamienski hugging a tree (Jim deSloover)

Lisa Burkey and Karen Hamon making tough decisions at the aloe plant booth.

Srs. Rose Graham, Jean Ann Gorman and Gretchen Webb at the "Change Purse" booth

I’m sure it comes as no surprise to anyone who knows IHMs that there was a grand Earth Day celebration here with booths sponsored by sisters and staff of various departments. Let me give you a few of the highlights. One department solicited donations of purses and sold them  to benefit programs that fight the trafficking of women. Another collected plants people were willing to share from their gardens; Jeff Ceo, Director of Monroe Campus Operations had a display showing the continuing improvements on our gray water system. The Motherhouse sisters sold greeting cards they had made from used cards. The theme , of course was Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Participants got a sticker at each booth and if they got a sticker from all the booths they were eligible for prizes. A celebratory atmosphere prevailed and each year’s event reinforces our commitment to care for the earth as God’s good creation.

Nun Runners sharing a meal with Sr. Monica and Sr. Mary Bea at Visitation Spiritual Center

Great! Eight women participated in the whirlwind visit to six different communities in the Detroit area between last Friday at 6:00 PM and Saturday at 8:00 PM. A Nun Run provides a way to experience how different groups of sisters  live out their call to religious life. Though the time limit precluded some areas of interest to the women like the steps in the formation process,  the vows and an experience with the sisters in their ministries they recognized the advantage of getting to know a little bit about the different groups in a day. You might call it one stop shopping. In their favorite session the runners learned what “charism” meant and then were treated to a creative process in which each vocation director brought two objects that were significant for the community and why. Nothing like visual aids! Then they each told two of stories showing how their sisters live the charism today. One of the runners said that the most important thing for her was “seeing the orders together and being able to see how they are different yet the same.” Another commented about the day,”I have a better sense of where and what I’m called to.” Another added, ” I think today helped me realize that I’m being called into deeper discernment. Some days it’s so easy to brush off that gentle tugging on my heart.” She continued, “even being around sisters fills me with such joy and happiness, and it just feels right.” One said on her evaluation,” I loved praying with the sisters and eating meals together.”

If you’re sensing a call to religious life and have the opportunity to go on a Nun Run I highly recommend it.

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