Faces of IHM Jubilee

Posted on August 3, 2011 by | 1 Comment
Miss Jubilee? Oh no! Our Jubilee always falls on the last Saturday of July and all IHMs make a priority to arrange our calendars accordingly.  It’s difficult to describe what it means for us. First of all we celebrate the lives of consecration of our Diamond, Golden and Siver Jubilarians.  It is so touching to see the faces of the Diamond Jubilarians particularly, either walking proudly, or more often being wheeled down the aisle.  This year I particularly noticed three of those sisters  showing brilliant smiles while tears brimmed in their eyes. Let me tell you their eyes weren’t the only ones brimming!
 
However,  Jubilee means much more than a number of years. We all experience overflowing  joy and gratitude for our IHM vocation.  No one actually sits on the sidelines. One of the discerners who shared Jubilee with us picked it up right away. She said, “I could feel the excitement in the air as soon as I came in.”   I hope the pictures express the spirit of the day!

Pictured at the pre Jubilee reception are Sr. Barbara Stanbridge, Jeanne Salerno, Sandra Hagen, Sr. Carmen Armenta-Lara, Sr. Maria Antonia Aranda Diaz and Marcia Edge

Entrance procession: Srs. Anne Crimmins, Kathy Onderbeke, Margaret Brennan, Joan Mumaw (hidden), Frs. Babcock and Singelyn, surrounded by enthusiastic, clapping IHMs

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A joyous Diamond Jubilarian, Sr. Lucille Smalley, escorted by her friend, Sr. Margaret VanVelzen

 

Golden Jubilarians Srs. Mary Ann Mehling, Mary King, Rose Ange Leddy and Angela Hibbard

Sign of Peace with more sisters in the aisle hugging each other than in the pews
 

Jubilee closes with a festive dinner. Obviously Sandra Hagen, Joyce Elaine Cutliff, Marcia Edge, Sr. Maxine Kollasch, Sue Palmer and Sr. Julie Vieira enjoyed it.

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Faces of IHM

Posted on July 26, 2011 by | 2 Comments
Trusting that one picture is worth a thousand words, today’s post will be primarily images of the first day of our Assembly.  You might wonder, so what is that? In simple terms  when the community comes together for Assembly we have conversations around our most deeply held values, exchange views, share experiences, celebrate our corporateness, and set directions for our future.  We began with Mass and then spent the day in creative tasks to help us get down to the core of our life together.
I hope these pictures say a lot about IHM spirit.

Sr. Michele Denton carrying the Assembly logo banner in the Entrance Procession

 

Sr. Joan Mumaw, our acting president, having a good time during the sprinkling rite

Our choir (l to r S. Anita Pfeiffer, S. Gloria Rivera, Mary Ellen Hochkins, S. Fran Chirco, S. Marianna Riley, S. Sharon Holland, S. Eva Schoell, S. Marian Duggan

Sr. Gloria Rivera singing the Responsorial Psalm in English and Spanish

Srs. Marie Gabriel Hungerman and Candy Rekart carrying the cloth to dress the altar

Srs. Paula Cooney, Alice Baker, Elizabeth Chmielewski, Marguerite Gibbs and Janet Hill singing lustily

Srs. Maria Antonia Aranda Diaz and Sandrita Poupart Valentin praying the Assembly prayer in Spanish and English

Sisters Carmen Armenta-Lara and Juanita Bernard enjoying another table's report

 
Srs. Joan Kusak, Camille Brouillard and Maryfran Barber sharing ideas

Sr. Pat Rourke reporting on her table group's insights (with a twinkle)

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IHMs reflect on Unconscious Racism

Posted on July 22, 2011 by | 1 Comment

Juliana Mosley, PhD

Sensitive topic, great speaker, honest and searching conversation, interesting guests, and the exciting experience of connecting with our four congregations–Oblates of Providence, Baltimore, MD; IHMs of Immaculata, PA; IHMs of Scranton, PA and IHMs of Monroe, MI. via webinar.

I share this today for a couple of reasons. For one, our communities have committed to work against unconscious racism in ourselves, and also to be a force against racism in our world. Mother Teresa Maxis who had been a founding member of the Oblates of Providence, the first community of black women in the U.S.  ”passed” as white when she came to Michigan to co-found the IHM community.  Our Oblate Sisters and the members of the three IHM communities recognize the effects racism has had in our history. This workshop was the first, but certainly not the last time we will connect electronically, hearing and seeing each other in real time.

Our speaker, Juliana Mosley, PH.D., faculty member of Marygrove College, Detroit shared her own experience of racism, gave an overview of the history of racism in the United States and helped us to greater awareness of the subtle, insidious influence of this evil in our own day.

As is our wont there followed a small group exploration of such questions as “When did I first find racism in myself?” and an opportunity to share our insights in the large group.

I asked a couple of our guests, Jesuit Volunteers from Detroit ,to reflect about their experience of the workshop:

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IHMs meet IHMs

Posted on July 21, 2011 by | 4 Comments

Last week The Immaculata IHM sisters in initial formation (postulant, novices and temporary professed sisters) came to Monroe for a “Roots Trip.” The three IHM communities of Monroe, MI, Scranton, PA and Immaculata, PA all find our roots along the Raisin River here in Monroe. Here are the sites of the first sisters’ log cabin convent, St. Mary’s church church where  Mother Theresa   and Sr. Celestine pronounced their vows, and the chapel in the cemetery where co-founder Rev. Louis Florent Gillet’s remains are housed. Our guests were touched to actually walk on the holy ground of our founding. One particulary powerful moment occurred in St. Mary’s Church. Sr. Margaret Brennan pointed out the place where the altar would have stood in 1845. We all stood in a circle there singing the Salve Regina, a hymn precious to all of us and then renewing our vows. A moment of communion in our shared consecration and history!

Other highlights included a guided tour of the Motherhouse “Green” renovation and experiencing the loving welcome and warm hospitality of their Monroe “cousins. And, of course, the ice cream trip!

“Here are a few pictures and videos of a couple of the sisters telling what struck them most forcefully.

Sr. Margaret Brennan, IHM (Monroe) and Immaculata IHMs praying in Fr. Gillet's Chapel

Sr. Sue Sattler giving a tour of the Motherhouse "Green" renovation

Sr. Caroline enjoys the obligatory "pilgrimage" to Independent Dairy

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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Pray with us

Posted on July 10, 2011 by | Leave a comment

As you probably know from reading A Nun’s Life, we IHMs are grieving the loss of our dear Sr. Mary Fran Gilleran– president, sister, friend. This afternoon, July 10, we will be celebrating her life in our Remembering prayer at 6:30 PM, and tomorrow  her Resurrection Mass at 11:00 AM. Below you’ll see the programs for both services and the prayer card we will each receive. Please join us in prayer. 

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Haiti today

Posted on June 29, 2011 by | Leave a comment
One of our IHM Associates, Mary Conner, has a son traveling in Haiti on a mission trip.  She is so proud of him, but also concerned about his safety, so she’s been asking us to keep him in our prayers.  This connection means a lot to her and to us. She recently received this note and accompanying pictures so, of course she shared them with us, her community.

“Today, we toured around the various churches and orphanages in Pastor Rene’s domain. We saw an urban church in Port Au Prince that has been successfully demolished since last year.  They are going to start the foundation for the new church in a few days, which will be twice as large.  There have been so many people coming to know Jesus after the quake.  God is doing amazing work here!
I was also encouraged by the progress, both by Pastor Rene on all his rebuilding projects as well as the country as a whole.  Some of the displacement camps have  improved from sticks with sheets to tents and now many simple wood homes with metal roofs are appearing.  There are raised latrines in many camps to help with proper sanitation.  Even though living conditions are improving, it is still an unbearable existence.  Think of the energy it takes just to live life in these conditions.
We went to one of the earthquake mass grave sites. Incredibly moving experience.  2500 black crosses and a large cross draped in linen.  The photos say it all.
 Thanks for your prayer today.  God is showing us a lot about who He is. This place is so amazing!”
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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Where’s your treasure?

Posted on June 17, 2011 by | Leave a comment

Today’s Gospel is so full of life and so challenging.

Matthew 6:19-23
Jesus said to his disciples:
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth,
where moth and decay destroy, and thieves break in and steal.
But store up treasures in heaven,
where neither moth nor decay destroys, nor thieves break in and steal.
For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.

“The lamp of the body is the eye.
If your eye is sound, your whole body will be filled with light;
but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be in darkness.
And if the light in you is darkness, how great will the darkness be.
“For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.”


 

‘Tis the season to store up treasures.

It’s a Friday in summer, hooray! The beach, ballpark, woods and backyard all beckon. Summer urges us to slow down and savor simple pleasures. Not only will we feel better, we will be better. Rest, relaxation, and retreat help us to absorb the sights and sounds around us and appreciate the people and things in our lives more. We are quicker to laugh, to love, to forgive, to give thanks. These are the treasures that have everlasting value.As I sat reflecting on the readings this morning I was aware of the “things” all around me as well as the immeasuable blessings that flow through my life. The attachment to “things”  gave me pause and God’s blessings deep gratitude.  Both are an invitaion to me.

As you read the Scripture what challenges you, enlivens you?

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