FELICIAN SISTERS OF NORTH AMERICA | |
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Celebrations Abound in Coraopolis | |
Their Souls Proclaimed the Greatness of the Lord
The jubilee celebration marking the anniversaries of Sisters Mary Christopher Moore, Charlene Ozanick, Thaddeus Markelewicz, and Lorraine Vukovich was truly an expression of God’s greatness and took place on Thursday, May 18, the Feast of St. Felix of Cantalice and the Solemnity of the Ascension. The uplifting liturgy was celebrated by Fr. Sam Esposito, celebrant and homilist, at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Convent Chapel in Coraopolis, Pennsylvania.
The opening hymn, Come to the Feast, filled the chapel with melodious song and was enhanced by the liturgical movements of Sisters Amala Thekkumpuram and Rose Nellivila, Daughters of Mary, as they led the sisters into the chapel. Sister Mary Francine Horos served as cantor, while SM Charlene and SM Lorraine proclaimed the two readings and SM Thaddeus read the Intercessory prayers. The beauty of the music was intensified by the heartfelt singing of the congregation and the instrumentalists on the organ, violin and flute, all of which were expressions of the greatness of the Lord! OLSH students Ryan Tarbuk (violinist) and Gabrielle Evans (flutist) along with Helene Goodbread, organist, all added to making the liturgy a glorious symphony of music.
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In his usual style, Father Sam Esposito tied together the solemnity of the Ascension, the jubilee celebration and the patronal feast of St. Felix into his homily and unpacked each aspect of the event’s readings. Relating to the Gospel story, Father mentioned that there were angels at the Ascension who charged the disciples to get busy . . . look forward to what is right in front of you and you will see the challenges, the opportunities, the blessings that God has given you to connect with Himself and with one another. Father Sam continued, “knowing these sisters, all of you can tell how they met the challenges, how they took advantage of the opportunities and how they responded to the invitation to go forward and become blessings to others.”
As the sisters renewed their vows, they knew that God had and continues to love them each and every day, gracing them with blessings to bring the presence of Jesus to those who suffer, to those who need hope and to all with whom and to whom they minister on a day to day basis.
At the conclusion of the Mass, the sisters were invited to move from the Eucharistic banquet to another table as they would share bread with each other at dinner held at the Montour Heights Country Club in Coraopolis. Welcomed by Sister Mary Francine Horos, local minister of the OLSH convent, sisters from the provincial council and from the area local homes enjoyed a delicious dinner and the company of one another. Truly, this was the day which proclaimed the greatness of the Lord in the lives of the sister jubilarians! Sto Lat, dear sisters!
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Felician Associates and Sisters Explore More About Blessed Mary Angela
“The Faces of Blessed M. Angela Seen in Light and Darkness” came alive in the presentation given by Sister Mary Justice Przybocki to the Felician associates and sisters on May 21, 2023. In the conference room of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Convent, Sister Justice lined the area with various pictures of Blessed Mary Angela. She highlighted them as she portrayed the life of Blessed Mary Angela in various stages of light and dark times and emphasized her inner beauty.
Starting with her premature birth, Sister focused on how Blessed M. Angela felt very loved, learned love and lived it the rest of her life. As a child, she entertained, collected coins and then gave them away to the poor. She was described as not particularly attractive physically but was very endearing and very loving.
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Sister Justice highlighted Angela’s deep love of God and of the Blessed Virgin Mary and of her attitude of magnifying God instead of magnifying problems. Sister illustrated this in her early adult life, during the time of suppression of the community into her final days. God is greater…God will do magnificent things through us. Sister ended with seeing Angela’s face as one of love and serenity.
Associates Marie McCullough, Ginny McCloskey, Fr. Sam Esposito, Jackie Bercik and her friend, Sandy Foody, Marcia Simon, Patti Lorenzi, Helene Goodbread, Bob Sonoski and Michael Matta, Felician inquirer, along with the Felician Sisters present expressed their deep appreciation for Sister Justice’s insights and her deep love of Blessed Mary Angela.
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Sister Ann Therese Kelly Sheds Light on the Visual Power of Stained Glass
Sister Ann Therese presented “Let There Be Light” at the Polish Arts Club of Buffalo, NY focusing on the connection between cosmic light and stained glass both physically and spiritually. She shared slides of the visual power of stained glass windows in architecture, its transformational elements through symbolism, color, and light. Sister discussed her spiritual journey through this amazing medium in her life, also sharing her own personal and architectural stained glass commissions and projects throughout her career. The one-hour presentation took place on Wednesday, May 17 at the Harlem Road Community Center.
Sister Ann Therese is a glass artist in glass design, glass fusion and painting, and window construction. She has taught classes abroad in Art History and Drawing and Painting in Italy, Alaska, Ireland, Spain, France, Sicily, and Egypt. She served as a professor of Art at Felician University in Lodi, and Rutherford, New Jersey for 10 years. She now lives in Western New York where she operates the Illumination Stained Glass Studio in the Immaculate Heart of Mary Convent on the campus of Villa Maria College. She is an adjunct professor teaching fused and leaded glass for the Interior Design department at Villa Maria College, continues as an online professor in Art History at Felician University, and teaches beginning stained glass to senior girls at the Buffalo Academy of the Sacred Heart. She is on the Foundation of the Stained Glass Association of America.
Sister Ann Therese hopes to share this interesting presentation one evening at the Chapter in Buffalo in June for any sister who would like to take part.
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Catholic Church Expo Held in New Hampshire | |
Sister Mary Thomas Lesniak and Sister Jacqueline Mary Kazanowski attended the first ever New Hampshire Catholic Church Expo held at St. Andre Bessette Parish in Laconia, NH on Saturday, May 20. The Expo was one in a series of events in New Hampshire whose goal is to rediscover the source and summit of our Faith, the Eucharist, through a deep commitment of prayer, pilgrimage and worship. The Expo showcased a variety of ministries and groups and their offerings to parishes and individuals.
The sisters exchanged conversation with attendees of all ages and backgrounds and were able to share print materials - in particular The Felician, The Magazine of the Felician Sisters of North America - as well as other handouts (pens, folders, backpacks, key chains, cord rosaries, prayer cards, etc.), many of which were imprinted with the logo and name of the Congregation. They were happy to share the Felician mission “to cooperate with Christ in the spiritual renewal of the world” and to share how our Congregation carries out this mission in Poland, Brazil, Africa, and Rome as well as in North America.
The Expo concluded with a Holy Hour from 2-3 p.m. led by Most Reverend Peter A. Libasci, Bishop of the Diocese of NH. The Bishop also celebrated the Eucharistic Liturgy at 4:00 p.m.
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On Pilgrimage with St. Angela of Foligno, Pt. 1 | |
by Sister Gabriella Maria Ianieri
On March 4, 2023, Sister Elaine Marie Frigo, vicar general, Sister Margaret Marie Padilla, general councilor, Sister Aracoeli, Institute of the Incarnate Word, Professor Lorella Congiunti and I made a pilgrimage in the footsteps of St. Angela of Foligno. Just as the saint did in 1291, the plan was to walk from Foligno (PG) to the Upper Basilica in Assisi - about 11 miles - in an atmosphere of prayer and silence. This was an idea that had been rattling around in my mind since last December when I decided to spend a three-day spiritual retreat in the company of Angela, the Saint after whom our Blessed Mary Angela was named. There is something there that intrigued me!
Arriving by train in Foligno, we were welcomed by Father Daniele, Capuchin, and by Franco, a friend and fellow countryman of mine who is living there. A few minutes from the train station, inside the Church of St. Francis, there is the shrine of St. Angela.
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We prayed in front of the tomb of the Saint, and then we had a short, guided tour led by Father Roberto, capuchin friar responsible for the Shrine. We visited the ancient chapel of St. Matthew where St. Angela used to pray, and where frescoes dating back to the 1200s can still be well seen.
Finally, we started our journey, while one of our sisters would reach Assisi by train waiting for us there. The pilgrimage lasted about five hours with several stops. One of the most important was at the Holy Trinity Church, a small church lost in the countryside between Spello and Assisi. In that location, St. Angela had a mystical vision of the Holy Trinity!
Another stop was in the Porziuncola at the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels. After that point there was not enough time, and we were all too tired to go all the way up to the Basilica of St. Francis. We rejoined all together and took the train, some of us bound for Rome, with others stopping in Foligno. There, we participated in the Holy Mass and the Cenacle of St. Angela, a monthly meeting held by Fr. Massimo, capuchin, to deepen the spirituality of St. Angela.
We stayed overnight in the capuchin’s convent, and early in the morning we left again for Assisi – this time by train – completing our pilgrimage with a visit to the Upper Basilica, stopping at the stained-glass window where St. Angela had another mystical vision. A visit to the tombs of St. Francis marked the end of our fragmented pilgrimage! After a short but intense stay in Assisi, we finally returned to our respective homes.
Good weather accompanied us throughout the journey, which was tiring yes, but also enriching and engaging, so much so that from several voices the intention to make another pilgrimage soon was raised. The journey with St. Angela continues.
For this pilgrimage I prepared a small booklet for each of us and translated it, quickly, for the English-speaking sisters. Please click here to access the booklet.
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May 20, 2023 was a lovely day for a gathering at Villa St. Francis in Milwaukee, WI for the commitment of Kimberly Schubring as a Felician associate with 40 family members, sisters, associates and residents participating. Father Joel Fzydowski offered the Mass.
As part of the homily, Father Joel related a story about a sister who helped a Chinese couple; the husband was so appreciative that he saw Jesus reflected in this sister. Father asked those present when they first saw and heard about Jesus. Then he asked them to share their gifts in the ways that they relate to one another.
Following the homily, Kim signed the commitment after publicly making her choice to follow Blessed Angela and the Felician Sisters in their Charism, Mission and Vision with Sister Carlotta Myszka as her companion. Sister Beatrice Knipple accepted her commitment by signing her name for the Felician Sisters.
Pizza, fresh fruit, vegetables and desserts followed, provided by Barbara Gales, an associate who also made a beautiful corsage for Kim.
The next get-together is August 5, with hors d’oeuvres and planning for next year.
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The God of all grace has blessed us this day . . .
The strains of “The God of all grace has blessed us this day…lifting our voices, lifting our hearts to the glory of God forever,” joyously began the celebration of thanksgiving for the consecrated lives of the 2023 jubilarians residing at Immaculate Heart of Mary Convent, Buffalo, NY: SM Philip Kwolek (75 years); SM Angelette Helak, SM Loriette Tokasz, S Rosemarie Kutsko, and SM Virginita Tarnacki (70 years); and SM Jacqueline and SM Nicolette Wichrowski (60 years).
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From left to right: Rev. Charles Jagodzinski, OFM Conv., Rev. Kevin Bazzel, Rev. Romulus Rosolowski, OFM Conv. | |
Father Kevin and Sister Rosemarie | |
Father Kevin Bazzel, grandnephew of Sister Rosemarie, was presider and homilist at the 11:00 a.m. liturgy on Sunday, May 21, 2023, and Father Romulus Rosolowski, OFM Conv. and Father Charles Jagodzinski, OFM Conv. concelebrated. As a special jubilee gift to Sister Angelette, Regina Doherty, Felician associate, played the organ, adding beauty to the solemn occasion. SM Anna Falbo sang the responsorial psalm and accompanied Regina on her flute.
In his homily, Father Kevin noted what a powerful gift the consecrated life is to God, the Church, and the world as the manifestation of God’s glory and love in the world. Reflecting the Gospel reading from John, Father emphatically stated, “God has been glorified in you….you are the means God uses for the salvation of the world.” These words, coupled with Mother Angela’s constant prayer, “May this be for your glory, O Lord,” give full witness to the supreme importance of God in our lives as we follow and imitate Jesus, poor, chaste, and obedient.
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After Mass, guests and sisters shared a jubilant meal in the specially decorated dining room. During the meal, everyone enjoyed viewing vintage photos of the jubilarians from their younger years. Each jubilarian had the opportunity to share one thing she did not miss from the past and one thing she will always cherish.
The celebration continued as the sisters gathered once again at 4 p.m. for supper and a wonderful, shared recreation which included Spring Bingo and the completion of jigsaw puzzles featuring the vintage photos of the jubilarians. As the day came to a close, the concluding words of Father Kevin’s homily were most fitting, “that in everyone and in everything glory, adoration and love may be given to the Most High Lord of all things, who is Father, Son and Holy Spirit." (Vita Consecrata)
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IHM Jubilarians and SM Therese Chmura, local minister | |
Buffalo Felician Associates Final Meeting
The Buffalo associates spent part of their last meeting for the year listening to and participating in a presentation on the Magnificat. Sister Mary Jolene Jasinski incorporated two prayerful videos in her presentation. The opening prayer was a YouTube music video on the Magnificat, followed by an introduction to the words of the prayer, followed by a PowerPoint presentation focusing on each phrase and allowing time for reflection.
After a short time of reflection, Sister Jolene closed the afternoon with another music video, The Magnificat. All agreed that this was a perfect way to spend time reflecting on Mary and her YES to God and have more to think about until the next meeting in September.
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Celebrating the Joyful Heart of St. Felix
On Thursday, May 18, 2023, the sisters of Immaculate Heart of Mary Convent, Buffalo, NY, SM Gerard Fredrick, Felician associate coordinator, area associates, and SM Ruth Warejko came together to give praise and thanks for the gift of St. Felix with solemn evening prayer and a celebratory meal. After sharing a delicious turkey dinner, everyone enjoyed homemade sundaes, courtesy of the associates. The time to relax and enjoy each other’s company in the spirit of Felix’s simplicity and joy of heart was appreciated by everyone. May St. Felix guide and protect us as we work together “to show all the way to true happiness of loving and knowing God.” (Prayer to St. Felix)
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Beautiful Bingo in Livonia | |
Turkey, yellow flower, deer, pine tree, bird feeder … bingo! The weather could not have been better for scavenger hunting outdoors this week as the sisters at the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Convent in Livonia went outdoors in search of items on their Nature Hunt Bingo cards. Sisters had until Thursday to complete their unique bingo card and were then able to collect up to five prizes for each bingo they received. A grand prize drawing for all those with a coverall took place, with S Darlene Marie Schoenherr winning the prize! | |
S Serafina Marie collects her prizes for her coverall | |
S Darlene Marie wins the grand prize | |
Pilgrimage with Asian Communities | |
A group of both Chinese and Korean faithful from New Jersey, led by Sr. Dong Hong Marie Zhang, liaison to the Chinese Community of Newark Archdiocese, attended the 20th Annual Asian and Pacific Island Marian Pilgrimage on Saturday, May 6, 2023 at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington DC.
This year the pilgrimage was sponsored by the Asian and Pacific Catholic Network, in collaboration with the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Secretariat of Cultural Diversity in the Church and related offices of the Archdiocese of Washington and the Diocese of Arlington, Virginia.
The pilgrimage started with the welcoming drums by a Vietnamese youth group, followed by an opening procession by the Knights of Columbus, various groups from different Asian countries with their statues and portraits of Mary, flower arches and banners. After the procession, a call to prayer featuring sacred songs and movements was performed by four different cultural groups each wearing their own traditional dresses. A Filipino group crowned a statue of Mary. Before the pilgrimage mass, the joyful mysteries of the rosary prayer were led in five different languages by the faithful from different Asian communities.
The Most Reverend Cardinal Gregory, archbishop of the Archdiocese of Washington, presided over the mass. In his homily, the cardinal noted, “As our neighbors from Asia and the Pacific Islands assemble here in Mary’s Shrine, you continue to remind the entire church that God’s Spirit is present in every corner of our world. His divine glory is to be found in every part of our planet.”
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During the planning meetings for the 20th pilgrimage with the leadership of Asian Affairs of USCCB, APCN and other Asian communities, Sr. Dong Hong was assigned to compose the mass intercession, which was prayed in seven languages including English. Sister not only invited a Chinese priest, Fr. Zhang, as co-celebrant, as well as a young man from the Chinese community as the cross bearer, but also invited a group of Korean faithful from the Newark Archdiocese to lead the 2nd decade of the joyful rosary.
In March, Sr. Dong Hong decided to form a NJ Chinese Catholic Worship Dance Group and bring the group to the pilgrimage. The group was organized at the beginning of April. After a short practice time, the NJ Chinese worship dance group became one of the four “Call to Prayer” groups and did the worship dance with two combined sacred songs at the altar of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception for the pilgrimage on May 6, 2023.
“The worship dance is not only the way to praise and thank God, but also to share our culture with others. Furthermore, it could be a vehicle to evangelize and reach out to others. It is amazing that two woman dancers who are non-Catholic heard about us and joined us. It turned out they joined our Bible Study group, too. I pray and hope this way can help us to reach out to more people, and we will continue our worship dance and follow wherever the Holy Spirit leads us,” said Sr. Dong Hong.
According to Sr. Dong Hong, both Chinese and Korean faithful from New Jersey were joyful and inspired by the solidarity with other Asian communities.
Jersey Catholic/OSV News link about this pilgrimage event: click here.
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