Trusting in God
By S. Sandy Howe
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Later this summer I will be celebrating my 25th Jubilee as a Sister of Charity of Cincinnati. When I look back over these last 25 years there are so many things to be grateful for – and I am! I realize that throughout the years there have been many life-giving experiences, wonderful memories and joy-filled times; there have also been challenges, times of question and difficult decisions, all of which are a part of any life. Through each of these experiences I came to realize that I just needed to trust in God.
I have lived my life knowing, believing and feeling that God is always with me; that I would never be alone as long as I trusted in Him. I don’t think I ever felt a time in my life that God wasn’t with me, walking beside me, carrying me, leading me. Sure there were many difficult times and experiences when life was hard, but I never felt abandoned. In fact, I always clung to God’s presence. He was my lifeline, my anchor. There was nothing that together with God we couldn’t handle. That knowledge, that feeling truly kept me grounded and continues to this day.
While growing up in a large family, being on welfare, having an alcoholic father and divorced parent dealing with various abuse situations, questioning my place in this world, I always held on to my faith. I never questioned God’s presence in my life nor blamed Him when bad things happened. I truly believe that God has blessed me with a deep inner trust.
I hope that as I continue to touch lives, that the people I encounter and serve not only experience my love and care for them but they also realize just how very important my faith, love and trust in God are. I said ‘Yes’ to religious life because I felt that was the best way for me to live out my baptismal call of loving and serving others. It was a call from God, and I trusted in Him and will forever be grateful.
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Several Sisters of Charity are leading vital ecological movements to promote a healthy Earth beginning with the facilities, people and programs around Mount St. Joseph and expanding outward to many others. Read More.
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Sister Romina Takes On Beat Shazam
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Congratulations to Sister of Charity of Cincinnati Romina Sapinoso. She and her community mate, S. Christa Parra (IBVM), were contestants on the game show Beat Shazam, based on the Shazam app that identifies music in seconds, that aired on Tuesday, June 20, 2023 on FOX. After hearing about the opportunity through the Giving Voice Network, the two Sisters passed multiple rounds of auditions, and eventually were flown to Ireland to film an episode of the show. Although the duo didn’t take home the final prize, they were grateful for the experience. “It was a great TV experience and definitely once in a lifetime for us,” says S. Romina. “Hopefully, there’s some young women out there that saw how religious life can be filled with so much joy!” To view the episode, visit https://www.fox.com/watch/c5ee53e528b342936ad1704ccd3bcd4d/
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2023 North American Vincentian Family Gathering |
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Online registration is now open for the 2023 North American Vincentian Family Gathering. This year’s event will be held Oct. 26-29, 2023 at DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois. International performing arts group Gen Verde will be part of the program. For more information about the gathering, visit www.navincentianfamilygathering
2023.com. Jimmy Walters, SC Federation NGO representative to the UN, is also the convener for this year’s gathering.
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New discernment book alert! Feels like Home: A Single Catholic Woman’s Guide to Religious Life in the U.S. by Susan Flansburg (111 pages) came out on May 1, 2023! The publisher describes the book this way: “Ana was crazy in love. Julia was an atheist. Ji chose the wrong religious institute but found her way, eventually, to what is home for her. Xiomara was a successful fashion designer who wouldn’t have joined a religious order if she’d had to accept a habit. Colleen required one. These and other women share their vocation stories in Feels Like Home: A Catholic Woman’s Guide to Religious Life in the U.S. A ‘one-stop shop’ of critical but hard-to-find insights and information, it promises to help women answer the call to find their home within the Church.”
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Upcoming Dates & Opportunities |
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Sunday, July 23, 2023, 7-8:30 p.m. ET – Virtual Discernment Group: “Struggling with Church and Still Choosing Religious Life” with Sisters of Charity Mary Bookser, Joanne Burrows, and Louise Lears
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Sunday, Aug. 6, 2023, 7-8:30 p.m. ET – Virtual Faith Sharing Group: “Unleashing the Gifts of Women for a Synodal Church” featuring Ellie Hidalgo of Discerning Deacons
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Sunday, Aug. 20, 2023, 7-8:30 p.m. ET – Virtual Discernment Group: “Sharing Discernment with Family and Friends” featuring our newest Sisters of Charity
August 28 – Elizabeth Seton’s birthday
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Sept. 1-4, 2023 – “Discerning a Mission of Love” retreat in New Orleans, Louisiana. Register now!
Contact Vocation Coordinator S. Tracy Kemme by texting 513-400-4628 or emailing vocations@srcharitycinti.org for more information about any of the above opportunities. |
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E-Vōc is the electronic newsletter from the Vocations Team of the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati for single women wondering what new thing God is calling forth in their lives. To join the E-Vōc mailing list, contact Erin Reder at erin.reder@srcharitycinti.org. To unsubscribe, click here.
If you are interested in learning more about life as a Sister of Charity, visit our website at www.srcharitycinti.org.
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