Edition No. 104 — September 9, 2019
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St. Mary’s Church
Newark, New Jersey
Protest Inhumane Treatment of Children
September 6, 2019
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At 10:00 am
on September 4th many of our sisters gathered in Newark, NJ to protest the mistreatment of immigrant children and families. Many other solidarity events such as this were planned around the country.
As part of the opening Prayer Service
Sister Kay Coll SSJ
led the responsorial prayer:
We are here today to proclaim as Church; clergy, women religious, the lay faithful, lay associations and ecclesial movements, with all the diversity of our charisms and ministries, that we are called to bear Christian witness to the humanity, the hardship and the oppression of migrants and to be in their service.
We are here today to raise up the lives of all those who have left their homes to escape violence, to escape war, to escape drought and famine and to escape all forms of violence, danger and persecution.
We are here today to validate the dreams of parents and of children for a safe place to live together without fear of separation.
We are here today to denounce discrimination, oppression, deportation, unjust incarceration, dispersion and persecution as contrary to God’s plan.
We are here today to challenge ourselves and each other to see all those who cross borders not simply as ”neighbor”, but to find the face of Christ Himself in each story and in each encounter.
We are here today to recall that Christ was born away from home and coming from another land; “he came to dwell among us” and spent His public life on the move, going through towns and villages.
We are here today to show devotion to Mary, the Mother of Jesus, a living symbol of the woman emigrant who gave birth to her Son away from home and was compelled to flee to Egypt
We are here today to commit ourselves to living out the ideas of fraternity, solidarity, service and justice as we grow in love, promote the dignity of each person as a child of God and give birth to community, based on the gospel proclamation of being welcomed, celebrated and lived.
Let us continue to raise our voices to end detention of immigrant children and speak out against inhumane treatment of our immigrant brothers and sisters.
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Photos courtesy Anna Louise Schuck SSJ
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Chestnut Hill College
Opening Liturgy
September 4, 2019
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The Chestnut Hill College community celebrated their opening Liturgy in the Motherhouse Chapel on Wednesday, September 4, 2019. Many blessings to the students, staff, faculty and administration this academic year.
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Lawrence Biscontini
Saint Joseph Villa
September 5, 2019
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Lawrence Biscontini, MA, a Mindful Movement Specialist travels the world offering world-class secrets in mentoring, fitness and spa consulting, and is also on the Advisory Board for the International Council on Active Aging. On September 5, 2019 Lawrence, a long-time friend of the Sisters of Saint Joseph, traveled with his beloved dog, Biscuit to Saint Joseph Villa.
Lawrence was taught by our sisters in Lebanon, PA and maintained his relationships with his sister-teachers through high school, college and throughout his adult life.
After lunch with his dear friends
Sisters Leona Arnold
,
Helen Steinmetz
,
Barbara Worley
and
Loretta Scribbick
, everyone moved to the Villa Gathering space for his presentation:
3 Steps to More Wellness.
In his presentation, Lawrence shared in
three words
what he needs to do everyday to maintain good health and well-being.
Body
: is not designed to be stationary—you can move, even without standing: stretch, lean, raise your arms and legs, march in place
Brain
: choose a focus for the day, think about prayer in a new way,
pause and be silent as you pray, speak out loud as you solve a crossword puzzle
Breath
: conscious breathing enhances the quality of our breath and can even help with getting a better night’s sleep, our response to stress, happiness, relaxation or whatever is going on around us
Lawrence closed his presentation with ‘seated tai chi’ playing music from
Sister Act.
Lawrence is a generous financial supporter of Saint Joseph Villa, donating the proceeds from the sale of his books and classes to Saint Joseph Villa.
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Sister Patricia Egan SSJ
Distinguished Alumnae Honoree
Little Flower High School
June 7, 2019
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Congratulations to
Sister Patricia Egan, SSJ
, ’57 the 2019 Distinguished Alumnae Honoree, Little Flower High School.
Pat delivered the following words of encouragement to the Class of 2019 at their commencement exercises on June 7 at Holy Family College.
"This is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in Him—the day we have waited for is here.
My name is Sister Pat Egan, a Sister of Saint Joseph, who also was a graduate in 1957. I know you don’t think I’m that old – but yes – 62 years ago, would you believe, I sat in one of the same types of chairs where you are today, with the same dreams and expectations. Girls today is the first day of the rest of your life.
Some of you will be going to college—others, maybe not. I see the dreams and goals you have to become a Doctor, Nurse, Teacher, Mother, or maybe even a Religious Sister. But, remember whatever your future holds, make every day count!
Work hard for what you want because some days it won’t come easy to you without a fight. Going through years of education, you will make some mistakes. We all do but you also will make a great input on today’s society. You have been blessed with the sacrifices of your parents and grandparents and other important people to send you to Little Flower, where you have received the tools and encouragement to go through the next important chapter in your lives.
BE STRONG—BE COURAGEOUS—NEVER GIVE UP—NEVER GIVE IN
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"With the help of God's grace and in fidelity to our founder's expressed wish, we live and work lovingly among all persons with a special preference for those who are poor, which calls us wherever we are to be in union with them."
— SSJ Constitutions #21
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