In this Issue:
Leadership Installation Ceremony
Young Professed Sisters
Gratitude from Brazil
Franciscan Sisters of St. Joseph Mark Anniversary
LCWR Joins with Other Faith Groups Opposing Russia's Invasion of Ukraine
Meet the Congregational Office Staff
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Leadership Installation Ceremony |
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At the conclusion of the General Chapter last summer, the Congregational Leadership team was elected and installed via Zoom. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic prevented a more formal in-person ceremony from taking place at that time.
On Sunday, March 27, 2022, the team was gathered together in Allegany for a Congregational meeting with the Sisters at the Motherhouse. This was a prime opportunity to celebrate an in-person installation. Sister Therese Joyce OSF, the elder of the Congregation at 102 years of age, was the presider for this Installation Ceremony.
Sisters Margaret Magee (Congregational Minister), Melissa Scholl (Associate Minister), Josephine Streva (Councilor), and Gwendolyn Melhado (Councilor), were recognized and celebrated for their willing service to the Congregation during Sunday liturgy.
We continue to congratulate these Sisters and thank them for answering "yes!" to the call to Leadership.
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Young Professed Sisters
Introduction by Lucy Cardet OSF
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There are many ways that we can share with each other via Zoom. Gatherings of young professed sisters in Brazil and the United States together has become one way of ongoing formation during this time. What began prior to our Chapter 2021 has continued in the months that followed. These sisters share their thoughts and experiences, challenges and hopes with each other. The following reflection is written by one of them.
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It all began with an email from Sr. Lucy Cardet, dated May 14, 2021, amid the COVID separations. The idea was to simply connect with young professed sisters via Zoom to share experiences, support one another, and build relationships. Since our first meeting in June 2021 it has evolved into regularly scheduled meetings, nearly every other month, for about an hour or so on a Saturday as schedules permit. We try to schedule the calls on dates when most are available but occasionally it is not possible due to other commitments.
At the meetings, the young professed Sisters - Cleise, Eloenia, Dayanne, Liliane, Lilian Christina, Margaret and Liz - share what is happening both personally and in their ministries. Lucy facilitates and Sr. Pat Reid graciously gives of her time as translator. Despite technology glitches: poor internet signals, a malfunction or unavailability of equipment such as a microphone or camera we manage to get together. Being able to see one another is so helpful to our connecting with each other.
So called “older professed” sisters such as Srs. Goianira, Brazil Regional Minister and Solange, Director of Novices, have joined when their schedules permit. Soon Sr. Maria José, Director of Aspirants, will be a part of the group too. However, the meetings are for the young professed. Sharing and discussions occur among the young professed. On occasion however the older professed have been asked for their input after the young professed have shared.
The format for the meeting is informal but begins with prayer. Then a round robin sharing on what is currently happening in one’s life. Also, there is usually a specific question that Lucy poses for the group to reflect and respond to. At some point in the gathering Cleise provides a song which is frequently relevant to our discussions.
At our most recent Zoom gathering on March 19, the meeting opened with “A Prayer for Our World” in light of the conflicts in so many parts of the world. After individual sharing about our challenges and joys in our everyday lives, the focus turned to how we could help Liliane as she gets ready to head to Mozambique. Our universal first response was “through prayer!”. Then the conversation turned to using “WhatsApp” in order to more directly check in with Liliane and support her (as well as Maria Abadia and Euripedes). The group felt that with the use of “WhatsApp”, we will be able to get a direct and immediate sense of what more we could do that might be needed.
Our time together closed with Cleise singing “Let’s Go Missionaries of the Lord” so apropos in light of our nascent work in Mozambique.
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With Gratitude from Brazil
Below is a letter received from Sr. Goianira Silva, Regional Minister in Brazil, in response to the generous donations sent to help assist in flood recovery in the country.
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Our Planet Earth has been signaling that it is exhausting its capacity to sustain Life for all the creatures that depend on it and, often, it is showing its indignation through destructive events such as violent storms, hurricanes, frequent earthquakes, severe snow and so many other manifestations that need our care. Here in Brazil, many regions of the country have witnessed the suffering of losing everything in a few hours of torrential rain.
We recognize the generosity of the Congregation, in requesting from its Congregational Ministry, help for the needs of the Brazilian people, as well as many sisters who withdraw sums of money from their budget to send to those who need help.
We appreciate the donations in favor of those displaced by the floods. According to the needs of each place, they were distributed as follows: States of Bahia/ Minas Gerais; Diocese of Miracema - Tocantins; Petr6polis - Rio de Janeiro and Kalunga Community in the region of Cavalcante - Goias.
On behalf of all the people benefited, we thank you for the generosity of our sisters who do this work in favor of the missions, with the intermediation of our Congregation.
God bless you all!
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Franciscan Sisters of St. Joseph to Celebrate Anniversary |
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The Franciscan Sisters of St. Joseph, Hamburg, NY, will celebrate the Congregation's 125th Anniversary on April 10, 2022.
The Congregation was founded on September 8, 1987 by Sr. Mary Colette (given name Agnes Victoria Hilbert), an Austrian Sister of Charity of St. Charles Borromeo who had been sent to educate children in Pittsburgh, PA and who asked to form her own congregation after eight years in the United States.
The Congregation will celebrate with a Parish Mass at 11 a.m. at St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Athol Springs, NY, with a catered reception to follow. Let us hold these Sisters in our prayer for a joyous celebration.
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LCWR Joins with Other Faith Groups Opposing Russia's Invasion of Ukraine
From the April 2022 edition of "Update"
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Russia's military invasion in Ukraine has created a humanitarian crisis leaving many civilians without electricity, water, and access to food, basic supplies, shelter, and emergency medical services. Thousands have been killed and millions forced to flee their homes. People of faith around the world have responded with calls for peace and offers of assistance.
LCWR executive director Carol Zinn, SSJ joined 100 prominent Christian leaders in the United States who wrote an open letter to Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill, asking him to speak out against his country's invasion of Ukraine. The letter, sent to Kirill on March 11, laments the "tragic and terrible loss of innocent civilian life ... " and includes an "earnest plea that you use your voice and profound influence to call for an end to the hostilities and war in Ukraine and intervene with authorities in your nation to do so."
His Holiness Kirill is patriarch of Moscow and All Russia and primate of the Russian Orthodox Church, the country's dominant religious group. "In this moment, as the patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, you have the holy opportunity to play an historic role in helping to bring a cessation of senseless violence and a restoration of peace," the US Christian leaders wrote in their letter. "We pray you will do so, and our prayers will accompany you."
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Meet the Congregational Office Staff
Beginning in October 2021, we will feature one Congregational Office staffer per month in the newsletter to help better connect them with our Sisters and Associates outside of Allegany.
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Meet Kristen Luther, Congregational Secretary/HR Manager.
Years on Staff: Five in July.
Working in the Congregational Office is a blessing and enables me the opportunity to know and love members of the Congregation. I witness firsthand the mission and charism of the FSA.
Contact:
Office Phone: 716-373-0200 x3208
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