God Is Calling

Hurricane Katrina

2005-09-07T12:30:00.000-07:00

I haven't posted here for this past week, mostly because I have been posting elsewhere. We have organized our Pauline response to this tragedy. So I'll direct you to the places on our website that describe what we are doing, and also to a new blog we have started: www.transformingtheworld.blogspot.com. Right now I'll just post there for a few days.

http://pauline.org/

Hurricane Victims are asking for the Bible and Books of Comfort: http://www.daughtersofstpaul.com/katrina/help.html

Canticle of New Orleans:
http://www.daughtersofstpaul.com/katrina/canticleofneworleans.html

A kids to kids project is coming in a day or so.

Let us pray together for those who have suffered so much.
Sr. Kathryn

Katrina

2005-09-03T08:53:00.000-07:00

To find the light of tomorrow, we must grasp completely the darkness of today--the depths of its suffering to ourselves and to others. In the depths of the darkest hole we discover that God is deeper still.

(c) Daughters of St. Paul

Katrina

2005-09-03T08:52:00.000-07:00

Who has my child? Where is my spouse? Did someone rescue my parent? Are they alone? Have they died? Are they suffering somewhere? Are they lost? The internet forums after Katrina listed countless pleas for knowledge of the whereabout of loved ones. Countless pleas that people at specific addresses be rescued. These worries will tear at people's hearts and haunt their nightmares for the rest of their lives. We can connect with these loved ones still. If not in person, if not in cyberspace, we can always hold their hands in the sacred space of the presence of God. We can still reassure them with the words we would have said if we were there. We can offer them comfort, holding them in our arms, washing away their tears. For wherever they are, God has them, and in God we can always meet them.

(c) Daughters of St. Paul

Katrina

2005-09-03T08:51:00.001-07:00

As a nation, we are experiencing our vulnerability as never before. Vulnerability in the face of the forces of nature and in the face of human error. We feel powerless to solve a situation so big and so tragic, and to rebuild millions of lives. Even as many rise to help restore life to those who have lost so much, we all know that life cannot return exactly to it was. But it can become more than it was. "I waited, I waited for God, then he stooped to me and heard my cry for help. He pulled me up from the raging waters, lifted me from the mud. He set my feet on a rock, and made my footsteps firm. He put a fresh song in my mouth, a song of praise and of joy."

(c) Daughters of St. Paul

Katrina

2005-09-03T08:51:00.000-07:00

How do you have it out with God? I know a friend who did. "Where were you?" she asked weakly, her eyes filling with tears. "Where were you when I needed you in the hospital? Where were you when my brother died? You left me all alone." Her accusation hurled into the darkness almost frightened her. But nothing happened so she continued. "In fact where were you two years ago when my younger brother died, and two years before that when my sister died." There. It was said. God had been notified of exactly how she felt. Broken. Alone. Rejected. Often we are ashamed of our anger and pain. We apologize for angry words and stifle cries of sorrow, pushing our hurt out of sight. We try to make peace with ourselves without the anger and the crying-these somehow seem unacceptable to us. But these are never unacceptable to God.

(c) Daughters of St. Paul

Katrina

2005-09-03T08:50:00.000-07:00

What is deeper than the disappointments, deeper than the injustices, deeper than the tragic losses of life? What explains the unfairness of life and how do we live with this mystery? These are questions the whole country is asking. We want to have new eyes to SEE the deepest Reality at work in the world and in our lives. Only then will everything else fall into place. Life doesn't become easy. We aren't spared disaster. But the believer knows that God is with us in our moments of grief and pain.

(c) Daughters of St. Paul

2005-08-31T08:17:00.000-07:00

Fleeing New Orleans--A Prayer

2005-08-29T12:00:00.000-07:00

The Will of God--Your Holiness

2005-08-26T07:42:00.000-07:00

Cologne at Home--WYD Vigil Celebration, Boston, MA

2005-08-25T08:48:00.000-07:00

Since we couldn't go to World Youth Day this year in Cologne, Germany, we had our own World Youth Day celebration: Cologne at Home. We began with some Praise and Worship, continued with an hour of adoration before the Eucharist (which was the central theme of Pope Benedict XVI), and then watched the World Youth Day Vigil on video, listening especially to the Pope's address to the young people. Below are some pictures from Cologne at Home. Further down in the blog you can find links to the Holy Father's talks to the young people at World Youth Day.

2005-08-25T08:47:00.000-07:00

Sr. Margaret Michael and Sr. Helena led us in the hand motions for Yes, Lord, in our Praise and Worship warm up.
(c) Daughters of St. Paul

2005-08-25T08:46:00.000-07:00

Sr. Rebecca led us in song (at the mike) together with the novices and postulants who are musicians.
(c) Daughters of St. Paul

2005-08-25T08:45:00.000-07:00

Sr. Carmen, Sr. Karen (at the keyboard), and Kelly provide some of the music.
(c) Daughters of St. Paul

Postmistressses of God

2005-08-25T08:32:00.000-07:00

2005-08-22T07:19:00.000-07:00

Homily of Benedict XVI for WYD Mass

2005-08-21T16:44:00.000-07:00

The homily of Benedict XVI for the Mass at WYD was fantastic. It reminded us of WYD in Toronto, just two years ago. At that Mass, Pope John Paul II had said at the end, "You will meet in Germany for the next WYD in 2005." It was a sad moment, since he usually said "I will meet you at WYD in..." But over a million young people turned out to celebrate their faith with Benedict XVI. In case you didn't catch his homily on TV, you can read it at:

http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/homilies/2005/documents/hf_ben-xvi_hom_20050821_20th-world-youth-day_en.html

2005-08-21T16:40:00.000-07:00

This week three postulants entered Novitiate--Karen, Jamie and Kim. They are pictured here during the ceremony which took place in our Boston Chapel, along with Sr. Margaret Christopher, the Provincial and Sr. Karen Marie, the Novice Mistress. Below are pictures of the new novices greeting members of the community. As novices they become members of the community and will study the charism and religious more deeply in preparation for their consecration in religious profession in two years. Any e-mails you would like to send to them can be sent to kanderson@paulinemedia.com.
(c) Daughters of St. Paul

2005-08-21T16:36:00.001-07:00

Sr. Karen, Sr. Jamie, and Sr. Kim during the entrance into Novitiate.
(c) Daughters of St. Paul

2005-08-21T16:36:00.000-07:00

Sr. Karen and Sr. Sharon Ann.
(c) Daughters of St. Paul

2005-08-21T16:35:00.001-07:00

Postulant Lynette and Sr. Jamie.
(c) Daughters of St. Paul

2005-08-21T16:35:00.000-07:00

Sr. Kim and Postulant Ana Maria.
(c) Daughters of St. Paul

2005-08-21T16:34:00.000-07:00

The new novices, Sr. Kim, Sr. Jamie, and Sr. Karen.
(c) Daughters of St. Paul

2005-08-21T16:33:00.000-07:00

The novices and postulants
(c) Daughters of St. Paul

2005-08-21T16:32:00.000-07:00

Sr Jamie and Sr. Concetta
(c) Daughters of St. Paul

Give Jesus the "right of free speech"

2005-08-19T06:17:00.000-07:00

Pope's Message to Young People"Let Yourselves Be Surprised by Christ!" COLOGNE, Germany, AUG. 18, 2005 (Zenit.org).- Here is a translation of the message Benedict XVI addressed from a ship on the Rhine River this afternoon to young people gathered in Cologne. * * *

[In German] Dear Young People, I am delighted to meet you here in Cologne on the banks of the Rhine! You have come from various parts of Germany, Europe and the rest of the world as pilgrims in the footsteps of the Magi. Following their route, you too want to find Jesus. Like them, you have begun this journey in order to contemplate, both personally and with others, the face of God revealed by the Child in the manger. Like yourselves, I too have set out to join you in kneeling before the consecrated white Host in which the eyes of faith recognize the real presence of the Savior of the world. Together, we will continue to meditate on the theme of this World Youth Day: "We Have Come To Worship Him" (Matthew 2:2).

[In English] With great joy I welcome you, dear young people. You have come here from near and far, walking the streets of the world and the pathways of life. My particular greeting goes to those who, like the Magi, have come from the East. You are the representatives of so many of our brothers and sisters who are waiting, without realizing it, for the star to rise in their skies and lead them to Christ, Light of the Nations, in whom they will find the fullest response to their hearts' deepest desires. I also greet with affection those among you who have not been baptized, and those of you who do not yet know Christ or have not yet found a home in his Church. Pope John Paul II had invited you in particular to come to this gathering; I thank you for deciding to come to Cologne. Some of you might perhaps describe your adolescence in the words with which Edith Stein, who later lived in the Carmel in Cologne, described her own: "I consciously and deliberately lost the habit of praying." During these days, you can once again have a moving experience of prayer as dialogue with God, the God who we know loves us and whom we in turn wish to love. To all of you I appeal: Open wide your hearts to God! Let yourselves be surprised by Christ! Let him have "the right of free speech" during these days! Open the doors of your freedom to his merciful love! Share your joys and pains with Christ, and let him enlighten your minds with his light and touch your hearts with his grace. In these days blessed with sharing and joy, may you have a liberating experience of the Church as the place where God's merciful love reaches out to all people. In the Church and through the Church you will meet Christ, who is waiting for you.

[In French] Today, as I arrive in Cologne to take part with you in the 20th World Youth Day, I naturally recall with deep gratitude the Servant of God so greatly loved by us all, Pope John Paul II, who had the inspired idea of calling young people from all over the world to join in celebrating Christ, the one Redeemer of the human race. Thanks to the profound dialogue which developed over more than 20 years between the Pope and young people, many of them were able to deepen their faith, forge bonds of communion, develop a love for the Good News of salvation in Christ and a desire to proclaim it throughout the world. That great Pope understood the challenges faced by young people today and, as a sign of his trust in them, he did not hesitate to spur them on to be courageous heralds of the Gospel and intrepid builders of the civilization of truth, love and peace. Today it is my turn to take up this extraordinary spiritual legacy bequeathed to us by Pope John Paul II. He loved you -- you realized that and you returned his love with all your youthful enthusiasm. Now all of us together have to put his teaching into practice. It is this commitment which has brought us here to Cologne, as pilgrims in the footsteps of the Magi. According to tradition, the names of the Magi in Greek were Melchior, Gaspar and Balthasar. Matthew, in his Gospel, tells of the question which burned in the hearts of the Magi: "Where is the infant king of the Jews?" (Matthew 2:2). It was in order to search for him that they set out on the long journey to Jerusalem. This was why they withstood hardships and sacrifices, and never yielded to discouragement or the temptation to give up and go home. Now that they were close to their goal, they had no other question than this. We too have come to Cologne because in our hearts we have the same urgent question that prompted the Magi from the East to set out on their journey, even if it is differently expressed. It is true that today we are no longer looking for a king, but we are concerned for the state of the world and we are asking: "Where do I find standards to live by, what are the criteria that govern responsible cooperation in building the present and the future of our world? On whom can I rely? To whom shall I entrust myself? Where is the One who can offer me the response capable of satisfying my heart's deepest desires?" The fact that we ask questions like these means that we realize our journey is not over until we meet the One who has the power to establish that universal Kingdom of justice and peace to which all people aspire but which they are unable to build by themselves. Asking such questions also means searching for Someone who can neither deceive nor be deceived, and who therefore can offer a certainty so solid that we can live for it and, if need be, even die for it.

[In Spanish] Dear friends, when questions like these appear on the horizon of life, we must be able to make the necessary choices. It is like finding ourselves at a crossroads: which direction do we take? The one prompted by the passions or the one indicated by the star which shines in your conscience? The Magi heard the answer: "In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it is written by the prophet" (Matthew 2:5), and, enlightened by these words, they chose to press forward to the very end. From Jerusalem they went on to Bethlehem. In other words, they went from the word which showed them where to find the King of the Jews whom they were seeking, all the way to the end, to an encounter with the King who was at the same time the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Those words are also spoken for us. We too have a choice to make. If we think about it, this is precisely our experience when we share in the Eucharist. For in every Mass the liturgy of the Word introduces us to our participation in the mystery of the cross and resurrection of Christ and hence introduces us to the Eucharistic Meal, to union with Christ. Present on the altar is the One whom the Magi saw lying in the manger: Christ, the living Bread who came down from heaven to give life to the world, the true Lamb who gives his own life for the salvation of humanity. Enlightened by the Word, it is in Bethlehem -- the "House of Bread" -- that we can always encounter the inconceivable greatness of a God who humbled himself even to appearing in a manger, to giving himself as food on the altar. We can imagine the awe which the Magi experienced before the Child in swaddling clothes. Only faith enabled them to recognize in the face of that Child the King whom they were seeking, the God to whom the star had guided them. In him, crossing the abyss between the finite and the infinite, the visible and the invisible, the Eternal entered time, the Mystery became known by entrusting himself to us in the frail body of a small child. "The Magi are filled with awe by what they see; heaven on earth and earth in heaven; man in God and God in man; they see enclosed in a tiny body the One whom the entire world cannot contain" (St. Peter Chrysologus, Serm. 160, No. 2). In these days, during this "Year of the Eucharist," we will turn with the same awe to Christ present in the Tabernacle of mercy, in the Sacrament of the Altar.

[In Italian] Dear young people, the happiness you are seeking, the happiness you have a right to enjoy has a name and a face: It is Jesus of Nazareth, hidden in the Eucharist. Only he gives the fullness of life to humanity! With Mary, say your own "yes" to God, for he wishes to give himself to you. I repeat today what I said at the beginning of my pontificate: "If we let Christ into our lives, we lose nothing, nothing, absolutely nothing of what makes life free, beautiful and great. No! Only in this friendship are the doors of life opened wide. Only in this friendship is the great potential of human existence truly revealed. Only in this friendship do we experience beauty and liberation" (Homily at the Mass of Inauguration, April 24).

Be completely convinced of this: Christ takes from you nothing that is beautiful and great, but brings everything to perfection for the glory of God, the happiness of men and women, and the salvation of the world. In these days I encourage you to commit yourselves without reserve to serving Christ, whatever the cost. The encounter with Jesus Christ will allow you to experience in your hearts the joy of his living and life-giving presence, and enable you to bear witness to it before others. Let your presence in this city be the first sign and proclamation of the Gospel, thanks to the witness of your actions and your joy. Let us raise our hearts in a hymn of praise and thanksgiving to the Father for the many blessings he has given us and for the gift of faith which we will celebrate together, making it manifest to the world from this land in the heart of Europe, a Europe which owes so much to the Gospel and its witnesses down the centuries.

[In German] And now I shall go as a pilgrim to the Cathedral of Cologne, to venerate the relics of the holy Magi who left everything to follow the star which was guiding them to the Savior of the human race. You too, dear young people, have already had, or will have, the opportunity to make the same pilgrimage. These relics are only the poor and frail sign of what those men were and what they experienced so many centuries ago. The relics direct us toward God himself: it is he who, by the power of his grace, grants to weak human beings the courage to bear witness to him before the world. By inviting us to venerate the mortal remains of the martyrs and saints, the Church does not forget that, in the end, these are indeed just human bones, but they are bones that belonged to individuals touched by the transcendent power of God. The relics of the saints are traces of that invisible but real presence which sheds light upon the shadows of the world and reveals the Kingdom of Heaven in our midst. They cry out with us and for us: "Maranatha!" -- "Come Lord Jesus!" My dear friends, I make these words my farewell, and I invite you to the Saturday evening Vigil. I shall see you then!

Sermon from the First Catechesis -- World Youth Day XX

2005-08-17T18:19:00.000-07:00

Sermon at the Mass following the catechesis
Cardinal Joachim Meisner, Archbishop of Cologne on 17 August 2005 in the Eisstadion in Neuss

Dear Brothers and Sisters,
1. The Three Wise Men were Christ’s first pilgrims, and for us they are at the same time the great pace-setters in our search for Jesus Christ. – But this is not all! This also makes them the great prayer leaders of Christianity. Their lives are a clear indication: “When God approaches, it’s decision time”. The three set off on their search for God and follow the star until they have found it. As strong as the impact of the God’s presence is on Man, it does not paralyze him! On the contrary! Through God, people become awake, alive and free. We can see this in Mary in Nazareth at the proclamation, in the way in which she, as a young person aged 16, grew beyond herself so to speak in the face of this dramatic situation. She was not confused and broken. She thinks and she asks. And she answers in an astonishing manner. And in doing, so she decides the Salvation of the World. Never did words come from a human mouth which had a more significant impact. And God expected these all-important words to come from a young person.

God asks young people to run the road of life for nothing less than Himself, the greatest asset. For humans, everything is at stake. Those who truly realize this take a deep breath. Hence, Man is empowered before God to take decisions which would otherwise be beyond his ability. The three Wise Men from the East leave their past and set off to God’s great future by kneeling down before the Lord and worshipping Him and bringing Him gifts.

2. Dear young friends, God does not want people who are pushed. God’s perspective on life, especially on the true life, addresses the individual, and is not concerned with trends, not with what happens to be “in”, not with what everyone says, thinks and does. It is about the will of the individual which makes them kneel down before the face of the Living God. Such human willingness makes His joy whole. Here, in the truest sense of the word: “Man’s willingness is his heaven”.

3. As the Three Wise Men have shown us, we should pray together. Song is the highest form of worship. It is at the same time the most potent form of worship. This is presumably why singing together is also the order of the day. Worship needs song like a bird needs air. The shepherds were informed in Bethlehem by angels’ song that something unheard of had just taken place. Christianity made this song its own and repeated it from one century to the next: "Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests." (cf. Lk 2:14). For this reason, the preparatory committee attempted to find a song for World Youth Day linking the hearts of the young people with God and one another. With “Gloria in excelsis Deo”, I always have to think of the woman who brought us this wonderful song. How do we actually know that the birth of the Lord was greeted with these words? It is not the shepherds who reported it to the Evangelists, as they never met them. It was also not St. Joseph, who had already died when the Lord selected His Apostles. Along with all the wonderful things reported to us by the Evangelist Luke about the events in Bethlehem, these words were kept in the heart of the Lord’s Mother Mary: “And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart.“ (Lk 2:19). The Gloria was the song of the angels and Mary’s secret song before it became our song. It is from them and from her that we can receive the joy of God and His Glory.

The Gospel says of the Three Wise Men: “and on entering the house they saw the child with Mary his mother. They prostrated themselves and did him homage.” (Mt 2:11). This means that in worshiping Christ we find ourselves next to the young Mary, who also worships and who sings the song to us. Singing people are always believing people. We must ensure that our communities become singing communities once more, thus making them believing and hence worshipping ones. In singing worship, people learn that peace on earth is only given if homage is given to God above first of all. Peace among people is born out of homage to God, which Man sings to Him. Homage to God is Man’s peace.

4. If in these days of the world youth meeting we kneel down before the Lord who became one of us, this is the most direct and profoundest expression of brotherhood among us humans. Worship permits me to recognize that God knows me in a highly personal manner, as if I were alone in the world. Globalization permits humans to gain an awareness of a magnitude of scale in which they perceive themselves as a mere spec of dust in an overwhelming mass of existence. The saving grace of this mentality lies in the small word “You”, especially since this refers to the great “You” whom we call God and before whom we prostrate ourselves to worship Him. This is frequently the case: The greatest can be found in the smallest; the great explosive force can be found in the smallest atom; the great God who became Man, Jesus Christ, in the diminutive Host; the great Salvation of the world in the unassuming words: “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased”. We may say this “You” when worshiping God because the Virgin of Nazareth found grace with Him. She leads us to God via ourselves and to the individual next to us, in other words to the “You” and to the “I”. God Himself pushed back the curtain that separated the world from Him, and He enters our space and our time, in person.

5. At that time, He approached the astonished girl from Nazareth through the angel’s proclamation. And it now becomes clear that this is how He approaches and wins us as people. Since then, we have dared to say “You” in our worship. This unique “You” is what we say to Him. This “You”, that is the unique characteristic of the hour of His birth in the Holy Trinity, when the Father placed His Son in His “You” as an expression of His very self, may now resound on earth since He became one of us and makes our “You” become His “You” in worship.

6. The Holy Father John Paul II could not have conceivably given us a better motto for World Youth Day than: “We have come to worship HIM”. As at that time, the three Wise Men stepped out of the darkness of time into the light of Bethlehem, now many young people from 193 countries of the earth with all their positive and negative sides have come to the Epiphany of the Lord to Cologne. And they will return from here to their home countries in a few days’ time – and I have been praying for this for many years – greater, happier and more blessed – as did the Three Wise Men in their turn. Man is never greater than when he kneels down to worship because he is never more liken to God than when he kneels down and worships. Man is never further than where he kneels down in worship because God’s breath touches and moves him at that time. And Man is nowhere closer to the earth than where he kneels down and worships because God wants not only Man, but the earth which is not to end in chaos, but in the cosmos of His Glory. “God wants the earth”, says Saint Teresa of Avila, “So let there be no coward among you!” Amen.

Cardinal Joachim Meisner Archbishop of Köln

Interview with Benedict XVI--World Youth Day

2005-08-16T17:03:00.000-07:00

Benedict XVI on Youth, the Faith, and MoreInterview With Vatican Radio CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy, AUG. 16, 2005 (Zenit.org).-
Here is the text of an exclusive interview Benedict XVI gave to Vatican Radio and broadcast Monday, ahead of his trip to World Youth Day in Germany. * * *

Q: Holy Father, on April 25 you said: "I'm looking forward to Cologne." Can you describe your feelings more concretely?
Benedict XVI: Yes -- in many ways. First of all, I have spent several wonderful years in the Rhineland, so I'm simply delighted to breathe in the character of the Rhineland, of this international city and all that is connected to it. Then there is also the fact that Providence wanted my first trip abroad to take me to Germany. I would not have dared to have initiated it. But if the Almighty God decides to do something like that to you, then one can only be delighted. And also, this first trip abroad will be an encounter with young people from all over the world. It is always wonderful to encounter the youth, because they are full of problems -- but perhaps also full of hope, full of zest and expectation, because young people contain the dynamic of the future, and hence the encounter with them also makes oneself more sweeping, more joyful and open. These are several of the reasons which have since then strengthened the joy within me, and not at all diminished it.

Q: Holy Father, can you tell me what you would like to transmit to the youth of the world? What is the main issue you would like to "bring about"?
Benedict XVI: Yes -- I would like to show them how beautiful it is to be Christian, because the widespread idea which continues to exist is that Christianity is composed of laws and bans which one has to keep and, hence, is something toilsome and burdensome -- that one is freer without such a burden. I want to make clear that it not a burden to be carried by a great love and realization, but it is like having wings. It is wonderful to be a Christian with this knowledge that it gives us a great breadth, a large community. As Christians we are never alone -- in the sense that God is always with us, but also in the sense that we are always standing together in a large community, a community for The Way, that we have a project for the future -- and in this way a Being which is worth believing in. This is the joy of being a Christian and is the beauty of believing.

Q: Holy Father, being a Pope means building bridges, to be a pontiff. The Church has an ancient wisdom and you are encountering a dynamic youth, which is not as wise. How can a bridge be built between this old wisdom -- and also an aged Pope -- and the youth? How does that work?
Benedict XVI: [laughs] Yes -- we will see in how far the Lord will help me. But in any case, wisdom in itself is not something stale -- as we in German connect the word "wisdom" with such a stale taste, but it is the understanding of the facts of the matter, it is the view of what is "essential." Young people of course want to learn about life, they want to newly discover life, and they don't want someone to regurgitate it for them. Perhaps this is the contrast one can see here. But at the same time, wisdom is also what the "world" interprets it to be, which also is again something new as, in the new context, it leads to what matters, and how one can achieve what really matters. In this regard I believe that speaking, believing, and living out something which has been given to humanity and has illuminated it, is not the regurgitation of something stale, but it is precisely suited to the dynamics of young people, who are also asking for the great and the whole. That is what the wisdom of belief is about, not that we know many details -- that is important for every job -- but, that we know, above all, the details of what life is about and how being human, and the future, is to be shaped.

Q: Holy Father, you have also said, "The Church is young" -- it is nothing old. Can you describe a bit more in detail what exactly you mean by that?
Benedict XVI: Yes -- first of all we say that she is young in the biological sense, meaning that many young people belong to the Church. But she is also young in the sense that her belief comes out from the fresh font of God himself. It is not a stale fare, which we have had for 2,000 years and which is reheated again and again; rather, God himself is the spring of all youth and of all life. And when belief is a gift, in other words the new water which springs from him -- given to us again and again, with which we can then live and which we may, so to speak, feed strength into the ways of the world -- then the Church is a rejuvenating power. There is one Church Father who once saw the Church and saw this strange element about it: The Church does not become older in the course of the years. On the contrary it grows younger, because she is forever moving toward the Lord, meaning she is going toward the spring from which youth, newness, refreshment, and the strength of life stems.

Q: You know the Church in Germany better than I and all of us, and the issue of ecumenism -- the unity between the Catholic and Protestant churches is a central question. Are there perhaps some utopian hopes that the World Youth Day may bring about a breakthrough on ecumenical issues? Does ecumenism play a small, medium or large role in this regard?
Benedict XVI: Yes -- it exists insofar as the task of unity permeates the entire nature of the Church and is not some marginal task on the side. Especially when one centrally lives this belief; it is the beginning of the path toward unity. Concrete ecumenical talks are, of course, not a large part of the agenda, since it is primarily an encounter of Catholic people from all over the world -- and, of course, also those who are not Catholic but who want to ask if there is perhaps something to be found. Insofar as this dimension will be present, it will be in the encounters of the young people themselves -- who, of course, don't only speak to the Pope, but, above all, meet with each other. I will have a meeting with our Protestant friends, but unfortunately we won't have much time together -- as the "daily work load" will be heavy, but we will have some time to reflect on how we shall proceed. I recall very well, and with pleasure, the first visit to Germany by Pope John Paul II. When he was in Mainz, he sat at a table with the representatives of the Protestant communities, and together they developed a strategy on how to proceed. The commission was then founded from which the Common Declaration on Justification emerged. I think that the substantial issue is that all of us, especially in the centrality of our Christian identity and not only in the particular moments of meeting, keep in mind this unity. This means that what we do in faith, is always essentially ecumenical.

Q: Holy Father, especially in our Nordic and rich countries, not only are more people turning away from the Church and the faith, but it is especially the young people. What can one do to counter this and above all, how can one perhaps answer the fundamental question -- What sense does my life have? – so that the youth will say: "The Church is 'the thing' it is 'our thing'!"
Benedict XVI: [laughs] Yes -- we all try to bring the Gospel to young people, because this is the answer we have been waiting for. It is evident that many heavy burdens exist in out modern Western society, driving us away from Christianity. Faith and God appear to be far away. Life itself is full of possibilities and tasks. First, one wants to grasp life on one's own, to live it as fully as possible. I think of the Prodigal Son who thought his father's house was boring, who thought he needed to take life on by the full, to seize hold of it and to enjoy it -- until he noticed that it is really empty, and that he was free and great when he lived in his father's house. So I think that, in any case, among young people the sentiment is spreading that all these diversions we are being offered and the entire leisure industry, in spite of everything that one does and can do, buy and can sell -- this cannot be everything, that there must be something more about it. In this regard I believe that there is also a big question which could also be the essential one. It cannot be all, what we have or what we can buy. That is the reason why the so-called market of religions exists, which offers religion as a product and, hence, degrades it. But it is a sign that this question exists. To really understand this question and not just talk around it -- not to put aside Christianity as something out of date or sufficiently exhausted, but precisely to let it be recognized as a possibility, because it came from God himself and is hence always a fresh possibility, it always carries and brings about new dimensions. The Lord says: "He will lead you into things which he cannot tell you now." Christianity is full of undiscovered dimensions and it shows itself fresh and anew if one poses his questions again fundamentally. In other words: It is the meeting point of the question which is there and the answer which we are living, and through the question we receive it anew. This should be the event of the encounter between the proclamation of the Gospel and young people.

Q: At the moment, I'm living with the feeling that Europe is more and more giving up, and that its human values founded in Christianity are counting less and less. Chinese and Indians are working very hard, are well educated, while we in Europe are lazy and morose. The main issue is Christian roots -- especially now in the European Constitution. Europe is in a crisis. Could perhaps World Youth Day, with nearly 1 million people, give the impulse to really search for the Christian roots, especially among young people -- in order for us to continue to live as human beings?
Benedict XVI: We are hoping for this, especially because such an encounter of people from all continents should also give the "old" continent, the host, a new impulse and help us so that we don't only see the sick, the tired and the missed opportunities in European history, because, after all, we are in a state of self-pity and self-accusation. Yes, many bad things have happened in all histories, but it is also in our history during which such huge technological possibilities have been developed, and have become particularly dramatic. But then we must also see what great things have come out from Europe. The entire world today wouldn't be living in the so-called civilization which came out from Europe if these good things hadn't originated in greater roots. Now we are only offering the latter. One takes only the civilization, but looks for different roots, and, hence, ends up with contradictions. I think that this civilization, with all its dangers and hopes, can only lead to greatness if it is tamed: If it re-recognizes its own springs of strength, if we again see the greatness, which will give this endangered possibility of human existence a direction and greatness. If we're happy to be living on this continent which has determined the world's fate -- for good and bad -- and undertake the ongoing task to rediscover the truth, purity, and greatness which gives us our future -- we will continuously, and even in new and better ways, stand in the service of all humanity.

Q: As a last question, can one formulate the ideal aim of the World Youth Day in Cologne? What would be the aim if all would work out perfectly?
Benedict XVI: [laughs] Yes, well, a wave of new faith among young people -- especially the youth in Germany and Europe. We still have large Christian institutions in Germany. Many Christian things occur, but there is also a great fatigue and we are so concerned with structural questions that the zest and the joy of faith are missing. If this zest, this joy, to know Christ would came alive again and gave the Church in Germany and Europe a new dynamic, then I think the aim of World Youth Day would be achieved.

[Translation of German original by Vatican Radio] ZE05081601

Human Weakness and God's Power

2005-08-16T06:24:00.000-07:00

Feast of the Assumption of Mary

2005-08-15T06:24:00.000-07:00

The Gracious Gift of God -- Sr. Kathryn

2005-08-12T06:42:00.000-07:00

Reflections on Jesus Walking on the Water--Sr. Kathryn

2005-08-09T08:23:00.000-07:00

A Salad--from Sr. Kathryn

2005-07-21T13:23:00.000-07:00

Today the young women for the Come and See Second Timers and beyond are arriving. I just saw one of the young women in chapel when I left. Today is Thursday so we have exposition all day long as we pray for vocations. In every Daughters of St. Paul chapel Thursday is the day to pray for vocations to Jesus in the Eucharist.

Yesterday I made my first podcast. It is at survivingdepression. podblaze.com It isn't a very great recording since I had the mike too close, but I actually got the audio file attached and up there. Podcasts open a whole new world, and we want to investigate it as we take down our present website and put up our new website these next months. If you have any ideas for podcasts, let me know in your comments. Surviving Depression goes with the book I wrote. It was the easiest thing to start with. But there are so many things that could be done.

Sr. Bernard is back in the US for a few weeks. She came in from Vietnam where she is working with young women who wish to become Daughters of St. Paul. She received a wonderful gift when her brother was also send to Vietnam from China to be the vocation director of the Vincentians there. It is great to see her again!

All the retreats have ended for the sisters in our province. It is the beginning of a new spiritual year for us all. The pre-novices are on their first 8-day retreat before they enter Novitiate. I'll have to get them to share something of their experience when they get off retreat. But for now it is complete silence and prayer. The postulants come back from vacation next week and then go on a three-day retreat at St. Thecla's. After that the new postulants enter and our communities will be together again.

St Theclas

2005-07-11T08:48:00.000-07:00

This is the chapel at St. Thecla's. We want to use it on our new vocations website which we will be creating. I have been for a week at St. Thecla's for ongoing formation conferences. First we listened to Sr. Anne Joan who helped us see our Founder's vision through the prayer Way of Humanity which he wrote and gave to the community as a Christmas Gift in the mid 1940s. We are sent forth in this long history which reaches all the way back to Genesis and even before when God first began to think of creating the world. And this history reach forth all the way to eternity, the book of revelation, when God will be all in all, and his kingdom will have come on earth as it is in heaven. We enter into this whole picture with adoration, blessings, and thanksgiving that we have received so much and have been chosen to preach like Jesus and the apostles that the kingdom of heaven is at hand--is here in Jesus Christ.
Then we had two days with Fr. Timothy on Spiritual Discernment and the spiritual life. Those who are discerning their vocation with the Daughters of St. Paul are certainly receiving come of this material through Sr. Margaret Michael. It was excellent.
Now I am home, my wings are clipped! I have to finish before the end of the year the book I am writing: Making Peace with Yourself. And we are half way through rewriting our entire website, working with a company to relaunch our presence--and Jesus' presence--on the web.
I hope you are enjoying your summer--I time of blessings and some free time to listen more carefully to the Spirit's voice.

Sr. Kathryn James
(c) Daughters of St. Paul

Happy Feast of St Paul

2005-06-29T05:01:00.000-07:00

Happy Feast of St. Paul!
(c) Daughters of St. Paul

Novena to St. Paul

2005-06-21T05:00:00.000-07:00

Novena to St. Paul--In a single moment on the road to Damascus, St. Paul died to all of his past faults, errors, obstinany, phariseeism, and to whatever chained him to the earth. He buried whatever the world offered: power, importance, influence. And in exchange he bore suspicion, derision, jeering and persecution. He freed himself of every pretense. He forget every need. Without possessions, without human support, without physical vigor, without sparing anything of himself, not even his life, he worked endlessly for all until death. Blessed Alberione
(c) Daughters of St. Paul

Novena to St. Paul

2005-06-21T04:56:00.000-07:00

Novena to St Paul--St. Paul believed: "God has willed to make known to me the glory beyond price which this mystery brings to the Gentiles...The justice of God which works through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe." St. Paul willed: "I will gladly spend myself and be spent for your sakes.... I have make myself all things to all." St. Paul worked: Paul exhausted himself in a high mission toward the whole world, certain of victorious success. Blessed Alberione
(c) Daughters of St. Paul

Novena to St. Paul

2005-06-21T04:52:00.000-07:00

Novena to St. Paul--In Paul's letters, even the most controversial, we always find a great inner joy and peace. Paul clearly puts his many tribulations alone with his joy, indeed a superabundant joy. "We have this treasure in earthenware vases, so that it may be seen that the extraordinary power comes from God, not from us (2 Corinthians 4:7). Paul realizes that this extraordinary joy comes from God: he does not produce it by himself. Cardinal Martini
(c) Daughters of St. Paul

Novena to St. Paul

2005-06-21T04:48:00.000-07:00

Novena to St. Paul--"I am praying very much for you--for all of you--that we may all attain the holiness to which we are called. I write these things to you not only with the pen, but also with the heart. I want you all to be saints: for this I have offered my life: that everyone of us may achieve the holiness God wants of us." Mother Thecla
(c) Daughters of St. Paul

Novena to St. Paul

2005-06-21T04:46:00.000-07:00

Novena to St. Paul--"What has God chosen you to do? According to your situation, God chose you to bring the Word of God to the world, as St. Paul did: according to your situation, which is elevated in the Church because on the one hand you write and on the other hand you print and diffuse. The Pauline must know well the Church's doctrine, love it, feel it, and after meditating on it, imprint it on paper, multiply it by the means of the machines and diffuse it in the world." Blessed Alberione
(c) Daughters of St. Paul

Novena to St. Paul

2005-06-21T04:43:00.000-07:00

Novena to St. Paul--"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, just as he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before him in love." St. Paul
(c) Daughters of St. Paul

Novena to St. Paul

2005-06-21T04:42:00.000-07:00

Novena to St. Paul--"The Lord has given us a great grace. He has given us a vocation: the Pauline vocation! It is a great grace! And we have the promise that the Lord is with us. Do not Fear; I am with you. ...May St. Paul make his Daughters copies of himself: generous apostles who strive to do good and to reach heaven with many souls." Blessed Alberione
(c) Daughters of St. Paul

Novena to St. Paul

2005-06-21T04:39:00.000-07:00

Novena to St Paul--
"Consider your own call.... But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, things that are not, so that no one might boast in the presence of the Lord. He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus." (1 Cor)
(c) Daughters of St. Paul

Novena to St. Paul

2005-06-21T04:36:00.000-07:00

Novena to St. Paul-
Be worthy Daughters of St. Paul. This oft repeated invitation of the Founder resounds strongly in us and underscores the specific treasure of our charismatic heritage: to truly be Daughters of the Apostle Paul.
(c) Daughters of St. Paul

2005-06-15T11:57:00.000-07:00

90th Anniversary of the Foundation of the Daughters of St. Paul.

(from the community's morning prayer) 90 years ago today, a story of love and of mercy began. On June 15, 1915, the providential and historic encounter between Blessed James Alberione and Venerable Tecla Merlo took place. From that moment on, the lives of those great prophets of the Kingdom of God, revolved around the mandate of Jesus of Nazareth, "Go out to all the world and proclaim the Good News to all the world."

And what was the response of these two lovers of the Gospel:
To live and to communicate Christ the Master, Way, Truth and Life through the means of social communication.

This was how the journey of the congregation of the Daughters of St. Paul in the church and the world began. We have no boundaries. We are now present in 5 continents; we have 260 communities and 300 centers of apostolate.

Let us give thanks to the Lord for the grace to celebrate today our 90th Anniversary, in this year dedicated to the Eucharist, because the Eucharist is the source of our life and from there we were born! From the Eucharist, Blessed Alberione received the light of the Lord to begin the beautiful Pauline Family that we are today.

Today as we celebrate 90 years of existence, we lift up to the Lord our hymn of thanksgiving for his fidelity, and mercy: "Truly He has been good to us!" And our hearts are filled with joy.

Give Thanks

Give thanks with a grateful heart
Give thanks to the Holy One
Give thanks because He's given Jesus Christ, His Son

And now let the weak say I am strong
Let the poor say I am rich
Because of what the Lord has done for us.

Let us allow our hearts to be deeply moved as we recall these 90 years of life.
Let us call to our memories, the names and the faces of so many walkers of God who have offered their lives for our noble mission.

We remember those who in fidelity to the call of God remain among us in the Congregation and those who, just as faithful in their search for God's will, continue to build up the Kingdom in other fields of mission, but who without a doubt, still have the fire of our charism and mission burning in their hearts and who draw strength from Jesus Master, Way, Truth and Life.

With our eyes fixed on Jesus our Master, we recommit ourselves in faith, to following in the footsteps of St. Paul, of Blessed James Alberione and of Mother Thecla, who with their lives have traced out for us the path upon which we walk today. From heaven they continue to bless us and strengthen us in our journey, until the day we celebrate with them forever the fulfillment of our Pauline vocation. We pray in the words of our Father, St. Paul.

Creed of the Called

We believe that God chose us in him before the world began, to be holy and blameless in his sight. (Eph. 1:4)

We believe that those whom he foreknew he predestined to share the image of his Son. (Rom. 8:29)

We believe that God who had set us apart before we were born and called us by his favor chose to reveal his Son to us, that we might spread among all people the good tidings concerning him. (Gal. 1: 15-16)

We believe that God has saved us and has called us to a holy life, not because of any merit of ours but according to his own design-the grace held out to us in Christ Jesus before the world began.
(2 Tim. 1:12)

We believe that Christ Jesus has judged us faithful and worthy by calling us to his service (1 Tim. 1:12)

We believe that we are apostles by vocation, servants of Christ Jesus, set apart to announce the Gospel of God.(cf Rm. 1:1)

Considering our vocation, we believe that God chose the weak of this world to shame the strong, so that our faith would not rest on the wisdom of men but on the power of God. (1 Cor. 1:27; 2:5)

We believe that to each one God has given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. (1:Cor.12:7)

We believe that we must live a life worthy of the calling, which we have received; with perfect humility, meekness and patience, seeking to grow in all things toward him. (cf. Eph.4:1-2)

We believe that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who have been called according to his decree. (cf. Rm. 8:28)

We believe in him whose power now at work in us can do immeasurably more than we ask or imagine. (Eph. 3:20)

We believe that he who has begun the good work in us will carry it through to completion, right up to the day of Christ Jesus, because he who calls us is FAITHFUL. (Phil.1:6, 1Thes. 5:24)

(c) Daughters of St. Paul

Depression Anonymous

2005-06-02T14:26:00.000-07:00

This past week-end, Sr. Mary Paula and I (Sr. Kathryn James) spent the week-end at Calvary Retreat House, helping to give a retreat to people who suffer with depression. I had written a book Surviving Depression--A Catholic Approach. This is what brought me to the retreat house's attention. I gave the spiritual component on Saturday morning and then spent the rest of the day Saturday and several hours Sunday morning speaking with people who wanted to talk privately with me--listening to them and their stories and most especially praying with them for inner healing, the healing only Jesus brings when he walks back into painful situations and surprises us with his love and care. It was a beautiful week-end, to see how our mission is reaching so many people we could never have expected to have known. Right now I am working on a new book Making Peace with Yourself. I am less than half way finished and it is due this December. Say a prayer for me as I work, that Jesus will lead me to the right stories and reflections and prayer guides for those whom he already knows will be the readers. Our Founder told us to write with our pen dipped into the ink well of the Spirit. We should write on our knees, so sacred is our mission and so privileged are we to have received it.

From Retreat--Sr. Kathryn James

2005-05-21T06:38:00.000-07:00

From Retreat--Sr. Kathryn James

2005-05-21T06:35:00.000-07:00

From Retreat--Sr. Kathryn James

2005-05-21T06:32:00.000-07:00

From Retreat--Sr. Kathryn James

2005-05-21T06:30:00.000-07:00

From Retreat--Sr. Kathryn James

2005-05-15T08:10:00.000-07:00

2005-05-12T16:56:00.000-07:00

Sr. Bernadette is going to Rome after her retreat to study about our spirituality and charism. We accompany her with our prayers. She will be sharing what she learns on her own blog so we can keep up to date!
(c) Daughters of St. Paul

Where have you gone?

2005-05-04T13:20:00.000-07:00

From Sr. Kathryn,

I have been away for four weeks. During that time a new pope was elected, but more about that later. I went to Philadelphia for two weeks of talks centered around my book "Surviving Depression: A Catholic Approach" and Discernment. I had a very busy schedule--but it was exciting. I often thought of Jesus and the crowds who followed him. He always had time for them. Jesus is so amazing. This is a taste of those first two weeks from our newsletter to the communities:

Her 2-week stint consisted of the following:2 Discernment Talks, one 4 hr afternoon retreat given to young adults at Temple Univ. Newman Center with 25 young people attending (one girl flew up from Miami for the retreat afternoon when she heard about it thru her boyfriend!!) and another 2 hour talk given to a group of Catholic Scholars at the Univ. of Delaware. Sister spoke to 2 religious communities- the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament (founded by St. Katherine Drexel) on the “Wisdom and Struggles of our Aging Sisters” (4 hrs) and a 2 hr presentation to a large group of IHM Sisters- “Depression –Witness to a Civilization of Tenderness.” Both groups of Religious loved Sr. Kathryn’s talk and 2 other communities who were present approached her after the IHM talk. I also arranged an evening talk at a nearby parish, St. Katherine of Siena, which Fr. Paul followed up with Benediction, and Pulpit talks at all the Masses at St. Martha’s on Sunday- a parish 10 min. from us. Of course there was a Bookcenter Talk on Depression one evening with 35 people attending and a Saturday afternoon Booksigning. The people at each and every event were extremely grateful to Sr. Kathryn for her encouraging, heartfelt words and for her kind and understanding presence. Many purchased her books which were available at all the events.

I came home for about a week and then took for Oregon to give a keynote presentation on Aging, Depression and Spirituality. The people there were so grateful. I was struck by this in such a powerful way. Oregon, along with Alaska, are the two most unchurched states in our nation. Last year 1000 white older males committed suicide. They don't have the possibilities for theological deepening and training and we have here in the East. Jesus was right when he said the harvest is crying out for the harvest master. He only needs people willing to work in the harvest, to take these tender plants and plant them in a new garden: the garden of the Kingdom.

I wish I could have had each of you with me to share in the consolations of our mission--often we see the fruits only as we enter heaven's gates. There, our Founder told us, many thousands will come up to us and thank us: "I read your book and you don't know what it did for me." "I heard your program on the radio and I had a deep conversion." "I found in the Book Center in Miami and it changed my life and saved my marriage."

2005-05-04T10:19:00.000-07:00

Our new pope! When he was elected our Mother General encouraged us all to renew our fidelity to the Church and to the Holy Father, pledging to work with him for the redemption of humanity. You probably have heard many things about Pope Benedict, formerly Cardinal Ratzinger. A man with a history that has divided conservatives and liberals in their reaction to at least his "media-created" image. I found an article which you might find enlightening. It was written by Ronald Rolheiser and is on his personal website. Here is the address: http://www.ronrolheiser.com/arc042505.html
(c) Daughters of St. Paul

2005-04-05T07:13:00.001-07:00

Remembrances of John Paul II--Mother Paula was privileged to meet John Paul II many times.
(c) Daughters of St. Paul

2005-04-05T07:13:00.000-07:00

With John Paul II in St. Peter's Square.
(c) Daughters of St. Paul

2005-04-05T07:11:00.001-07:00

Sr. Marie James with John Paul II.
(c) Daughters of St. Paul

2005-04-05T07:11:00.000-07:00

This pictures was taken the last time a large group of our sisters from the US visited John Paul II.
(c) Daughters of St. Paul

John Paul II: The Only Pope I Knew

2005-04-02T22:26:00.000-08:00

I was only a little girl when John Paul II became Pope. I recall the moment when I had my first profound “connection” with him – it was when my Mom told me that the Pope and I had the same birthday. I was forever proud of this fact! And then, I was even more delighted when I realized we were both of Polish descent. I had no idea how years later, his words and his presence would deeply influence my vocation.

This evening, as I spent time praying with my Sisters for our Holy Father before the Blessed Sacrament, I was filled with so many thoughts and memories:
--the swarms of young people on the streets of Rome traveling to meet the Pope for World Youth Day in 2000, singing as they went “John Paul II, we love you!”
-- the words of John Paul to all of us youth present there in Rome, “Do not be afraid to become saints of the Third millennium!”
-- seeing John Paul II in his “Pope Mobile” driving through the crowds of youth at World Youth Day in Toronto (2002), and then hearing him speak words that conveyed such love and confidence in young people
-- meeting him in person in 2003

These are just a few of my thoughts tonight as I grieve the passing of this man who was a great inspiration to me. I am filled with gratitude and love for John Paul II, who never ceased to encourage us, “Do not be afraid to open wide the doors to Christ!” He has now walked through the doors of eternity with Christ into the Father’s House.
-- Sr. Margaret Michael

2005-04-02T15:47:00.000-08:00

My remembraces of John Paul II:This is the photo taken on September 2, 1981 when a group of our sisters (Daughters of St. Paul) had the great priviledge of an audience with the Pope at Castelgondolfo. We participated in the Mass and then met with him in a hall afterwards. He greeted each of us individually, gave us a rosary. A couple of the sisters played instrments and we sang. We each had our photo taken with him as he made his way around the room. It was a Wednesday and so we stayed (that is, we waited in the bus .... no one could talk for a long while, we were in such awe of what we had experienced) until the noon general audience that he had in the small courtyard of the summer palace. In the years that followed, he always went to Rome by helicopter for the Wednesday audiences during the summer.
My mom loved this photo! We were the first group to be received by the Pope after the assassination attempt on his life the previous May.
May John Paul II rest in peace.
To me his legacy and gift to history is that he was a consistent apostle of human dignity and human rights, for the sake of the Gospel. It is especially fitting that he died on a Saturday, the day traditionally dedicated to Mary, the Mother of God and Queen of Apostles, by Catholics.
Sr. Rose

(c) Daughters of St. Paul

2005-03-24T12:13:00.000-08:00

Postulant's Apostolic Experience at St. Boneventure, Palm Sunday

(c) Daughters of St. Paul

2005-03-24T12:12:00.000-08:00

We were given about an hour to spend with 90 of their 2nd graders who are preparing for First Communion. 60 of them showed up, we split them up into two groups and there were 3 of us with each group as we prepared them for a brief time of Eucharistic Adoration. The adoration itself was about 10 minutes.

Before that, we taught them a Eucharistic song that Sr. Kathryn James wrote for the upcoming Kids Faith Pack. The title of the song is "Jesus is Here" and we definitely felt Jesus confirming our choice of song as we drove up to St. Boneventure's and saw a huge banner that said: "Welcome, Jesus is Here!"

When discussing the Eucharist, we asked the kids if they knew what Jesus had said at the last supper. They were all really well catechized and answered. "This is my Body," "Take and eat," "This is my Blood," etc. The discussion was pretty much over when this one kid suddenly added, quite seriously, "Jesus said, 'Whoever dips the bread in the dish after me is the one who will betray me,'" to which Sr. Carmen responded, with a big smile, "Yes... Very good. You know it very well."

(c) Daughters of St. Paul

2005-03-24T12:11:00.000-08:00

During Eucharistic Adoration, they were very attentive. We used a "kiddified" version of the Act of Adoration and intercessory prayers written by Sr. Ann Joan and they enthusiastically sang the song, with hand motions, to Jesus. At the end of their time with Jesus, they each received a card from Jesus, which says:

Dear ___________________

I'm so glad you came to visit me today!
Thank you for singing for me!
the hand motions were great!

I can't wait to see you again,
especially at your First Communion!

Whenever you need a friend to talk to,
remember that I am here for you!

Your friend,
Jesus

(c) Daughters of St. Paul

2005-03-24T11:54:00.000-08:00

Following are notes from people at St. Bonaventures. The postulants, Sr Carmen (and all sisters are welcome!) will continue to visit parish communities. The parishes are welcoming parishes from the merging parishes in the Archdiocese. They are working in collaboration with the Archdiocese to bring this welcome spiritual component (and a great book and media display)

Hi Sr,

I wanted to thank you and the postulants for the wonderful job you did yesterday for us!! I know that you brought the children closer to Jesus, and isn't that our goal? Your witness to our parish was magnificent! Thank you for all the good that you do!

On a side note, attached is an e-mail I'm forwarding to you from one of our teachers!

Thank you again! Much love,

Paula
----------------
I loved being able to go through what the Daughters had today. I picked up some awesome books for lent/easter and advent/christmas season. We might be able to use some of these activities in some of the summer or school year program. I also found some posters for stations of the cross along with a children's book of stations of the cross, I am hoping to use in my classes next year, along with a book for adoration which we may be able to use for guidance on the last day of our summer program, since many people may not have had the opportunity to visit the exposition of the blessed sacrament. I am very excited and can't wait to apply some of what I picked up. Thanks for making this available to us.

Terry

(c) Daughters of St. Paul

2005-03-24T11:53:00.000-08:00

The Postulants have been busy, doing outreach to parishes in the Boston Archdiocese, introducing members of the parishes to the Hour of Adoration, pauline style. But, I'll let you tell them about it....
(c) Daughters of St. Paul

2005-03-24T11:52:00.000-08:00

· As a postulant community, we were asked to form an apostolic outreach team.
· As we came together to begin our strategic planning, we decided to begin by studying John Paul II's papal document, Stay With Us Lord. (On the Eucharistic Year)
After reading and praying with this, we decided that we really desire to bring the people of the Archdiocese a direct experience of Jesus in the Eucharist, particularly during this painful/difficult time. We've also come to feel that during this time of reconfiguration, it's vitally important to give the people a unifying experience of the Church as Body of Christ. And what better way to do this than to come together in Adoration before the Blessed Sacrament?
(c) Daughters of St. Paul

2005-03-24T11:51:00.000-08:00

Mission Statement: To provide Parishes in the Archdiocese of Boston an experience of Eucharistic Adoration and of our Pauline Mission as means to share our charism, celebrate the Eucharistic Year and provide a source of healing and communion during the months of February - May.

Objective: To reach out as a postulant community to at least 3 welcoming parishes in the Archdiocese of Boston from February to May 2005 to provide people with a simple Program that shares an experience of Eucharistic Adoration and provides resources for ongoing formation.
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2005-03-24T11:50:00.000-08:00

We share our Pauline Eucharistic Visit with the parishioners through an hour of guided Eucharistic Adoration by applying the Truth, Way, Life method.

1. In Jesus Truth-focus was on the Word of God, we provided guided meditation to lead them into the scenario as described in the Scriptures, engaging their imagination as we help them to communicate with Jesus through the Scriptures. We also engage contemplation of the love of God through Christian Art or images.

2. In Jesus Way-share the Founder's thoughts or provided questions to help to assist them in the process of Examination of Conscience.

3. In Jesus Life-encourage involvement through things like spontaneous intercessions or leading the recitation of the rosary in their native language.

Theme: The Trinity
1. The Father: "Resting secure in the Father's hands"
2. The Son: "Encountering the Love of the Son"
3. The Holy Spirit: "Fire of Love-the Holy Spirit"

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2005-03-10T10:35:00.000-08:00

Sr. Donna Jean, one of our Junior Professed Sisters who just graduated with her Masters in Theology from St. Louis University, sent the following photos. The first two photos are from The Butterfly House which she visited. Two butterflies took a liking to her, as you can see from the photos. The following photos are from events held in our community of St. Louis.
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2005-03-10T06:40:00.000-08:00

Sr. Donna dividing a pair of butterflies.
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2005-03-10T06:33:00.000-08:00

These butterfies are an apt symbol for the end of lent and the arrival of Easter. Just as the caterpillars go through a stage of transformation in order to emerge as butterflies, we to, when we give ourselves over to the world of God in us, as Jesus did, emerge, not as Butterflies, but as women closed with Jesus Christ, radiant with the light of his face, and able to spread that light through the darkness.
(c) Daughters of St. Paul

2005-03-10T06:25:00.000-08:00

Just after Christmas our Juniors met together for a couple of weeks of classes, sharing and reflection on religious life. Since the meeting three novices have made their profession and become Junior Professed Sisters.
(c) Daughters of St. Paul

2005-03-10T06:03:00.000-08:00

Just before Christmas, our sisters in St. Louis hosted a Come and See for young women in the mid-West who wanted to take some time out to reflect on their vocation.
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2005-03-10T05:54:00.000-08:00

The young women who participated in the Com and See along with Sr. Helena (left) and Sr. Margaret Michael (right).
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2005-03-10T05:53:00.000-08:00

On their Contemplative walk through the city, they also visited the famous St. Louis Arch.
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2005-03-10T05:51:00.000-08:00

Come and See participants getting a tour of the St. Louis Book Center.
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2005-03-10T05:48:00.000-08:00

Here Fr. Geisler is signing his new book for a gentleman in our St. Louis Book Center.
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Holy Communicators

2005-02-21T08:48:00.000-08:00

(by Sr. M. Agnes Quaglini)
Heaven shines with the splendor of the Church's panoply of saints–martyrs, confessors, virgins, religious and laity. And on 27 April 2003, the First Sunday after Easter, our Founder has been declared “Blessed,” taking his place among this glittering host. Into what category does he fall? Fr. James Alberione is a confessor of the Gospel, an apostle who radiated the light of Christ in the immense areopagus of communication. He is a holy communicator.
The saints are works of God, works of art, each one uniquely molded by the hand of God. We can also say that saints manifest the holiness of Christ: they are the flower and fruit on the branches of the Church. They are unique because God never repeats himself, but the fascination they exercise gives rise to a cloud of witnesses–followers who draw inspiration from them and try to imitate them, each in their own way. Holiness is conformity to Christ, but Christ is perennially new and thus this “newness” is also expressed in his saints. We know how true this was of Fr. Alberione. He lived among many of us. We listened to his voice and saw his holiness reflected in his words and actions. Those who did not know him directly have heard “echoes” of him through his teachings.
In imitation of Paul, the Apostle of the Gentiles, our Founder lived and inculcated in his sons and daughters, and in the entire Pauline Family, an always more total conformation to Christ, to the point that “it is no longer I who live but Christ who lives in me” (Gal. 2:20). This is the stupendous innovation: to think with the mind of Christ; to love with the heart of Christ; to live and work with the very person of Christ to the point of attaining true unity of life with him. Only thus can we release from his life and from our own the spiritual/apostolic dynamism that will enable us to communicate the mystery of salvation with all instruments and express the missionary passion that makes us “all to all,” so that every person can participate in the Gospel.
In sketching out the identity of the apostle-communicator, Fr. Alberione used words that express a great spiritual-apostolic dynamism: “An apostle is one who carries God in his/her soul and radiates him to others. An apostle is a saint who stores up treasures and shares the overabundance of these with others. An apostle's heart is inflamed with love for God and for souls to the point that the person cannot repress or suffocate what he/she thinks and feels. An apostle is a vessel of election, poured out for others; a person to whom everyone hastens to quench their thirst. An apostle is a temple of the Blessed Trinity, who is at work in that individual to the highest degree. An apostle oozes God from every pore: through words, activities, prayer, gestures, attitudes; in public and in private; from his/her entire being. An apostle lives God and communicates God.”
Therefore, we must be holy communicators, or at least persons who are called to holiness: communicators who travel the streets of the world, who do not yet “shine,” whose light is often obscured because it is imprisoned in our corporality, but nevertheless communicators who, through our lives and instruments, both old and new, kindle light and create, even for those who dwell in the shadows, a desire to strain toward freedom from sin and a longing for the holiness of God.

2005-02-16T17:36:00.000-08:00

After sharing the projects of our circumscriptions together we renewed our union with the Master, and as disciples listened to his word to us.
(c) Daughters of St. Paul

2005-02-15T09:38:00.000-08:00

This week we are very busy in Boston, hosing the International English Publisher's Encounter. Sisters are here from England, Pakistan, Australia, India, Singapore, South Africa, Kenya, Philippines, and United States. It's wonderful getting to know sisters from around the world--we share the same zeal to spread the gospel through society so that society will begin to reflect goodness, respect for God, tenderness toward people, respect and love for each other.... We have quite a mission--much work to do. But it is not our own work; it is Jesus and St. Paul continuing the work they began when they were on earth. We only need to give them the freedom to work through us for the world. Following are some shots from the encounter.
(c) Daughters of St. Paul

2005-02-15T09:34:00.000-08:00

Sr Bernadette stands with Sr. Melba from the Philippines. Sr. Melba has been here before. She prepared for her perpetual profession for six months of study and prayer in the US with other Philippino sisters. It's great to see her again and come to understand all the ways she is immersed in our Pauline apostolate in the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, and Papua, New Guinea through our publishing apostolate there.
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2005-02-15T09:31:00.000-08:00

All of us studied the books and AVs produced by our sisters from other countries, looking for ways and means to work together in new ways.
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2005-02-15T09:30:00.000-08:00

The five candles represent the five continents represented at this Encounter. Our Founder told us truly, "the world is our parish." We cannot wait for those who want to come to church, we must go in search of these people and transform wherever they are into a place where they meet God.
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2005-02-15T09:28:00.000-08:00

We are learning that we need to work together: to think globally and act locally. Now I feel that I can be as concerned for the people who come into our book centers in India or South Africa as I am for those who come to our sisters in Miami or San Antonio.
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2005-02-15T09:27:00.000-08:00

Sr. Margaret Charles gave a talk on diffusion and marketing based on our experience of the last few years, sharing with the sisters from other countries.
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2005-02-15T09:26:00.000-08:00

In India and Pakistan our sisters wear the native dress of the country.
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2005-01-30T18:50:00.000-08:00

Outside chapel there was a candle representing Paulines all over the world in the 10 institutes founded by our Founder, as well as the picture of our Co-Foundress, Venerable Mother Thecla.
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2005-01-30T18:40:00.000-08:00

In the Entrance Procession the parents walk in with novices to be professed. Here is Sr. An Mei Marie with her parents.
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2005-01-30T18:30:00.000-08:00

Sr. Marlyn Evangelina is pronouncing the vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience and commiting herself to live with her sisters and together with them announce Jesus to the world through the means of social communication.
(c) Daughters of St. Paul

2005-01-30T18:20:00.000-08:00

The three new professed sisters, standing in front of the altar while the Magnificat is sung in gratitude for the gift of their profession and as an expression of trust in Mary's help to live what they profess. Each novice received a new name:S
Sr. Marlyn Evanglina (pronounced evan - helena)
Sr. An Mei Marie
Sr. Phivan Therese (pronounced ter - res).

(c) Daughters of St. Paul

2005-01-30T16:52:00.000-08:00

The new professed (first row, center) surrounded by the concelebrating priests, and the sisters who played a major role in their vocational journey. Sr. An Mei Marie's family brought the flowers from Hawaii, and were a sign of gratitude on the part of the three new professed.
(c) Daughters of St. Paul

2005-01-30T16:50:00.000-08:00

From left: Sr. Germana (provincial), Sr. An Mei Marie, Sr. Marlyn Evangelina, Sr. Karen Marie (formator), and Sr. Phivan Therese.
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2005-01-30T16:49:00.000-08:00

Two children in traditional Chinese costumes were part of the offertory procession.
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2005-01-30T16:48:00.000-08:00

Each of the novices was originally from a different country: Marlyn from Costa Rica, Phivan from Vietnam, and An Mei from China. Before the offertory the Vietnamese performs and dance that expressed the gift of these sisters' lives to God.
(c) Daughters of St. Paul

2005-01-30T16:46:00.000-08:00

Kelly, one of the postulants, playing the snares during the liturgy. She also plays the timpani and guitar.
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The Profession of Our Novices, January 29th

2005-01-30T16:41:00.000-08:00

Sr. Phivan pins a corsage on her mother before the Eucharistic Celebration in which she will make her profession.
(c) Daughters of St. Paul

2005-01-28T16:53:00.000-08:00

Saturday, January 29th, three of our novices are making their First Profession in Boston, Massachusetts. Sr. Sharon Anne wrote a letter to them that I want to share with you:

The Deepest Reality of Our Lives--Jesus Loves Us!
May you be full of peace:
the peace of one aware of being loved,
the peace of one desiring only to love.
Jesus invites you into the intimacy of his love,
to sharing his life and mission.

And when trials come in your following of Jesus,
do not be afraid because:
You have the Father cherishing you;
You have Jesus living in the Eucharist and in you;
The Spirit is praying in you;
Mary has you in her embrace,
delighting in you as she delights in Jesus--praying for you.

And you have us, all your sisters,
the family St. Paul has gathered together,
because we live off the faith of one another,
supporting one another, supplying what is lacking in us.

Let Jesus and Mary and Paul believe and love for you.
Listen to all the ways they tell you, "I love you."
Then go out to the world to spread this love
to countless others who await the Good News
of the deepest reality of their lives--God loves them!
Sr. Sharon Anne

We'll share pictures tomorrow!
In the meantime,
we invite you to pray for our three novices,
Sr. Phivan, Sr. An Mei, and Sr. Marlyn.
If you would like to send them your wishes,
please e-mail them to khermes@paulinemedia.com.
(c) Daughters of St. Paul

2005-01-22T13:26:00.000-08:00

I have been away and so unable to keep up with the blog. I want to share with you a prayer for those who have been affected by the Tsunami. Our community spent an evening in prayer for the victims and those who were bringing aid to those who will need to rebuild their lives. I am sure you have prayed also. Now the attention of the media may begin to slacken, and the plight of these our brothers and sisters may slip from our memories as we go about our First World life--busy and important. Religious sisters and brothers around the world, however, are committing themselves to stand by these people, these poor of our world who have nothing. We will not forget. All of our sisters in these countries are safe, although members of their family were affected and their lives are devastated. One of the Sister Disciples of the Divine Master was killed. She was driving the community in the car when she saw the water coming and shouted for them all to get out of the car. She herself, however, did not make it, and was killed. Please join with us in prayer and memory:
http://www.paoline.org/eng/in_preghiera/preghiere_varie/grido%20del%20mondo.htm

(c) Daughters of St. Paul

2005-01-06T12:51:00.000-08:00

Beginning Contemplative Prayer

2005-01-04T17:31:00.000-08:00

2005-01-04T17:26:00.000-08:00

A Blessed Christmas and a New Year full of many graces! God has become one of us! The Word became flesh!
The Christmas Season's reading at the Liturgy of the Eucharist are from the Prologue of the Gospel of John and the letters of St. John. Each day is a new jewel from the scriptures. 'The Word became flesh' cane something that we hear almost without reaction. But the enunciation: "And the Word became flesh" (Jn 1.14) is calculated to shock. The Word of God takes on a new form in a dramatic way. The Word is fully God (Jn 1.1c) and is now completely flesh (Jn 1.14).
The Word become flesh reveals something about the Word, but it also reveals something about "flesh." Flesh, like the world, is not evil. Flesh is compatible with the divine. Flesh could not reach up to become compatible with the divine. Incredibly, however, the gap has been bridged by God who reached down to become one with the human. The "bridge," furthermore, makes it possible for man to become sons of God and to participate in the divine life. Again the opening verses of the first letter of John reiterate the reality of the Word become flesh, "and living among us," and the wondrous exchange made possible by the incredible nature of this new turn of events: "this life was revealed, and we have seen it and testify to it, and declare to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us--we declare to you what we have seen and heard so that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ" (1 Jn 1.3).
Let us keep each other in prayer!
(c) Daughters of St. Paul