Friday, May 1, 2020

SSMN March 2020 Birthday!





SSMN May2020 Birthday's

Happy Birthday to some very Special Ladies

Sr. Teresa Honkomp May 10th


Sr. Lola Ulupano May 28th



Pray you both have a wonderful year!

God bless you and thank you for all you do for so many!

Comment:

Thursday, April 30, 2020

Lectio Divina for the Fourth Week of Easter



Lectio Divina for the Fourth Week of Easter

We begin our prayer:

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Almighty ever-living God, lead us to a share in the joys of heaven, so that the humble flock may reach where the brave Shepherd has gone before. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

(Collect, Fourth Sunday of Easter)

Reading (Lectio)

Read the following Scripture two or three times.

John 10:1-10

Jesus said: “Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever does not enter a sheepfold through the gate but climbs over elsewhere is a thief and a robber. But whoever enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens it for him, and the sheep hear his voice, as the shepherd calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has driven out all his own, he walks ahead of them, and the sheep follow him, because they recognize his voice. But they will not follow a stranger; they will run away from him, because they do not recognize the voice of strangers.” Although Jesus used this figure of speech, the Pharisees did not realize what
he was trying to tell them. So Jesus said again, “Amen, amen, I say to you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate. Whoever enters through me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. A thief comes only to steal and slaughter and destroy; I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly.”

Meditation (Meditatio)

After the reading, take some time to reflect in silence on one or more of the following questions:

• What word or words in this passage caughtyour attention?
• What in this passage comforted you?
• What in this passage challenged you?

If practicing lectio divina as a family or in a group, after the reflection time, invite the participants to share their responses.

Prayer (Oratio)

Read the Scripture passage one more time. Bring to the Lord the praise, petition, or thanksgiving that the Word inspires in you.

Contemplation (Contemplatio)

Read the Scripture again, followed by this reflection:

What conversion of mind, heart, and life is the Lord asking of me? The shepherd calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. How can I discern God’s call for me? What is God leading me to do? But they will not follow a stranger; they will run away from him, because they do not recognize the voice of strangers. What voices call me away from Christ? What temptations do I need to run away from? I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly. When do I feel most alive? What can draw me closer to God in those moments? After a period of silent reflection and/or discussion, all recite the Lord’s Prayer and the following:

Closing Prayer:

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. In verdant pastures he gives me repose; beside restful waters he leads me; he refreshes my soul. He guides me in right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side. With your rod and your staff that give me courage. You spread the table before me in the sight of my foes; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Only goodness and kindness follow me all the days of my life; and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD for years to come.

(From Psalm 23)

Living the Word This Week How can I make my life a gift for others in charity? Pray for those discerning a vocation to the priesthood, the consecrated life, or the permanent diaconate.

Text from USCCB
Original Text from USCCB

Comment:

From the Desk of Sr. Gabriela Martinez, SSMN



From the desk of Sr. Gabriela Martinez, SSNM

Reflection for Sunday, May 3

4th Sunday of Easter, Year A

In these times of Covid 19 and sheltering in place, most of us are probably finding new ways of entering more deeply into our prayer life and community life.  Our prayer is for our world, for those on the “front lines,” the sick, the dying, and all who service the needs of others.  Our community life is bearing new fruit because of the time of sharing and of being together in new ways.

The Good Shepherd theme in our liturgy comes as a great comfort this Sunday!  The readings give us hope.  Peter’s sermon from Acts 2 bolsters our courage. Psalm 23 reminds us of the peace, comfort and protection our Shepherd provides.  John 10 is rich in imagery of the ways that Jesus is our good Shepherd. 

To help us understand God as our shepherd, I believe that we are sent, throughout our lives, human beings who reflect God’s shepherding care.  When the Pandemic began in our country, I purposefully started recording all the happy memories of my life that I could think of.   I thought of people who had guided me, who were like shepherds! One vivid memory was of a neighbor across the street from where I spent my childhood, Mrs. Curtis.  My sister and I used to play with her daughter, Judy, who was about our age.  I have 3 vivid memories of how Mrs. Curtis shepherded me.

One day, when I was about five years old, I was at Judy’s house playing dolls. I was warming my doll’s blanket (very thin) at the gas stove when it suddenly ignited!! I just as suddenly remembered how you blew out candles on a birthday cake so I shook the blanket really hard to give it more air!!! It just gave it more fire!  Then, out of nowhere, appeared Mrs. Curtis, who calmly took it away from me and proceeded to stomp out the fire on the floor with her black granny shoes! I expected a very great reprimand from her. I knew I had done a bad, stupid thing. But since she was a gentle person, there was no reprimand at all to my great surprise and relief!

Fast forward to eighth grade.  I walked a block from the bus stop after school one rainy day and found I had forgotten my key to get in my house.  (No one was home!)  A major tornado came barreling down my street and I ran with Judy into her house. Just a few moments after we arrived in the hall, the tornado hit her house, taking the roof up.  All the while Mrs. Curtis had her arms around me and held on tight!  As the storm moved on, the roof fell back down on the front porch.  But we were all safe.

Then after high school, I was getting ready to enter the convent.  Since Mrs. Curtis was a seamstress, my mother got her to sew white pajamas and a black bathrobe (both required!) to take with me.  (She kept saying, “Are you sure this robe has to be black???)
             
This time of sheltering in place is difficult.  Many say that when it is over we will never be the same.  Yes, this is a time of transformation.   We are closer in community, closer in prayer. We are deep into soul-searching and, if you will, soul-finding.   Most of all, we are closer to our Shepherd Jesus:  listening for his voice, sheltering in his peace.  He is where he has always been, right here with us.

In today’s gospel, John 10:7, Jesus says that he is the GATE.  In those days if the sheep were in a sheepfold on a hillside, there was no gate and so the shepherd had to lie across the opening to BE THE GATE to keep the sheep safe.   Furthermore, in John 10:9, Jesus says, “Anyone who enters through me will be safe: such a one will go in and out and will find pasture.” In other words, where ever we go:  when we go out; when we come in, Jesus is there to keep us safe.


As we listen to and follow our Good Shepherd these days, let us give thanks for the many shepherds who have blessed our lives.  Let us also be grateful for all those shepherds who, like Mrs. Curtis, have held us tight through the many storms of life.         

Comment:

Pope Francis Comic Strip Quotes for February 2020

THE FRANCIS CHRONICLES:  April 2020

Francis, the comic strip



BY PAT MARRIN APR 30, 2020

Francis, the comic strip: Oh, the things you hear in the halls of the Curia.

Love the church, care for society, pope says at audience
BY CAROL GLATZ, CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICEAPR 29, 2020
Pope Francis asked Christians to join their love for the church with a caring concern for civil society, particularly at this time of the coronavirus pandemic.
  
Pope: Be simple, concrete like children when acknowledging sins
BY JUNNO AROCHO ESTEVES, CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICEAPR 29, 2020

Like children who usually speak without sugarcoating their words, Christians must be simple yet concrete when acknowledging their sins, Pope Francis said.





Originally published by National Catholic Reporter. Used with permission. NCRonline.org
Comment:

Friday, February 14, 2020

Happy Valentines Day from SSMN!



February 14, 2020

Happy Valentine’s Day!

From SSMN at OLV!

Pray all friends and family have a great time celebrating Valentine’s Day!

With just a letting chocolate heart!

Valentines poster with picture of the sister's when they were younger, 2 views, from OLV.


God bless you all!

Comment:

Monday, February 10, 2020

Rest in Peace: Sr. Mary Merdian, SSMN



“We believe that having died with Christ we shall return to life with him” (Rom. 6:6)

Sister Mary Merdian, S.S.M.N.

Nov. 4, 1939 – Jan. 26, 2020

Sister Mary Merdian  (Mary Adelia Merdian ), a Sister of St. Mary of Namur, was a native of Houston, Texas.  She said she was nurtured by her family, her Catholic faith, and her parish life as well as her early education with the Sisters of St. Mary at Resurrection School.

“Service” was a prominent word in Mary’s life.  She entered the Sisters of St. Mary in 1957 and took the religious name of Sister Matthew Anne.   At the University of Dallas, she
prepared to become a teacher, with Math her favorite subject.

Sister Mary’s first assignments were in the elementary schools in the Sisters of St. Mary network.  She taught or was principal at St. James in Dallas, St. Anne School in Beaumont, Sacred Heart School in Hollister, California, John XXIII School in Dallas, St. Mary of the Assumption School in Fort Worth, and St. Cecilia School in Dallas. 

Sister Mary was appointed Provincial Superior of the Western Province, which included convents and schools in both Texas and California, in 1978 and served two terms. 

In 1984 she returned to education work at St. Andrew School in Fort Worth, where she served as Assistant Principal under Oblate Clarice Peninger, who was Principal.

Community life was a vital part of Sister Mary’s life–sharing in community life as an assistant on the Provincial Council and growing in the Holy Spirit.

Leadership was one of her great gifts both as the Provincial Superior of the Western Province and as a member of the General Council on the international level.  It was there that she met and influenced many of the Sisters in the other countries.

As she said in one of her articles, “…our life is an endeavor to live in the simplicity and joy of the God we serve.  It was that simplicity and joy that I encountered as a child, and since have seen in so many of our sisters.”


Sister is survived by her sister Frances and her brother John and his wife Linda, and  several nephews and nieces, as well as all the Sisters of our congregation who knew her and loved her..

Comment:

Tribute to Sr. Mary Merdian

IN MEMORY OF SR. MARY MERDIAN







Comment:

Saturday, February 8, 2020

Soeur Marcelle Lalonde



God has called our dear

Soeur Marcelle Lalonde

from the community of Buckingham (Canada)
She died on February 7, 2020.
She was 93 years of age
and entered our religious family in 1946.

May our fervent prayers obtain for her the divine mercy  which she has so much desired.
Rest in Peace!


Comment:

Sunday, February 2, 2020

SSMN Share their Vocation Stories at OLV






February 1, 2020

News from OLV School:

The children started with this song!!

This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine!!

Sr. Lola invited Sisters Francesca Walterscheid and Sr. Louis Smith, from the Sisters of Saint Mary to share their vocation stories with our OLV students!!!

I’m very proud to see my two Sister come by to tell the students their stories.


Thank you Sisters Francesca Walterscheid and Sr. Louis Smith!!!



Comment:

Friday, January 31, 2020

SSMN Vocations at Work




January 30, 2020

News from SSMN Vocations

This picture from today’s event at Bishop Dunne’s School in Dallas for Catholic School's week. I was a panel member and joined a group of students for lunch. The auditorium was full. Great event!


Sr. Yolanda Cruz, SSMN


Comment:

Friday, January 24, 2020

SSMN REGIONAL ASSEMBLY

SSMN REGIONAL ASSEMBLY

Saturday, January 18, 2020

On Saturday January 18th, SSMN had their Regional Assembly, at OLV. Our presenter was Sr. Georgette Lehmuth, OSF. We stared with a Communion Service and had several topics to discuss starting with “Spirituality and Mission”; Philosophy of aging – Three Top Values and Our Chapter Documents.

It was a full day with breakfast, lunch and goodies.

Many things to work on.

Thank you to our presenter.


God bless us all in our continued work.






Comment:

Wednesday, January 22, 2020

SSMN International

January 22, 2020
SSMN International Sisters:
Activities from our International Sisters
Young Sisters on stairs
Praying Icons
Sr. Gabriela congratulation hug.
Congo
Rwanda
Brazile
Britian
SSMN working hard for education.









Comment: