Merry Christmas!!

Merry Christmas Everyone!!!
I hope you have taken advantage of all that Sister Jean Louise has been sending us.
I have had several people contact me about out next meeting in January.  As far as what I am hearing, it looks like our meeting is tentatively set for January 13 in New Bern.  Will this work for everyone.  Please let us know?

Just as a thought and open for discussion, on TV today I heard a program discussing how many non religious Christmas songs about the season are about the desire to go home or the lonliness of the season.  They showed many of the songs from White Christmas with Bing Crosby as an example; but didn't stop there, but continued with other more current musical selections.  Really made me pause and spend time looking at different events in my own life and others around me. 

As I told Jennifer several days ago in one of our discussions, God has seen to keep me busy enough this year that while missing the big family gatherings from years past, I have not been able to dwell or hide.  Each day has brought some grace, be it helping someone else, spending time with my husband, letting go of a son whose actions have me questioning not just who I am but what did I teach him, or just spending time alone at church in front of the altar.  After all isn't that what Christmas is all about?  waiting for Jesus to come into my life, where I am right now

May God, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit Bless You during this season of Joy and Love!

Pictures from Recommitment in New Bern

Sister Kieran and 3 Associates during Re-commitment

“On the morning of November 10, 1845, the three women

(Theresa Maxis, Charlotte Shaff, Theresa Renauld) met in the

church for the Mass...After Mass Father Gillet, reciting a prayer

over them, rested the stole for a moment on the shoulder of each.”

No Greater Service by Sister M. Rosalita, IHM

       

Gathering for prayer and discussion

The celebration of Founders Day on November 14th at the IHM Center was the occasion
for the recommitment of IHM  Associates. Associates in six states of the United States and
Sicuani, Perú also gathered in their Circles of Grace. In the past, associates renewed their
commitment on the anniversary of their commissioning.
From now on by designating Founders Day for recommitment to IHM Core Values associates will unite wherever they are in prayer and intention.
Similar is the yearly celebration of December 8th when all IHM Sisters renew their
vows.

November IHM Associates Newsletter       

Please read the full Newsletter sent by Sister Jean Lousie

Nessa starting her journey as a Youth Associate

 

 

    

 

and view more pictures from the Recommitment

Ceremony on Rose's Facebook page.                                    

Prayer request for an IHM Sister

Please pray for IHM Sister Betty Bullen as she is having really bad pain in her back.
    (Thank you for everyone's prayers, Sister Betty is doing much better.)
Father of goodness and love, hear our prayers for Sister Betty Bullen and for all who are in need. Amid mental and physical suffering may they find consolation in your healing presence. Show your mercy as you close wounds, cure illness, make broken bodies whole and free downcast spirits. May she and all these special people find lasting health and deliverance, and so join us in thanking you for all your gifts. We ask this through the Lord Jesus who healed those who believed. Amen.

Please add family or loved ones to our prayer list in the comment section. (You will need to set up an email account to log in).

IHM Founder's Day

IHM Founder's Day and Commissioning of IHM Associates

Sr. Jean Louise Bachetti, IHM
November 11, 2007

Founders Day: A Sacred Memory that Continues to Challenge

A vine you transplanted, O God. We, as the vine are here today because we choose to make sacred the act of remembering. We do this in prayer by celebrating and claiming the legacy of the founding of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in 1845. Through this special remembrance of memories that continue to challenge, we marvel at how relationships endure, how life is precious and how dreams become a reality. Today, we remember and celebrate the dream of two idealistic people, Theresa Maxis Duchemin and Louis Florent Gillet who broke ground, planted, watered and stirred up the powers that be. In spite of separation after two short years of working together, their relationship endured over 44 years in mystery and faith, not knowing if the other was still alive, but always trusting in Divine Providence. With so many odds against them, they had no idea that their redemptive suffering was truly bearing fruit on the IHM vine that "took root and filled the land." Watered by their tears and pain this legacy of mystery and faith grounds us today as we journey into a future that is not yet clear.

God works in and through mystery and slowly some of the unresolved pieces of our founding are still coming to light. In a recent paper he presented at the Conference of the Redemptorist Institute of Historical Studies in North America Father Gilbert Enderle, explained the extensive research he is doing on Father Gillet. In search of truth, he has discovered revealing information about Gillet that parallels Theresa's as they both became outcasts of the very community they founded. Both were tragic victims of harsh judgment from superiors and bishops; both suffered because of their zeal for the mission of Jesus, both eventually moved into other congregations, Theresa to the Grey Nuns in Canada and Louis to a Cistercian Monastery in France. Drawing from his research, Fr. Enderle quotes, Father Carl Hoegerl regarding the bad treatment that Gillet received, "A vindication should come from us Redemptorists because it was Redemptorists who treated him with embarrassing shabbiness. We do not think it too extreme or harsh to say that Father Gillet was more or less railroaded out of the [Redemptorist] Congregation because he was too apostolically minded." And Theresa too, at the hands of church hierarchy was maligned because she was a woman of color, a strong and determined woman ahead of her time. Perhaps Bishop Hafey in the introduction to our S. Immaculata's book on Theresa made an attempt on behalf of bishops to vindicate Theresa when he placed her among God's heroes and heroines. It's a stretch. When we look back at our roots, as Founders' Day gives us the opportunity to do, we see that the wandering in the desert experience of both Theresa and Louis was truly a dark night of the soul. Ineffective as they thought they were, weak as they perceived themselves to be, they were in fact what Paul describes as God using the weak of this world to confound the strong. Theirs is not a legacy that is easy to claim.

Living today in mystery and faith as prophets of vision and pilgrims of the dream (using the brilliant lyrics of our community song) finds expression in our mission statement to be a clear and understandable prophetic witness to the presence of God in the world, and in our direction statement that stretches us IHM Sisters and Associates beyond the status quo when we channel our energies to foster respect for diversity! I dare say, if we authentically live as prophetic witnesses and channel our energies to foster respect diversity, we will most likely find ourselves like our founders alienated and criticized for our solidarity with the immigrant, those who are perceived different and because of our stance against racism.

In her poem, "Christ in the Margins," Edwina Gately, has effectively described present day founders

Brave, reckless souls,
these founders,
who dare birth dreams
and run with them
down our city streets,
driven by a passion
that leaves us gasping
in wonderment—
and disapproval.
Brave, reckless souls,
these founders,
who would change the world
with their visions of God
and have us
(pouting saints and reluctant angels)
do the same.

Brave, reckless souls,
these founders,
whose lights we flee,
refusing to dance
to an unknown tune
lest it whirl us,
dizzying, into God.
Brave, reckless souls,
these founders,
who in league with Wisdom
(God's wild free Spirit)
forever run amongst us,
singing aloud
their songs of love
and trailing
clouds of glory!

(From her book, Christ in the Margins)

Like these present day founders Edwina Gately describes, Theresa and Louis, I believe, are calling us to be in League with Wisdom, God's wild free Spirit, and claim our legacy as Prophets of Vision and Pilgrims of the Dream. The questions remain however,

Will we prefer to be "pouting saints and reluctant angels" in the process?

Do we look at this challenge with wonder or disapproval?

Are we afraid to sing the unknown tune lest it "whirl us, dizzying into God"?

Where and how can we break new ground today?

I believe Founders Day gives us the occasion to stand on the shoulders of Theresa and Louis, broad shoulders that will hold us in their presence so that we can continue to claim the vision, to practice perseverance, to feel the passion and the hope of two dreamers, Theresa our founder and Louis our co-founder. It is saying to us as IHM Sisters and Associates that it is our mission today to live the legacy they have left us through this turbulent and uncertain twenty-first century. In the words of Sr. Michele's prayer I pray, "Give increase to our holiness; give increase to our courage...break our ground again, plant and water, stir us up, and nourish our growth within and without."

Date & Time of Next Meeting

Hello Everyone,

    Thank you so much for praying for my brother Patrick.   At this point they have moved my brother to Allied Rehab Hospital.  We are praying that they will be able to assist him in one of their excellent programs for short term and long term care.

    I’m sorry that I wasn’t able to join you for October’s IHM Associate gathering; however, I heard that everything went well.  Joy, thank you for taking care of the opening and closing prayers as well as the wonderful hospitality.  Thank you Debbie and Jennifer for sharing your beautiful gifts of leadership.

 We look forward to coming together Sunday, Nov.11, 2012 from 2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.  at St. Paul’s Parish, New Bern.

 Sr. Jean Louise will send us a copy of the Founder’s Day Prayer and recommitment for all 140 IHM Associates to pray next month.  Good for us that we are meeting so close to the actual Founder’s Day, Nov. 10, 2012.       

  See you all soon. 

     Love and prayers always,

          Sr. Kieran

PS

     For those traveling by van from Williamston, we will meet at the parish home at 11:45 a.m.

PS to the PS: Watch this site in November for a Founder's Day Reflection from Sr. Jean Louise from 2007.  This reflection is full of the History of Mother Theresa Maxis Duchemin and Father Louis Florent Gillet.

St Teresa of Avila is our Wise Woman for Today's Meditation

"There are more tears shed over answered prayers than over unanswered prayers."   I guess that means be careful what you pray for.  This  quote is from St. Teresa of Avila and she is the focus of our Wise Women from Days of Deepening Friendship.  

 Teresa of Ávila lived in Spain (1515–1582) and is known for her visions and ecstasies, also for her ability to attract friends and her pragmatic and honest manner of dealing with the life of faith.  Her writings on mental (contemplative) prayer have yet to be matched; in 1970 she was named a Doctor of the Church. 

 

It’s easy to find all sorts of St. Teresa of Ávila quotes. What isn’t so easy is sitting with them awhile and allowing them to sink in. Here is ample material for some meditation this week:

However much we do to avoid them, we shall never lack crosses in this life if we are in the ranks of the Crucified.

 

How is it, Lord, that we are cowards in everything save in opposing thee?

 

Mental prayer in my opinion is nothing else than an intimate sharing between friends; it means taking time frequently to be alone with Him who we know loves us.

You pay God a compliment by asking great things of Him.

One must not think that a person who is suffering is not praying. He is offering up his sufferings to God, and many a time he is praying much more truly than one who goes away by himself and meditates his head off, and, if he has squeezed out a few tears, thinks that is prayer.

Remember that you have only one soul; that you have only one death to die; that you have only one life, which is short and has to be lived by you alone; and there is only one glory, which is eternal. If you do this, there will be many things about which you care nothing.

From silly devotions and from sour-faced saints, good Lord, deliver us.

 Christ has no body now, but yours.
No hands, no feet on earth, but yours.
Yours are the eyes through which
Christ looks compassion into the world.
Yours are the feet
with which Christ walks to do good.
Yours are the hands
with which Christ blesses the world.