UISG Meeting in Rome

Sister Maxyne Schneider is in Rome attending a conference of the International Union of Superiors General--a worldwide, canonically approved organization of Superiors General of Institutes of Catholic Women Religious.

I will write with more depth of content later, but I wanted to get some material to you before too much of the week has passed. The conference has significant depth of content and feeling in its formal presentations and conversations informally. There is a noticeable change from three years ago both in seriousness of intent and in a number of external factors that signal that change as well as the simple internationality of the conference.

Three years ago there was simultaneous translation in six languages, while this time there are eleven with Polish, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese and Japanese. At my English-speaking table there are Sisters from Ireland, Australia, Nigeria, India, Tanzania and the US. One leads a congregation of 7000 and another is from a community of 36.

The theme, "Weaving Global Solidarity for Life," is meant as a recipe for effective action and not just a suggestion for pleasant pondering. There is much reference to the "charism of religious life" as an emerging reality in lives increasingly lived with global influence and global challenge.

Carol Zinn, SSJ (Philadelphia) delivered a powerful address on Monday regarding our crossing a threshold for global solidarity for the life of the earth. Mary Sujita, SND yesterday, echoing Pope Francis, called us to the peripheries where our Sisters serve across the globe. Our hearts were at once gladdened and deeply moved with the poignancy of human suffering in the afternoon panel on the UISG efforts against human trafficking, overwhelming migration of refugees, solidarity with South Sudan and the profound tragedies being played out in the Middle East. These brief words hardly begin to touch the realities spoken of in sessions or privately as Sisters told of the lives of their congregations.

Tonight Sr. Sally Hodgon, CSJ (W. Hartford), Vice President of the UISG, has invited all the Sisters of St. Joseph at the conference to the Chambery residence for supper. I look forward to it. I am sorry that the superior from the Institute that includes Le Puy is not at the conference. Sr. Catherine Barange from Lyons will convey our greetings to her, however.

I had the opportunity for "une petite conversation en francais" with Sr. Carmen Vergara,
the superior general of the"filles du Coeur de Marie" to greet her and express thanks for the hospitality of the DHMs.

Last evening when the conference ended just before 6:00,
Srs. Rosemary Brennan, CSJ (Boston), Anne Myers, SSJ (Philadelphia),
Kathy Dougherty, OSF (Philadelphia) and I stopped by Trevi Fountain
on the way to supper. Yes, wishes were made by all and mine included the Congregation!

More later...

Maxyne

Hello Yellow Daffodil

Here to show that we survived the April snow and the windy blow. Alleluia


 

The survival of the daffodils, buried beneath the snow for two days and blowing in the wind for two more has much to teach.
Daffodils symbolize rebirth and new beginnings, How appropriate that this common flower has appeared as such a strong symbol this second week of Easter.
May each of us find the blessing of beauty, new life and new perspectives. Be the one to say hello and watch the glow come to a neighbor's face.

April Showers?

Down in Adoration Falling

Perspective is everything.
 
It's early April. Spring came early following a very mild New England winter. Easter came early too, the last week in March.
Here it is the first week in April and the daffodils are bent low as they gaze in wonder at the snow. I took this picture yesterday. Most of those I showed it to commented on how sad they looked. My friend, Martha returned an e-mail with the above response.

Yesterday as we prayed with Mary at the Annunciation, we wondered with her "How can this be?"
Today we prayed with Nicodemus as he was invited to be born anew and enter life within the Spirit of God. "How can this be?"

I suspect these newly born daffodils, in their own way are pondering the same question.

Each of is invited anew this Easter season to live from the place of resurrection. It is a call to see what we think is apparent, to a possible different perspective. What is offering itself to us that might be an invitation to move from "How can this be?" to "Let it be"?



So many years ago in Bethlehem a baby came like a violet in the snow.

From this perspective we open ourselves to something new emerging. What is it for you?

A Taste of Mercy

Delectable Johnny-Jump-Ups: Taste and See 

Mercy has a humble way of being. It is as natural as these little Johnny-jump-ups that showed themselves to me last Saturday. My friend Winnie and I went out for a breath of fresh air. As we walked in the enclosed courtyard at Mont Marie Health Center, we looked in the planters where seeds of last year's flowers lay sleeping through the winter.
"Surprise! We jump up and show ourselves to let you know Spring is on the way." 
I was surprised to discover that these little beauties are edible. Such is mercy as well. She offers herself to be enjoyed, tasted and nourishing.

With gratitude I thank three more of my Sisters who offer a bit(e) of what mercy means for them. Taste and See.

Sister Mary Kate sees mercy as God's justice.

 

Sister Simone treasures her experience of God's  mercy

 

Sister Carol expresses the interchange of mercy.

New Life is Coming

Beneath winter's darkness, new life emerges!

Hope does spring eternal!

As we enter into Holy Week, may we recognize God waiting for us in the new life springing forth.

May we hear God's whisper in all that is coming up new.

ARISE!

 

Embracing Mercy

 As I continue to ask people to share what Mercy means to them, I am blessed over and over again. Hearing these  insights during National Sisters' Week opens for me a deep appreciation for the way the grace of our vocation connects us with God's Mercy in so many dimensions.

 

Today we hear from Edie, Carol and Melinda.

 

Sister Edie recognizes Mercy as one of  God's names. .

 

 

Carol Wren experiences Mercy as the core of our deepest humanity.

 

Sister Melinda finds mercy in her ministry of listening.

Shooting for Mercy

 

 

With camera in hand I roamed the offices at 577 Carew Street asking my sisters to share what mercy means to them. The individual responses give us all points to ponder.

 

Sister Roberta experiences Mercy as a call to profound love.

 

 

Sister Lillian reflects on the gift and the virtue of Mercy in her life.

Sister Betsy recognizes the grace that comes through Mercy.