Marian Sisters of Santa Rosa |Our Blog

Summer Summons

7/24/2017

Through obedience they [consecrated religious] find their deepest configuration to Christ
in the most fundamental expression of His union with the Father in fulfilling His Father's will:
"I always do what pleases Him" (Jn. 8:29). It is especially through obedience that Christ Himself offers to religious the experience of full Christian freedom.
~ Essential Elements

It is in obedience to God that we discover our most profound personal freedom. Each summer presents a unique opportunity for the Sisters to rediscover this profound truth as they are sent out in obedience to fulfill a variety of apostolic missions that are unique to the summer season. The first two weeks of July included excursions to Washington and Oregon as well as well as several events within our diocese, all opportunities to bear witness to Christ and bring those we encounter closer to Him through His Mother.

Early in the month, several Sisters had the opportunity to assist at Camp 12, the Diocesan camp for students in the 7-9th grades. In continuity with the diocesan efforts to commemorate this 100th anniversary of the apparitions of Our Lady at Fatima, the camp was focused on the message of Our Lady, allowing the Sisters to share our Marian charism in a particular way.

At the same time, several other Sisters were sent to participate in the Ignite Your Torch Youth Conference in Lacey, WA, an excellent Catholic conference for high school youth that engages enthusiastic religious men and women from all over the country to share the faith with the conference attendees through a variety of talks, small groups, communal prayer, meals and recreation. The conference generally invites one religious brother or sister or diocesan priest for every 10 attendees so that the young people have plenty of opportunities to ask questions and become familiar with the different vocations. The conference is always centered on the Eucharist and the Sacraments with a strong Marian dimension, but this year the theme of the conference specifically highlighted the message of Our Lady at Fatima and our Sisters' presentations were able to include aspects of the message. One Sister spoke on the value of redemptive suffering while another team of Sisters was able to share about sacramentals and the valuable place they hold in our spiritual lives. The Sisters utilized their experience with sacred music to join with other religious and staff to assist in making the conference prayers and liturgies beautiful and reverent for the glory of God.

Photos by Ignite Your Torch Staff

Each summer for the past four years, the Sisters have been blessed to spend a day with the young ladies attending the Little Flowers Girl's Camp. This year, the theme of the camp was "The Great Hot Air Balloon Race" to Fatima for the 100th anniversary of the apparitions of Our Lady, so the Sisters spent the day presenting the message of Fatima and its importance in our lives today. They were also able to join Father, the campers and staff for the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and a wonderful lunch.

Several of the Sisters were privileged to join Raymond Leo Cardinal Burke, Archbishops Alexander Sample and Salvatore Cordileone, our own dear Bishop, Bishop Robert Vasa, and other chant and liturgy experts for a three day immersion in sacred liturgy and Gregorian chant. This year's theme was "The Voice of the Bridegroom" and focused on the liturgy, Church history, and the role of Gregorian chant in the Church. The conference was intellectually, spiritually, and liturgically enriching and our Bishop gave an excellent conference on "The Heart of the Liturgy".

The Sisters listening to Bishop Vasa speak

Perhaps the most exciting adventure for the younger Sisters was Magnificat Days, a series of catechetical days for the youth of Our Lady of Good Counsel parish in Fort Bragg. The Sisters were again privileged to share the story and message of Fatima with their students through catechetical presentations, music, activities, and prayer.

Our Lady of Fatima, pray for us!

Mary, Queen of Religious, pray for us!

Mary, Model of Catechists, pray for us!

Perpetual Vows

7/16/2017

"By immersing yourselves in the Paschal Mystery of the Redeemer through the consecration of the religious vows, you desire, through the love of total giving, to fill your souls and your bodies with the spirit of sacrifice..." ~ St. John Paul II

Thanks to our dear friend and talented photographer, Gina Lopez of Urban Pilgrim Photography, a gallery of professional photos of Sr. Maria Faustina's Perpetual Profession of Vows is now available here.

We are very grateful to Fr. Raul Lemus who allowed us to use his parish church for the Profession Mass. It was a disappointment to not be able to use our beautiful Cathedral (which was closed due to the almost finished renovation project), but we thank Fr. Lemus and the good people of St. Joseph Parish who welcomed us so warmly.

Professional Photo Gallery here. 

Religious profession creates a new bond between the person and the One and Triune God,
in Jesus Christ. This bond develops on the foundation of the original bond that is contained in the Sacrament of Baptism. Religious profession "is deeply rooted in baptismal consecration and is
a fuller expression of it." In this way religious profession... becomes a new consecration: the consecration and giving of the human person to God, loved above all else. The commitment undertaken by means of the vows to practice the evangelical counsels of chastity, poverty and obedience... is the expression of a total consecration to God and, at the same time, the means that leads to its achievement. This is also the source of the manner proper to consecrated persons of bearing witness and of exercising the apostolate. And yet it is necessary to seek the roots of that conscious and free consecration and of the subsequent giving of self to God as His possession in Baptism, the sacrament that leads us to the Paschal Mystery as the apex and center
of the Redemption accomplished by Christ. ~ Redemptionis Donum, 7

You're Invited!

7/16/2017

Bishop Robert Vasa &
the Marian Sisters of Santa Rosa

Invite you to our 6th annual barbecue

When: Sunday, July 30, 2017

at 3pm

Where: The Smith Family Ranch

5390 Washington Street
Napa, CA 94558

The favor of your reply is requested by July 20, 2017.

Please call Carole Duncan at 707-944-9540
or send an email to dincan@aol.com for Reservations and or Raffle tickets.

Join us for a fun-filled afternoon of fellowship featuring:

Barbecue Tri-Tip or Chicken
Chili, Salads, and all the trimmings
Fine Napa Valley Wines
Great Desserts
Sparkling conversation
Elegant surroundings
Games for the Children/petting zoo
Raffle Items from the Sisters
Raffle (Courtesy of Ignatius Press)
Instant Wine Cellar Raffle
- (3 cases of the finest Napa Valley Wines)
- $25 per ticket or 5 tickets for $100
Cost in advance is $50 per person and $90 per family
Cost at the door is $60 per person and $110 per family

The Sisters serving food at the BBQ in 2016

We continue to grow! Please join us in praising God for His blessings
and in helping to raise much needed funds for our community.
Please invite Family and Friends.

BBQ 2016

The Eucharist: Heart of the Ecclesial Life

7/10/2017

0 Comments

"The Eucharist is the inexhaustible source of fidelity to the Gospel..." ~ St. John Paul II

"I would like to urge all men and women religious to establish an ever more profound communion with Christ by sharing daily in the sacrament which makes him present, in the sacrifice which actualizes the gift of his love on Golgotha, the banquet which nourishes and sustains God's pilgrim people. 'By its very nature', as the Apostolic Exhortation Vita Consecrata affirms, 'the Eucharist is at the center of the consecrated life, both for individuals and communities' (VC 95)....

"The Eucharist is the inexhaustible source of fidelity to the Gospel, for in this sacrament, the heart of ecclesial life, the deep identification and total conformation with Christ to which consecrated persons are called, is completely fulfilled.

'In the Eucharist all forms of prayer come together, the Word of God is proclaimed and received, relationships with God, with brothers and sisters, with all men and women are challenged. It is the Sacrament of filiation, of communion and of mission. The Eucharist, the Sacrament of unity with Christ, is at the same time the Sacrament of Church unity and community unity for the consecrated person' (SA 26)....

"Brothers and Sisters, let us penetrate the mystery of the Eucharist guided by the Blessed Virgin Mary and following her example! May Mary, Woman of the Eucharist, help all who are called to special intimacy with Christ to participate diligently in Holy Mass and obtain for them the gift of prompt obedience, faithful poverty and fruitful virginity; may she make them holy disciples of Christ in the Eucharist."

~St. John Paul II
(excerpts from his address to religious February 2, 2005)

Mary, Mother of the Eucharist,
Pray for us!

Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament,
Pray for us!

Mary, Queen, Mother,
and Model of the Religious Life,
Pray for us!

0 Comments

Contemplation

7/3/2017

Monthly Devotion: Most Precious Blood of Jesus

7/1/2017

"For this is my blood of the new testament, which stall be shed form many unto remission of sins."
~ Matthew 26:28

O precious Blood of Jesus, infinite price paid for the redemption of sinful mankind. O Divine Blood, drink and laver of our souls, standing between us and the Father pleading mercy.

With all my heart I adore You, sweet Lord, and offer reparation for the insults, outrages and ingratitude, which You continuously receive from human beings, especially those who dare blaspheme the Divine Blood You shed for us.

Bless this Blood of Infinite value. Bless the fire of Jesus’ Love who shed it to the last drop for us. Where would I be if not for this Divine Blood that redeemed me? Indeed, Lord, I have drawn if from You to the last drop. What love! Thank You for this saving balm!

May every heart, every tongue, now and forever, praise and thank this priceless balm, this saving Blood, this fountain of crimson Mercy welling up from the fountain of infinite Love. Amen.

To Jesus, My Heart, My All, Forever

6/28/2017

"By virtue of their dedication lived in fullness and in joy, consecrated women are called
in a very special way to be signs of God's tender love toward the human race and to be special witnesses to the mystery of the Church, Virgin, Bride, and Mother." ~ Vita Consecrata, 57

Gallery of professional photos here

Perpetual profession of vows of Sister Maria Faustina of Our Mother of Mercy

The final profession of vows is a solemn and grace-filled moment for the Sister, the Community, and the whole Church. It represents the moment when the Church affirms, ratifies, and makes permanent the response the Sister made to Christ's loving call many years before. She professes the evangelical counsels of poverty, chastity, and obedience according to the rule of life of her community, committing to strive for perfect charity in her way of life. By perpetual profession, the Sister enters into a spiritual marriage that is unbreakable.

The Examination

After the homily, the Sister to be professed stands before the Bishop holding a lighted candle. The Bishop questions her on her readiness to dedicate herself to God and to seek perfect charity according to our constitutions.

"Dear daughter, in baptism you have already died to sin and have been set aside for God's service. Are you now resolved to unite yourself more closely to God by the bond of perpetual profession?

"I am."

The Litany of Saints

Following the examination, the Sister prostrates before the altar for the praying of the Litany of the Saints. The Bishop asks those present to join in praying that Sister may be strengthen in her resolve and address Sister:

"Sister, you are dead to the world and your life is hidden in Christ. God forbid that you should glory save in the cross of your beloved Crucified Spouse, that having lived daily in Him, you may one day be conducted by our heavenly Mother to the eternal consummation of your Divine espousals.

The Sister is covered by the community with a black pall symbolizing her death to self with Christ to rise with Him in glory. This Litany of Saints is a special litany for the Rite of Profession and saints dear to the Sister and to the community may be added.

"Saint Maria Faustina, ora pro nobis!

"Saint Teresa of Calcutta, ora pro nobis!

Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, ora pro nobis!

At the conclusion of the Litany, the Bishop prays:

"Arise, and live ever as one in the world but not of the world.
Be not a foolish, but a wise virgin with her lamp ever trimmed."

The Profession of Vows

The Sister, holding a lighted candle, kneels before our Mother Superior to profess her perpetual vows, while the other perpetually professed members of the community stand by as witnesses. The Sister, the Superior and the Bishop sign the vow document on the altar, where it remains for the duration of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

The Solemn Consecration

After the profession of vows, the Sister kneels before the Bishop as he prays the prayer of consecration. This prayer is a prayer of praise of God's mercy, a brief synopsis of salvation history
and an asking down ofHis special graces on this His chosen bride that she may be
faithful and fruitful in her life of consecration.

The Presentation of the Ring and the Crown of Thorns

Following the solemn consecration, the newly perpetually professed Sister kneels before the Bishop to receive the gold ring of a perpetually professed member of the community (engraved within 'To Jesus, my heart, my all, forever), while the Bishop says:

"Receive this ring, for you are betrothed to the Eternal King. Keep faith with your
Bridegroom so that you may come to the wedding feast of eternal joy."

The Sister responds:

I am the Bride of Him whom the angels serve, who the sun and moon gaze upon with admiring wonder.
The Lord Jesus has placed His ring upon my finger. He has clothed me in the character of His spouse."

The Sister then is crowned by our Mother Superior with a crown of thorns:

"Receive, beloved Sister, the crown of thorns in memory of the crown of the Lord,
and through this may you know that not to be joined to your Thorn-Crowned Head, that is Christ,
is to be a delicate member, and if you bear the crown of thorns of tribulation in this life He shall render you, His spouse, a crown of glory forever."

At the conclusion of the Holy Sacrifice, the Sisters renew their total consecration to Jesus through Mary before
the image of Our Lady of Fatima as is our custom on all major feasts and occasions in the life of the community.

We are deeply grateful to our dear Bishop, Bishop Robert Vasa, for his ongoing support
of the community and for witnessing
Sister's vows on this special day.

We thank all of our priests, especially
Fr. Raul Lemus for hosting the ceremony
in his parish church.

We thank YOU, dear friends, for your
prayers and support. May God bless you all!

Full photo gallery

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus

6/23/2017

Praised be the Divine Heart which wrought our salvation...

...to It be glory and honor forever! Amen.

You loved me from all eternity, therefore you created me.

You loved me after you had made me,
therefore you became man for me.

You loved me after you became man for me, therefore you lived and died for me.

You loved me after you had died for me,
therefore you rose again for me.

You loved me after you had risen for me, therefore you went to prepare a place for me.

You loved me after you had gone
to prepare a place for me,
therefore you came back for me.

You loved me after you came back to me,
therefore you desired to enter into me
and be united to me.