New Year, New Graces

The secular year has just begun and already it has been chock full of graces! The year came in as the Sisters quietly watched with our Lord in silent adoration, welcoming the new year under our Lady's gracious patronage.

The Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God brought to an end a joyous octave of Community Days, days of extra fraternal time with space for correspondence and games. It is the one time of the year the Sisters have time to do a puzzle, so the professed Sisters completed a beautiful one of the interior of the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Hanceville. One of the Sisters completed the restoration of our St. John statue in time for his feast.

St. John before restoration (left) and as he was nearing completion (right). Before Sister took him in hand, the Sisters affectionately referred to him as the "Virgin-Martyr" because, alas!, he rather looked like a statue of such, eye-liner and all!

After twelve years of shouldering the burden - albeit a happy one - of our ever growing young Community, Mother Teresa Christe has begun a much needed Sabbatical. Mother Joan Paul, CK is settling in to assist us fill the gap without our beloved Mother.

January 4th marked our 12th anniversary. Deo gratias! God has been immeasurably good to us. We enjoyed reminiscing and going through pictures together. ​

Early January also saw the completion of our new frames for the Stations of the Cross. This marks the end of two years of renovations for the Sanctuary: new tile, fresh paint, impressive Altar piece, and matching side shrines.

Chapel before (2021) and after (2024)

Several of the Sisters had occasion to travel, including Sr. Mary Emmanuel's trip to Nashville for ongoing education with the Institute for Catholic Liberal Education. Sister benefited greatly from the educational sessions, but may have enjoyed her stay with the Dominican Sisters (the result of the snowstorm) more!

Our apostolate have resumed and are in full swing. We have been blessed to participate in a few out of the ordinary adventures: the Holy Spirit Ladies Guild dinner, the Walk for Life, a few weddings (NB: we don't sing for weddings, but we did...for a few dear friends), and most excitingly, we spent our first night in St. Joseph's Convent (Ferndale)!

We are looking forward to:

• Catholic Schools Week, with the St. Eugene's children singing for the Sunday Mass,
• Representatives attending the regional Institute for Religious Life sessions in southern California,
• Our first (hopefully) annual Evening with the Sisters event at Roche Winery, and
• Our annual BBQ, tentatively scheduled for July 13, 2024.

As a Community, we don't "do" New Year's resolutions, but if we did, they would be that we strive to love our Lord more ardently, seek Him more intensely, serve Him more faithfully, and spread His beauty, goodness, truth, peace, love, and joy where ever we can. Pray for us as we pray for you!