Summer Wrap-up

The Sisters enjoying time with their small group at Ignite Your Torch

As summer draws to a close, all the Sisters embrace God's will in the form of new assignments - the Sister Teachers turn close attention to spiritual and academic preparations for the new souls in their charge this year, the Sister Catechists pray that this year's curriculum paired with their prayerful presence is God's instrument in building and maintaining the spiritual lives of the souls they will encounter, and the Novitiate prepares for changes of duties and new formation classes.

As we prepare to joyfully embrace the shift of duties, we also recall with thanksgiving the adventures of the summer: retreats, conferences, camps, and community time.

The Sisters were invited to assist at the St. Apollinaris' VBS in Napa at the beginning of June. While it was impossible for the Community to spare a set of Sisters for the entire week, we were grateful to be able to take turns teaching and interacting with the young people each day. St. Apollinaris chose to use the excellent catechetical program Totus Tuus - a Catholic youth program dedicated to sharing the Gospel through evangelization, witness, catechesis and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament - as their base, so the Sisters were able to teach about the Creed each day, share selected saints who exemplified the mysteries of the faith covered, and to attend Holy Mass and pray with the children. Totus Tuus has a special vocational emphasis built into the curriculum, allowing the Sisters to talk to the students about the beauty of our call to consecrated life.

The Sisters who attended the Sacred Liturgy Conference in Salem continue to be built up by the edifying conferences and liturgies they experienced, while the Community looks forward to being formed by the recordings of the excellent speakers.

Singing in the Marian Procession

While a number of the Sisters were on their annual retreat, and others attended the Sacred Liturgy Conference, the Sisters in formation visited Magnificat Days in Fort Bragg, where they spoke about encountering our Lord in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and assisted the students in learning about our powerful heavenly friends, the saints.

The national holiday of July 4th offered an opportunity to spend extra time together as a Community. It was extra special owing to the presence of our Chaplain and Msgr. Seeker who joined us for a BBQ and S'mores.

The Sisters playing with water balloons

Religious and Priests assisting with IYT

Ignite Your Torch powerfully affects the lives of its attendees each year, and the Sisters assigned to this pleasant duty are unfailingly encouraged by the fervor of the young people and the affirming presence of the priests and religious in attendance.

IYT praying the Rosary in front of PP

As we have done for the past six years, a number of the Sisters spent a day at the Little Flower's Girls Camp. This year's theme focused on the holy angels, and for the first time in our time participating at the camp, emphasized Adoration of our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament, providing the girls substantial time in His Most Loving Presence.

Eucharistic Procession around the Meritage Resort, Napa Institute

The Napa Institute, a gathering of Catholic leaders focused on the renewal of our culture through evangelization and the Sacred Liturgy, offered the Sisters the opportunity to attend outstanding presentations on evangelization and beauty. Our favorite one showcased beautiful vestments as means to change the world! Several of the Sisters were responsible for leading Vespers, the evening song of the Church.

The BBQ was a terrific event, as usual, thanks to our dear friends and sponsors who put so much heart into planning, preparing, and executing this endeavor. They are truly a gift;  they make visible to us Our Lord's own generosity and hospitality. It is wonderful to have one day in which so many of our supporters are gathered together, presenting us an opportunity to thank them for their kindness, to appreciate their company, and to specifically thank God for them and for His Providence through them.

Refilling the lemonade station

Our summer apostolic activities officially wrapped up with Apologhetti Camp in Idaho. The Sisters are happy to attend to whatever God's will is in whatever way it is manifest, sometimes enduring the Cross with Him, and sometimes seeing more clearly His glory, Apologhetti Camp was a more visible manifestation of the joys of serving Christ. This excellent camp presented its attendees with an stellar combination of intellectual formation, liturgical sacredness, and youthful fun.