Winter 2007

Journey

Congregation of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Scranton, PA

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Vol. 25, No. 2

Winter 2007

Making Space for God In this issue of Journey, IHM Sisters and their friends explore myriad ways of making space for God. One writer notes, “The greatest result of our Advent waiting might well be the gift of peace in our world. We open our hearts to the possibilities of peace when God visits the silent spaces where we wait for people everywhere to be reconciled. We open our minds to actions for justice when God speaks in the open spaces where we wait for truth to be the guiding principle of all we do. We open our lives to untold blessings when God hallows the empty spaces that wait to be filled. Let us wait together this Advent, patiently, prayerfully, for our God is here!”

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Patience, People

Winter 2007

by Sr. Mary Persico, IHM

Advent is the time when we realize that God is waiting for us in life’s everyday spaces. The quiet beauty of the Advent season is sometimes overshadowed by the demands of culture and the sheer force of commercialism. In spite of the distracting barrage of sensory overload, the Christmas message reminds us still that our primary purpose during this liturgical season is to wait. A beautiful, gently compelling Advent hymn invites us to wait. “Patience, patience my people, till the Lord is come.” As people who live in and espouse the characteristics of a first world country, we resist having to wait. We avoid lines and annoyances such as dial-up Internet access, fast food that takes longer than a few minutes to prepare, and rush hour backed-up toll booths. We have little tolerance for waiting, especially when such waiting is perceived as enduring accidental inconveniences. Every once in a while, I pause to consider the inconsequential nature of my impatience with the world around me. As the spirit of Advent begins to pervade our liturgical lives, I pray to have the patience of the homeless persons who stand waiting for the doors of the shelter to open at 8:00 p.m., a community place that provides twelve hours of warmth and some donated food for sustenance until morning, when the space is reconverted for other activities, other programs. I long for the patience of a sick friend who waits in hope for her next chemotherapy treatment. I wish for the patience of mothers who wait for their children to come home - home from prison, from rehabilitation, from Iraq. At those times when I am truly honest with myself, I realize that the

people of this world whose lives require waiting are those who are poor, voiceless, and without resources. They wait for public transportation, for laws that give them relief, and for benefactors to be moved to compassion. I wonder what it would be like to wait for the daily allotment of hot water or electricity, or worse yet, of bread and rice. How might it be to wait for anything that is taken for granted in our lives? True waiting creates in us humans a holy patience. My mind often wanders to images of children I have seen in Peru. With few material possessions, no toys, no shiny bicycles or even the knowledge of iPods or MP3 players, they wait for a life they can only imagine. They wait in hope and in their waiting there is a perceptible joy of living. One is tempted to believe that in their waiting, they find God! A deliberate attempt is being made in this edition of Journey to suggest ways in which we might make space for God in our lives. With all due respect to the concept, I wonder if the spaces are not readymade and we, in our striving for proficiency, miss the opportunity of meeting God in our waiting. Most of us are not so fortunate as those whose waiting is for things we already have. Because we can choose not to wait with little or no consequence, our lives are cluttered with places to go and tasks to accomplish. Without the waiting, we lose the ability to be patient. Without the virtue of being patient, we lose the opportunity for God to make space in our lives.

Congregation of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary

Vol. 25, No. 2

Winter 2007

Our mission as Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary of Scranton, Pennsylvania, is to follow Jesus as a community of disciples, aware that we are sent to be a clear and understandable prophetic witness to the presence of God in the world. - from the IHM Mission Statement

Advent provides Christians and good people everywhere a monthlong moment in time to rethink the virtue inherent in waiting. The time of waiting is not a vacuous space in which there is “nothing to do”; rather, it may very well be the occasion for God’s most active intervention in our ordinary comings and goings. “Patience, my people!” The lyricist of the Advent hymn draws from the letter of James in the New Testament as he compares us to the farmer who waits through the frost of winter and the rains of spring for the yield of his crop. Patient waiting allows the tilling of good to take place in our souls. David Baily Harned, in his work entitled Patience, How We Wait Upon the World, describes patience as the calm and uncomplaining endurance of misfortune, the expectant waiting for the realization of God’s kingdom, the handmaiden of justice, the sister of humility and gratitude, and the first work of love. With all those thoughts and images from which to draw inspiration, I am moved to rethink my attitude about waiting during this season of preparation for Christmas. The personal spaces that invite the presence of God are everyday occurrences. They are in the line at the grocery store and post office. They are with a sick child or an elderly parent in the doctor’s office. They are at the Eucharistic celebration early Sunday morning. They are in the absence of a loved one who died last summer. Advent is the time when we realize that God is waiting for us in life’s everyday spaces. The greatest result of our Advent waiting might well be the gift of

The time of waiting is not a vacuous space in which there is “nothing to do”; rather, it may very well be the occasion for God’s most active intervention in our ordinary comings and goings. peace in our world. We open our hearts to the possibilities of peace when God visits the silent spaces where we wait for people everywhere to be reconciled. We open our minds to actions for justice when God speaks in the open spaces where we wait for truth to be the guiding principle of all we do. We open our lives to untold blessings when God hallows the empty spaces that wait to be filled. Let us wait together this Advent, patiently, prayerfully, for our God is here!

Editor: Sr. Fran Fasolka, IHM Copyeditor: Sr. Kathleen McNulty, IHM Advisory Board: Sr. Lillian Marie Farrell, IHM Sr. Gilmary Beagle, IHM Sr. Maryalice Jacquinot, IHM Sr. Benedicta Berendes, IHM Sr. Lisa Perkowski Sr. Suzanne Delaney, IHM Sr. Amy Zychal, IHM Sr. Ann Barbara DeSiano, IHM Proofreaders: Sr. St. Anthony Radzikowski, IHM and Sr. Carrie Flood, IHM Cover: Sr. Lisa Perkowski Journey is published by the IHM Congregation for its members as well as its friends, donors, sponsored institutions and supporters of the IHM Sisters and their ministries. Opinions expressed by authors published in Journey do not necessarily reflect those of the IHM Congregation. Correspondence should be addressed to the editor at: IHM Center, 2300 Adams Avenue, Scranton, PA 18509 e-mail: [email protected]

Winter 2007

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Making Space for God

Alphonsian Spirituality by Terrence Moran, C.Ss.R.

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ot long ago a woman was describing to me the changes that have happened in her life as the result of a religious conversion experience, “I used to watch CNN all the time; now I only watch EWTN!” she said excitedly. I am reluctant to judge the workings of God in another person, but I could not help but think how far she was from the idea of holiness of St. Alphonsus Liguori. Alphonsus did not identify holiness with the scent of incense and the muted light of stained glass windows. God’s presence is not something we add to the world by sprinkling it with holy water. God’s presence is the deepest dimension of everything that exists. Alphonsus subscribed to a newspaper and he would have us search for God in what we see on CNN. Master evangelizer that he was, Alphonsus often taught profound spirituality in lyrics he set to the lilting melodies of folk songs. In one of these, “O fiori felici” “Oh happy flowers” – he envisions a peasant standing in awe at the door of a beautiful church. The peasant reflects on what he sees – oh happy flowers, so near to the Eucharistic presence; oh candles happier still, that burn in adoration of God; oh golden ciborium, you have it best since in you is contained the Eucharistic God. The final stanza begins with the untranslatable Italian word “Beh” – an exclamation of dismissal of the nonsensical. “Happiest, more blessed than all of these is my heart, God’s truest home!” Holiness for Alphonsus does not consist in cluttering our lives with holy furniture but rather in cultivating an inner spaciousness for God’s abundant goodness available always and everywhere. One of Alphonsus’ most interesting paintings is one he did of the Annunciation. Call to mind the familiar paintings of this biblical scene – Mary, often depicted as a Renaissance princess, sitting in a comfortably appointed room. The angel takes her by surprise, a celestial visitor from another world. Alphonsus depicts the scene in quite a different way. He shows Mary dressed as a Neapolitan peasant – wearing the same clothes worn by the poor women to whom he

preached. Mary is shown lifting her veil from her chest and emerging from within her is seen the dove of the Holy Spirit. For Alphonsus, Mary experiences the presence of God not arriving from outside like an alien visitor but rather emerging from within – the deepest level of her ordinary experience. In his preaching and writing, his art and music, Alphonsus attempted to offer an alternative to the Jansenistic spirituality of his day that made God into a distant tyrant and holiness into the anguished struggle for an unattainable goal. Alphonsus wrote, “Heaven for God is the human heart.” Life is not about our struggle to get to heaven but rather all of history is the story of God’s passionate longing to come home and rest in the heart of every person without exception. Alphonsus taught simple spiritual practices that were accessible to everyone in any circumstance of life. Perhaps some of the following adaptations of the practices Alphonsus taught might help you to approach life with a mindful attentiveness to God’s embracing presence: Breathe deeply and invite the Holy Spirit, the breath of God, to fill your being. When you hear the phone ring or a knock at the door, pause for a moment before answering to recall the presence of God in the person who calls. Drink a glass of water slowly and be aware that from all eternity God was creating that gift of water for your refreshment. Choose a few phrases of Scripture and repeat them often during the day. Alphonsus says, “One holy sentence, well chewed, is enough to make us saints.”

Buy a special candle to light for a few moments every Thursday evening to recall the great gift God has given us in the Eucharist. On Saturdays, donate some time to a work of justice, peace, or the integrity of creation in honor of Mary, Woman of Mercy. Frequently during the day, pause and place your hand on your heart and recall Alphonsus’ words – “Heaven for God is the human heart.” Deep contemplative listening was the central way in which Alphonsus made space for God. This contemplative listening was a stance Alphonsus brought not just to prayer but to all of life’s encounters. It is telling that he first experienced the call to conversion as a young man not during his long hours of prayer but as he stood with a bedpan at the bed of a dying man in the Hospital for the Incurables. Alphonsus’ journey to God led him to find God not only in the depths of his heart but also in the dark corners of human history, among the poor and abandoned; in bringing a contemplative listening to those who had no voice. Contemporaries of Alphonsus marveled that when he and his companions arrived in a village to preach a mission, they did not confine themselves to the pulpit but entered the peasants’ huts and listened to them. Picture Alphonsus, a well educated priest from a prestigious family, sitting on the dirt floor of a farmer’s hut, eye to eye with people, listening to their stories. Later as a theologian, Alphonsus would bring to his writing these experiences of contemplative listening to the poor. His moral theology, compassionate and practical, demonstrates

his deep listening to voices of those on the margins. What a powerful challenge Alphonsus offers to church leadership – not merely to declaim from the safe distance of the pulpit but to sit on the good earth of real human lives and to listen. Dom Pedro Casaldaliga, bishop of a very poor diocese in the Amazon region of Brazil, is a bishop very much after the heart of Alphonsus – he wears a straw hat for a mitre and carries a real shepherd’s crook as a crosier. In one of his poems he reflects on the judgment day: “At the end of the road, they will ask me, ‘Have you lived? Have you loved?’ And not saying a word, I will open my heart, full of names.” Alphonsus also knew that when we make space in ourselves for God, God does not arrive alone. God widens our hearts to make room for God’s dearest companions – the abandoned, the marginalized, the broken, the stranger, even the enemy. May Alphonsus, saint of the spacious heart, inspire us to lives of contemplative listening and gracious hospitality.

Photo by: Spiritual Directors International www.sdiworld.org

Fr. Terrence J. Moran, C.Ss.R. is a native of Danbury, Connecticut. He has given retreats and workshops on theology and spirituality throughout the United States and in twenty-five other countries. He has worked in parish ministry, taught theology at St. John’s University, New York, and for nine years was the Director of Hispanic Ministry of the Diocese of Paterson, NJ. Fr. Moran is the author of two books and has published numerous articles. In addition to his teaching and preaching ministries, he serves as a consultant to religious congregations and is writing a book on Margaret Anna Cusack, a nineteenth century Irish theologian and social activist. He currently lives in Stirling, NJ.

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Winter 2007

Making Space for God—A Novice’s Perspective by Sr. Lisa Perkowski

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eflecting on my transition into these first few months of the canonical year of novitiate, I have been conscious that the essence of this time is the persistence in making space for God. In “chronos” time, novitiate is a yearlong space for God, and though there may be more chronos time available for prayer, I find there is still the difficulty of opening myself to “kairos” time, or “God’s time.” Another difficulty is the humble acceptance of all attempts I make to preserve what seems to be an insignificant space I allow for God. Finally, I know it is essential that I continue to have faith and trust that God is channeling the Holy Spirit to widen and deepen God’s preserve in my soul. I can use only my experience thus far in trying to manage the elements of chronos time to make and preserve new space for God in several dimensions: physical space, active meditation, conversation, and personal prayer. Making space is never simply making time to pray; it is the challenge of freeing ourselves from chronos in order to shift and respond to kairos. Frequently, in making space for God, I first must encounter the physical space surrounding me. This includes the nifty storage containers that can tempt me to a binge on buying “stuff.” I admit my little stash of candles and angels—and my larger collection of cards with icons and religious imagery, but I recognize my being distracted by clutter and strive to simplify. My earliest recognition of the significance of physical space for God occurred at a weekend retreat in high school. Spending time in a room the size of my parents’ closet, devoid of clutter, containing only a bed, a desk, a window, and a crucifix was at first radical but became one of God’s early invitations for me to know Him more. I recall this experience because I realize that when I find myself clearing out, cleaning, or organizing my room, I also really need to clear more space for God. I just want to focus on God, not the clutter of material things I don’t need, such as the accumulation of papers and even small mounds of

spiritual reading books. I have one caution for myself, though, and that is watching that I do not spend so much time cleaning that I actually avoid prayer with God. Aside from that caution, I find worth in creating a visually inviting space to pray by making those one or two books for prayer visible, choosing one candle to light, and displaying a cross or a few images available to contemplate. Seasonally, I feel the need to vary the space by changing some prayer cards or images, or introducing a new symbol, while keeping some habitual symbols for prayer ritual that continually give meaning to me. In preparing the physical space, I claim my desire for God to enter. Being introduced to and practicing a variety of prayer experiences is giving me the freedom to discern the form of space I need to encounter God at a given time or circumstance. Listening to the signs in my environment or within me may determine how I pray during a given day or

week. There is a certain rhythm in how I make space for God—how I open myself to God’s time: sitting still, reading the Psalms or other Scriptures, praying the rosary, running or walking outside, observing nature, visiting the Blessed Sacrament, reflecting on the day, praying the words of a song, playing the violin or piano, attending Mass, recalling people, contemplating an insight of our world, contemplating an image that comes to consciousness that captures a new understanding of God, making a gesture that expresses what I am feeling toward God, creating art, and journaling. These are all ways in which I have grown and continue to grow in God. A few examples from my daily life may serve to clarify how I used these various forms of prayer. For instance, the start of a sudden Indian summer rainstorm after several weeks without rain, called me to observe God in nature and to give thanks to him for the gift of earth and the much needed rain. In another example, once while I was out walking during the autumn, I observed the dying vines and related the image to my own journey, having used John’s Scripture “I Am the Vine” throughout the spring and summer months. In my experience of journaling, I have found that my writing has evolved from a narration

I Am the Space for God

of life experiences to more spontaneously written prayers to God that capture both the feelings I am experiencing and the need I have for the essentials of soul and spirit. Each of these active forms of prayer draws me to meditate on God in some way; but, God, being unlimited, speaks to me not only in these ways of prayer but also inspires me through my challenges and my desires to make all life’s ways spaces for God. Conversation as the prayer of two or more people making and sharing a space together for God is a value I have grown to understand. Like our prayer with God, prayerful conversation with another person develops through practice and patient trust. Like prayer, where those silent “God-spaces” are required for movement of the Holy Spirit to speak to us, conversation requires pauses of silence between one another’s thoughts to allow the inner movement of praying another’s words. By making space for God in conversation, we are allowing the presence of Christ in another to speak by listening, training ourselves to tame the distractions of our own mind and ego that sometimes want so badly to figure out what to say next. There is forever a discernment of what arises in us to bring to voice; there are natural impulses of words from our experiences that are of God, and there are words triggered by deep wounds within us. As I observe myself more in exchanges with others, I realize that a single word spoken can trigger in me an insecurity or the purest delight of love. I find that conversation can bring forth in our human understanding the same communion God wants us to experience with God alone, beholding one another in our experience of struggling or suffering, of loving joy or forgiveness, and of God’s silence— the known in the unknown. The strength I have found in the companionship of conversation allows me to turn out of my suffering toward more freedom in loving and trusting. In my experiences of making space for God through my physical surroundings, conversations, and Continued on page 5

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Experiencing God in“Pete”

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here are few of us who have not found a link between the awe of a rainbow or beautiful sunset and the recognition of the presence of a Higher Power. So often, however, our busy lives and fast pace cause us to miss many connections. We constantly have to remind ourselves to slow down and “smell the roses.” My journey through the pathway of life has taken some unplanned turns, probably due to what friends lovingly call my “itchy feet.” I call it “listening to the Spirit,” but must admit that the directions were not always clear. I imagine Theresa Maxis had some similar experiences. After a mid-life adventure to the midwest U.S., I returned home to the IHMs in August 2004 by accepting a position to teach at Marywood University. I once again found myself adapting to a new location. With the busyness of preparing for classes, buying a home and unpacking boxes, I managed only minimal social support. Missing my friends, I made

Continued from page 4 prayer forms, one realization trivializes all my outward attempts to prayer: I Am the Space for God. Now that I have allowed God to enter my space, God’s expanding presence confronts the clutter within me, and all life’s ways lived without being aware of God seem inconsequential. Sister Vilma Seelaus, OCD, in her book Distractions in Prayer: Blessing or Curse clarifies this idea: As God increasingly makes room for God, the divine presence starkly

by Kathleen McKee

a hasty decision to adopt a puppy— another unplanned curve on the path of life. Sir Peter of Archbald— Pete—is a beautiful springer spaniel with the most darling freckles on his nose and front legs. He can leap from sofa to chairs in an effortless bound. He has limitless energy and curiosity, always ready to take me on a new adventure. I had no idea how much my life would change with Pete. He doesn’t permit me to make busy-ness a life-style. He pesters me until I agree to take him for a walk or play ball in the yard. He gazes at me with the saddest expression when I say it’s time for me to go to school and he’s waiting at the door with a big slurpy kiss when I return home. In the year since Pete has shared my home, I’ve learned so much from watching how he relates with nature. You might be interested to read about some of the knowledge I’ve gained this year: • I’m an “inside” person who owns an “outside” dog. • Springer spaniels spring! • Catching butterflies is fun; bees not so much. • Back rubs are nice but belly rubs are the best. • Wrestling with doggy friends is a most enjoyable pastime; friends are so important! • Cats are scary creatures, especially neighborhood strays. • A swim to catch ducks on the river is more fun than a bath in the tub. • A change of seasons brings new excitement; falling leaves are not only pretty, they’re also fun to try to catch.

We have gone through all four seasons and, though I now have a fenced yard, I’m looking forward to the start of a new year of walking. The benefits have been tremendous. Added pounds slowly began to drop and I started to feel renewed energy. I found myself laughing out loud at Pete’s antics and much better able to stay positive and upbeat. I have more flexibility than I had a year ago and have even started taking a yoga class to kick it up a notch. Of course, that’s a challenge. Pete thinks I’ve keeled over when all I’m attempting is the deep relaxation pose. In addition to the physical and emotional advantages, there is a deep awakening that is inevitable when we provide the space to be filled with God’s Spirit. We become more aware of the blessings in our life. We recognize the goodness of those with whom we come in contact. We are led to recognize social injustice and find joy in giving our time and resources to those less fortunate. There are many ways to make space in our lives, but we need to make the space fruitful. Our journeys sometime lead us to fill the void with too much work, too much media, too many interruptions, too many words. We lack the time to pray and meditate. We lack quiet moments to reflect on the beauty of each day. We miss the synergistic moments that pass unrecognized through our busy days. It seems to me that I “see more clearly” when I let the

space just present itself to me. I remember dreams more vividly. I catch connections that ground me. It seems to me that I “hear more vibrantly” when I let go of the schoolwork and the housework and the yard work to sit in God’s presence and listen to the sounds of nature. I apparently need Pete’s nudges to eliminate the busy work and recognize the messages that are from the Spirit. I’m so glad that I took that unplanned curve on the path and brought a puppy to my home. Cute, laughable, loveable, sensitive Pete has enabled me to make more space for God!

illumines the many ways which our demons assert themselves with sly words of self-conceit, and with visions of hope that are sheer illusion. Much that enraptures us is now recognized as empty of ultimate satisfaction. Everything within and around us that does not foster a deeper relationship with God, now stares us in the face, often to our dismay. As I let God examine me, seeing my shortcomings, my terse reactions, my sinful attachments, I am

stripped bare; yet, Christ still beholds me there, where I am, as he beheld the two men with whom he was crucified. In beholding me—in the space of Christ—Christ surrounds my heart, encapsulates my feelings with his presence, and quiets my mind and feelings. It is surrendering my space to let it become God’s space that frees me to go on in reality more lovingly, without imposing negative feelings on others. As Mary let God’s presence into her womb—her space—to bear Christ, I

pray to God, “Let your presence be done to me according to your time,” so that I, too, may become more Christ-like.

Kathleen serves on the faculty at Marywood University in Scranton, Pennyslvania and is the cochairperson of the Nutrition and Dietetics Department as well as the director of the Didactic Program in Nutrition and Dietetics. For twentynine years Kathleen was a member of the IHM Sisters of Immaculata, Pennsylvania.

Sr. Lisa is a canonical novice in the IHM Congregation. She participates in the RFC Region 2 InterCommunity Novitiate program at Mariandale in Ossining, New York and ministers with EOTC’s Family Matters program in Scranton.

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Winter 2007

Making Mystical Space A Justice and Peace Perspective by Sr. Christine Koellhoffer, IHM

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pace is so much more than a thing we occupy or fill up or even share. This entity is around us, above us, below us, within us, and at times, center stage in our awareness: when we start up a car to share the road; when we use mass transit and conform to the unwritten rules of respecting personal boundaries; when we experience the limits of space in a tiny apartment, a long checkout line, a crowded waiting room. Robert Sardello has an unusual take on space, expressed in Facing the World with Soul. He looks on space as an entity with which we are in partnership. Consequently, we’re challenged to treat space with the same respect and reverence we would accord any partner. We must be in right relationship with space, and right relationship, as we know, is the definition of justice. Sardello recalls a time when he was invited to speak to a group of city managers on the topic of architecture, to look at the ways architecture could enhance and improve the quality of city life. These managers were so focused on their task, their plans for renovating the city’s architectural “face,” that they never noticed the “face” of the actual room in which they were meeting that day. But Sardello did, and he was troubled. He remembers that, “The room itself was sick. It had no windows, and the drab acoustic ceilings pressed in from above, sandwiching the room with oppression. The door was without a handle - No molding marked a difference between ceilings and walls, walls and floor. Painted institutional gray, its floor covered with rough carpet, the space was filled with ugly brown folding chairs.” It was as if the room were crying out in pain, and Sardello was disturbed that not a single city manager seemed to notice the suffering of that space. As the discussion continued and focused on

power and how the city managers would use power to effect change, Sardello questioned whether a work so important as the reshaping of the city could be entrusted to people who couldn’t even recognize that the space in which they were gathered was itself hurting. From Sardello’s story, it seems that the way in which we relate to space is telling of our relationship with all creation, living and inanimate, who share this planet with us. In this universe we inhabit, we need to reflect on how we define our space, what boundaries surround our space, who or what we invite to possess our space. What is in our consciousness of space reflects our values and reveals the essence of what is most precious to us. In the United States, perhaps formed by westward expansion and the sense of a limitless frontier (“Don’t Fence Me In”), some would define success in terms of possessing the largest space possible: building “McMansions”; erecting formidable walls and fences designed to keep others out; forcing small homeowners to abandon their space for the sake of more and grander development; supersizing food; “owning” natural resources, corporately or nationally. Rather than the bigger-is-better philosophy, what if we looked more deeply at the space of our lives in terms of how to bless and make sacred what is already there? As we struggle to free ourselves of the false burdens and false loyalties that can possess the space of our hearts, why not start “small,” with perhaps a new way of relating to space itself and to acknowledging that it, too, is holy and created by God? This call to a deepening awareness of space can be lived out in the dailiness of our lives in simple and concrete ways.

Believing that the space where we work is sacred: • We’ll practice patience with technology (no easy task on some days!), praising the computer, copy machine, and other equipment when it works, and encouraging (imploring! begging!) it when it’s stalled. • We’ll cultivate right speech when sending our words across the wider space of the telephone or Internet. • We’ll be careful of tone when expressing disagreement or frustration, showing respect for coworkers who inhabit this space with us, and showing respect for the memory of the space itself. • We’ll conserve energy and leave a light footprint, mindful that generations of others are counting on using this same space after us. • We’ll clean up any “mental garbage” - emotional burdens, attitudes of exclusion, and prejudices—before we enter our place of work and whenever we leave it. • We’ll create a place of beauty with small touches - a piece of art, a beloved photo, flowers.

Believing that the space where we live is sacred: • We’ll pray for protection for our home whenever we leave, and thank the space of our home for its hospitality when we return. • We’ll handle doors and windows, the threshold to our home, with reverence. • We’ll thank the plants who beautify our surroundings and purify the air we breathe. • We’ll recycle to preserve space for future generations and to create out of something used something new and life-giving.

• We’ll put care and thought into what we choose to display on our walls and shelves. • When we go into the kitchen to cook or to bake, we’ll bless all who were involved in bringing the ingredients we use into our space: the earth which nurtured, the clouds that watered, the farmers who harvested, the workers who packaged for production, the truckers who transported to market. When the space of our hearts is possessed by God, when we struggle to live each moment in a state of mindfulness, our actions will be reflective of justice. This new and sometimes radical relationship with space frees us of clutter and invites us, more clearly and easily, to hear the Divine at work in our lives. To get to that place, we’re challenged to exorcise the demons, whatever they may be, that occupy the space of our hearts and to replace them with God’s concern for the healing of the universe. To get to that place, we’re called to reflect continually on how our lives would be different if we lived in communion with, and in awareness of, space. This, I believe, is what it means to fully inhabit the space of our lives as Jesus did. This, I believe, is what it takes to make a mystic. Sr. Chris serves as director of communications for the Daughters of Wisdom, US Province, in Islip, New York. She also coordinates the social justice ministry at Christ the King parish, Springfield Gardens, N.Y.

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Making Space for God through Art by Gloria Delrahim

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ine years ago I began a daily journal. This journal allows me to make an entry for each day of the year. Each page has space for ten entries so I can see what I entered on the same day each year. The journal also provides space for yearly goals and review. Each year I spend a thoughtful week after Christmas planning my goals for the New Year. At first, the goals were typical of most folks: to lose a few pounds, meditate daily, exercise more, and save some money. The first year I didn’t even look at my goals until the end of December. The second year I resolved to check my goals the first of every month but after the first month or two, again I failed to check. It actually took me four years to make some progress. Eventually, I started to make fewer goals and to work on them one at a time. I had to think about each goal and really do something towards it every day. I had to identify roadblocks and either get rid of them or get around them. I began to simplify my life. I collected less stuff, watched less television, and listened to less gossip. Gradually, I found I had more time, greater peace and a deeper desire to pray always. Because I simplified my life, I had more space for God and I experienced even greater joy both in my teaching and in my art. Journaling, setting goals and living more intentionally led me to a peaceful, holistic, reflective way of living. I have become a contemplative in life and in art. Of course, my experience spills over into my teaching. I bring my beliefs about goal setting into the classroom. I show children how to plan and how to remove barriers to the creative process. My art room is a sacred place filled with classical music, peace, respect and encouragement. It is a space where children learn to believe in themselves and accept themselves as they are. They do well because I expect them to do well and I applaud their accomplishments. I thank them each week for all that they did in class and they do the same for me. Not a week goes by without one of them saying “Thank you, Mrs. D, I really enjoyed

“Gratitude, reverence, peace and creativity become the studio of learning and meaning making for me and for my students.” that lesson.” Gratitude, reverence, peace and creativity become the studio of learning and meaning making for me and for my students. I think my freedom and my enthusiasm are contagious. Last week I showed the kindergarten children how to draw simple shapes and to create patterns with a brush and I felt such peace and joy as I watched them work. The young children say they love art and that art day is the best day of the week. I began to wonder how the older children felt about art and especially painting. I decided to ask the fifth graders to spend a few minutes writing about their painting. I am so glad that I asked because their responses reinforce all that I believe and try to teach. Here are a few comments: “When I paint it feels like I am putting all the color back and everything comes into my mind, down my arm and comes out on my picture.” “I get lost in an empty world of white until I paint a picture and my world comes to life. Painting is art and art is life.”

naturally God’s presence flows into my own artistic expression. All becomes one. I painted a picture the other day that seemed to paint itself. As I approach retirement, I hope I will take out my well-worn journal and record another ten years of grace. I intend to use retirement to meditate and to paint and to draw other adults into what I have learned in my years of faithful journaling and reflective space making. I want my paintings to invite viewers into a place where there is peace and a sense of belonging, a place to which they will want to return. (Sounds like I want to paint Heaven). I want my paintings to be prayers for peace and healing. I believe that my lifetime of meditation will be transformed into colorful paintings of that space of art and freedom that God has opened for me throughout my life.

“. . . and I started to paint. Everyone ‘went’ quiet and I knew we were all concentrating on our artwork. When class was over I felt that I had been there for only five minutes. I couldn’t wait for another week to pass so I could return to finish my painting.”

Gloria, formerly Sr. Lauren Conk, IHM, has been employed by Fairfax County Public Schools in Fairfax, Virginia, as a teacher of art since 1971 at both the high school and elementary level. For many years she was was a mentor for beginning teachers and students teachers. She enjoys meditation, painting, designing curriculum, making instructional videos, gardening, and collaborating with other artists and teachers.

“Painting is a way to help me focus on life. I like to start with a simple memory that transforms into my painting.”

Helpful Books: Journal 10+ Published by Because Time Flies 155 Harbor Drive, Chicago, IL 60601

In my busy life I have to make space for God first. The little things I learned so long ago like “Say a prayer every time you hear an ambulance,” I have over time integrated into the painting of my life. I do pray at stoplights and they do seem shorter. I no longer listen to talk radio on the way to work. I use that time to enter the silence and to listen intently. Little by little I realize that making space for God and for listening to my own soul has transformed my whole way of being. Both children and adults notice that I am calm, well rested, well prepared and happy. The more space in my life there is for God the more

Miracles Do Happen By Briege McKenna and Henry Libersat St. Anthony Messenger Press 28 W Liberty St., Cincinnati OH 45202 www.servantbooks.com Being Peace Thich Nhat Hanh Papallax Press, Berkeley, CA 94707 A Whole New Mind Why Right-Brainers Will Rule the Future Daniel H. Pink The Berkeley Publishing Group 375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014

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n my 12’ x 11’ room is a twin bed, a dresser, a chair, and a small table which serves as a prayer table. The table is dressed with a cloth, a candle, and a lamp. My room is open, bright, and welcoming. It is where I “set myself apart,” a place conducive to going within. I have consciously made a choice to keep it simple and uncluttered in order to “make space for God.” Here I pray. Here I meditate. It is here I cry and dream and am most myself. I sit in this room in stillness waiting on God. Attached to my house is a yard with a large garden 30’ x 80’ which connects me to the soil and to the soul. Within the garden a diversity of vegetables are grown: broccoli, heirloom tomatoes, sugar snap peas, kale, strawberries, red beets, peppers, eggplant, and butternut squash. Companioning the vegetables are marigolds, cosmos, Italian basil, flat leaf parsley, lavender, borage, sunflowers and calendulas. An array of bees and wasps find their way to the flowers and to the tall heads of millet and sorghum grain which tower the garden with presence. Working in the garden gets me out of my head and into my body. It slows me down in thought and in movement. This experience of being in my

body, slowing down, and touching the Earth can be quite soulful. It often connects me to the Sacred. The garden is another way I have tried to “make space for God.” Gardening can be a very contemplative act when it is done mindfully, when I am fully present to the garden, to the weeding, the seeding, the watering, and the harvesting. But there are days when gardening is a chore. It is demanding, messy, and a backbreaking burden. It sometimes becomes just one more thing to do, a task. Sometimes I lose sight of its beauty, its value, its lessons, and its gift of selfless giving. Over the past several years the seasons of fall and winter also have taken on a contemplative quality. The shorter days and longer nights are immersed in the quiet and calm of home. I do not fill this time with plans, endless activity, and demands. I am simply available; available to life as it comes, available for family and friends, for the unexpected, for the creative impulse; available for God. Without this kind of space in my life I could not receive the original melodies and words that flow through me as songs into the world. My songwriting and creativity depend on this more contemplative season.

Winter 2007

“Making space for God” in the midst of my daily life cannot be compromised. Honoring it is vital. Clearly, whenever people add a little extra space for God into their lives what unfolds is often surprising, wonderful, and pure gift. Personal and spiritual growth is one of the fruits of “making space for God” and it is often tangible. A little extra space allows for going into the depths of our own being, the place where we access Divine Presence. This is what I believe has been happening for me. Emptying my days of projects, tasks, and agendas creates space. Saying “yes” to the ordinary quiet day has opened a channel for inspired creativity and Sacred Presence to emerge. Having days with less planned activity and work could also mean more meaningless

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Winter 2007

Journey by Jan Novotka

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activities and more of just being “busy.” Even though I have created into my life a season of decreased activity it does not always become a season of extended contemplation. There are days when I avoid the quiet and stillness. These are the days when I make more phone calls, send more emails, eat more snacks, do more cleaning, and simply find ways to fill the empty space, the space that I thought would be filled with God. If I am to be honest, however, making spacing for God does not always result in God filling that space. Sitting in a simple, uncluttered room with a prayer table does not mean that when I try to be still and open that I am free of thoughts and distractions. So often I go to my room intending to pray, to be still within and I am bombarded by concerns, ideas and

daydreams. No matter what I do I cannot silence my mind enough to go within. As my understanding of the spiritual life unfolds, I find that a shift is taking place. I am beginning to know in a deep way that even when my mind is distracted and there is no awareness of inner stillness, that the Silence of God is still present within and about me. When I experience the garden as a task and a burden, its beauty and wonder are still there waiting for me to behold them, if only I open my heart. As I enter my “season of contemplation” and find my days are far from contemplative it does not mean that God is not there. God is there whether I am aware of Divine Presence or not. Yes, I can make space for God in my life, but do I know that God is in my life whether I make space or not? Do I know that the God of my being is with me, within me, even if I do not feel or sense Sacred Presence? Waking up to this reality is what seems to be making all the difference for me. I am discovering it’s not about me. It’s not about being good, perfect, kind, or moral. It’s not about what I do, or don’t do, what I accomplish or achieve. It’s not about me making space for

a God who already fills all space. It’s not about me at all. It’s about waking up to God. It’s about abandoning my “self” to God’s Presence, God’s Spirit that permeates and upholds all that exists. It’s about going into the emptiness of my own soul and finding that the Ground of my Being is the very Breath of God. It’s about uttering a deep and conscious “Yes” to Life, to God’s Life living and moving in and through me. Let us not stop at creating space for God in our rooms, but let us become the very dwelling place of God. Let us not content ourselves with planting a garden, but let us also cultivate and weed the inner garden, reaping the abundance of grace and truth. And, yes, let us make space for God in our daily lives, but let the space we create be within our very being. For in being space for God, God’s Presence is made manifest to the world. Jan is a songwriter, retreat director, and an organic gardener. Her music has reached many countries around the globe. For more about Jan and her work go to www.JanNovotka.com

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Winter 2007

Creating Space for God Daily and in Retreat Times by by Sr. Suzanne Delaney, IHM

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n her book God’s Joyful Surprise, Sue Monk Kidd says, “I have learned that any time, any place, any event can become a space in our life for God. The spaces we create do not have to fit into a mold. They can be our own unique openings, individual and free.” In a world so crammed with work, activities and fast paced technology, Kidd’s words are comforting. So often we are in the mind set that we have to have Scripture in hand or be in a church environment to pray. In a spirit of mindfulness and intentionality, we can create space for God’s presence within our ordinary day. To “pray always and all ways,” can be done by walking, exercising, boating, knitting, sewing, playing a musical instrument, doing art work, reading poetry, journaling, attending a concert or visiting a museum. Mary Oliver, in her poem “Mindful” from Why I Wake Early, speaks of how being mindful of what she sees and hears every day can “kill [her] with delight.” And that in the

ordinary there are “prayers that are made out of grass.” It was what I was born forto look, to listen, to lose myself inside this soft world to instruct myself over and over in joy, and acclamation. Making space for God in mindful ways can enrich our prayer and kill us too with delight “that leaves [us]…in joy and acclamation.” There are, of course, other more formal types of prayer that are either personal or communal. And there are also times in our life that we need to create an extended period of time for prayer, to hang out with ourselves and our God with greater intentionality, to rejuvenate and nurture our life for all that lies ahead of us. Often this time may be spent alone at the shore, in the country or at a retreat house or some tranquil environment away from the frenetic pace of daily life. Like the novelist Barbara Kingsolver once said, we need to take time to “Tell that imperious voice in [our] head to be still.” Yes, we need to allow our overactive minds to “be still” and know that we are in God’s presence. Retreat is a time for God’s grace to rain upon us in the silence of our minds and hearts. The IHM Congregation values the need to provide places to make space for God by sponsoring the IHM Spiritual Renewal Center:

Bon Secours Spiritual Center, Marriottsville, Maryland is just outside Baltimore and is situated on 313 acres of pastures and woodlands. The center is a sponsored ministry of the Sisters of Bon Secours. The center is open year round for retreats and conferences and offers an environment conducive to ministering to body, mind and spirit. Information about the center and its programs may be found at www.BonSecoursRetreats.org Photos by Jay Stearns

www.sistersofihm.org in Cresco, PA and Our Lady of Grace: www.olgcenter.com in Manhasset, NY. Some other members of the congregation are employed in retreat centers, such as the Passionists Retreat House in Jamaica, NY and Bon Secours Spiritual Center in Marriottsville, MD. All provide guided or directed retreats, days of personal prayer and other services for those searching for a sacred pause away from the daily busyness of life. Retreat places near you can be located on-line at www.RetreatFinder.com For those unable to take extended time away or who are looking for resources to help them to pray at home and nurture their spiritual life, there are numerous resources - both books and websites. Some of these include: Online Retreats http://www.creighton.edu/ CollaborativeMinistry/online.html http://www.sacredspace.ie/ http://www.pray-as-you-go.org/ http://www.godsembrace.net/ Prayer Resources Centering Prayer centeringprayer.com/frntpage.htm Ancient Art of Lectio Divina valyermo.com Labyrinth www.tkffdn.org Merton Institute www.mertoninstitute.org Brother David Steindl-Rast www.gratefulness.org/index.htm www.gratefulness.org/ brotherdavid/index.htm Jesuit Media Initiative www.pray-as-you-go.org/ Center for Contemplation and Action www.cacradicalgrace.org/

Daily Scripture Readings Office of Daily Readings http://universalis.com/ Liturgy of the Hours http://ebrievary.com/ Sunday readings http://textweek.com Other Resources Teilhard DeChadin www.teilharddechardin.org Joyce Rupp www.joycerupp.com Macrina Wiederkehr www.macrinawiederkehr.com Poetry www.poetryconnection.net Rumi www.rumionfire.com Some Books for Spiritual Nourishment Your Spiritual Garden: Tending to the Presence of God - Pegge Bernecker What Brings You to Life - Beverly Eanes Being Peace - Thich Nhat Hanh When the Heart Waits - Sue Monk Kidd God’s Joyful Surprise - Sue Monk Kidd Thirst - Mary Oliver Why I Wake Early - Mary Oliver Walk in a Relaxed Manner Joyce Rupp Prayer - Joyce Rupp Companions of Christ: Ignatian Spirituality for Everyday Living Margaret Silf Roots and Wings - Margaret Silf Seven Sacred Pauses - Macrina Wiederkehr (to be released in the spring 2008) Sr. Suzanne serves as director of Spiritual Development and Programs at Bon Secours Spiritual Center in Marriottsville, Maryland.

Winter 2007

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Making Space for God

Living the Vowed Life by Kathy Kurdziel, IHM

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once read somewhere that a holy person is one who has the capacity to leave a lot of space around him/ herself. I actually think about that statement frequently as I examine my own life and the choices I make and the way those choices shape me over time. I am a baby boomer and, to my shock, my first social security check arrived in the mail this year. My hair also turned gray. Sometimes I find myself reminiscing about the way it used to be and about how much things have changed. It seems to me that the meanings of the words like “space” and “choice” have changed considerably in my lifetime. I remember watching with rapt attention Neil Armstrong’s first walk on the moon. Subsequent and continuing explorations of outer space and all of the ramifications of an everexpanding universe entered human consciousness and changed forever the way humans conceptualized both earth and space. Later, in my ongoing studies of literature, language, theology and religious life, I became aware of the whole world of depth psychology, centering prayer and inner space. Today, I also recognize personal space and communal space, public space and private space, open space, cyberspace, and even the popular website MySpace. In my lifetime the perception of space has stretched up and out and down and in. Space has become more mysterious and more alive with each new discovery for new consciousness entails new sets of choices. Aside from such lofty cosmic musings, I consider daily, ordinary choices. I make space for another person at the table, another book on the shelf, another committee in the community, another responsibility in the family. Space is a meaningful presence and also a poignant absence. In my naiveté and arrogance, I speak of making space for God when the first truth and profound mystery is that God made space for me! From the something and nothing of air, fire, water and stardust, God created me. My mother made space for me in her womb. My family made space for new children, for my deaf and aging grandmother and for our disabled, widowed friend. We grieved the empty space at the table when my

brother died and when my father passed. Perhaps space is the sacred vessel for the stuff of life. At a moment in time, in a small, stone church in rural Pennsylvania, at the age of twenty-five with all good will and fervor, I professed the vows of poverty, chastity and obedience for the rest of my life. That moment continues to shape my space and my life choices; for on that day, I committed the rest of my days to seeking a deeper awareness of God’s dynamic love. Just as the concept of space has expanded over the last forty-five years so has my understanding of living vowed, religious life. Today, the intensifying splendor of God’s presence in the universe, in our planet, and in Christ’s incarnation into our very humanity plunge me into a passion for living I never originally envisioned. The vow called poverty invites me to leave space between myself and my possessions so that I don’t become what I own; so that my heart and attention are not driven by my treasure. Over time, I discover that nothing is mine; all is gift. From an aesthetic distance, I am free to appreciate, to contemplate, and to cherish the ordinary and the spectacular in earthly existence. Diarmuid O’Murchu observes that this vow is “a call to more soulful living… more about being rich in soul rather than poor in spirit.”l John O’Donohue adds that “in the world of soul, the more you have the more everyone has. The rhythm of soul is the

surprise of endless enrichment.”2 It means that I am free to respond to beauty, to enjoy, to laugh, to take time, to serve, to receive, to support, to embrace and to rest. This is also a vow of communitarian inter-relatedness for we pledge to share the gift of wealth, education, home, prayer, energy, soulfulness and the burdens of pain, loss, failure and insecurity. Elaine Prevallet reminds us that “the vow, and the community, encourage us—in fact, free us to be generous, to share - encouraging one another to establish real connections with the poor, not just to stay in touch with real needs, but to learn always more deeply what kind of sharing is required of us.”3 Living poverty teaches me to appreciate the gifts of life and to learn what kind of sharing is required at each stage of development. Obedience and chastity are like the Emmaus companions seeking the path to loving, openhanded, interdependent living. Obedience commits me to depth listening so powerful that “my” agenda needs to generously give way to reciprocity and to what Sandra Schneiders refers to as a life “covenant of cooperation.”4 I covenant my gifts and my person to a Triune and communitarian God and to a community dedicated to valuing and sharing life in abundance in a generous, grateful, and inclusive manner. Obedience inserts me into a community steadfast in the hard work of daily contemplation, intense study, meaningful conversation and honest

Truly, if to love

another person is to see the face of God,

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God by crowding that space with people we

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dialogue. It naturally follows that the companion vow of chastity widens the space of my love energy and encourages awareness of my relatedness to every human person and to all of creation in every breath I take, in every bite I consume, in every heart I touch. Called so compellingly by our IHM documents “to live and work lovingly among all peoples,” I cherish the gift of God’s love in my life and treasure the great diversity and abundance of relationships that flow from that chaste, collaborative, grateful, graceful, thoughtful way of living. I have chosen to imbed my one and only life into a community of disciples who rejoice in the redeeming love of Jesus Christ. Together we have committed our lives for the life of the world which is ever expanding and ever more wonder-filled and mysterious. Together, we follow Jesus, our redeemer, who made space for the little children, the grieving widow, and the paralytic lowered through the roof, the woman in the crowd suffering from hemorrhage and shame, the despised tax collector in the tree, and even for the good thief in the last moments of his agony. Truly, if to love another person is to see the face of God, then vowed life urges us to make space for God by crowding that space with people we value, serve and love. Sr. Kathryn serves as the director for candidates and novices for the IHM Congregation. She resides in Scranton. I gratefully acknowledge the influence of thoughtful and probing writers like Diarmuid O’Murchu, Sandra Schneiders, IHM, John O’Donohue, and Elaine Prevallet SL. 1) Diarmud O’Murchu, Poverty. Celibacy. and Obedience, A Radical Option for Life (New York, the Crossroad Publishing Company, 1999) p. 80 2) Ibid, p. 81 3) Elaine M. Prevallet SL, In the Service of Life: Widening! and Deepening Religious Commitment (Nerinx, KY Elaine M. Prevallet SL, 2002) p.32 4) Sandra Schneiders, IHM, New Wineskins (New York and Mahwah, NJ: Paulist Press, 1986) p. 151

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page 12 Friends of God and lovers of the dream

Sister M. Susan McMenamin October 29, 1914 May 7, 2007 by Sr. Sheila Reilly, IHM In the fall of 1932, life for twentythree young women (twenty women about eighteen to nineteen years old and a few seasoned elders) stretched out to times and places replete with promise and challenge—the latter a resounding affirmative! One of the things we postulants of the Congregation of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary were to learn in that entrance time was that significant change in living out the promise comes with cost and that growth is never easy. Susan McMenamin and I learned together the difficulties entailed in answering a vocational call. What had been a deep loneliness for the parents and family left behind was to catch up with us as we settled into the often demanding differences of a monastic version of community living. Perseverance was required to change us into the desired religious and that stick-to-i- tiv-ness sometimes came accompanied by tears of distress. Meeting Susan was a rewarding experience for me, as it must have been for the other members of our band. We both found in each other a sincere friendship that has been an essential part of a lifetime effort to grow into God. On retiring here to Our Lady of Peace Residence our striving for holiness has been greatly enabled by renewal of that joint effort we had discerned all those seventy plus years ago. Through her busy life as a teacher, Susan has contributed to an intelligent and educated Church Membership and to the loving and artistic liturgy for which she prepared countless elementary and high school students. And when illness brought to a close what had been her active apostolic life, though a stroke victim, Susan’s contribution at the Marian Convent was a surprising assistance to those ministering to the residents. She

In Memoriam

actually did some of the routine tasks that become necessary help to other sisters. The reality of her love for her God was demonstrated by the love returned to Susan by her grateful visitors of the congregation, young and old, and by the comments heard on the occasion of her funeral. Quoted in part are the following: She was a prayerful and true IHM; She was a faithful and true friend; Honesty was a strength in Susan. Her opinion may have differed from yours but always it was expressed with kindness; A strong believer in the value of education she generously shared what she had been graced to learn; She was ever sensitive to the needs of others. We learn from Scripture that we have been made in the image and likeness of God. It would certainly seem that Susan had taken on that image and likeness to a remarkable degree by human standards. It is our hope that she and we of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, responding to His grace, are becoming instruments for the mirroring of God’s unimaginable greatness and inimitable power.

Winter 2007 Inspire us to lives of meaning

Sister had a great love for her family and waited each Saturday for their weekly phone call. She looked forward to her visits home and especially enjoyed playing cards late into the night. She particularly loved her visit in August when the family celebrated Gin and her birthdays. Gin and Rose loved their sister, Laura, and always wanted her to come home more often and stay longer. Sister Hyacinth was always available to listen and speak of God’s beautiful creation to the sisters with whom she lived, her friends and students. She would make you aware of the beauty in flowers, especially if they were purple, her favorite color. Sister had great devotion to our Lord in the Eucharist and our Blessed Mother, especially the rosary. During her years in the Marian Convent and Our Lady of Peace she participated in the Divine Mercy Rosary program on TV every afternoon. Hy, you have touched many lives, especially mine. I thank you for all the gifts and blessings you brought into my life, especially our many years of a special friendship. You will always have a special place in my heart and prayers. I miss you, but know you are at peace with God.

about herself, which gave everyone a good laugh. Having lived with Sr.Robertus, I can attest to her spirit of life which she conveyed beautifully. This joyful sharing with us came from her acceptance of herself. In addition, it resulted in her love of community life, family, friends and acquaintances. Many entertaining stories could be told; many beautiful poems could be printed. Those of us who are privileged to have lived with sister have these memories carved in our hearts. May Robertus dwell in her heavenly home entertaining the Celestial Court with her simplicity, wisdom, and wit. Heavenly Father, we thank you for the precious gift of her presence and we ask that you grant her eterrnal life!

Sister M. Jeanetta Hughes July 27, 1918 June 21, 2007 by Sister Selina Malone, IHM

Sister M. Hyacinth Serafini

Sister M. Robertus Mullen

August 27, 1919 May 25, 2007 by Sr. Jeannine Parry, IHM

November 6, 1924 June 21, 2007 by Sr. M. St. Mel Wright, IHM

When God created Sister Hyacinth, “Laura,” he threw away the mold. In the sixty years of our friendship I never heard her say an unkind word about anyone. She saw only goodness and beauty in everyone and all of God’s creatures. Sister was a gentle, loving and compassionate woman. Sister was a dedicated teacher and spent many long hours preparing for her classes and correcting her students’ work. She loved her students and was always available to listen and help them. Her students loved her because of her gentleness, kindness and compassion.

What a gift Sister Robertus Mullen was and is to the IHM Congregation and to the world around her! She was truly a blessing to all with whom she came in contact. Her very dear friends are aware of her beautiful poetic mind; due to her simplicity, however, this gift was not evident to all. Her life was filled with goodness and I am certain an uncharitable word never passed her lips. No one could live with sister without being aware of her beauty and wit. She had a wonderful sense of humor. In community she was joyful, always having a story to tell—generally

A faithful, devoted IHM, a loyal, generous friend, a coworker ever ready to help, a dedicated teacher who loved her students; these are the comments of those who knew and lived with Sister Jeanetta during her years of ministry. Sister Jeanetta was born in Scranton and grew up in St. Patrick’s parish. She attended St. Patrick’s elementary and secondary schools and often recalled her happy experiences there. After twelve years under the guidance of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, her thoughts turned to the possibility of becoming one of them. The thought became a reality on September 8, 1938, when she entered the Novitiate of the Sisters of IHM at Marywood. After first vows on May 8, 1941, Sister commenced her teaching career which took her as far south as North Carolina and as far north as Syracuse, NY over a span of five decades. Continued on page 14

Journey

Winter 2007 Faithful ones delighting in God’s love A sister who lived with Sr. Jeanetta in NYC recalled that sister had introduced her to the NY subway system and taught her how to get uptown, down-town and cross-town without ever getting lost! Jeanetta enjoyed shopping in New York on Barclay Street, especially during the Christmas season. It was always an adventure to find the little paper Christmas cribs that the children loved. Lunch at the Charleston Gardens in B.Altman’s was often part of the shopping trip. Sister was a regular attendant at the retreat days conducted by the Franciscans at St. Francis Church on 31st Street. When health began to cause problems, sister undertook a new role as receptionist at the IHM Center where she was a welcoming presence to all. Increasing health problems caused a change to prayer ministry which she gladly embraced at the Marian Convent. Sister was a joy to be with, always full of kindness and generosity, always ready for fun and laughter. Dear friend, please remember those of us who are still struggling on our homeward bound journey.

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In Memoriam We carry on your light, we call upon your name

Living at the Spiritual Renewal Center in Cresco, Pennsylvania gave Sister Maristella the opportunity to influence the young novices by her joyful spirit and her acceptance of her physical pain. She lived life to the fullest despite her painful and crippling illnesses. The only time anyone could tell she was in pain was if she didn’t want to go shopping. “Everybody makes mistakes,” was Sister Maristella’s lasting lesson to her family and friends. Through her example, she taught us that it was a blessing and a grace to let go of hurt and anger. For the last four months, Sister Maristella lived at Our Lady of Peace Residence. She was a welcome presence to household 2B and they were a faithful support in her dying days. Sister Maristella, a sixty-year jubilarian, was welcomed into the loving arms of God on July 10, 2007, at the age of 81.

hundreds of youngsters as well as adults. Her top priority was her spiritual life; she prayed always and in all places, as those who traveled with her knew. God was real to her, and she brought many into her circle of confidence in Him. When illness brought an end to her teaching career, she suffered greatly. Alienation from reality and pain filled her days. Towards the end, however, she would often regale her companions in the infirmary with her own rendition of “Take Me Out to the Ball Game.” God Himself answered Eugene’s prayer and called her home to himself July 27, 2007. May she forever rest in peace!

When health reasons later necessitated Sister Doris’ retirement to the Marian Convent/ Our Lady of Peace Residence, she continued to display her enthusiasm for life with the Sisters, staff and former students. She looked forward to visitors, luncheon dates, outings to the Mall, and participated in all aspects of community life. Her goodness, graciousness, prayerfulness and colorful presence will always be remembered. May Sister Doris experience eternal life in the presence of the Blessed Trinity, Our Blessed Mother and all the Celestial Court.

Sister M. Dolora Mullarkey

Sister Mary Doris Flynn August 19, 1919 August 4, 2007 by Sr. Constance Wilt, IHM

Sister M. Eugene Coyne

Sister M. Maristella Walsh November 8, 1925 July 10, 2007 by Sr. Anne Mary Boslett, IHM and Sr. Kathleen Lunsmann, IHM Our IHM charism is one of joyful, loving service. All those who knew Sister Maristella would agree that she was a living example of the IHM spirit. Sister Maristella’s passion was teaching. From Connecticut to Maryland and finally to her beloved New York, Sister Maristella left her mark on her primary students. Her claim to fame was teaching Danny DeVito at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel School in Asbury Park, New Jersey. Later in life she again met her former pupil when he was filming a movie in Baltimore. He was excited to see his first grade teacher and surprised that she remembered him.

October 19, 1919 July 27, 2007 by Sr. Marionette Coll, IHM Those of us who knew Sr. Eugene (Betty Coyne) in her youth remember her as a fun-loving, athletic person with a healthy share of Irish wit. She could have opted for a career as a stand-up comic, a coach of a baseball team or as a singer in a choral group carrying a strong alto. Instead she heard the call of God to follow in the footsteps of her older sibling, Sr. Ann Helene Coyne, in the IHM Congregation of Scranton, Pennsylvania. She entered the Congregation in Scranton in 1938 and found herself far away from her home in Pittsburgh. Sr. Eugene loved teaching children of all ages and brought to her work an enthusiasm and sense of humor that her students still remember. From Masontown to Carbondale, and to many places in-between, she spread the Good News of God’s abounding love to

Fidelity and devotion are qualities that best describe Sister Doris’ life as an Immaculate Heart of Mary Sister for over fifty-eight years. Having worked in the business field before entering the Congregation, Sister Doris brought years of experience to her teaching ministry. Her response to the Lord’s call found her reaching out to students in New York, Pennsylvania and Maryland. In later years, Sister Doris tirelessly balanced her responsibilities to her ministry and her family. Her loyalty and zeal blessed our community at St. Mary’s, Manhasset for ten years. On a daily basis, Sister Doris would complete her office duties in the high school, visit her mother, Amelia, at the nursing home (sometimes twice a day) and shop for the convent. She provided us with an endless supply of orange juice and Entenmann’s, and often informed us of the latest sales at Filene’s, Macys, many other local outlets, and was even willing to drive us there, if necessary.

February 5, 1927 August 16, 2007 by Sr. Kathleen Joy Steck, IHM On August 16, 2007, Sister Dolora truly rested in the Lord after a very difficult hospital stay of 19 days. Sister wanted to “come home” to OLP to be with the sisters, family members and friends as she went for her final journey to meet her faithful and loving God. Dolora was a dedicated IHM Sister, a great human being, a compassionate helper, an awesome teacher and a very faithful and helpful family member and friend. She lived a quiet life doing her teaching throughout the school year, and, then, spent the summers as a young sister “pot walloping,” taking the physically challenged to camp for two weeks, teaching at the IHM Educational Enrichment Insitute, and later on, feeding the sisters at the Marian Convent and Our Lady of Peace Residence. As bad as some parts of her were hurting, she always said she could use her hands to help! And, she did, often feeding “two at a time!” Sister Dolora loved St. Joseph’s Childrens Hospital, as it was known in its early years, and spent many summers helping with the children. Many were the stories of her life during that time! In fact, many the stories of any time she

Journey

page 14 Walk closely by our side spent! Dolora was a great story teller and a brilliant historian. If asked a simple question, she would respond with a thesis! Sister was very generous with her time and talents: decorating, knitting and making clowns for all! One summer, she contributed a handmade clown for every sister at the Marian. She also sold many and gave the proceeds to the Marian for “special events.” Sister “D,” as she was lovingly called in her last years, became very aware of a new aspect in her life! Nature and animals showed her God’s love in a unique way, and she often said how they taught her so much more than some of the books that she had read. Their simplicity and unconditional love made her that much more aware of God and His infinite love and faithfulness. All who knew her shall miss her wonderful spirit and friendship but are happy that she finally is at peace with no more suffering to be endured. Well done, good and faithful servant and friend.

Sister M. Victoire Moran April 5, 1922 August 24, 2007 by Sr. Gilmary Beagle, IHM Some years ago Sister Victoire and I were together when a new issue of “Journey” came out. As she read the obituary memorials on the last page she said to me, “Will you write mine?” “Sure,” I said, “but I don’t think I’ll need to work on it for a decade or two yet.” Now, as I write this, I feel I should have had another ten years or so to work on it. At her funeral, Father Bob spoke of the laughter he always associated with Sister Victoire, and I would have to agree. She had a store of funny stories and there was precious little in life in which she could not see the humor. Teaching was her passion and she always spoke fondly of former students and the schools she had taught in: the boys’ choir at St. Mary’s in Dunmore, a

In Memoriam

lad named Billy Bunting in Upper Marlboro, the Eighth Graders at St. Dominic’s in Oyster Bay, the children who came into the Primary Library at St. Peter’s in Port Washington. I first met Sister Victoire at St. Joseph’s in Danville, where she tried heroically, but in vain, to make a pianist of me, and where her patience and humor inspired my desire to enter the convent. It was typical of her that her welcome to me after I transferred to the IHM Congregation in 1979 was a terse three words: “What kept you?” In the twenty-seven years that have passed since then, I was fortunate in being able to enjoy sharing community with her and to see with what grace and dignity she moved through life. Sister Victoire was always “Mary Catherine” to her family and she held them as dear as life itself. She had wonderful stories of her brothers and sisters growing up in Lock Haven, stories full of childhood pranks and shared adventures that filled their days. She took great pleasure in the accomplishments of her nephews and nieces and in those of their children. Every Baptism, First Communion, graduation, any event or occasion for celebration would fill her with joy, joy I often was able to witness and share as her family decided I could be an “honorary Moran.” Sister Victoire was a model IHM – intelligent, warm, genuine, strong, faithful, real. When life was hard she said so, and sometimes wept; when life was easier, she shared the good times. Always she cherished her friends, loved her Congregation, kept faith with those with whom she forged such strong bonds. Sister Victoire loved and served a God who she believed read the heart. Now that God has called her home, I believe there is much laughter in heaven, for her heart was always full of love.

Winter 2007 Until that day when we shall meet again.

Raised on a large and thriving farm in Pennsylvania, Sister Franzchen grew up experiencing wonder and awe with the beauty of the land and its colorful fruits and vegetables. Because of this connection to earth and nature, she was in touch with all that was real, valuing all of God’s creation. This “country girl’ had not one, but ten “green thumbs” and amazed all of us with her veggie gardens. Everything bloomed because of her TLC. She delighted in making salads fresh from the garden and, on occasion, surprised us with the creative ways she put salads together. One, a combo of dandelion greens mixed with lettuce, tomatoes and vinegar, was most interesting! Mm m good…to her. After serving most of her life as a teacher (she was always trying to find ways to make subjects more meaningful to her students), Sister Franzchen continued to be active at the Marian Convent even as her health began to decline. She became the great “pillow maker,” using egg crate foam mattresses brought to the Marian following a sister’s return from the hospital, to stuff her unique pillows made from all kinds of colorful fabrics. Nearly everyone with whom she lived received a special pillow. At the Marian Fairs, her pillows sold like hot cakes, bringing in considerable revenue for the Marian Convent! Sister found great pleasure in doing for others in a quiet, humble way. Her deep faith, gentle voice, sweet smile, generosity of spirit and contagious laughter were some of Sister’s enduring qualities. Surely our Sister Franzchen is now enjoying the fruits of her many labors.

Sister Mary Alice Wheatley

was a teacher who could work miracles with children, especially during her last thirteen years in Bridgeport Connecticut, where she showed remarkable sensitivity to children who were educationally and emotionally challenged. Mary Alice’s students loved her and she loved them. Mary Alice mentored a student through his twelve years of grade and high school. I met him, Joshua, at Mary Alice’s bedside at Our Lady of Peace Residence during her illness. He told me all that Mary Alice had taught him during those twelve years. He went on to say that she gave not only one hundred percent of herself but one hundred twenty-five percent to all that she did for him and she never gave up on him. (I know that she did this for other students also.) This six-foot, handsome African-American young man bent down and held Mary Alice in his arms and thanked her for never giving up on him. We cried. Mary Alice was an exemplary IHM Sister who served so many with a joyful, loving, self emptying spirit. She was always so generous and hard working, and always thought of others rather than herself. Mary Alice had many faithful friends to whom she was devoted. I was delighted to be one of them. I was fortunate to spend time with Mary Alice at OLP as she suffered and awaited her time to meet her God. During that time she was always thinking of others. She would ask me to get a feast day card for a friend and a birthday card for another and a box of candy for Marty who fixed her TV. She had a birthday card ready for Joshua to be mailed on Oct 1 for his birthday on October 8. Mary Alice loved her family. I finally met Bernardine, her sister, at Our Lady of Peace. Bernardine spent many of Mary Alice’s last days with her as well as many other family members; their pictures filled her room. Mary Alice had a special eye for beauty and this showed in her classroom, the convent and in the flowers she planted in the convent yards wherever she lived. She also loved baseball. As usual, on the morning of her death, the sports page was on her chair. May Mary Alice’s spirit of joyful, loving service enliven and sustain us as we continue on the journey.

September 17, 1941 October 10, 2007 by Sr. Eva Marie Zlotucha, IHM

Sister M. Franzchen Yahner July 23, 1916 October 7, 2007 by Sr. Linda Anne Greenberg, IHM

I had the privilege of living with Mary Alice many years ago in Bethesda, Maryland, where she was an amazing first grade teacher. Mary Alice

Obituaries for IHM Sisters may be found on the Sisters of IHM webpage: http://ihmnew.marywood.edu/ 1.WhoWeAre/ 1IHMWhoWeAreObituaries2007.html

Winter 2007

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IHM Congregation Celebrates New Life During two celebratory ceremonies this past summer, the IHM Congregation welcomed two newly professed members, Sister Carrie Flood and Sister Rachel Terry and welcomed into the IHM Novitiate, Sister Lisa Perkowski. In her remarks, Sister Mary Persico, president of the IHM Congregation, said, “The step you take tonight is a response to the breath of God stirring in your spirit, a response to the desire to be of service to humanity – vulnerable and broken humanity: poor illiterate children of our inner cities; the children of our immigrant sisters and brothers; the un-churched students of a new generation; or those with needs yet to be revealed. So much lies ahead of you – and all of it unknown. Some call it folly, others adventure or challenge; we, who gather with you this evening, call it discipleship.”

Pictured above are (L-R) Sister Carrie Flood, Sister Mary Persico, and Sister Rachel Terry during the ceremony of the rite of profession at the IHM Center Chapel, July 27, 2007. Pictured right are Sister Mary Persico and Sister Lisa Perkowski during the ceremony of reception into the novitiate at the IHM Center Chapel, August 29, 2007.

Supporting IHM Arts Ministry Heartworks and The Bistro are entities of IHM Arts Ministry. Proceeds benefit the IHM Sisters Retirement Fund. Visit Heartworks and The Bistro at Our Lady of Peace Residence, 2300 Adams Avenue, Scranton, PA. Coming soon: Heartworks online store: www.sistersofihm.org

IHM Center 2300 Adams Avenue Scranton, PA 18509-1598

Journey Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 39 Scranton, PA

Five IHM Sisters were among thousands of people who joined the 18th annual Vigil to Close the School of the Americas in Fort Benning, Georgia. At the gathering held November 16-18 protesters demanded the closure of a defense-department training school they say promotes torture and murder in Latin America. The Vigil included teachings and presentations, exhibits, liturgy and concluded with Sunday’s prayerful march to the gates of Fort Benning. Pictured are (L-R) Srs. Susan Hadzima, Mary Kay Faliskie, Maryalice Jacquinot, Ann Walsh and Donna Korba.

IHMs Join Thousands in Protest of SOA

Vol. 25, No. 2

Winter 2007

Journey Delaneyy, IHM - Suzanne Delane

in the daily activities of life.

to meet, greet and discover you

make space…

take time…

allow me to catch my breath…

in the ser vicin g of other servicin vicing otherss,

thin gs to do things do,,

thin gs to rremember emember things

the endless list of

ministerin g, ministering

shoppin g shopping

the ccleanin leanin g, leaning

oin gs the comin comings oings gs,, gs and ggoin

in the dail unnin gs dailyy rrunnin unnings gs,,

Lo vin g God, Lovin ving

Making Space for God

Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary

page 16 Winter 2007