Seasonal and Notable Events

October 17, 2010

St. Camilla Baptista Varani
 canonized by Pope Benedict XVI

 

Prayer to St. Camilla Battista Varani Lord Jesus Christ, You deigned to attract Blessed Camilla Battista to your Sacred Heart As she meditated upon your inner sufferings, raise us with your infinite love from the miseries of this life and through her intercession grant unto us first and foremost to merit the salvation that you so dearly purchased for us through your death and resurrection, and then deign to grant unto us the special favor we now ask of you (here state the favor you are requesting) Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be Blessed Camilla Battista, pray for us.

Several relatives of an Italian Poor Clare, Sr. Camilla Battista Varano reside in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. For many years they have been encouraging devotion to her and promoting her cause for sainthood. We were very happy view her canonization on October 17th on EWTN along with five other new saints. For more information contact: www.blessedcamillavarani.com or P O Box 627 Abington, PA 19001

February 4-8, 2010

Sr. Carole Riley CDP
joined us for a Workshop

Sister Carole's presentations covered the Myers-Briggs types, an Examen of the Unconscious and some ideas on Discernment from Ignatian Spirituality. She is a psychologist and serves as the Executive Director of the West Virginia Institute of Spirituality in Charleston. She is well known for her many audio cassettes and videos on spirituality.
	We always enjoy Sister's presentations and we look forward to having her with us again in the near future. She spent a little extra time with us, due to the fact that one of the major snow storms hit Philadelphia the day before she was to fly back to Charleston.

 

January 15, 2010

Sr. Mary Constance celebrates her 90^th Birthday

January 3, 2010
Solemnity of Epiphany Procession

Christmas is a very special season for us. One of our traditions is to process throughout the monastery after Midnight Mass carrying lighted candles as we visit each of the many nativity scenes in the different rooms of the house. The abbess carries the statue of the Infant Jesus while we sing Christmas carols. On Epiphany, we repeat the procession after our noon day meal. This time, the sister chosen as "King" for the year carries the infant in the procession. On the left, Sr. Evelyn, our abbess, leads the procession, sprinkling holy water on each of the rooms.

At dinner on Epiphany, we eat take a piece of cake. One piece has a small bean inserted into it that is hidden from sight. The sister who finds the bean in her cake is the "King" for the year.  The other sisters offer special prayers for her and she assists the abbess in giving out any special gifts that our benefactors have given us for Christmas. This year, Sr. Mary Julianee found the bean in her cake and she is pictured on the right at the end of the procession carrying the statue of the Infant Jesus.

 

October 12-17, 2009

Community Reteat
with Fr. Jim Van Vurst OFM
Religious Assistant for Mother Bentivoglio Federation
 

Fr. Jim offered our community retreat on the topic, "Our Journey from Here to Eternity". We reflected on our life's journey so far and how our vision clears as we age. We see God's great love and his movement in all the different phases of our life. we considered decisive moments in our lives, when the significance of one decision had consequences that we are only beginning to see and realize. The image of a journey lent itself to reflection on our image of God, those who have shared our journey, the sacred moments, and how the Eucharist has been the food for our life journey. Because we believe in God's love, forgiveness and mercy, we are able to say, "Yes, Lord!" when Sister Death comes. Fr. Jim shared his love for watercolor with us on the last day and left us a beautiful scene he painted while we watched.

At the end of the retreat, Fr. Jim joined some of us for a photo in front of the lovely scenes of moments in the life of St. Clare and St. Francis that hang in our refectory. They were painted on wood by the artist, Bolton Morris and all the scene illustrate something to do with food, bread or the Eucharist.

 

Transitus of Feast of St. Francis October 3,  2009		Feast of St. Francis October 4, 2009
Fr. David Engo OFM Cap celebrated the Transitus of St. Francis with us. We ring bells during the veneration of the relic of St. Francis. Fr. David is pictured above during the veneration.		Msgr. William O'Donnell celebrated Mass for us on the Feast of St. Francis. Brother Larry Hilferty TOR assisted him.