Daughters of Divine Charity

Together We Live in the Legacy that is the Daughters of the Divine Charity

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Advent Reflections: The Second Sunday

December 4, 2016 First Reading: Isaiah: 11: 1 – 10
Second Reading: Romans 15: 4 – 9
Gospel: Matthew: 3: 1 – 12

Today’s Scriptures proclaim the well known Advent mantra: “Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths . . .”
When I hear these words read, and sing these words during Advent Liturgies, I can’t help saying to myself: ” It’s time again, time to clean up my act”.
Listening to the readings of the Second Sunday of Advent, we discover that readying the way of the Lord does not involve physical labor. Instead, we are challenged to engage our minds, hearts and spirits in the “labor of love”
We are called: to act and interact justly. ..
to create the graced place of peace .. .
to repent and witness our change of heart by acts of kindness. . .
to welcome one another as Christ has welcomed us. . .
We live this Labor of Love as companions on our way to the Lord. We walk the journey with our community of faith, and extend to one another justice, peace, and open hearts. Together, we will surely see the glory and salvation of our God.
Wow! That sounds like, looks like, feels like the Kingdom!
Indeed, It IS the Kingdom of God.
Have a happy and blessed Advent!
Sister Gerrie Contento, M.P.F.

Advent Reflections: The First Sunday

November 27, 2016: First Reading: Isaiah2: 1 – 5
Second Reading: Romans 13: 11 – 14
Gospel: Matthew: 24: 37 – 44

It would be quite dramatic if this Sunday’s second reading were accompanied by the blare of trumpets, the roll of drums, and streaks of lightning and thunder in the sky. That would surely wake us up from sleep!

Advent does have the power to awaken us to the promptings of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit that turned the Blessed Virgin’s life upside down, is the same Spirit that calls us to be surprised that “our salvation is nearer” to us than we realize. Each Advent we are moved to emerge from the dark night of sin and approach with hope the coming of the Light of Dawn. We are challenged to toss aside our self absorbed way of life, and hold fast to the Gospel mandate – love and care for one another. We are further prompted to stand in that Light and really see the needy, the suffering, the poor, the sick, and the goodness, the hopes, and the desires within their hearts.

In short we will wake up to the presence of Jesus within them. And, at some God Graced moment , we will hear the trumpets, drums, thunder, and the lightning will reveal to us the presence of Jesus within us.

And together, all God’s people will witness once again the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Have a happy and blessed Advent!

A Prayer for Thanksgiving

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You may wish to use this blessing at your table on Thanksgiving Day:

A Prayer of Thanksgiving

God, source and giver of all things,
we give you thanks on this Thanksgiving Day
for the beauty of the whole of creation.

We give you thanks for the blessings of family
and friends: both those gathered around this table
and those who are present in our hearts.

We give you thanks for this food, prepared by
loving hands, and for the graces you provide
to nourish our bodies, minds and hearts so that
we might better serve you.

Help us to be faithful stewards of all that has been
given to us. May we reflect that which we have
received to all we meet, especially the less fortunate
in our midst.

Amen.

Giving Thanks

0095Sister Josita is back with some words of inspiration to awaken and nurture your spiritual life during this season of giving.

“Giving thanks for abundance is sweeter than abundance itself” Rumi

“Everything is a gift . . . The degree to which we are awake to this truth is a measure of our gratefulness.” Br. D. Steindl – Rast

“Give thanks. not just on Thanksgiving Day, but everyday of your life. Appreciate and never take for granted all that you have” Catherine Pulsiver

“When eating a piece of fruit, thank the person who planted the tree” Vietnamese Proverb

Look for new posts for Whispers from the Hill throughout the fall season.

Our Sisters at Work in South Bend, Indiana.

sister-carmela-and-students-drawingSister Carmella and Sister Paula live the mission of the Daughters of Divine Charity at Corpus Christi Parish in South Bend, Indiana. Along with being integral members of Corpus Christi Parish, Sister Carmella works as a “full time” substitute teacher, while Sister Paula teaches music to students in the lower grades of the parish’s school. This October, Sister Carmella decided to document her day as a substitute teacher for one of Corpus Christi’s Kindergarten Art Class.

sister-paula-helping-outIn anticipation of Halloween, Sister Carmella tasked her students with drawing themselves in their costumes…with a twist. Students were to imagine that after eating to many Trick-or-Treats and candy, they had to go for an X-Ray. Sister Carmella students, with the help of Sister Paula, had so much fun drawing their tummies filled with their favorite Halloween candy like chocolate bars and lollipops!

Reflection for Easter Sunday: March 27, 2016

IMG_0895-2Scriptures of the Day
Acts 10: 34a, 37 – 43
Colossians 3: 1 – 4
John 20: 1 – 9

HE LIVES !!! HE SPEAKS !!! “Why do you look for the living among the dead ?”

“I have risen and I am still with you.”

“Peace be with you. Do not be afraid.”

We feebly try to respond with profundity to the mystery of the Resurrection, but we cannot quite capture its essence. We probably would do better if we used the arts( poetry, music, art, dance) to express the wonder, the awe, the ongoing effect the Resurrection has on all humanity.

And so, I offer for reflection, not my words, but the words of Pope Benedict XVI.

“Faith in the Resurrection of Jesus says that there is a future for every human being: the cry for unending life which is a part of the person is indeed answered. Through Jesus we do know the room where exiled love lays down its victory. He himself is this place, and he calls us to be with him and in dependence on him. He calls us to keep this place open within the world so that he, the exiled love, may reappear over and over in the world . . . God exists: that is the real message of Easter. Anyone who even begins to grasp what this means also knows what it means to be redeemed.”

Have a blessed Easter!

by Sr. Gerrie Contento, M.P.F