Monthly Update

A Message from the Sisters-

Thank You! March 19, St. Joseph’s Day, holds a special place in all of our hearts. It has always been a our special feast day to reflect on our patron, Saint Joseph. As teachers in Hill, we hoped to instill in our students a special love for the father of Jesus. Last night, we saw our hopes turned to reality.

In the past few years, a tradition has taken shape thanks to our generous, kind, and loving group of current Hill families, Hill graduates, Lay Associates and Junior Associates.

Our celebration began with a beautiful Mass and the Associates Commitment Renewal. Special thanks to Sister Denise for coordinating all the elements of the Mass and for organizing and preparing the school auditorium. Although we could not hold this special occasion in our beloved chapel, Sister Denise transformed the gym into a beautiful setting for all of the Sisters and our guests to enjoy. Sister Josita gathered a large group of Associates to this year’s ceremony. Each Associate promises to carry out the charism of the Daughters of Divine Charity in their own lives by “Making God’s Love Visible” to all they touch.

Following Mass, nearly 100 guests joined the Sisters for a remarkable dinner. Each family added a delightful dish to our potluck dinner. From tomato and mozzarella and antipasto, fresh baked rolls and St. Joseph’s bread, to penne vodka and chicken marsala, to honey baked ham and mashed potatoes, all the way to the dessert table of cookies, cakes, scones and of course, St. Joseph’s Pasties, every bite tasted even more delicious knowing they were made to be shared with people who truly love Saint Joseph, the Sisters and Hill.

Induction and Renewal of Associates

 

Entrance Hymn                       Hail, Holy Joseph, Hail

 

                        Hail, holy Joseph, hail.  Chaste  spouse of Mary, hail.  Hail, holy Joseph! 

Pure as the lily flower, in Eden’s peaceful vale, Hail, holy Joseph!

 

                        Hail, Holy Joseph, hail.  God’s choice wert thou alone.  Hail, holy Joseph!

 To thee, the Word made flesh, was subject as a Son.  Hail, holy Joseph!

 

LITURGY OF THE WORD

 

First Reading  A Reading from the Book of the Prophet Samuel.                                Cate Moran

The Word of the Lord.

All:                  Thanks be to God

Responsorial Psalm    The Son of David will live for ever.                                                 

Second Reading            A Reading from the Letter of St. Paul to the Romans              Nicole Pietrunti

Gospel Acclamation    Praise and honor to you, Lord Jesus Christ.                             Robin Rodolfo

                                    Praise and honor to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

                                    How happy they who dwell in your house, O Lord;

                                    Continually they sing your praise!     

                                    Praise and honor to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Gospel             Matt. 1: 16-18, 21, 24                                                                           Msgr. Whalen

Presider           The Lord be with you

All                   And with your spirit.

Presider           A Reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew                        Msgr. Whalen

All                   Glory to you, O Lord.

Presider           The Gospel of the Lord.

All                   Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ       

Homily                                                                                                                                      Msgr. Whalen

 

Prayer of the Faithful                                                                                                    Dorothy Zissler

 

LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST

 

Presentation of the Gifts

           

Offertory Hymn                       Here I Am, Lord

 

I, the Lord of sea and sky, I have heard my people cry.  All who dwell in dark and sin my hand will save. 

I, who made the stars of night, I will make their darkness bright.  Who will bear my light to them?  Whom shall I send?

 

Refrain:          Here I am, Lord.  Is it I, Lord?  I have heard you calling in the night.

                        I will go, Lord, if you lead me.  I will hold your people in my heart.

 

I, the Lord of snow and rain, I have borne my people’s pain. I have wept for love of them.  They turn away.

I will break their hearts of stone, Give them hearts for love alone.  I will speak my word to them.  Whom shall I send?                           Refrain           

 

Communion Hymn                  Blest Are They

 

Blest are they, the poor in spirit, theirs is the kingdom of God.

Blest are they, full of sorrow, they shall be consoled.

 

Refrain:          Rejoice and be glad!  Blessed are you, holy are you!

Rejoice and be glad!  Yours is the kingdom of God!

 

Blest are they, the lowly ones, they shall inherit the earth.

Blest are they, who hunger and thirst, they shall have their fill.                   Refrain

Blest are they, who show mercy, mercy shall be theirs.

Blest are they, the pure of heart, they shall see God!                                    Refrain

 

Communion Meditation          Joseph’s Song

 

Recessional Hymn                   Christ Be Our Light

 

Longing for light, we wait in darkness.  Longing for truth, we turn to you.

Make us your own, your holy people, light for the world to see.

 

Refrain:          Christ, be our light! Shine in our hearts.  Shine through the darkness.

                        Christ, be our light!  Shine in your Church gathered today.

 

Longing for peace, our world is troubled.  Longing for hope, many despair.

Your word alone has pow’r to save us.  Make us your living voice. Refrain

 

School Song

 

Come, join and sing the praises of a school we can never can forget.

Though we may wonder far, she’ll be our guiding star.

Let’s sing once again the story of the white and the blue.  Pledging our alma mater, ever to be true.

 

Refrain:          All hail, St. Joseph Hill, keep her standards flying high.

Hail, St. Joseph Hill, may your glory never die.

We pledge our loyalty to your honor tried and true,

For they’ll never wave any flag quite as brave as the white and the blue.

 

Long after we have parted and we leave these old familiar halls

We’ll see the memory of days that used to be.

And though time may bring it’s treasure both of laughter and tears,

We’ll find our alma mater standing through the years.                                Refrain

 

 

March 19, 2014

NOTE: Please park in the Landis Parking Lot (see below for directions),

4 PM Bring your contribution for the Pot Luck Dinner to the Convent Door

4:30 PM Join us for Mass with the Sisters in the St. Joseph Hill Auditorium

5:30 PM Pot Luck Dinner Served in the Sisters’ New Convent Addition

Directions to Landis Gate Parking Lot:

Take Fingerboard road to Columbia Ave, drive on the campus. Veer left at the top of the hill and proceed to the Landis Ave Parking Lot. Please join us in the Auditorium (Elementary School’s Main Entrance) for Mass of in the New Convent Addition(located adjacent to the Landis Ave Parking Lot)You can’t miss it!

How the Pot Luck works…

Please RSVP to Ms. Elizabeth Johnsen at [email protected] or 718-720-7365 by March 14. When you RSVP, please be sure to mention what item you are adding to our menu list. The day of the Pot Luck, alumnae volunteers will organize the kitchen. Please include reheating directions for your food item if necessary. Hot food items need to be brought in aluminum trays that fit into sternos.

If you prefer not to cook or bake, monetary donations are gladly accepted. These donations allow us to purchase decorations, paper goods, and beverages for dinner.

Thank you in advance to all who help make this event such a wonderful evening for our Sisters and their friends.

Sisters Favorite Foods:

Pillsbury biscuits, rye bread, cucumber salad, soup, shrimp cocktail, asparagus, roasted chicken, tiramisu, rice pudding, ice cream sundaes, etc

In Psalm 79.5 the writer asks the Lord how long He will be angry at theworld? Sometimes we find ourselves asking the same question. During adifficult time in my life, a priest friend said to me, “Sometimes we allfeel like we’re in Good Friday, but remember Easter Sunday is coming.” I’llnever forget those amazing words! Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross and theResurrection is proof of His love and power to all the world. Easter isthe once-and-for-all-time answer.

Please join me Monday, March 10th as we discuss how Lent helps us face ourhumanity. Lent is not only a time of reflection, but a gift of time setaside by God to help us in our own personal growth.

Our meeting will be held at the Mother Franziska House of Prayer, 205 MajorAvenue on the campus of St. Joseph Hill Academy. Kindly RSVP to Sr. Deniseat (718) 727-5700 or email [email protected] or [email protected] suggested donation is $10.00. Refreshments will be served.

I hope to see you there!

In Christ,

Grace

Hello Everyone,

The Jesuits, the well-known community of Catholic priests, are famous for having developed a system of education that has brought them the admiration of many, but what is less well known is that their approach to education, and their approach to everything else, flows from a particular style of spirituality characterized by very specific techniques and premises first codified by St. Ignatius Loyola, the founder of the Jesuits. This “Ignatian” spirituality was intended by St. Ignatius to be eminently practical and flexible, as useful to lay women and men in their careers and families as it is to any priest or religious sister. Over four weeks of discussions, Christopher Franz, a member of the Religious Studies faculty of St. Joseph Hill Academy High School, will explore the fundamental ideas and practices of Ignatian life, prayer and decision making with a view toward how these can be incorporated into everyday life.

Sessions will be held at the Convent of the Daughters of Divine Charity, St. Joseph Hill, 850 Hylan Blvd. (enter through the Columbia Ave. gate off Fingerboard Rd.). The sessions will be held on Thursdays, March 6th, 13th, 20th, and 27th from 7:00 – 8:00 PM in the Meeting Room of the Convent.

Suggested donation is $10/ session and will helped toward the restoration of the old Convent.

Refreshments will be served.

Please RSVP to Sr. Denise by Tuesday, March 4th at [email protected] or call 718-727-5700 and leave her a message. Also please spread this message to as many people as possible.

Thanks and I hope you all have a Blessed Lent.

Sincerely,
Sister Denise

God, our Father,
in meditating on the open heart of Jesus,
you let your servant,
Franziska Lechner,
realize the one thing necessary in her life:
Communion with you through your Beloved Son
in the love of the Holy Spirit.
By this deep experience of your never-ending love,
you urged her to make your love visible in the world.
To your greater glory,
she tirelessly worked
for the good of all those
whom you had entrusted to her care.
We sincerely hope,
that you have made her worthy of your presence
and beseech you:
Grant us, through her intercession,
help in our requests
in order that we may partake in the joy
of seeing her glorified also here on earth.
For this we beseech you
through Jesus Christ, your son,
our Lord and God,
who in the unity of the Holy Spirit
lives and reigns with you for all eternity.
Amen.

---

Celebrating Our Foundress’s Birthday

Mother Franziska Lechner
Servant of God

Born in Edling, Bavaria, on January 1, 1833, Franziska’s father whisked her off to the church across the street where Franziska Lechner was Baptized. Thus began her life with Our Lord.

 

Little did she know then, nor did her family, what God had planned for her – to spread His Love to all the world.

 

Little did they know that the Congregation of Sisters that she would found in 1868 in Vienna, Austria, would be called “Daughters of God’s Love” “Daughters of Divine Charity”!

 

Mother Franziska’s charism is still carried out today by her many Sisters in countries throughout the globe- serving God and His people in various ministries -to make God’s love visible throughout the world.