GNSHappenings- January 2022

Written on: January 31, 2022

Celebrating You! 

Wishing the following Sisters very happy birthdays and a feast day in February:  Sr. Pierrette Remillard (4); Sr. Bernadette Marie Lalonde (11-FD); Sr. Mary Finnick (12); Sr. Kathryn Healy (17); Sr. Mary Joan Elias (23) and Sr. Diane Bardol (28).

May the Lord protect and bless each of you in the year ahead!

Grief and Loss

On Friday February 4th, from 1-3pm, Sr. Anne Meyers, SSJ will help us reflect on how we are called to support one another as we experience all the “letting go’s” that our God and our life call us to embrace. Sr. Anne is a licensed psychologist who knows religious life from the inside, as she has been a Sister of St. Joseph of Chestnut Hill for more than 50 years.

GNSH Associate News

Sr. Sheila Stone addressed the January gathering of Associates and Sisters. Sr. Sheila talked about the changes that happened in the mind and heart of the Congregation after Vatican II. She spoke of the radical change from a focus on classroom education to education of the Sisters themselves about the needs of the materially poor and of Earth. Not a learning from books, but a learning from person to person, experience to experience. From this, new directions, new ministries grew and flourished that enriched the lives of the Sisters and those with whom they ministered.

The next gathering is February 12 10:30 am. If you wish to participate and are not receiving the monthly Zoom links, please click to email Maryellen Glackin. The gatherings include prayer, announcements and Associate happenings.  All are welcome! Contact Angel Conicelli  if you would like more information about the Associates.

Maybe Next Year, Buffalo!

The Buffalo Bills suffered a devastating overtime loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday 1/23. Although they took an early lead, and despite all of the prayers of our Buffalo Sisters, the Bills lost out on a shot at the Super Bowl. Sr. Barbara Harrington states, “Buffalonians are very used to losses and disappointments when it comes to the Bills. However, we now have a team that for several years, has given us thrilling moments and big wins. In this game, our quarterback, Josh Allen played excellent ball head-to-head against another great quarterback. Despite our loss, there’s lots of love and pride in our city today.” Do the Bills know they have such fervent supporters, not  just in Buffalo, but also in Philadelphia?  It was an exciting game to watch, despite the outcome!

Thich Nhat Hanh Foundation Photo

Death of a Spiritual Leader

Many of you know that Thich Nhat Hanh, a Buddhist monk, died January 22, at the age of 95. He was a prolific writer and spiritual guide to many the world over. In 2014 he was asked to write a statement on climate change and our relationship to one another and Earth. It was written prior to Laudato Si’ and yet it speaks in a similar spirit and words about our interconnectedness and responsibility. We have included the text on our website for you to read. Click here: Climate Change and our relationship with Earth.

Laudato Si’ Action Platform Meeting– February 14

The next quarterly meeting for the Laudato Si’ Action Platform will be held at Holy Redeemer Lafayette on Valentine’s Day at 10 am. For those unable to attend in person it will also be available on Zoom. As a reminder, we will be discussing the following in small groups on that day! Can’t wait to hear what you have learned and discovered!

Laudato Si’ Action for First Quarter (through mid- February)

Read, reflect and pray with the Introduction to Laudato Si’ and discuss with others using questions that can be found here, or simply share whatever touched you in the reading.

• In his opening words, Pope Francis calls Earth “a sister with whom we share our life and a beautiful mother who opens her arms to embrace us.” In what ways is Earth our sister? Our mother?
• Referring to his namesake, St. Francis, Pope Francis says, “Rather than a problem to be solved, the world is a joyful mystery to be contemplated with gladness and praise.” What does it mean to you to think of the world as a “joyful mystery?”
• Watch at least one YouTube on what some people are doing about plastics in their daily lives: Zero Waste Family Makes No Household Garbage for 3 Years!

This entry was posted in Laudato Si' (LSAP) and tagged: birthday, Buddhist, Buffalo Bills, climate change, Earth, education, Feast Day, fervent support, football, game, GNSH Associates, God, Grief and Loss, joyful mystery, Laudato Si!, Laudato Si' Action Platform, letting go, LSAP, materially poor, ministries, mother, person to person, Pope Francis, radical change, relationship, Sister, Spiritual Leader Thich Nhat Hanh, Sr. Anne Meyer, Sr. Sheila Stone GNSH, SSJ, support, Vatican II, YouTube