GNSHappenings- February 2023

Written on: March 4, 2023

February Fun: We Grey Nuns had a rollercoaster February. Our Sisters were invited to St. Joan of Arc School in Jackson Heights for Catholic Schools week (technically January 31, but February is short!) Sisters Cathy Bleiler, Barbara Schiavoni and Eileen Spanier made the trip. Sr. Barbara actually revised the talk she was going to give when they realized how much the students already knew about St. Marguerite and the GNSH! VIEW PHOTOS HERE>>
We were so delighted to welcome almost all our Buffalo and Albion Sisters to Philadelphia for our Chapter! Our Sisters at the Plaza and Lafayette were wonderful hostesses to our Sister-guests. During their short stay, we gathered in small groups in different apartments for snacks or dinners or just conversation.
Then, we bid them farewell after our Chapter meetings, and psyched ourselves for the Superbowl. Although at the end we were left bereft of the celebration we had so long anticipated, we dusted ourselves off and rejoiced in a joy-filled Eagles season, even without the trophy we longed for.
Valentine’s Day at Lafayette brought us a LOVE-ly dinner together for the “independents” and a wine and cheese social for the personal care Sisters. Presidents’ Day gave us another holiday week for the GNSH office crew, and, no doubt, March will greet us with promises of spring around the corner– despite what Punxsutawney Phil decided on February 2.

GNSH Associate News: On February 18, GNSH Associates and Sisters participated in a Lenten Reflection Zoom meeting presented by Rev. William C. Woody, S.J. of the Boston College Jesuit Community. Fr. Bill is the nephew of Sr. Kate Woody GNSH. The reflection, entitled “Talking about Wilderness but We Don’t Want to Wander There Forty Years,” took the place of the usual monthly Associates Zoom meeting. Thirty nine Associates and Sisters thoroughly enjoyed listening to Fr. Bill and participating in the small group discussion time. The reflection motivated participants as they prepared for the Lenten season.
The next Associate Zoom meeting is on Saturday, March 11 from 10:30-12. Please contact Angel Conicelli at beingcelestial@yahoo.com, if you plan to attend, or would like more information about the associates.
Philadelphia area will hold an additional in-person meeting in March at Lafayette on Saturday March 18, from 11am-1pm. If attending, please bring a mask.

Celebrating Consecrated Life: Each year on the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, the Church prays in a special way for women and men in consecrated life. During Mass on Thursday Feb. 2, Grey Nuns of the Sacred Heart at Lafayette Redeemer renewed their vows at the invitation of Fr. Jacob. Special thanks to Sr. Joan Marie McCann for her assistance.
On Sunday Feb. 5, the Sisters of the Redeemer recognized the gifts of the many congregations that partner with the Sisters of the Redeemer. Four sisters gave reflections on their congregational charisms (Sr. Kim Kessler, CSR, Sr. Leslie Porreca, RSM, Sr. Elizabeth Kithuva, SSJ (Kenya) and Sr. Barbara Schiavoni,GNSH. Sr. Barbara Schiavoni’s remarks can be found here. The Mass was a joyous celebration of the diversity of charisms in religious life and included a traditional African song based on the call of Samuel: “Speak Lord, for your servant is listening” sung by the Sisters of the Holy Spirit from Tanzania. All in all, a joyful celebration! VIEW PHOTOS HERE>>

Spiritual Animation Committee:  Wishing each of you a blessed Lent! During this holy season the Spiritual Animation Committee is hosting a non-traditional experience of praying the Stations of the Cross each Wednesday at 10:30, beginning March 8th: Stations 1-4; 15th: Stations 5-7;  22nd: Stations 8-11;  and 29th: Stations 12-14. All presentations will be 10:30-11:30 a.m. at Lafayette in the  RCR and streamed through Zoom. Through scripture, music, reflection and prayer we will hear from some of the eyewitnesses of the Passion. On Holy Saturday, April 8th from 10:30-11:30 Sr. Marlene Butler, GNSH will lead us in a guided meditation.

Stamps for Sisters–Submitted by Joe Tebo: The Sisters of the Holy Cross in Notre Dame, Indiana accept cancelled stamps for their Ministry to Poor. I send them stamps. I have a few people saving stamps for me, now. So far I have sent stamps from the US, Canada, Japan, Vietnam and Africa. They could always use more people helping out. This would be a wonderful Lenten Project. You can send the stamps to me, my address is in the directory. Interested? Contact Joe by Email.

Celebrating You! Wishing the following Sisters happy birthday and happy feast day in March: Sr. Jean Scharf (7); Sr. Patricia Eileen McKeon (9); Sr. Kathleen Woody (20); Sr. Mary Courts (22); Sr. Marie Cecile Egan (25-FD); Sr. Marlene Butler (27). May God’s love protect and bless each of you in the year ahead!

This entry was posted in From our Sisters and tagged: Birthdays, Boston college, Catholic Schools Week, Chapter, Church, Consecrated life, Eagles, Feast Days, GNSH, guests, guided meditation, hostesses, Lafayette Redeemer, Lent, Lenten Reflection, march, music, non-traditional, Prayer, Presentation of the Lord, presentations, Presidents Day, Punxsutawney Phil, Reflection, Religious Sisters of Mercy, scripture, Sisters of St. Joseph-Kenya, Sisters of the Holy Spirit, Sisters of the Redeemer, Spiritual Animation Committee, Spring, St. Joan of Arc Jackson Heights, St. Marguerite, stamps, Stations of the Cross, Tanzania, Valentine's Day, vow renewal