Next Step continued

Sisters in Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Convent in Livonia, MI, as well as SM Cabrini Procopio, the provincial leadership team and guests who came from Chicago, IL and Coraopolis, PA, were present for the petitioning for perpetual vows on Sunday morning, May 6, in the convent dining room. Even SM Barbara Ann Bosch, minister general, made a brief appearance!

On behalf of the Felician Sisters of Our Lady of Hope Province, SM Christopher Moore, provincial minister, admitted S Felicity Marie Madigan, S Maria Lorena Arvizu Zambrano and SM Edna Pearl Esquibel to the perpetual profession of vows. The brief ceremony closed with the singing of the Magnificat.

Next Step - Final Vows

Second Novitiate Culminates with Petitioning for Perpetual Profession of Vows

The closing festivities of Second Novitiate began in the sisters' chapel of St. Clare Convent in Polonia, WI, on Thursday, May 3, 2012.

SM Edna Pearl Esquibel, S Maria Lorena Arvizu Zambrano, and S Felicity Marie Madigan prepared a short prayer service on "A Radical Option for Life as Consecrated Women: Becoming Spouse, Sister and Mother" for the sisters of the convent and their directors.

Following the prayer service, the sisters viewed a presentation of their time spent in Polonia, Rome, and Assisi, along with words of encouragement from the sisters who gave classes to the temporary professed sisters prepared by co-director S Margaret Marie Padilla.

The evening concluded with a festive Cinco de Mayo dinner consisting of taquitos, mini chimichangas, mini tacos and burritos that were wonderfully prepared by three remarkably dressed "Mexican Mariachi Women"--SM Barbara Cherek, SM Bernetta Ekedahl, and SM Lois Gajewski.

According to Sister Margaret, the sisters enjoyed singing and dancing to Mexican, American and Polish music.

Sister Edna, Sister Felicity and Sister Lorena wish to thank each sister of Our Lady of Hope Province for their blessing and prayerful support throughout their Second Novitiate experience.

Reflection Time

 Reflection Time

SM Edna Pearl Esquibel, S Felicity Marie Madigan and S Maria Lorena Arvizu Zambrano enjoyed four days of classes on the importance of prayer in the life of a religious as part of their Second Novitiate experience.

The focus of the first three days--

April 17-20--was on Scripture, women in the Bible and in the sisters' own experience; Eucharist as an "embrace of God" in their experience of God's intimacy; and Discernment as an articulation of tools and processes fostered when actively listening to God, others and self. 

On the fourth day, S Peggy Marie Rosehart, co-director of the Pre-Tertians and soon to be Assistant Novice Director, captivated the group with a weaving exercise that gave tactical expression to their experience of contemplation, discovery, and creativity in the spiritual life. Each sister wove a beautiful bookmark of embroidery thread that invites the "weaver" to remember that religious life is a call to deepen relationship with God and neighbor through the discipline of prayer, contemplation and discernment.