Felician Franciscan Sisters

New Candidate

2012-02-21T17:33:00.000-08:00

Candidate Promises to Continue Discernment

In a simple ceremony that followed the Final Blessing of the Mass for the Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time, a new candidte, expressed her desire to continue the process of discernment to the religious life as a Felician Sister.

Celebration of the Eucharistic liturgy took place in Our Lady of Hope Provincial House Chapel in Beaver Falls, PA, on Saturday evening, February 18, 2012. Sister Christopher presented her with a tau cross as a "symbol and a reminder" of her promise to continue the process of discernment. All present extended their hands in blessing and prayed the Blessing of Blessed Mother Mary Angela.
A 'Pizza Celebration' in the dining room followed the Mass.

Blessed are the Poor

2012-02-19T18:25:00.000-08:00

(Postulant Louise Edwards shares another reflection on her ministry experience at the Blessed Mary Angela Spirituality Center Among the poor in Pomona, CA.)

It's week two at the Blessed Mary Angela Spirituality Center in Pomona, CA, and the Lord continues to stretch me out of my comfort zone. Four nights a week we visit the shelter where many of the homeless spend the night. At first I found the shelter more difficult because it felt as if I were intruding into someone's private space. That sounds a little silly because it is one big gymnasium-sized room with cots lined up: women in one area and men in another. But the atmosphere and energy are different. People are tired and more willing to talk and talk and talk. As I continue to learn more about the spirituality of presence, I can readily see what a blessing it is that someone wants to hear about how my day went. Listening to each person reminds me that we are all created to live in community. When a sister asks about my day, I feel as if I matter. The homeless aren't any different. So in truth, I'm learning from them how to live in community. It's so unexpected and so amazing.

'This is Our Congregation'

2012-02-17T16:48:00.000-08:00

'This is Our Congregation'

The Evangelization Ministry from Rio Rancho, NM, visited the homeless in Pomona, CA, on Wednesday, February 8.

S Margaret Marie Padilla and S Veronica Marie Lucero joined the sisters from the Blessed Mary Angela Spirituality Center Among the Poor in their daily ministry to the homeless. As the sun was coming up, Sister Carol Marie Wiatrek said, "Welcome sisters. This is our congregation. These are our friends."

Sister Margaret brought out her guitar and started singing "Seek Ye First." Many were reluctant to join in at first, but by the time Sister Veronica started singing "If You're Happy and You Know It...," many were laughing out loud as they tried to remember the different hand motions. SM Therese Ann Parobek commented that she had never seen "Kevin" with such a big smile on his face. Postulant Louise Edwards said, "Many hearts were touched. What a blessing to have the sisters share their ministry with us

Postulant joins high school retreat

2012-02-15T16:37:00.000-08:00

Retreat Experience a 'Blessing'

Postulant Louise Edwards joined the sophomore class from Pomona (CA) Catholic High School on Thursday, February 9 for their annual class retreat.

The retreat theme was based on the "Footprints" poem that has become popular.

What is a Come & See Week-end???

2012-02-13T15:40:00.000-08:00

What is a Come and See Opportunity?

In the Gospel of John when the disciples asked Jesus, “Where do you stay?” Jesus responded with these words of invitation, “Come and See.” A Come and See Weekend is quite similar. It is an invitation to women who are discerning a call to Religious Life to Come and See how we Felician Sisters live out our response to the invitation of Jesus to follow Him. Throughout the weekend women meet with other interested women and spend time experiencing the life of a Felician Sister. It is an opportunity for these women to participate with the sisters in common prayers, share meals with the community, and enjoy recreation and other aspects of community life with the sisters. The weekend provides time for personal prayer, reflection and faith sharing as well information sessions on our Felician way of life, our history, our Charism, our beloved Foundress Blessed Angela, our mission and ministries. Any single young woman between the ages of 18 and 40 who is thinking that Jesus may be calling her to serve as a Consecrated Woman in the Church as a Felician Sister is most welcome to attend one of our Come and See Weekends.

Come and See Experiences are similar to the Come and See Weekends; however, they are weeklong experiences which enable women to share not only in our prayer and common lives, but also in one of our ministries.

Come and See Weekend, which was held February 10-12, 2012, at
Mother of Good Counsel Convent in Chicago, IL.

We Came to Share Our Story

2012-02-09T06:51:00.000-08:00

Novies from our North American Province took time to participate in a vocation day. They shared their vocation stories in various ways, includding song.

50 years of Religious Life Recognized

2012-02-08T12:28:00.000-08:00

Religious women and men of the Diocese of Metuchen (NJ) gathered for a vesper service celebrating World Day for Consecrated Life on Sunday, February 5, 2012.

During the service, the 2012 jubilarians of the diocese were honored and recognized. Among them were S Dorothy Mary Sajczuk and S Donna Marie Trukowski, both celebrating 50 years as Felician Sisters. Sister Dorothy ministers at Perth Amboy Catholic School and Sister Donna is principal of Bishop Ahr High School in Edison.

One Step at a Time

2012-02-04T06:29:00.000-08:00

'Walk for Memories' Raises Funds, Awareness

for Alzheimer's

S Esmeria Marie Bastos walked side by side with 12,000 others for the 2012 "Walk for Memories" sponsored by the Alzheimer's Society of Toronto, Canada, on January 28, 2012.

She said, "We all wore a yellow shoelace on our fingers; yellow because it's a sign of hope and the shoelace represents the walk. There are 41,000 people who suffer with Alzheimer's just in the greater Toronto area. This year I dedicated my walk in honor of SM Alexandrette Smith and all our dear sisters who suffer with this disease and for my uncle Joe as well. Thank you from the bottom of my heart to all the sisters, family, friends and acquaintances who helped me raised $1000 for the Alzheimer's Society."

around the world

2012-02-02T11:02:00.001-08:00

around the world, a set on Flickr.

World Day for Consecrated Life

2012-01-30T17:58:00.000-08:00

World Day for Consecrated Life
Prayer Card - View or download
the pdf version to print out and
share with family and friends.

Consecrated Life

Taken from USCCB website

The Committee on Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations seeks to foster and encourage the various forms of consecrated life in the Church today. In Vita Consecrata, the 1996 Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation, Pope John Paul II wrote of the different forms of consecrated life as “the many branches which sinks its roots into the Gospel and brings forth abundant fruit in every season of the Church’s life.” These diverse forms include: Monastic Life, the Orders of Virgins, Hermits, and Institutes completely devoted to contemplation, Apostolic Religious Life, Secular Institutes, Societies of Apostolic Life, and new or renewed forms of the consecrated life (cf. Vita Consecrata, 6-12).

World Day for Consecrated Life

February 2, 2012

Celebrated in Parishes February 5, 2012

In 1997, Pope John Paul II instituted a day of prayer for women and men in consecrated life. This celebration is attached to the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord on February 2. This feast is also known as Candlemas Day; the day on which candles are blessed symbolizing Christ who is the light of the world. So too, those in consecrated life are called to reflect the light of Jesus Christ to all peoples. The celebration of World Day for Consecrated Life is transferred to the following Sunday in order to highlight the gift of consecrated persons for the whole Church.