Updating and Renewing Ministry of Prayer and Presence
“Blessing” is a way of life, a lens through which the whole world is transformed. A blessing promotes protection, healing and creativity in a world sorely in need of wholeness. (John O’Donohue)
Our senior sisters participate in this way of blessing, bringing the needs of the world and all its peoples into the compassion of their hearts. With their unique abilities and the gift of time they are able to bless the lives of others, especially those on the peripheries.
As sisters update and renew their ministry of prayer and presence we acknowledge the way in which they bring the needs of the whole world to God. This expression of mission is a blessing for us all.
Child abuse of any kind – physical, sexual, emotional – is unmitigated evil, criminal and mortally sinful. Anyone who knows about it and does nothing is as responsible as the perpetrators. Until we understand the horrendous nature of child abuse and respond in a morally responsible way, we, as a society, are shirking our duty to protect our children.
Most abuse of children happens in private. The perpetrator usually threatens to harm the child or his family if he or she tells anyone about it. Perpetrators also insidiously convince the children it is their own fault that they are being abused, telling them that they like it or deserve it.
150th Anniversary of CNDs in Waterbury: Just as five Congregation de Notre-Dame Sisters came from Montreal on September 8,1869, this time four CND Sisters – Ona Bessette (Waterbury Catholic HS 1973), Ercilia Ferrera Erazo (Honduras), Sophie Christine Mbougoum (Cameroon) and Jeanne Bonneau – made that same journey to be with us on September 8, 2018 for the inauguration of a year of celebration. What joyous Visitations ensued! We were so very happy that so many CND Sisters journeyed to Waterbury to participate in our CND liturgy and Meet & Greet afterwards.
