Books: Sister Joan Chittister
Many of us have followed Sister Joan Chittister’s inspirational and challenging writings for many years. Two of her more recent offerings I have enjoyed are The Sacred In-Between (Spiritual wisdom for life’s every moment - 2013) and Our Holy Yearnings (Life lessons for becoming our truest selves – 2014). These little books – small in size (4”x61/2” with 100 pages, and costing around $15) are packed with little gems of wisdom from a wise woman. “Life in our times demands new respect for creativity. We must now begin to earn our bread differently, live differently, learn differently, and imagine the future differently.” And about doing something everyday that makes one joyful: “To live life on joys remembered rather than on joy in the here and now is to abandon the very meaning of ‘life.’”
Sister Joan has much to share and her brief meditations really do fit everyday living, helping us to be our best selves, wherever we are and whatever we’re about.
Fourth Week of Advent Reflection
As I enter into a reflection on the Gospel this 4th Sunday (Luke 1:26-38; The Annunciation Story), I am struck by the walk we have all taken together on this Advent e-journey. I love all of your juxtapositions of the perfect pottery, polished silver, perfectly knitted sweaters and delicately blown glass with the “cracked pots”, “tarnished silver”, “Holy, holey sweaters” and “molten” balls of glass with “minds of their own”. I love Sr. Joan’s consideration of an “inner-active” Advent combined with Gwen’s thoughts on actively and outwardly participating as “co-creators” in bringing about Christmas.
We Remembered…We Celebrated…
On the evening of December 16, Notre Dame Community of Andrews warmly welcomed our Congregation of Notre Dame sisters from the surrounding area, who initiated the gathering. Our hearts were burdened with the loss of two more sisters. They came with song sheets, a guitar, a PowerPoint presentation, gifts and delicious refreshments. The names of the six sisters who left us to enter New Life since we moved to Andrews were artistically displayed in the center of our community room: (Sisters Margaret Kelly, Marie Bernice Arsenault, Georgina Hughes, Dorothy McCarron, Alfreda Rogers and Margaret Arsenault). Coming together lifted our spirits and energized us. We remembered fondly those who were no longer physically present with us.
(photo: Sr. Susan Kidd, CND)
