Weekending (or beginning) & A Sunday in Ordinary Time

It's nice to have an extended holiday weekend at this point in time, although as usual, time will move even more swiftly. That's ok, there's still an extra day.

This is scheduled to be a pleasantly occupied weekend with nice things lined up for tomorrow, Sunday, January 15, 2006, this year the second (first) Sunday in Ordinary Time.

I thought I'd share a little bit about the communal significance of January 15 for the Sisters of Christian Charity (this link is to the generalate's website).



Pauline von Mallinckrodt was the foundress of the Sisters of Christian Charity (this link is to the US Eastern Province website). On April 14, 1985, Mother Pauline was beatified by Pope John Paul II and her liturgical feast day set for April 30, the date that is also the anniversary of her death (1881). Prior to her beatification, January 15th was celebrated as her feast day, and for the Sisters of Christian Charity still today remains a day of community celebration on which those in formation are specially honored and celebrated.

This year it so happens that our periodic local gathering of Associates (Companions of Pauline) will take place on this same day. Our agenda? A discussion of Peter Steinfels' "A People Adrift" and follow-up on our outreach project to our Sisters (SCC Western Province) ministering in New Orleans and now displaced by Katrina.

There are several small groups for whom the Motherhouse is also our local convent community. In our case, our local coordinators collaborate with us on our gathering and sharing events.

Besides being the convent home for a significant number of Sisters and the administrative and formation heartquarters for the province, the Motherhouse is also home to several sponsored works of the community including Assumption College for Sisters and Quellen Spiritual Center.

Treat yourself to a visit to their websites! (Note: ACS offers courses that are open to religious and lay both for credit and enrichment. Quellen has an online daily scripture reflection and a great menu of programs and retreats offered. Also on the grounds of the Motherhouse is Villa Pauline Retreat House.)

At the heart of this home is the Chapel of Mary Immaculate which houses Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament.



One of Mother Pauline's more well-known quotes is

"The Blessed Sacrament is my life, my bliss!
To It I owe the grace of my holy vocation."

It seems to me, indeed, a fitting day to congregate and sistership! Certainly, no bland "ordinary" Sunday, but perhaps a beautiful "Ordinary" Sunday! Does it sound like someplace you'd like to visit? Perhaps Jesus is calling to you, "Come and See!"