As part of the rich heritage of the Cornelian Philosophy of education and our passion for holistic education, the Holy Child Model Nursery and Primary School in Otukpo, Benue State, Nigeria had a week-long Intercultural/Sports Festival in May to show-case some cultures in Nigeria like Igede, Idoma, Igbo, Edo, Hausa, Tiv, Delta, Yoruba and Fulani. The students also displayed different talents in sports like football matche, egg race, filling the bottle, relay, and skipping by house competition between Cornelia Connelly, Bishop, Ellen MacCann and Cecilia.
Children, teachers and sisters participated actively. All were dressed gorgeously and danced to the traditional dances of the respective cultures.
There was a stir of excitement in the Chapel and outside, on Saturday July 9, 2016, as a group of beautiful young ladies filled into their places, to the admiring looks of their parents and friends who had come to join them in the celebration of this, their special Graduation Day! Most could hardly imagine that the 122 smartly dressed young ladies were their little, somewhat overawed, daughters of six years ago, when they first arrived at Holy Child College! Now they seemed so confidant, and mature in the various styles they had made incorporating the school colours in what they were wearing, even the latest styles in high heeled shoes were on display (though not all had mastered the art of actually walking in them). Rev. Sr. Ify Atuegbu, the College Administrator, together with the other sisters working in the school, and supported by SHCJ sisters from Keffi Street, Ajegunle and Lekki communities, together with some Old Girls and the College teachers were all there to join in the celebration.
Everyone had come to start the day with a Mass of Thanksgiving to the Lord for all that had been achieved, by the graduates from the College, together with the help of their teachers and the great support of their parents, who often had to make sacrifices to let their daughters attend Holy Child College. The Mass was presided over by Monsignor Paschal Nwaezeapu, the Parish Priest of the Church of Divine Mercy, Lekki, Lagos., who also happened to be the uncle of one of the graduates. Fr, Isidore Ukpo, S.J., also concelebrated with Monsignor Paschal.
The Theme of the day was “Be the Change you want to see around you.” Monsignor Paschal picked this up in his excellent homily, outlining that things will be very different when they leave The College and go onto University or other third level Colleges, with no one telling them to get Up in the morning, or making sure that they are doing their studies and not sleeping during prep time, or insisting on other aspects of daily discipline. The idea of going out into a sort of “Jungle” was an idea discussed by a number of the key speakers during the day, and in this different world each “young lady” was expected and exhorted to “Be the Change you want to see around you”, beginning with themselves.
The Mass ended with a joyful thanksgiving as the Young Ladies danced into the chapel, followed by their happy parents, friends, teachers, and the Sisters, as they sang their joyful gratitude to God for this special day.
After photos at the assembly area, under the watchful eyes of the statue of the Holy Child Jesus, everyone moved to the Hall for part two of the celebrations. The graduates were now in their gowns in the school colours and with their caps were looking very smart, while their parents and friends were all seated at Tables with family names on them in the hall and in the balcony, as dinner was served as the proceedings continued with speeches from various guest speakers, all trying to advise the graduates on how to face the challenges of life, in the “jungle world” once they have left school. SR. Prof. Teresa Okure, SHCJ the Special Guest of Honour, urged them to be cautious of the Voices they listened to. Jemima Osunde, who left school three years ago and is following a medical course in the University of Lagos, as well as being an actress in many known TV programmes, urged them to discover their uniqueness, follow their dream, and maximize their God given potentials. Rev. SR. Ify Atuegbu reminded the students to have an attitude of gratitude, and noted that in forming them to where they are today, at times the students fought the authorities but the authorities fought back to try and achieve their hopes for these students!
Mrs. Buky, The President of the Holy Child College Old Girls’ Association then inducted the graduates into the Association, supported by some former students of the College, and some SHCJ sisters, old girls from their own Holy Child Schools, in Nigeria, Ghana and England. A roll call was then made of the graduates, and each was called up to receive a leaving gift , presented by one or other of the Guests of honour. The cutting of the cake and Head girls’ speech brought a close to this day of celebration, so now it was time for all to be reunited with their families for further music, dancing and rejoicing, and a time of relaxation before going on for further studies in the “world outside”! We wish them every success as they face the future with calm confidence, and trust in God.
Religious Communities nationwide were invited to submit a reflection on “what gardening and gardens mean to them” and “how gardens enhance vocations” for Visions Vocation Guide. We hope you will enjoy the following reflection by Mary Bryan, SHCJ, on her experiences with gardening and how gardens, like vocations, encourage life, nurture the soul, and remind us of God’s beauty. Scroll to the bottom for a printable version of this essay.
“One is nearer to God’s heart in a garden than anywhere else on earth.”
I happened upon this quotation on a plaque in a garden at Cape May Point, New Jersey. I identified with the words immediately. Only God could have thought of gardens and flowers with their colors, fragrances, and textures!
Of course, the vegetable garden is of great importance, especially with today’s concern for feeding the poor. But living in an area where deer, rabbits, groundhogs, and squirrels run freely, we must satisfy ourselves with a few grape tomato plants and some herbs. The rest of the garden is flowers.
That flower garden, especially in spring and summer, brings us great joy. I particularly love the zinnia flowers. This plant is fun to watch grow from seed and quite undemanding, as it requires little moisture. Zinnias come in the brightest of colors and have long sturdy stems, making cutting and decorating sheer joy. Our community uses them, along with other garden flowers, to enhance the tabernacle altar in the Chapel, and I know that strengthens our prayer and devotion.
How does the Holy Child Sisters’ garden enhance vocations? I think by encouraging life. Like a garden, vocations have deep roots and an abundance of growth. Vocations support our desire to grow spiritually and become the people we are meant to be – as God made us. Vocations are surrounded by nourishing and nurturing environments that praise God by just being. Like gardens, vocations invite God to be closer to us and tend to the contemplative aspects of life that help inform our actions.
What extraordinary gifts God gives us in our vocations and gardens!
In a fast, growing, technological world ruled by materialism and individualism like ours, it is a joy to realize that young people are still willing to give their lives to the service of God and humanity. It is a noble call that is worthwhile. God is worth chasing. It was for this reason that sisters, families and friends gathered on 29th July 2016 at Holy Child Novitiate, Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria to witness the first step made by seven novices. Seven Holy Child novices made Temporary Vows in the Society of the Holy Child Jesus. This was a very remarkable and joyful day for the Sisters of the Society of the Holy Child Jesus and the families and friends of the novices.
The arrival of both sisters and families started on 27th. However, the ceremony began on 28th night with a prayer that also introduced families to the way of life their daughters are about to embrace. Three Holy Child sisters spoke briefly about the three evangelical counsels of Poverty, Chastity and Obedience after which questions were asked for clarifications.
The day of the ceremony saw the novices, province leader, novice director and priests dance to the entrance hymn by Zumuntan mata to the chapel for the Mass at 10:00am. Rev. Fr Uchu, the chief celebrant admonished the sisters to be focused on Jesus who called them and use their gifts appropriately in their respective ministries. The sisters made their Vows happily in the presence of the Province Leader Sr Philomena Aidoo.
Soon the Mass was over. All ate and drank at a reception. A dance presentation by Maria Gorretti girls from Rukuba gave color to the celebration. The day’s celebration ended with Parents’ night during which families and the newly professed made presentations of different songs and dances from different parts of Nigeria and Ghana. Novices and interested ladies also presented a drama showcasing the different ministries Holy Child sisters are involved in.
We thank God for the gifts of the newly professed sisters Felicia, Francisca, Jacinta, Mary, Perpetua, Theresa and Victoria.
We pray that God may strengthen their resolve to follow Him daily. May He bring to fruition what He has started in them. AMEN!
CONGRATULATION Sisters and a very warm welcome to our SHCJ family!!!
Celebrate World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation with the Holy Child Sisters and the world community. Make time between September 1 – October 4 to reflect and pray with us.
On Saturday 13th August, 2016, there was an air of expectation as a group of sisters and family members walked from Holy Child College to St. Gregory College’s beautiful new Chapel.
A rousing hymn from Dodan Baracks choir, Lagos accompanied the SHCJ sisters with the two candidates for final vows, Sisters Assumpta Okoli and Juliana Omudu.
Also, the Silver Jubilaria, Sr. Ngozi Elizabeth Njoku, the congregation with parishioners from Falomo, Ajegunle, St. Mary’s Lagos and St Mary’s Otukpo, a group from Oghara Delta State received blessings from the three concelebrating Archbishop and Bishops, His Grace, Most Rev. Dr. Alfred Adewale Martins, Archbishop of Lagos, His Lordship, Most Rev. Bulus Yohanna, Bishop of Kontagora Vicariate and Most Rev. Stephen Dami Mamza, Bishop of Yola Diocese, Nigeria.
The sanctuary was also filled with Priests from the different parishes including a priest from the National Catholic Secretariat in Accra. All had come to celebrate with the two sisters making perpetual profession of vows, and the Silver Jubilarian.
A moving moment in the liturgy was after the sisters had pronounced their final vows and these had been received by the Society leader, Sr. Veronica Openibo, all the finally professed SHCJ sisters went up to make a covenant , bringing the two new members into their covenant relationship, of support of one another for the rest of their lives.
With enthusiastic singing from the choir and the congregation, all danced up in thanksgiving, bringing the first part of the celebration to an end.
We made our way to Holy Child College hall. There the families of the sisters celebrating had special tables arranged for them. Lively traditional dancers entertained us from Otukpo, Igboland and Ajegunle.
Part 3 began at 8 p.m. with the sisters and families having an evening of joyful and relaxed entertainment with plenty of dancing depicting the different cultures we live and work in Africa. Next morning was departures for family members and friends while all the sisters stayed on for the Post Chapter Assembly.
One of organizations receiving a donation is Revive, a community project that provides free practical support, services and advocacy for refugees and people seeking asylum.
Sr. Anne Stewart with students
Anne Stewart, SHCJ, has had a long relationship with Revive.
For years Sister Anne ran “schools of participation”, six-month-long training programs that gives confidence to refugees to get involved in civics and civil life as Revive works to get their situations resolved. She also created a public forum where they could have their voices heard by the statutory authorities and be represented in key public bodies.
When refugees and asylum-seekers were first dispersed to Salford, there were some anxiety and concerns about the strain on public services. “So we were anxious to build relationships between the local community and people coming from abroad,” she said. Awareness campaigns, advocacy and community social events that bring people together were some of the tools that help in changing perception and opinion on the refugee situation.
Many in the asylum community have no status, with little or no money in England, they are not allowed to work and may have had traumatic experiences in the war and violence in their home country which pushed them to flee for their lives.
Revive runs activities on integration and empowerment to support them in making lasting changes in their lives. There are also helped to learn the English language and Life in the UK, and make positive contribution to the community through volunteering activities and other programmes.
Sister Anne began her ministry in 2005, and now “the complexity of their situations is the same as ever,” she said. “People’s needs have not changed, but there are a lot more services that people can access. We now have asylum-seekers and refugees on key decision-making bodies in Salford and Manchester.”
People from countries who were targets of hate crimes now sit on advisory bodies in relation to crime, housing, health and education. And it’s not just to talk about their experiences, she said, rather to offer solutions on what would help.
Revive is “one of the most pioneering groups,” Sister Anne said.
The donation from the Society will allow for an experienced social worker to stay on the job for the next three years.
The Society also donated proceeds from its Preston property sale to Talk English, a small, parish-based project in Preston that, as its name suggests, helps people learn the English language.
The province is also making donations to the International Refugee Trust (for Syrian refugees in Jordan) and the Cardinal Hume Centre (to work with unaccompanied displaced minors).
Founded in 1988, the Society’s Community Development Investment (CDI) Program gives small loans (up to $25K) to worthy groups working to better the lives of those in poverty. Working Capital for Community Needs (WCCN) is one of the organizations to receive support from the CDI program.
Founded in 1984, Working Capital for Community Needs (WCCN) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit impact investing fund whose mission is to create opportunities for access to microfinance, services, and markets to improve the lives and communities of the working poor in Latin America. WCCN empowers low-income Latin American entrepreneurs by sustaining partnerships with microfinance organizations and farming cooperatives in Ecuador, El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala, Nicaragua, and Peru.
90% of WCCN activities are focused on impact investing through lending to community-based partners that are primarily microfinance and fair trade agricultural partner agency organization. To qualify as a WCCN community-based partner agency, the agency must finance, serve, educate, train, employ or do business with the working poor in Latin America. In 2013, 72% of WCCN’s partners’ micro-loan recipients were women.
70% of WCCN’s investment portfolio is directed to microfinance partners in Latin America that have the following aggregate loan portfolio composition:
70% for working capital loans for micro-enterprises and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)
11% for low-cost housing micro-loans
10% for small-scale agriculture micro-loans
9% for animal husbandry/livestock micro-loans
The remaining 30% of WCCN’s investment portfolio is comprised of Latin American fair trade and organic agriculture partners that offer multiple pro-poor support services and economic opportunities to their member families and local communities.
Maria Cholota uses her loan to raise several kinds of vegetables and animals as well as purchase land. She works hard growing carrots, lima beans, potatoes, onions and cilantro.
To visit Working Capital for Community Needs (WCCN)’s website click here.
For a complete list of organizations supported by CDI, visit SHCJ website by clicking here.
For a few days in August, Holy Child Sisters traveled from all parts of Nigeria, Ghana, Tchad, all rejoicing to see each other and to find their places in Keffi Street, Obalende convent and the new school hall.
The SHCJ came to Africa in 1930, and by 1946 we began the foundation in Ghana. We started work in Cape Coast then spread to Takoradi, Bolgatanga, Accra and Walembelle. We have opened communities in Goaso, Brong Ahafo Region of Ghana.
That seed sown 70 years ago has sprouted exceedingly. Specifically, this year marks 45 years in the Navrongo-Bolgatanga region and those years have attracted many young women including two sets of twins from Bolgatanga to join the Society.
Sr. Evelyn Akweongo
On 27th August, 2016 Sisters, friends, families, the clergy and Religious gathered at Sacred Heart Cathedral, Bolgantanga to thank God for SHCJ presence these past years. They brought one of the fruits, as Sr. Evelyn Akweongo, twin of Sr. Emmanuella Akweongo, SHCJ, made her perpetual profession of vows, promising to live and die living the evangelical counsels of chastity, poverty and obedience in the Society of the Holy Child Jesus.
The Holy Mass of Thanksgiving was presided over by His Lordship, Most Rev. Dr. Alfred Agyenta, Bishop of Navrongo- Bolgatanga diocese, upper East of Ghana. After the penitential rites, The Society Leader, Sr. Veronica Openibo and Province Leader; Sr. Philomena Aidoo presented Sr. Evelyn to the church, to state her intention to which the congregation responded in thanksgiving to God.
In his homily, the Bishop thanked God for 40 years of presence of SHCJ in Ghana. He affirmed the immeasurable contributions of the sisters to the pastoral life of the diocese. He also thanked the Akweongo’s family for their generosity in giving their daughters, Emmanuella and Evelyn to serve God specially.
He reminded all SHCJ that in celebrating this anniversary, we needed to measure our fidelity to the charism of our founder Cornelia Connelly as well as our survival as a congregation. He then noted that God has not called us to be successful, we are simply called to be faithful not necessarily successful. He used the occasion to speak to all Religious present of the fact that we live in a world of ambiguity. Therefore there is need for men and women Religious to send a clear picture of who they are, namely as people who belong to the Lord. He emphasized the identity of the Religious is at stake unless we rise up to make this clear by our life style. Our identity as Religious ought to be redefined by our life style. According to him, professing the evangelical counsels is not an immunity, as such the Religious still faces temptations and that is why Jesus calls us to remain in His love. In awareness of our struggles and limitations, we should remain in Christ love.
Sr. Emmanuella Akweongo and Sr. Evelyn Akweongo
The highpoint of the Rite of Perpetual Profession of Vows was Sr. Evelyn vowing to God to live in chastity, poverty and obedience for the rest of her life in the SHCJ. These vows were received by the Society Leader. she was worn a ring as a sign of membership in the SHCJ. With that the perpetually professed now made a covenant with her, promising her support in the journey together.
At the end of the mass, Her family and the entire Diocese of Bolgatanga responded in joy by presenting symbolic gifts to the Society of the Holy Child Jesus. Sr Martha Attakruh in the vote of thanks on behalf of the SHCJ expressed profound gratitude to God, the family of the Akweongos and the good people of Bolgatanga with whom the sisters have enjoyed good working relationship. There was reception immediately after mass at Social centre. Indeed, groups demonstrated their love and appreciation to the Society in presentation of gifts and cultural displays. The beautiful celebration was also a vocation rally whose fruits in the coming years are expected.
On September 10 some members of the Holy Child community celebrated the Golden Jubilees of Cecilia Snape and Marguerite Bouteloup and the Diamond Jubilees of Madeline Mulrennan and Margaret Leonard at Apley Grange in Harrogate, England. This event was attended by SHCJ members, family and friends.
Sisters Madeline Mulrennan and Margaret Leonard
Mass was celebrated by Monsignor Pat Hennessey and Sister Mary Talbot led the singing at Mass. It was a packed and enjoyable day.
Also celebrating Jubilees this year in our European Province are Myra Cumming (70 years) and Stella Dun (50 years).
(Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul, Philadelphia, PA Saturday, September 26, 2015)
I was delighted and grateful to learn I was a winner of one of the nine tickets offered to the Society of the Holy Child Jesus to attend the Papal Mass for priests, religious and friends after the World Meeting of Families.
Bright and early on September 26, actually at 3:45 a.m., three Holy Child Sisters — Anita Quigley, Mary Jane Hicks and I — left Connell House to pick up Helen McDonald, SHCJ, and headed to the parking garage at Villanova University Law School. Villanova had been designated the meeting point for people to be transported by bus to the city.
Holy Child Sisters, left to right, Mary Jane Hicks, Helen McDonald, Jeanne Marie Hatch, and Anita Quigley.
At that early hour, a line of people had already formed, and it grew longer and longer as we waited two hours for the buses to arrive and load. A line of 30 some buses wound around and down empty routes 476 North and 76 East to the Sheraton Hotel. Approximately 2000 guests swarmed out over the vast lobby area and enjoyed substantial breakfast sandwiches, fruit and beverages. Before many had even arrived on later buses, we followed Anita through the security check- point where we showed our tickets and photo IDs before entering the Cathedral. We were to be seated in the first row of reserved seats after special guests, on the left side of the Cathedral.
After another long wait, we were rewarded before 10:30 a.m. by the appearance of the Holy Father coming up the middle aisle. Pope Francis greeted special children in wheelchairs and then went to the sacristy to vest.
Lo and behold, before we knew it, the entrance procession accompanying Pope Francis came down the aisle right beside us before processing up the middle aisle to begin the Liturgy. Anita was close enough to him for a close-up photo. A glorious choir of children and adults rendered marvelous music for the Mass with full instrumental accompaniment. The singing of the Gloria, Creed and Our Father by the vast crowd of 2000 people was awesome. The thrill of the majestic sounds of voices and instruments still rings in my ears days later. The words of his homily through his faithful translator encouraged, comforted, and challenged his attentive listeners to live the joy of the Gospel among other appropriate themes.
Impossible to describe was the awesome experience of receiving Eucharist at the Holy Father’s Mass. Finally, the image of a humble, prayerful Supreme Pontiff smiling and waving to one and all on his way down the long aisle out of the Cathedral will long be remembered. So present to each one, his eyes meeting theirs; so attentive to each encounter with the other, whoever it may be, defined who this man is for many who observed his every movement. So many people were totally awed to be in the presence of this Holy Man, Pope Francis, a man who seemed to be always aware of God’s presence…
The long, long wait for the buses to take us back to Villanova did not dampen the joy of the experience. All agreed it was worth every minute of waiting. The atmosphere was joyful with sisters, priests and lay people joking around together, greeting old friends among the throng and making new ones as we again waited, reflecting perhaps the joy of presence modeled by Pope Francis during his visit to the Americas.
From California to the Dominican Republic to England to Nigeria and points in between, students who attend our Holy Child Network of Schools and co-sponsored schools have settled into another year of education of the mind, body and spirit. Have a great school year!
2016 marks the 170th anniversary of the founding of the Society of the Holy Child Jesus. The life of Cornelia Connelly, our founder, was anything but typical. She was a wife of an Episcopalian minister, mother to five children, and ultimately, the founder of our order of Roman Catholic Sisters.
The catalyst for her becoming a woman religious was her husband Pierce’s calling to be a Catholic priest. He needed Cornelia’s consent for separation, and it was granted by Pope Gregory XVI upon Cornelia’s becoming a Sister.
At the Pope’s request, Cornelia was invited to begin a congregation that would educate Catholic girls in England. As Cornelia envisioned a congregation that was responsive to the needs of the time, the words “Society of the Holy Child Jesus” came to her, reflecting her incarnational spirituality.
On October 13, 1846, the Society officially began, as Cornelia traveled to Derby, England with three other women, who became Sisters of the Holy Child. It was October 13, the feast of St. Edward, exactly six years to the day that Pierce had announced his decision to become a Catholic priest. Even with the conditions that greeted her at the Derby convent, she was ready to have an opening Mass only two days later. In a small room, simply furnished, she and the three postulants assisted at their first Mass as a religious society.
October 15, the feast of St. Teresa of Avila, would come to be observed as the formal founding of the Society of the Holy Child Jesus.
“For this is our mission: to help others to believe that he lives and acts in them and in our world, and to rejoice in his presence.” (SHCJ Constitutions #4) We are to carry out our mission as SHCJ in a spirit of humility, simplicity, obedience, charity and affectionate devotion to the works of zeal and charity which spring forth from the contemplation of the mystery of God hid in human beings.
Our mission statement is our existential statement. We live to help people who would be led by the Holy Spirit to know God’s boundless mercy and love to come to faith in God and God’s power. Our incarnational charism and spirituality drive us to seek, find and live God’s presence in us, in others and in all God’s creation, and to testify to the transforming power of God’s presence among us.
From the beginning, God has not only been present to us but God is in us for God created us, human beings, in God’s image to be godlike (Gen 1:26). It is this affinity to God that helps us to recognise God and His power in us and around us. No other creature bears such affinity to God! How much God loves us!
170 years ago Cornelia received the great insight and inspiration of our mission statement. No time in human history than now is it more urgent to wake people from the darkness of sin and death experienced in the negative happenings (wars, violence, migration, the plight of refugees, human trafficking, new forms of colonization and slavery, corruption, discrimination, secularism and materialism, abuse of human sanctity and dignity and life, to name only a few) that seem to envelop our world.
Unless we are grounded in the Mystery, unless we have eyes that see God present in our situations, unless we are able to discern, to distinguish God’s presence and what leads to God, we will not see what we are not doing. The darkness around us will continue to be a distraction from what God is asking of us.
Cornelia, contemplating the mystery of the Incarnation, was transformed by the Holy Spirit into strong spirit of simplicity, gentleness, obedience and trust. Thus she experienced God’s presence and power in her life and she was able to form her sisters in the same spirit.
As we celebrate our 170 years of existence in this Year of Mercy coming to an end, perhaps we can take time individually and or in groups to reflect on how we are called to be grateful to God:
Do I/we share life in prayer and worship with the vulnerability that reflects Jesus Christ’s kenosis and vulnerability in the Crib and on the Cross?
Like Cornelia, in my prayers, works of mercy and worship, how have I been transformed?
Is my love for God based more on certainty than on my desire for Him?
In this Year of Mercy, how has my concern for the Wants of the Age and Spiritual Works of Mercy led me to experience more deeply God’s presence and power in me, and how have my works of mercy been a cause for others to discover God and His power at work in them?
In honor of the great Saint Teresa of Avila and on the feast of the little Saint Therese of Lisieux, Jeanne Marie Guerin, SHCJ scripted this short story.The Society is celebrating 170 years this week.
New Life!
The creeping darkness wove its way around the small red plant. Final rays of sun touched raindrops on the window screen and blessed that little plant, whose name begins with “K”.
Mirela eased out of her comfortable chair and strolled to her half-neat little cupboard. There it was, her flower-printed round tin box. Lifting the lid, she took out the small cardboard box marked “Pignoli”.
How many tiny shells she’d cracked to make her favorite sweetbread. Aroma of it baking filled her memory. Gone but still remembered. She shook the box—one shell remained.
Mirela took the shell, then folded the cardboard for recycling. She slipped into her easy chair, a small smile on her lips. “Ho, little shell—a little dry and brittle aren’t you?”
She pressed it hard—a tiny crack. The pine nut split in two—but in its crack stood free a little tiny piney shoot—a brave and green new tree.
Art has always held a special place within the tradition and spirit of the Society of the Holy Child Jesus, especially as part of a Holy Child education. SHCJ founder Cornelia Connelly was an artist who saw all forms of artistic endeavors as invitations to experience the wonder, beauty and love of our unseen God.
This is the month of the foundation of the Society. We observe traditionally the 15th as the day the SHCJ was founded. This was on and around the Eucharist, Jesus’ giving of himself for the good of the world. Mother Cornelia Connelly and the early members were happy to have the barest minimum: “bones, blessed be God!”
Being founded and grounded on the Eucharist has helped the Sisters over the years to “recall the past with gratitude, live the present with passion and look to the future with hope” (Pope Francis’ message to Consecrated Persons). In order to follow in the footsteps of Christ and Cornelia we SHCJ vowed and associates are invited to try to find God in the daily situation of our lives: in our daily rising and broken hearts, our rising and giving ourselves to others.
“Fidelity to God’s call requires courage and generosity as we seek to promote his reign of justice and peace in our world” (Consts. 26). Let us reflect on the Jesus who has called us for cut off from him we can do nothing (cf. John 15:5), in order that his mercy may compel us to be mercy to our neighbor (cf. MV 9). As we begin again this month let us accept the good in every person, be patient with others, especially as we interact more and more inter-culturally. These simple ways will make us more effective evangelizers in today’s world.
