November 28, 2010
FR. GROESCHEL VISITS MARYCREST

Fr. Benedict Groeschel, C.F.R., well-known from his books and from speaking on EWTN and elsewhere, is also a friend of the Parish Visitors of Mary Immaculate. On the first Sunday of Advent he celebrated Mass at our motherhouse Chapel, along with Fr. Terry Messer, C.F.R. and our Marycrest chaplain, Fr. Joseph Doran, S.D.B.

In both his homily and his informal talk with the Sisters afterward he spoke of the importance of authentic religious life, counseling us to continue living an “honest-to-God religious life.” The great strength of the Catholic Church has come from religious life, and the vows, a habit, and community life are essential to living it well, he said. Along with Fr. Groeschel, we pray for many more young men and women to follow the Lord along the path of religious life.

October 2010
NEW PUBLICATIONS

Our new pro-life brochure, composed by our general superior, Sr. Carole Marie, points out the fallacy of pro-abortion arguments. Available in Spanish as well as in English, and illustrated with colorful photos, hopefully this will help to promote the dignity and value of human life from the moment of conception.

Our Evangelization Manual for the laity, available for a number of years in English, has now been translated into Spanish. Priests and evangelization teams may contact us to order copies.

August 19, 2010
ARIZONA, HERE WE COME!

Sr. Margery Therese and Sr. Mary Beata are beginning our newest mission, in the diocese of Phoenix, Arizona. After some weeks of giving evangelization workshops, they’ll begin their apostolate of evangelization through visitation, catechetics and youth work. The convent will be located in Mesa, Arizona.

August 15, 2010
VOWS

On August 15, feast of the Assumption and the 90th anniversary of our foundation as a community, we rejoiced with Sr. Mary Emmadoña as she professed her first vows of chastity, poverty and obedience as a Parish Visitor of Mary Immaculate, and Sr. Susan Marie, who renewed her vows. The profession of vows was within a beautiful Mass, followed by congratulations and prayerful good wishes. May God grant many graces and happy and holy perseverance to both Sisters!

July 2, 2010
JUBILEE DAY

On this day we celebrated the 60th anniversary of entrance into our community of two of our Sisters. The main celebrant of the beautiful Liturgy was Rev. Joseph Clemente, and our chaplain, Rev. Joseph Doran, SDB, concelebrated. The day was full of joyful congratulations, thanks, and laughter.

Sr. Marian Corinne originally comes from Scranton, Pennsylvania, and Sr. Mary Cepha comes from Bronx, New York. Who can count the Masses, Holy Hours, rosaries, and other prayers of these Sisters and the numerous people they helped in their apostolates over these years! May God be praised forever!

June 3-14, 2010
CHURCH POINT, LOUISIANA!
By Sr. Dolores Marie, P.V.M.I.

We don't know how the town got its name, but the Lord pointed us in that direction in June 2010, and Sr. Maria Judith and I were sent there for a brief mission of visiting the families in the parish to help them spiritually in whatever way we could.

This area is almost 100% Catholic, and during the ten days we were there we met many of the friendly people of Our Mother of Mercy parish, one of the two parishes in the town. Visiting them under the hot Louisiana sun, we received welcomes and often hugs and cold water, and many times the visit ended with “Y’all come again.”

So many people told us how they wished they could again have Sisters permanently in their parish. We were impressed by the great numbers of people who daily pray the rosary! Of course, as in any parish, there were those who had stopped going to Mass for one reason or another, young people who had strayed, etc. Hopefully the Lord used us as His instruments to touch some hearts with His love and the Church’s compassionate concern.

May Our Mother of Mercy grant many blessings to the people of this parish named after her!

March 20, 2010
Called to Holiness, A Family Vocation Conference
Saint Columba Catholic Church
Hopewell Junction, NY

Most of our Sisters in formation took part in a Family Vocation Day on March 20. Among the talks given was one on Mary and Vocations, by Sr. Dolores Marie. The day included a beautiful Mass offered by Archbishop Timothy Dolan of the Archdiocese of New York. In the evening the Catholic Underground North, at the same location, had a very prayerful Holy Hour followed by a Lenten musical and slide program.

March 7, 2010
Life Teen Youth Rally
St. Raymond’s Church
Bronx, NY

A group of Parish Visitors from Marycrest and all the Parish Visitors stationed at our Bronx convent attended the Life Teen Youth Rally in the Bronx in early March. This had been planned by Sr. Mary Eileen, P.V.M.I. and the St. Raymond’s Life Teen group. Over 300 teens came, for a day of religious music and skits, a Spirit-filled Mass, food and fun.

January 22, 2010
Right to Life March

In the early morning of January 22, seven sleepy Parish Visitors of Mary Immaculate headed to the local parish for a 4:15 a.m. Mass and then a 5:00 bus for Washington, D.C.

For many years the Parish Visitors have participated in this march. In Washington we joined with the crowd of over 300,000 people rallying for the cause of life. Our sign had a picture of Pope Benedict with little children, and many people stopped us to tell us they liked our sign.

Let's hope this yearly march will not need to continue much longer, that abortion will soon be at an end in our country and in the world as well!

A Sister’s Life
By Sister Maria Catherine, P.V.M.I.

"Isn't it boring to be a nun?” So asked a ninth grader during the question and answer session of a talk I gave on vocations.

Religious Life is anything but boring! You be the judges! Here is a brief summary of the Parish Visitors’ “Summer of 2009”.

In May, I was blessed to go to Nigeria to witness the Perpetual Profession of Vows by Sister Genevieve Mariam Chinasa. This was the “kick-off” to a very busy summer.

In June, our novices and several professed Sisters in the U.S.A. lent a hand to the Sacred Heart Parish Festival in Monroe, NY.

In the United States, Father Frederick Miller conducted our annual retreat at Marycrest beginning on June 20th. Every year, usually in the summer months, each Sister spends six to eight days reviewing her year. It is kind of a “vacation with the Lord”, allowing Him to speak to our hearts and to spend more time listening to His “still, small voice.”

This summer five Parish Visitor Sisters celebrated Jubilees. What a Community celebration it was! Family and friends joined in the festivities. A priest-friend once remarked, “It seems like the Parish Visitors are ALWAYS having feast days and Community celebrations!” The Church calendar boasts days for celebrating and for fasting; one gives profound meaning to the other. Without the sorrow of Good Friday, there would be no Easter joy!

Our jubilarians (L-R): Sr. Mary Frances (75 years), Sr. Mary Elise (70 years), Sr. Eileen Marie (60 years), Sr. Marie Cecile (60 years) and Sr. Mary Luchia (25 years)

Following the jubilee celebrations the Sisters spent time together considering their vowed commitment to Christ and His Church. We spent three days reflecting together on our vow of obedience during our semi-annual Convention. Mother Mary Teresa began quarterly conventions soon after founding our Congregation in order to bring the Sisters together in an atmosphere of prayer and sisterly sharing to “build one another up in love.” We continue that tradition today.

Mother also told the Sisters that we should “Make every soul count!” and that our apostolate is one of winning souls “on the way.” The novices, Leah (our postulant) and I took her words to heart as we went “on the way” to St. Joseph’s parish in Alliance, Ohio, making every soul count, as we participated in the parish vacation Bible School. For two weeks we planned, with Gail Pavliga, the Director of Religious Education, the activities for the “assorted Saints” Bible School.

Thank you, Father Donald Feicht, for your invitation to minister at St. Joseph’s Parish! We thank God for everyone who made our stay so blessed. You are in our prayers!

One of the highlights of Summer 2009 was a brief vacation spent in Washington, DC. Some of the Sisters in formation here are from Nigeria and the Philippines. This trip gave them an opportunity to visit the National Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, the Franciscan Monastery, the Shrine of Elizabeth Ann Seton, the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial, and the John Paul II Cultural Center. In three days we managed not only to visit these wonderful places but we were especially excited to be in the audience for the Friday evening EWTN “World Over Live” program hosted by Raymond Arroyo!

What a wonderful adventure Our Lord has given us to live. When we walk with Christ, and live with Christ, and try each day to follow His will – there is never a boring moment!

Imela O, Imela O, Imela Chineke
By Sister Maria Catherine, P.V.M.I.

No matter where we are, the preparations for Perpetual Profession of Vows begin in earnest at least two weeks before the “Wedding Day”!

At Our Lady of the Visitation Convent, Umuihi, Nigeria, we were cleaning, polishing, practicing music from the day I arrived on May 19th until the morning the Profession Day, May 30.

What a joy it was to return to Nigeria for such an occasion! Sister Genevieve Mariam Chinasa was the last aspirant received during my time as formation director at Our Lady of the Visitation Convent. To be returning for her perpetual vows was indeed a privilege and an honor.

Joy was the overriding sentiment of the day: the joy of the Sisters; the Bishop and the priests; the villagers and Sister’s family! The band played until everyone had gone home; the dancing began during the Offertory Procession and continued throughout the day as we all celebrated the profound mystery of a young woman giving her entire being to God to be consecrated and set apart for her own sanctification and the salvation of the most rejected and neglected.

The whole Parish Visitor Community at Umuihi prayed each day that the rain would not dampen the celebration. Two days of rain prior to the 30th of May put our spirits into “high gear for prayer.” What a joy to awaken to a beautifully sunny day – shining with the light of God’s love and glory for the “wedding feast of the Lamb” that was about to take place.

As I sat in the Chapel and reflected, I could not help but sing “Imela o, Imela Chineke obioma, Imela o” – “Thank you, thank you, Lord …” for the graces poured out upon our mission in Nigeria! What He has done with the little gift that Sister Margery Therese and I gave of ourselves. Despite our weaknesses and littleness, He has built up a fitting temple for Himself – a temple of 21 native Nigerian Sisters who are seeking to give themselves totally to Him as Parish Visitors of Mary Immaculate. What joy must be in the Parish Visitor Community in Heaven, gathered around Mother Mary Teresa, to behold the contemplative-missionary charism alive on the continent of Africa!

As we practiced the music for the celebration, they found it very difficult to learn the “Te Deum”. However, as is usual with Parish Visitors, if the practice goes badly, you can be sure that the “real thing” will be fine. And so it happened! As the last word was sung, we could truly say: “You are God: we praise You. You are the Lord: we acclaim You. You are the eternal Father: All creation worships You.”

For all He has done, we praise Him; He is the Lord, we acclaim Him. He is our eternal Father Who planted the seed, watered and cared for the flowers that are now blooming in His garden. All Creation - and we, Parish Visitors of Mary Immaculate, - worships You for You are mighty and holy is Your Name!

January 25, 2009
Closing Celebration of 100th Year of Inspiration
Holy Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral

The Parish Visitors of Mary Immaculate concluded their yearlong celebration of Mother Mary Teresa Tallon’s 100th Year of Inspiration with a Holy Mass celebrated by Edward Cardinal Egan at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, New York. Msgr. Robert Richie, Msgr. Bayani Valenzuela, Fr. Ignatius Ngozi and Fr. Joseph Doran, S.D.B. concelebrated. Religious Sisters, family, friends and benefactors shared the joy of this centenary celebration. During Cardinal Egan’s homily he said of Mother Mary Teresa, “I hope one day that she might be a Blessed or Saint of the Church.” Cardinal Egan linked the two virtues of St. Paul – courage and patience – with Mother’s own virtues.

Sr. Carole Marie presented Ashton and Jean Mouton of Lafayette, Louisiana the Mother Mary Teresa Tallon Award. Ashton, a member of the Cursillo Movement, caught the fire of Mother Foundress’ inspiration when his pastor, Msgr. Richard Mouton, hired him to direct Pius Outreach, which included the already existing door-to-door evangelization apostolate at St. Pius X Church, Lafayette. Ashton contacted the Parish Visitors of Mary Immaculate for help. We sent him our evangelization manual, “God Still Makes Housecalls” on door-to-door evangelization and companion CDs. Last year Bishop Michael Jarrell made Ashton the contact person for the Diocesan-wide, door-to-door missionary apostolate. This apostolate could not succeed without the wonderful support of Jean; of Fr. Steven LeBlanc, pastor of St. Pius X; Mrs. Kay Richoux and children; and of the parishioners of Pius X.

Kerri Cornish Morton, an accomplished coloratura soprano, sang “Panis Angelicus”. She is the daughter in law of George and Betty Morton, who also received the Mother Mary Teresa Tallon award back in October.

Dr. Jennifer Pascual, DMA, director of music at St. Patrick’s Cathedral accompanied her on the organ.

 Cardinal Egan presented Sister Carole Marie with a ciborium from those that had been made for the Mass offered by Pope Benedict XVI at the original Yankee Stadium in New York City. [Msgr. Gregory Mustaciuolo, secretary to the Cardinal (center) and Father Joseph Tyrell, associate director, master of ceremonies of St. Patrick’s Cathedral.]

January 24, 2009
Celebration of 100th Year of Inspiration in the Philippines
By Mercy Grace Riobuya (Parish Visitor Associate)

The celebration started with a thanksgiving Mass at 3:00 p.m. Father Ronald Macale was the principal celebrant; Father Jaime Marquez of Saint John Mary Vianney Parish, Makati, in the Archdiocese of Manila concelebrated.

In his homily, Father Ronald said that we should not be afraid to answer God’s call to be His follower, just as St. Paul did. To some people it may be foolishness, but in the eyes of God it isn’t, because we would be able to bring back His lost lambs to Him.

Sister Maria Arlene thanked everyone for making the gathering possible in honor of Mother Mary Teresa Tallon. Sister also read a letter from Sister Carole Marie, general superior, which contained a short story about Mother Foundress and the people she helped when she began the mission.

After Mass, everyone proceeded to the parish hall. Friends and associates of the Parish Visitors of Mary Immaculate brought food to share with everybody.

Eduvigis Lee shared her experiences and work as a Parish Visitor associate. She was very happy to say that one of her daughters entered the Parish Visitors of Mary Immaculate and is now a novice in New York. “The family’s support is a big help in fulfilling one’s religious vocation. Let’s whole-heartedly support our children if they choose to enter religious life,” she said, encouraging parents to foster vocations in their own families.

Everyone was delighted with the thanksgiving songs to Almighty God prepared by Sister Alice Mary and Sister Mary Faustina.

A brief but inspiring presentation about the life and vocation of Mother Mary Teresa was shown.

Before the celebration ended, Sister Maria Arlene once again expressed her heartfelt appreciation to everyone who made the event so meaningful. Although it was short, the celebration gave joy to our hearts and left inspiring memories for those of us who took part in it.

October 13, 2008
Marycrest 100th anniversary celebration

In honor of Mother Mary Teresa's 100th anniversary of inspiration, the local community at our Marycrest Motherhouse celebrated with friends on October 13, 2008.

Father Joseph Doran, SDB, our chaplain, offered the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass which was attended by Sisters and guests. What a beautiful tribute Father Doran gave to our Foundress, encouraging us to work on her canonization.

Following the Mass, our guests joined us for light refreshments which they had so generously provided. The highlight of the day was the conferring of the "Mother Mary Teresa Tallon Award" to George and Betty Morton. George has been the editor of our PV magazine since 1992 and has worked tirelessly to promote this wonderful vocation. What joy it gave all the Parish Visitors of Mary Immaculate as we witnessed Sister Carole Marie, our General Superior, giving the award to George and Betty Morton!

July 18-20, 2008
World Youth Day Not A World Away

In conjunction with the World Youth Day in Sydney, Australia the Parish Visitors of Mary Immaculate hosted an event for the young people called “World Youth Day Not A World Away.” Through this event we catechize in ways that better equip the young people to face life in society today, and they learn what decisions will bring goodness into the world and what decisions will help evil thrive. We aim to “make the truth lovable,” as our Foundress urged us. And, we make it fun for young people to discover, together with their peers, the realities of a faith-filled life. An added joy is our collaboration with the CFR Brothers.

The young people during our Saints Walk.

July 2, 2008
Jubilee Day

We are blessed this year to have two of our Sisters celebrate their Jubilee:
* Sr. Linda Jean Marie Giovanelly – 25 years of vows
* Sr. Mary Remias – 50 years of religious life

We are thankful for their wonderful vocation and dedication! Congratulations, Sisters!

May 3, 2008
Celebration of 100th Year of Inspiration in Rome, New York

Our celebration was on Saturday, May 3, the closest Saturday to Mother Foundress’ birthday on May 6, 1867. Around 100 people attended the 11 a.m. Mass. Father John Hogan, pastor of St. John the Baptist was the main celebrant. Fathers Fred Daley, Philip Hearn and Joseph Sestito concelebrated. Father Hogan described Mother Mary Teresa’s vocation and the early history of our Sisters in Rome, where we have served for the past 73 years. After Communion, Sister Carole Marie spoke about the joy and richness of our spirituality as Parish Visitors of Mary Immaculate.

Toward the end of the delicious dinner in the parish social hall, Sister Joan Germaine went from table to table with a microphone, encouraging everyone to recall memories of the Sisters.

“We are family,” she said, “and families enjoy telling family stories.” And so began a short litany of gracious remarks about particular Sisters who served the parish family for years: Sister John Bosco was remembered as were Sisters Mary Veronica, Mary Lawrence, Josephine Marie, Mary Frances, and other beloved Sisters.

Older men in the parish are never shy in expressing their thanks for the spiritual motherhood they received as frequent guests at the convent, “When we were boys, you Sisters kept us from joining gangs.”

May 1, 2008
Celebration of 100th Year of Inspiration in Abraka, Diocese of Warri, Nigeria

Our celebration was on May 1, the solemnity of the Ascension of our Lord. Mass was scheduled for 11 a.m. By 10:30, our compound was packed full. People we did not expect to come due to their busy schedule were already seated before 10:00. Most of the professors, lecturers, heads of departments and some top nonacademic staff from Delta State University, where we do campus ministry, were present.

Our university students were also in attendance, some of whom helped arrange tents and chairs. Some of the female students worked very hard preparing the food.

The outpouring of love we received from these humble, Christian faithful from the University, St. Paul Catholic Chaplaincy and Sacred Heart Parish will never be forgotten. We even had the luxury of a centenary cake baked and decorated by one of the Christian Mothers.

All of the parishioners brought gifts. Father L. Attah and Father Philip contributed in their own ways in making the ceremony a success. Our Catholic Women’s Organization volunteered on their own, sharing their food to make sure that everybody had something to eat. We were inspired by the humility and simplicity of these women, and we pray that God will reward them abundantly.

Most Rt. Reverend Dr. Richard Burke, Archbishop of Benin and the Apostolic Administrator of Warri Diocese was the chief celebrant and three other priests concelebrated with him. He gave a wonderful homily emphasizing our work as the work of the Good Shepherd. The Sisters sang hymns in Igbo and English using African drums and tambourine. The Mass was over before 12:30.

Dinner or what we call “Item seven” in Nigeria followed the beautiful Mass. The Sisters sang entertaining songs, which were mostly thanksgiving songs to Almighty God for the gift of Mother Mary Teresa Tallon and our Congregation. Sister Celine Marie Chinasa told the enthusiastic audience details about our charism and apostolate.

On this our big day, two important miracles happened. Fifteen minutes before the celebration began and coinciding with the arrival of Archbishop Burke, our lights unexpectedly went on! We hadn’t had electricity in over one month. The second miracle was the weather. We took a big risk by scheduling the celebration when it was raining all week. The Sisters prayed hard for good weather. God indeed answered our prayers for good weather, because on the following day it poured from morning till night.

The bright and gorgeous day was a gift from God for our centenary anniversary.

April 15—21, 2008
Pope Benedict XVI, Giving HOPE to America

The greatest of all reasons for joy and hope during this time were our meetings with the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, in the Archdiocese of New York! We participated in numerous ways, including when one of Sister Linda Jean’s young parishioners was presented to the Holy Father and when Sister Sophia Maria’s group performed a Korean dance for His Holiness’ Youth Rally at St. Joseph’s Seminary.

Parish Visitors also attended the Mass at Yankee Stadium and the Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral. By God’s sweet providence, our General Superior, Sr. Carole Marie was asked to be among those who received Holy Communion from the Holy Father. She took it to be a special gift from God for the Community during this 100th anniversary. She brought all the Sisters, friends and family, in her heart as she received Jesus, Our Lord, from His loving Vicar.

March 30, 2008
Celebration of 100th Year of Inspiration in Bronx, New York

God blessed us so graciously on March 30, 2008, when we celebrated Mother’s inspiration. Over 100 guests attended the 12:30 Mass at Holy Family Parish which was celebrated by Father James Flanagan, pastor of Holy Family, and concelebrated by Father Andrew O’Connor, parish pastoral associate. Father Flanagan wove into his homily references to the Inspiration, speaking of it at the beginning and end of Mass.  After Mass, everyone was invited to go to the parish hall where Sister Dolores Marie said a few words of welcome on behalf of Sister Carole Marie, who was visiting our convent in the Philippines. Sister Rita-Mairelenes gave a splendid talk on Mother’s inspiration and the value it continues to have for the whole church. As everyone dined on food lovingly prepared by parishioners, conversations included mention of effects Mother’s inspiration has had on their own lives.

The Mass, memorials to Mother Mary Teresa, and Catholic fellowship! People in the Bronx are still talking about that joyous day.

February 9, 2008
Celebration of 100th Year of Inspiration in the Diocese of Scranton, Pennsylvania

On February 9, 2008, we were honored by an outpouring of love for our Foundress and for our Congregation by the Diocese of Scranton with a Mass at Immaculate Conception Church in Scranton.

We were celebrating the 100th anniversary of Mother Foundress’ inspiration and the 70th anniversary of serving in the Diocese.

Most Rev. Joseph Martino (Bishop of Scranton) was the main celebrant. Concelebrants were Most Rev. James Timlin (Bishop Emeritus of Scranton), Most Rev. John Dougherty (Auxiliary Bishop); Msgrs. William Feldcamp, David Tressler, Francis Callahan; and Fathers Edward Lyman, Richard Loch, Phillip Rayappan (pastor of Immaculate Conception), Navy Kumar, Michael Rafferty, and Philip Altavilla. Bishop Timlin was the homilist; and Father Shane Kirby the master of ceremonies. Father Eric Bergman, a convert from Anglicanism, and his family also came for the occasion.

In addition to the Sisters stationed in Scranton, Parish Visitors came from the Motherhouse and the Rome, NY convent. In attendance and providing hospitality were Parish Visitor Associates, benefactors and friends.

Sister Carole Marie spoke briefly after Mass. Sister Maria Catherine addressed the well over 100 people that came to the parish hall for home-made and other food donated by our dear friends.

Seventy years of love, that blossomed from a 100-year-old inspiration from God were celebrated that day.

January 25, 2008—

A Mass was celebrated at St. Paul the Apostle Church in New York City in honor and thanksgiving for the inspiration given to Mother Mary Teresa Tallon, 100 years ago, to found a new community of consecrated women religious who will seek out the lost sheep of the fold, in imitation of the heart of the Good Shepherd.