Advent is upon us, and in the hustle and bustle of Christmas 
preparations it’s important to make Advent a truly holy season, full of gratitude and love to Jesus.  We have so much to be grateful for, haven’t we!  What a beautiful Christmas gift it would be to offer oneself to Jesus with a really loving and thankful heart!

This season is a time, too, to think about those in need, to see what we can do to help them.  Is God asking of you something more?

The very word Eucharist means thanksgiving.  Do you ever stop to thank God for giving us the Eucharist?  For giving us this very special gift? 

But what about so many Catholic children who haven’t learned about Jesus?  Many adults, too, don’t appreciate the Eucharist and the other treasures of our faith.  Are you willing to help them?

How about thanking God that we know Him and that we were baptized into the true faith.

So many don’t know Him and don’t care; so many never received the grace of baptism.  Are you concerned about them?

What about the gift of having decent parents?  No family is perfect except the Holy Family, but to have grown up in a decent family that cared about me is a great gift from God.

What about all the children whose parents don’t care?  Whose parents are immoral?  Whose parents don’t give them any affection or love?

What about thanking God for the food you have every day, for shelter, for clothing.

There are so many throughout the world without these basics, and even in our own country there are many who are barely making ends meet, if at all.  Are you aware of their plight?

Be grateful to God, too, for living in a free country, with the freedom to openly practice the faith.

             For the gift of life, given to you by your parents.
                     For your friends, your health, your education.
                                The list could go on and on and on.

How about thanking God, too, that you are discerning your vocation, trying to see what His will is for your life?  Yes, the fact that you are even considering giving yourself totally to God is a gift from Him, and I’m sure He is pleased with you for this.

A vocation is a precious gift from God and is cause for great thanksgiving.  It’s a great privilege to be called to be the spouse of Christ, and we are responsible to take it seriously and to act on it as soon as we know what He wants and as soon as we are able to follow.  Be generous to Him!  God will never be outdone in generosity, and He will give you many blessings in return!  Your list of what to be thankful for will grow and grow!

You are very special to Him.  You are unique; there’s no one like you.  God made you and loves you—yes, you—personally.  He looks on you with love, with all the love of His Sacred Heart.  When you understand what His will for you is, are you ready to leave all and to follow? 

Blessed John Paul II said, “Don’t be afraid to cast out into the deep.”  What better way to spend your life than to give yourself to God. 

All our Sisters pray daily for vocations, asking Mary to pray to the Lord of the Harvest to send more laborers into His vineyard.  I’m sure you are praying, too, to know God’s will.  Trust in Him, and He will surely help you!

In this holy season of Advent, may you open yourself more and more fully to Him and love Him more and more.  May it be a most blessed season for you, and may you and your family have a joyful and grace-filled Christmas!

 

Sincerely in Jesus,                            

Sister Dolores Marie, P.V.M.I.

 

The feast of the Assumption, August 15, is the anniversary of our foundation in 1920 and is always a special day for us.  We had another reason to celebrate on August 15, when Sr. Susan Marie renewed her vows and Theresa Moore completed her postulancy and began her novitiate.  Theresa is now called Sister Theresa Marie, combining a form of Mary with her baptismal name, as is our practice.  We rejoiced with her as she received the habit and white veil, the Constitutions of our community, and our Spiritual Directory. 

Theresa grew up in Michigan and was working in Indiana before entering our community as a postulant.  Before beginning her novitiate she traveled to Michigan to visit with her family for two weeks.  In the novitiate she joins Sr. Maria Leah, our second-year novice.  (In our Nigerian novitiate we have two more novices, Sr. Christiana Mary and Sr. Maria Dorathy.)

The novitiate is the official beginning of religious life, and it’s a special time of growing to know the Lord more deeply and learning about the vows and daily living as a Parish Visitor of Mary Immaculate.  Then, when the time for vows comes, the Sister is able to make her vows joyfully and peacefully.

This time of spiritual preparation before one’s mission is so important.  In the Scriptures we read that so many persons who were chosen to serve God in a special way, first went apart.  Jesus, besides his 30 years of hidden life, went into the desert for 40 days.  John the Baptist lived in the desert, Paul spent a time of quiet prayer in Arabia (Gal. 1:17), and the apostles had a three-year preparation before Pentecost. 

May God abundantly bless our novices, and may He grant us many more who will come and prepare to love God as a vowed Parish Visitor of Mary Immaculate and to serve Him in this apostolate, so sorely needed in our world today.

Only a few days after August 15 we hosted World Youth Day Not a World Away here at our motherhouse.  Teens and young adults participated in a grace-filled, fun-filled, dynamic weekend for Jesus!    Photos will be on our website shortly.  Be sure to take a look!

If you’d like to get to know us better, just let me know.  We can get better acquainted via email or phone, and then if you’d like to visit, we can plan that.  At present our Come and Sees are done individually, at a time convenient for the young woman.

May God’s guidance and blessings be with you and all your loved ones.

 

Sincerely in Jesus,                            

Sister Dolores Marie, P.V.M.I.

 

 

 

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Have you ever wondered what Sisters do in the summer?  Let me tell you a little about how the Parish Visitors of Mary Immaculate spend their summers.

One of the most important things is our annual community retreat, which usually takes place in the summer.  The annual retreat, at least six full days of reflection and of silent prayer, is always a time of special graces for the year ahead, a very precious time with the Lord.  Our retreat this year will be from July 19 through 24.  I always look forward to this special time. 

Of course, the Sisters in the apostolate are continuing to spend time helping the people through visitation for evangelization, sometimes Vacation Bible Schools, and planning catechetical programs for the year ahead. 

There are some vacation days as well, enjoying simple pleasures together.  Picnics are a favorite, and some Sisters enjoy swimming or badminton or walks in the woods.  We have been on vacation day outings, over the years, to various places—state parks, the Statue of Liberty, museums, many shrines, and other places.  Sometimes a picnic lunch right here at Marycrest, followed by a badminton game or a video, can be just as much fun.  We’ve even had rides through the local scenic hills in the rain!

The Sisters may visit their families once a year for two weeks (except during the novitiate), and these visits usually take place in the summer.  Also, in the summer, the Sisters may wear their cooler light blue habits if they wish, instead of their navy blue habits.

The jubilees of our Sisters—25th, 50th, 60th, and sometimes 75th—are always celebrated on July 2.  This year we’ll be celebrating the jubilees of Sr. Carole Marie, who is our general superior, and of Sr. Julia Marie.  Hopefully you’ll be seeing photos on our website and in The Parish Visitor magazine later on.  We also renew our Enthronement of the Sacred Heart on the feast of the Sacred Heart.  The Sacred Heart of the Good Shepherd is special to all Parish Visitors!

So, even though our apostolate and our duties continue during the summer, there is a change of pace from the rest of the year.  Here at Marycrest we also enjoy God’s gifts of green trees giving shade from the sun and gentle breezes blowing over the hills.

This year we’ll also be hosting another World Youth Day Not a World Away, in conjunction with the Holy Father’s visit to the World Youth Day in Madrid, Spain.  Look on our website for details, and if you live near enough, you’re welcome to come! 

In the summer as well as throughout the whole year, we have much to share with each other, and in our postulancy and novitiate we’re introduced to the joy and simplicity of our community life.  We might discuss during recreation time some simple experience, such as a beautiful rainbow we saw, spotted fawns, or (horrors!) a skunk which was quite nearby!  Maybe we’ll share about a book we’re reading or a silly joke.  At times the tragic events or evils of the day are discussed in a Christian way.  The postulants and novices see how the Sisters treat each other and how they exemplify the life we are called to live as religious.  The spirit of Mother Mary Teresa Tallon is alive and passed on through the generations of Parish Visitors, and the love of God and our Catholic faith is alive and growing within each of us.  God is good, all the time!

If you’d like to arrange a visit, or simply to get better acquainted, contact me.  You might want to tell me a little about yourself and your journey to know God’s will for you.  At present our Come and Sees are done individually, at a time convenient for the young woman.

If it’s at all possible, try to go to daily Mass, if you’re not already doing this.  This is such a source of graces and blessings and so pleasing to Our Lord!  Try to pray the Rosary daily, too!

May God’s guidance and blessings be with you.  Enjoy the rest of the summer!

 

Sincerely in Jesus,                       

Sr. Dolores Marie, P.V.M.I.

 

“Who would believe we should find the numbers of neglected children we did?  Only the discerning eye shall discover the most needy and the truly loving soul help the unfortunate children.”

“Love the poor little children as if each one were our own little brother.  What would we do then?   Why, the poor neglected brother would get the first of everything, especially as regards his soul’s welfare.”
 
These words of our foundress, Mother Mary Teresa Tallon, were written before the foundation of our community in 1920 and are still so true today.  Neglected children can be found all around us. 

We all have heard stories of child neglect and abuse, and we feel so badly that anyone would neglect or abuse a child.   Children who are malnourished, without families, without shelter, fill us with compassion, as does the ultimate child abuse, abortion.  Other children are emotionally neglected, starved for their parents’ loving attention.

In addition, besides the physically and emotionally neglected children, there are many, many more who are neglected spiritually.  Their souls are forgotten or ignored. 

We would consider it quite neglectful if a mother did not get her child vaccinated.   But how many parents keep putting off the baptism of their children?

Most mothers would want their child to be kept clean, but how many never teach them to keep the commandments and  to keep themselves pure?

 

Children need adequate food, and parents want them to be healthy and strong.  What about children who have never been prepared for the Eucharist and for Confirmation?

Only a negligent mother would leave poisonous household substances around, but how many children are exposed to various kinds of bad example, often right in the home?  

Children need to know and love God and need to know how to live His way.  This is part of growing up to be a fully developed human being, the way we were created to live, heading not just for worldly pleasures and success but for heaven.

Let’s look at a real life example, whom we’ll call Ashley.  Ashley is nine, a pretty little girl.  She always looks a bit disheveled, as her mother doesn’t pay much attention to her, and she is allowed to come and go as she wishes.  Her mother has a new live-in boyfriend and is mostly interested in him and in buying new clothes.

Ashley and her family were found while Sister was visiting homes.  Her mom is Catholic but never got around to having her baptized.  Since Sister came her mom lets her go to religion classes, but it’s all up to Ashley to get herself there and get herself to church on Sundays.  Ashley’s sad eyes light up a bit to know there is a loving God who loves her personally.  Sister tries to give Ashley some extra attention, attention which she doesn’t get at home, and encourages her in wanting to live the way God wants.

Ashley now can see that there is more to life than what she sees at home and that her soul will live forever.  Little by little her mother is starting to think about possibly changing her lifestyle for the better.

These spiritually neglected children were a concern of our foundress, and they are the concern of Parish Visitors of Mary Immaculate today, as well.  They come from all economic backgrounds, not just from material poverty.  This poverty is worse—a poverty of spirit!   These children need to be instructed about their faith, and their parents need it, too!  We find these children in our visitation of families, and we don’t let them just “fall through the cracks.”   God loves them, and so do we. 

Ashley, and others like her, are dear to the heart of God.  As our foundress said, these children are destined for heaven.  But, they have to be found and then helped.  Is God asking this of you?  Won’t you help us with this tremendous need in our world today?  Won’t you help bring neglected children to Him?

May God guide you in your discernment of His will, and may this holy season be a time of many graces and blessings for you.

Sincerely in Jesus,                       

       Sr. Dolores Marie, P.V.M.I.

A vocation is really an amazing grace, isn’t it! However, discerning a vocation can be a struggle. Do your thoughts go something like this?

I imagine God looking down at the world, looking around, and then looking AT ME. He looks at me, with love, and with a look that says, “Come! Come, be My own. Come, give yourself to Me, totally. Then reach out to My children who don’t know Me. Help them. You’ll be My spouse, and you’ll be their spiritual mother. They need Me so much, and they need you so much. Please say yes.”

Me? But why me? I’m so ordinary. I’m certainly far from perfect. Why would He want me for this? There are others who are the type to be a nun, but me?

On the other hand, the men Jesus picked didn’t seem to be the type to evangelize the world. They were fishermen. Worldly people probably thought that was nuts. Well, people might think it nuts for me to be a nun, but if God could help the world with fishermen, maybe He wants to use me, after all.

But I’m scared. And anyway, I have other plans for my life. I’ve always thought about getting married and having a family. That’s a good way to serve God, too. Yet, this tugging at my heart from God won’t go away. HELP!

Yes, Lord, help! Help me, please. As I sit before You in the tabernacle, my fears melt away, and I want to give myself totally to You. Then by the next day my fears and uncertainty return. Help!

Yes, keep praying, and He will help. Despite the struggles of discernment, know that the Lord loves you very much. The fact that you are even considering a vocation is pleasing to Him. His amazing grace has brought you this far, and His amazing grace will continue to lead you if you sincerely ask Him and really trust Him to let you know His will for your life and to give you the courage to do it.

Our Sisters in the parishes continue seeking the wandering sheep and instructing children, teens, and adults in the faith, guiding them closer to Jesus. There is so much to be done, as I’m sure you can imagine.

Let me give you an example. Sr. Mary Beata, while visiting homes in the parish she used to work in (before her recent assignment to our Arizona mission), found many children and teens in need of religious instructions. Most were able to fit into the parish religious education program, but a number of them did not. They weren’t baptized, or were older and didn’t yet have first communion, or couldn’t go to the parish program on Sundays because they had to split their Sundays between their divorced parents in two towns. The older ones among them would be uncomfortable in the parish RCIA; they’re just too young for it. Some parishes have special programs for overaged youth, but many do not.

A Parish Visitor, though, doesn’t just let these youth fall through the cracks. She tries to find a way to help them. Sr. Mary Beata found volunteers to assist her, and she formed four different after-school classes according to age levels, which she and the volunteers taught.

Great fruits followed from this. How happy the Lord must have been to see these children and teens take part in the sacramental life of the church! Sister helped many of them with the practical details, too, from clothing to godparents.

If it were not for this outreach and instruction, these youth would have fallen through the cracks, would continue uninstructed in the faith, and would grow up to be parents of yet another generation lost to the faith. The parents of youth like these often know little or nothing of the faith themselves, so they cannot pass it on to their children. When we instruct children in the faith, or arrange for their instruction, we often foster the parents’ return to the faith, as well, and we hope that the children will eventually pass on their faith to “a generation yet to be born.”

Contemplation is the fuel which fires and sustains this missionary apostolate. As our foundress, Mother Mary Teresa Tallon, said, “In proportion as I am a contemplative, in that same proportion shall I be a missionary, and a cheerful, generous missionary.”

Several Parish Visitors recently attended the FOCUS conference in Baltimore—a great weekend—and several went on the Right to Life march in Washington, D.C. Look at the Recent Events section of our website for some photos. From our website you can also learn about the upcoming World Youth Day event which will be held at our motherhouse.

Would you like to learn more about the Parish Visitors of Mary Immaculate, to see if this might be where God is calling you? Contact me, and we can get better acquainted. If you wish, we can make plans for a visit, also.

May God’s blessings be with you and bring you ever closer to Him!

Sincerely in Jesus,

Sr. Dolores Marie, P.V.M.I.

Did you ever realize that following a vocation can be compared to the wise men following the star?

The wise men of old wanted to follow Him. They had to leave family, home and possessions to go forth.

You want to follow, you may feel you probably should follow, but .............. it's hard.

Are you willing to leave all to follow Him?

It was probably hard for the wise men, too. Perhaps their friends and relatives laughed, or thought they were a bit strange to consider such an idea. Perhaps the wise men had a hard time deciding if they really should go ahead and set out on this journey.

What about you? If your friends think you’re crazy, will you still go forward?

Will you keep praying for the grace to know God’s will and the courage to really do it?

Perhaps there were cloudy or foggy days when the star was obscured.

Are you waiting until the way is 100% clear, not realizing that clarity will grow as you follow Him?

Traveling through the desert, of necessity they had a minimum of distractions and could concentrate on their goal.

What about you? Are you avoiding unnecessary distractions and overstimulation so as to pray better and discern God’s will more clearly?

They didn’t know how long their journey would be until they reached their goal. Would it go relatively quickly, or would it perhaps take years?

Your discernment, too, may move quickly or may take years. But, like them— don’t give up!

With all the many stars in the sky, they looked for the one special star, The Star.

Will you keep your focus on Him?

What if they had stayed home? They could have still been good people, but look what they would have missed! They would not have been able to adore Jesus, and they would not have been able to spread the good news upon returning. The journey was worth it!

God showed them the way, but they needed the courage to follow, perhaps despite cold feet and the fears of facing the unknown. God does His part, and we must move forward to do ours!

Upon reaching their destination, they offered their gifts. We offer ourselves and all we are, for God to use for His glory and for His people.

Then He gives us Himself as our spouse. How pleased He was with the wise men, and how please He’ll be if you follow His call and give yourself to Him! His help will be there. The road may look rough, until you begin walking upon it. His peace, His joy, and He Himself await you if you follow the star!

Our Sisters in Monroe NY, Bronx, Arizona, Nigeria and the Philippines continue to evangelize and catechize, with contemplative hearts helping many to come closer to their Lord.  Won’t you consider doing this with us?

At this time our Come and Sees are on an individual basis, at a time convenient for you. Or, give me a call or an email if you just want to ask a few questions or get acquainted.

During this holy season, we wish you an abundance of grace from Our Lord and Savior, Jesus. A blessed Advent and Christmas season to you and your family!

Sincerely in Jesus,

Sr. Dolores Marie, P.V.M.I.

Arizona is our newest mission field! Two Sisters recently traveled there to begin our apostolate in the Phoenix diocese and to open our convent in Mesa, Arizona. The need is great there, as everywhere. Pray with us that much good will come from this new endeavor.

On August 15 Sr. Mary Emmadoña made her first vows at Marycrest, a joyous occasion for her and for all of us. She’s the one in the center in this photo, with her new black veil and medallion of the Immaculate Conception. Also, on September 29 we welcomed our newest postulant, Theresa, who comes to us from Michigan.

Our Spirituality

I’d like to tell you about our spirituality, and I especially want to share with you how much the Eucharist means to Parish Visitors of Mary Immaculate. In the years leading up to our 1920 foundation, our foundress, Mother Mary Teresa Tallon, rejoiced in the new encyclicals on Frequent Communion for Adults (1905) and Early Communion of Children (1910). Until then, even Sisters didn’t receive Our Lord in the Eucharist daily, and children had to wait until perhaps 12 or 14 years of age for First Communion!

The Eucharist is the greatest gift we have to offer to the people, as our foundress told the Sisters. To instruct children for First Communion and then for continued love of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament throughout their years, and on our visitation of families to find those who have been away from Him and help them return to their Lord and Master by confession and Communion, are wonderful experiences. It’s a privilege to be chosen to be an instrument of the Good Shepherd to others.

As we go along on our visitation of families, there are others, too, whom we meet who do receive Our Lord in Communion but barely understand Who it is they are receiving. Brief informal instructions are given to them to shed light on the meaning and beauty of the sacrament, as well as to give them whatever other spiritual help they need.

From the early days of our community we have had the privilege of a daily Holy Hour of Adoration before the Blessed Sacrament. It’s such a privilege to be able to spend this hour with Our Eucharistic Lord, over and above our other daily prayer. In contemplation we give Him our love and adoration, and He strengthens us for reaching out to help people in His name.

All our convents have a chapel with the Blessed Sacrament. Neighbors, especially the children, are welcome to stop by and pray in our chapels.

His Sacred Heart is so loving and longs for us to spend time with Him. Yes, the Sacred Heart of Jesus is special to us, as is the Good Shepherd zealously searching for the lost and straying sheep. Our foundress frequently speaks of the Sacred Heart of the Good Shepherd, and in front of our motherhouse is a statue of the Sacred Heart of the Good Shepherd, smilingly carrying a lamb on His shoulder. As Parish Visitors, through our prayer we are to have contemplative hearts, with compassion and zeal for those needing to be reached by the Good Shepherd and needing instruction in the faith.

As Parish Visitors of Mary Immaculate, our spirituality of course includes loving Mary and modeling ourselves on her, especially in her Visitation. Daily rosary, the litany of the Blessed Virgin on her special feasts, the Angelus (or Regina Coeli), and wearing her medallion are all part of our community practices, as is renewing our consecration to her at the end of our annual retreat. And, St. Joseph, husband of Mary, is the patron and protector of our community.

Come and see!

If you’d like to visit us and get better acquainted first hand, contact me and we can plan a visit. At this time our Come and Sees are planned on an individual basis, at a time convenient for you.

May God bless you and guide you as you discern His will for your life!

Sincerely in Jesus,

Sr. Dolores Marie, P.V.M.I.

God’s peace be with you! I hope you are having a pleasant summer, pleasant and yet full of many graces from Our Lord.

Besides some relaxing days, we also have been busy about the Lord’s work. Evangelization through visitation continued at our various convents and at a short temporary mission in Louisiana. Youth work continued, and our catechetical programs prepared for another year.

Summer is also the time for Vacation Bible Schools. Here in Monroe, NY some of our novices and junior professed Sisters assisted Sr. Mary Josita in the Vacation Bible School in the local parish. Instructions, songs, and crafts helped to teach the children about our wonderful faith. Learning about saints was part of the program, too, and Sr. Mary Eunice enjoyed dressing up as St. Josephine Bakhita, a recently canonized saint from Africa.

On July 2 we celebrated the 60th anniversary of entrance into the community of two of our Sisters, Sr. Marian Corinne, originally from Pennsylvania, and Sr. Mary Cepha, from New York. A jubilee is always a joyful occasion, with a beautiful Mass followed by a day full of congratulations and laughter.

We’re also preparing for the first vows of Sr. Mary Emmadoña, which she’ll profess on August 15. She’ll also receive her black veil and her medallion of the Immaculate Conception at the ceremony. Sr. Susan Marie, who is already a junior professed Sister, will renew her vows on the same day. Our vow ceremony is a beautiful one, in which we give ourselves to God in the community in these words:

Called by the Holy Spirit to a greater perfection of love in union with Jesus, I desire to give myself totally to God in this Congregation.

For the honor of Almighty God, and under the protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary and our holy patron St. Joseph, I, Sister ________, before you, Sr. Carole Marie Troskowski, our general superior, vow for ____ years to live the Gospel counsels of chastity, poverty and obedience, according to the constitutions of the Parish Visitors of Mary Immaculate, and I promise with God’s grace to observe them faithfully.

Yes, with God’s grace we can do this, but without Him we cannot. Please pray with us for the Sisters who will make vows as well as for our novices still preparing for their vows.

Continue to pray much for God’s guidance for your own vocation, and for the courage to follow Him in whatever way He leads! Yes, it does take courage to get past “cold feet” and feeling scared when we think of following Him, but take it from me, it’s worth it!

If you’re feeling His nudge and wondering if the Parish Visitors of Mary Immaculate might be where God wants you, contact me. We can get better acquainted and arrange for you to visit us and meet us first hand. At this time our Come and See weekends are being planned on an individual basis at a time convenient for you.

May God bless you always, and may He guide you to the place where He wants you to love and serve Him!

Sincerely in Jesus,

Sr. Dolores Marie, P.V.M.I.

New York City? How did a country girl end up founding a community in New York City? Yes, in the hustle and bustle of the city the Holy Spirit inspired our foundress, Mother Mary Teresa Tallon, to begin the Parish Visitors of Mary Immaculate. How did this happen?

Mother Mary Teresa, then Julia Teresa, grew up on a farm in upstate New York. She then became a teaching Sister, working in Indiana and California before coming to New York City. During a retreat in California she had realized that God was leading her to a deeper prayer life; she continued her deep prayerfulness even in the midst of her duties in New York City as a teacher in a Catholic school and director of a large Sunday school program.

Despite the good work she was doing, her heart went out to the many people all around her who were untouched by the Church. The Church, the Catholic school, and the Sunday school program were available and reached many people, but there were so many, many other Catholics who were never reached by God’s saving word. She knew that Jesus, the Good Shepherd, longed for them, too.

She saw that many children who should have been learning their faith never came to religious instructions; others came and dropped out and were never seen again. Families found numerous excuses for not going to Mass, for not having the children baptized and brought up in the faith. Young people became involved in illicit pleasures. The list could go on and on. They needed Jesus in their lives.

Does all this sound familiar? Yes, all these things were going on even then, while the Sacred Heart of the Good Shepherd longed for these souls to return to Him, these precious souls for whom He had shed His blood.

The children, especially, tugged at her heart. So many children of supposedly Catholic families were growing up like pagans, knowing little or nothing of their heritage of faith, of God’s deep love for them. How could she help them?

She realized that someone would have to go out to these people to encourage them in their faith, to help them to know and love the Lord. They needed missionaries, even though they lived perhaps within a stone’s throw of the Church!

At Mass, on January 25, 1908, it became clear to her that God wanted her to begin a new religious community dedicated to deeper prayer and to outreach to those in need of Him, and to instruct the people in their faith. After much difficulty, on August 15, 1920, the feast of Mary’s Assumption, in New York City, the Parish Visitors of Mary Immaculate came into being.

The Parish Visitors of Mary Immaculate have always kept to these ideals of a deep prayer life combined with outreach to and religious instruction of those in need of the Lord—we are contemplative-missionaries. As Mother Mary Teresa Tallon said, the greater our contemplative communion with God, the more zealous we will be as missionaries.

We deliberately do not have any institutions of any kind, in order to be more free to work directly with the people, in grass-roots contact, finding those in need and helping them in the spirit of the Sacred Heart of the Good Shepherd—especially the neglectful Catholics and the poor. While our first concern is their spiritual need, we do not neglect the material needs and other needs of the people.

We find our strength in the Eucharist, and this is also the greatest gift we have to offer to the people—helping them to return to, or to begin to receive, Jesus in the Eucharist. Mary, too, gives us a model for our contemplative-missionary vocation in her visitation to Elizabeth after receiving the angel’s wonderful message that she was to be the Mother of God. Mary shows us that prayerfully pondering the Word in one’s heart as a contemplative and visiting someone in need can certainly go together!

Our love of the Church, our simple and friendly approach to people, and our simple community life are other traits of the Parish Visitors of Mary Immaculate.

There were many people in need of the Lord in the early 1900’s, but I’m sure you can imagine how many more there are these days! They need someone to go to them, to help them, to tell them about their Lord. What about you? Is He nudging you to do this?

If you are feeling His nudge and wondering if the Parish Visitors of Mary Immaculate might be where God wants you, contact me. We can get better acquainted and arrange for you to visit us and meet us first hand.

May God bless and guide you as you discern His will for your life!

Sincerely in Jesus,

Sr. Dolores Marie, P.V.M.I.

A new novice! On January 25 Leah completed her postulancy and began her novitiate. We all rejoiced with her on this special day. She’s now known as Sr. Maria Leah, combining a form of the name of Mary with her baptismal name.

In the ceremony she asked:

Drawn by God’s mercy, I have come here to learn your way of life. I ask you to teach me to follow Christ crucified and to live in poverty, obedience and chastity. Teach me to persevere in prayer and penance, in the service of the Church and of mankind. Teach me to live out the Gospel every day of my life. Teach me your rule and help me to learn to love our Sisters as Christ commanded us.

She received the habit and white veil and our Constitutions and Spiritual Directory from our general superior, Sr. Carole Marie:

You have been clothed, my daughter, with the habit which signifies humility and penitence; receive also this white veil as a symbol of innocence. While wearing them may you die daily to yourself, hidden with Christ in God, and living as becomes a true religious.

Receive these Constitutions and Spiritual Directory, which you are to lovingly study and observe. If you are faithful to them, they will bind you to Christ and He will shower blessings upon you.

Joyful songs, an address by Sr. Carole Marie, and intercessory prayers were included in the simple ceremony, which concluded with the Magnificat, a canticle very special to us as it was said by Mary Immaculate on her Visitation.

Just what is a novitiate?

The novitiate is the official beginning of religious life, and is a time of growing to know the Lord more intimately, a time of many special graces. It’s also a time to know ourselves better and to recognize anything in ourselves that may hinder our relationship with the Lord, as well as to spiritually prepare to go forth to spread God’s word.

This is a time of learning the Parish Visitor way of life more deeply, of learning the way the vows are lived in this community, of deepening one’s prayerful relationship with the Lord. Then, when the time comes for vows, the Sister, knowing what is involved, is able to make her vows of chastity, poverty and obedience peacefully and joyfully and then serve God’s people as a Parish Visitor of Mary Immaculate.

This time of spiritual preparation is so important. Do you remember that in the Scripture so many persons who were chosen to serve God in a special way first went apart? Jesus, besides his 30 years of hidden life, went into the desert for 40 days. John the Baptist lived in the desert, Paul spent a time of quiet in Arabia (Gal. 1:17), and the apostles had a three-year preparation before Pentecost.

Our novitiate includes classes on the Constitutions of the community and the vows, on prayer, on Catholic doctrine, on religious life in general and the history and spirit of the community, on Jesus in the gospels, and the lives of the saints. On Saturdays the novices (and also the postulants) have theology classes here at Marycrest with Sisters in formation from several other communities. There’s also some involvement in our apostolate, especially for the second-year novices.

Novices have the privileged duty of caring for the chapel—preparing the chapel for Mass, putting the chalice and vestments away afterward, preparing for Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, and, in general, helping to keep the chapel spotless.

They also take turns in leading morning and evening prayer of the Divine Office and in lectoring and leading the rosary. Other duties include cleaning the novitiate building, dishwashing, doing one’s own laundry, and study time, and sometimes helping the elderly Sisters or planning little enjoyable things for them. There’s a lot of fun, too. Lively conversation and laughs at meals, singing, talking walks, ping-pong and badminton, and laughter over silly things that happen help keep spirits light!

Our next Come and See weekend will be April 23-25, for women 18-35 who want to know more about us. Contact me for details. May God’s continued guidance be with all of you!

Sincerely in Jesus,

Sr. Dolores Marie, P.V.M.I.

 

Advent is such a beautiful season. We are awaiting Christmas, thanking God for His coming to earth over two thousand years ago and thinking, along with the liturgy, of His second coming. We open our hearts to His grace more and more, knowing that He wants us to come closer and closer to His Sacred Heart.

But, for so many people, the true meaning of Christmas is obscured by so many things—partying, rushing around, or having other priorities. Even children, old enough to know, don’t always know what Christmas is. For example:

Susie: "I’m so excited. Christmas is coming. It’s somebody’s birthday. But I can’t remember whose!”

How many Catholic adults, too, don’t even have any semblance of a religious Christmas, not even saying a little prayer to Jesus.

Our world is in need of Jesus. Is Jesus in need of you to help spread His message of love and peace? The field is ripe for the harvest, as all Parish Visitors know. Would you like to help us to reach these people, helping them to know and serve Him better? Would you like to love Him with us, consoling Him for so many who forget Him?

The Parish Visitors of Mary Immaculate have no institutions, deliberately, so that we can always have grassroots contact with the people. Our method is “face to face and heart to heart,” as our foundress taught, and is simple and friendly.  In this age of technology, person-to-person contact is even more powerful than in the past. Even just walking down the street we give wordless witness to God.

You might think, how could I ever go to a stranger’s door and start a conversation about God? Of course, we receive training in the way to do it. The first few times might be a bit scary, but then we see the exciting challenge of letting people know that Jesus cares, that the Church hasn’t forgotten them. So many of the people need instructions in the faith, too, and that’s also part of our charism. All this is combined with our contemplative prayer life. Yes, it’s a beautiful vocation!

It looks like we’re going to have a white Christmas at Marycrest this year! Besides shoveling the snow, we’ve been enjoying it, marveling in the beauty which God gives us as well as having some fun building a snowman and throwing some snowballs! Pictured here is postulant Leah in the snow.

COME AND SEE

The Come and See weekend originally scheduled for January has been rescheduled. It will be from February 12 to 14, the weekend before Presidents’ Day, for women 18-35 who want to know more about the possibility of religious life. It will run from 2:00 on Friday through 2:00 on Sunday, at our motherhouse in Monroe, New York.  There is no cost for the weekend, but if you plan to come, please let me know by phone or email by February 1.

Monroe is not far from major highways and can be reached by bus from Port Authority in Manhattan. The closest airports are Newark, NJ and Stewart Airport in Newburgh, NY. Once you register I can send you travel directions.

If you’d like to visit us but can’t come that weekend, let me know and we can arrange another time. Feel free to phone or email me, too, if you’d just like to get to know us a little better.

May this Advent season and the coming Christmas season be times of much peace and joy for you and your family, and as you open your heart more and more to His grace, may He let you know what He desires of you for your life. He loves you! He came to earth for you!

In Jesus, who came for us,

Sister Dolores Marie, P.V.M.I.

How is your discernment coming along? Are you actively, sincerely, trying to discern God's will for your life? What He most desires for you? Where you are most needed to help spread His kingdom? Is that tug at your heart still there?

But do your thoughts at times run something like this?

How can I be sure?

I'm scared.

My parents want grandchildren.

I'm so ordinary, so weak, so imperfect.

Why doesn't God leave me alone and pick somebody else?

What if it doesn't work out?

I'll have to give up some of my independence.

I'll have to leave my possessions behind.

My friends might think I'm weird.

I might miss having a husband and children.

I'll miss my family.

On the other hand, when you're at prayer, perhaps before the Blessed Sacrament, do your thoughts run something like this?

Lord, I love You, and I want to give myself to You.

So many people don't know You.

I want to spread Your word.  I want everyone to love You.

Convent life couldn't be too hard.  Lots of people have done it.

Their novices seem normal and happy.

My parents would probably get used to the idea.

I guess I could live without my car and my cellphone.

I've thought about this for so long.

I want to do something worthwhile with my life, something for You.

It would be so nice to have regular quiet times for prayer.

And to live with others who love God and want to help people.

What better husband could a girl find than You?

If I don't go ahead, I'll always regret it.

How could I not go ahead, when God has been so good to me.

You could probably add to these lists. Yes, discerning how God is leading is difficult, but once we realize where He is leading, we must go forward! Be brave, despite, cold feet. Yes, a new endeavor is often scary.We have to be brave for Him and act on His leading!

Our postulant and second-year novices here have begun visitation/evangelization in this local area. It an exciting thing to go out into the homes, meeting the people and helping those who have been careless about their faith. No matter what area we serve, whether country or city or suburb, there are always souls who have strayed and need someone to reach out to them, as the Good Shepherd did.

COME AND SEE!

Our next Come and See weekend is scheduled for Thanksgiving weekend, from 2:00 p.m. on Friday, November 27 through 2:00 on Sunday, November 29, for women 18-35 who want to know more about the possibility of religious life. There is no cost for the weekend, but reservations need to be made by phone or email to me by November 18.

Another Come and See weekend is planned for January, from 2:00 on Friday, January 8 through 2:00 on Sunday, January 10. Again, there is no cost, but reservations need to be made by December 26.

Both of these weekends will be at our motherhouse in Monroe, New York. Monroe is not far from major highways and can be reached by bus from Port Authority in Manhattan. The closest airports are Newark, NJ and Stewart Airport in Newburgh, NY. Once you register I can send you travel directions.

If you'd like to visit us but those times aren't convenient for you, let me know and we can arrange another time. Feel free to phone or email me, too, if you'd just like to get better acquainted with us or if you have any questions about our community. (If ever you phone and I don't return your call, please phone again, as sometimes messages get lost. Thanks.)

May God's guidance be with you as you continue to discern His will for your life. God bless you!

 Sincerely in Jesus,

Sister Dolores Marie, P.V.M.I.

It was a sunny summer afternoon, "a fine day for fishing," said the Parish Visitor Sister.

Fishing? Yes, fishing! Jesus Himself told Peter, at the time of the miraculous catch of fish, "Henceforth you will catch people." Even long before this, in the Old Testament, God said, "I will send hunters and fishers of souls." Our foundress, Mother Mary Teresa Tallon, called her Sisters "fishers of souls," not sitting on the banks waiting for the fish to jump to them, but going out to fish.

So, Sister went fishing on this fine summer afternoon. In the course of about three hours of fishing for souls, she not only found many, but some of them seemed to be waiting to be "caught," like the man who said, "Yes, Sister, we should have had the children instructed for First Communion way before this (they were about 10, 12, and 15). Please, register them for the classes."

Several other parents registered their children, on the spot.  Most of these children, too, were way over the usual age for First Communion, and some weren't even baptized.   There were three or four preschool children who were still unbaptized, too.  Several couples were living in common-law marriages.

Sister gave some on-the-spot instructions in simple prayer, as some of the children (and their parents) not only didn't pray before going to bed, but had no idea how!  Sister also encouraged the parents to give good example and go to Mass with their children, and she tried to give an instruction to a grandpa who insisted that his grandson watch Mass on TV each Sunday instead of walking around the corner to Mass at the church!

The children were delighted to have Sister in their neighborhood, and they eagerly accepted the colorful holy pictures she gave them.  One little girl, already a mini-missionary, urged her even younger playmate to ask her mother if she could go to the Sunday school classes, saying, "Trust me, you'll really like it."

Then there was the handicapped man who told Sister how much he loved Jesus, and the faith-filled woman who offered to help in whatever way was needed.

Soon it was time to go, but there was much more fishing to be done another day, and Sister would be back—not just on these streets, but elsewhere in the parish.  Fishing for souls! What a wonderful way to spend an afternoon!

This story may seem almost too good to be true, but it is true! Of course, not all afternoons will be as fruitful as this one, but as Jesus said, "The fields are ripe for the harvest," and He said that laborers are needed to bring in the harvest.  Our contemplative prayer life keeps us close to the heart of the Lord of the harvest.  Won't you consider harvesting with us?

SOME RECENT NEWS

Our Sisters in formation here in New York all took part in vacation Bible school programs, helping the children to learn more about God in an enjoyable way.  In addition, our postulant Leah has been learning about visitation in the city, going along with a professed Sister "fishing for souls."

The Sisters in formation have been having some relaxing summer fun, too, including some swimming, and there are plans for a few outings and picnics before the summer ends.

Our next vocation retreat, for women 18-35, is planned for Thanksgiving weekend, November 27-29.  However, if you'd like to visit at another time, contact me and we can arrange a visit.  Contact me, too, if you have any questions about our community or would just like to get better acquainted with us.  (If ever you phone and I don't return your call, please phone again, as sometimes messages get lost.  Thanks.)

May God continue to guide you in your vocational journey.  God bless you!

Sincerely in Jesus,

Sister Dolores Marie, P.V.M.I.

God's peace be with all of you!  You may have seen in a number of places lists of FAQs (frequently asked questions).  In this newsletter I'll answer a few FAQs about the Parish Visitors of Mary Immaculate.

Q. You say you are contemplative-missionaries.  Just what does that mean?  How can a Sister be both at the same time?  Or, are some Sisters missionaries and the others contemplatives who pray for them?

A. As Parish Visitors of Mary Immaculate, we combine contemplation and missionary activity.  Yes, both at the same time, not one or the other.  To be a contemplative means to be a person of deep prayer.  Usually people think of cloistered nuns as the only contemplatives, but that is not accurate.  Cloistered contemplative life is a very special way to serve the Lord.  However, contemplation is not reserved to those who are cloistered.

Jesus was a contemplative, someone of deep prayer, as I'm sure all would agree, yet at the same time He was the Good Shepherd concerned for the lost sheep.  He combined the two perfectly, and that is what  we strive to do.

Mary was another contemplative-missionary.  Right after receiving the wonderful news that she was to be the Mother of God, she went out to visit her cousin in need, all the while pondering in her heart the wonderful things God had done.

We strive for a life of deep prayer, nourished by daily Mass, Divine Office, meditation, a daily Hour of Adoration, rosary, spiritual reading, and that spirit of prayerfulness called recollection.

Along with this we are missionaries.  The word "missionary" is often thought to mean only foreign missionaries, but it actually means "one who is sent" to go out to the people in the name of the Lord.  The ones we are sent to could be right in our own town or city, or anywhere in the US,  or  in one of the foreign countries in which we have missions.  The Good Shepherd has wandering sheep everywhere, in need of someone to help them return to Him!

Of course, those Sisters who are elderly, or who care for the administration of the community, etc. are serving the missionary apostolate by their prayer and by their service to those in the active apostolate. All Parish Visitors are contemplative-missionaries!

Q. Are you faithful to the Holy Father? Are you Eucharistic and Marian?

A.Yes, yes, and yes!  We are a pontifical community and are lovingly faithful to the Holy Father and the Church.  And, devotion to the Blessed Sacrament has always been a part of our community.  As I mentioned, we have a Holy Hour of Adoration daily.  Also, Mary Immaculate is our community patroness and our model.  

SOME RECENT NEWS is the joyful final vow ceremony of Sr. Genevieve Mariam, which took place on May 30 in Nigeria.  The next day two young women began their postulancy there.  (We have formation programs both in the U.S. and in Nigeria.)  You can look at our website under Recent News for some pictures from Nigeria.

Here in the U.S. we'll be celebrating the jubilees of five Sisters on July 2.  Sr. Mary Frances will celebrate 75 years in the convent - imagine that!  We'll also have one Sister celebrating 70 years in the community, two celebrating 60 years, and one silver jubilarian.

Monthly we have a day of retreat, but summer is the time of our annual retreat, which is always a source of many graces for the year to come.  This is a silent retreat of six to eight days, a time of prayerful intimacy with the Lord.

If you would like to know more about the Parish Visitors of Mary Immaculate, or would like to visit us, give me a call or write or email me. I would be happy to hear from you.   May all of you have a grace-filled summer, and may the Lord guide you and help you with your vocational discernment.

Sincerely in Jesus,

Sr. Dolores Marie, P.V.M.I.

Let me begin this newsletter by asking you to picture something in your mind.  Think of the Good Shepherd, if He came down to earth today.  See Him looking at all the people passing by, looking carefully, lovingly.  Yes, He would see the good people and be very pleased with them, but He would also see the others.  Those who seldom, if ever, set foot inside a church.  Those who couldn't care less about Him.  Those who are more interested in pleasure than in anything else.  Those who haven't prayed for so long that they've forgotten how.  The children who never were taught about Him.  The teens who are confused and searching.  The list could go on…and on…and on.

This is mission territory!  Yes, it surely is!  Some people might think, "We have churches, and if these people want to come, they can come.  Why bother seeking them out?"  But, that's not the Good Shepherd's attitude toward His prodigal children.

Jesus, the Good Shepherd, yearns for these people to return.  He wants them to come to Him.  But, someone needs to reach out to them, as He reached out to seek for the lost sheep.  Who will go for Him?  Whom shall He send?  Who will say, "Here I am, Lord"?

Pope John Paul II recognized this great need and called it the New Evangelization reaching out to the many among the baptized who have drifted away from the faith.  Our foundress, too, recognized this need and felt the call to begin a new community where women, formed in the contemplative spirit, would "go out in search of the lost lambs and bring them back to the fold" by visitation of families and individuals and by religious instruction.  We do this in a gentle manner, as He would have done, gentle and yet bringing out the truth about the way He wants us to live.

The need is great, as you can imagine.  This personal, gentle outreach touches hearts and is more and more needed in today's world. Jesus still says, "Whom shall I send?"  What will your response be?

But I'm scared, you may say.  How could I go to the door of a stranger and speak of my Lord?  Yes, most of us were scared at first.  But, God's grace gives us the fortitude to joyfully go out in His name and enjoy the challenge, and our contemplative prayer life fuels the zeal within us.  Of course, we are trained in how to do this before being expected to go forth.  And, it is amazing how many people, away from the church for years, are eager to tell us their story and to hear that they are welcome to return to God.  If Jesus is nudging you to do this, don't be afraid!  He will be with you!

Since my last newsletter, we have four new novices in Nigeria, in addition to our novices here in the U.S.  Our custom is that the new novices retain their baptism name and, if it doesn't include a form of the name of Mary, it is combined with that.  So, our new novices there are Sr. Mary Rose, Sr. Mary Jacinta, Sr. Maria Josephine, and Sr. Emilia Mary.

We also have a new postulant here, Leah, who came to us from the Philippines.  Perhaps you are wondering just what the postulancy is all about.  Postulancy is a time of orientation, of transition into religious life, of a deeper introduction to the community.  Before entrance the woman learned about the community from the outside, but now she learns from the inside.  Because this is an introduction, it includes many things:  taking part in the prayer life of the community, taking part in community life and community activities, an introduction to the apostolate of the community, household duties, and classes on our foundress, on Catholic doctrine, on our spiritual life and apostolate, and on God's call as seen in Scripture.  There are many things to learn and experience, and it's a time of a deepening relationship with Our Lord.  There are plenty of laughs, too, over many things!

Our Sisters in Bronx and Rome, NY have been continuing the Lord's work there by instructing children in their faith, working with youth groups, and evangelizing, and in Pennsylvania the Sisters have been working with Hispanic families in the area.  Our missions in Nigeria and in the Philippines are doing great work in those countries, and we also have an apostolate here in Monroe, NY.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions about our community or would just like to get better acquainted with us.  We now also have a new e-mail address at which I can be contacted: pvmi@frontiernet.net.   May the graces of this holy season of Easter be with you in abundance.  As our foundress reminds us, after the Resurrection Jesus only appeared to His friends.  You are His friend; expect some special grace from Him!

Sincerely in Jesus,

Sr. Dolores Marie, P.V.M.I

Is this question similar to yours?

Dear Sister, I think God is calling me to be a Sister, but I don’t know what to do next. What steps should I take?

Dear Friend,   Here are some suggestions.  Just as your discernment thus far was made with much prayer, all of these steps must also be accompanied by sincere and loving prayer.

REFLECT

  What seems to draw you?  What are you looking for in a community?

 

GET INFORMATION

  You could check the websites of the Institute on Religious Life  (religiouslife.com) or the CMSWR (cmswr.org/member­_communities), both of which can also be reached through links on our website.  Where does God seem to be nudging you?   Where can you best serve God and His people?  Begin narrowing it down to those that you want to look into further.

 

PERSONAL CONTACT

Phone the vocation director.  Have a chat with her and ask any questions which are on your mind.  She'll want to get to know you better, too.

A VISIT

If the community seems as if it is one you want to look into as a possibility, try to arrange a visit, either a vocation retreat or an individual visit.  If you live near enough, the first visit could even be a one-day visit.

CONTINUED CONTACT

If this could be the community for you, continue the contact, either by phone, by writing, or further visits if you are near enough.  Perhaps ask for some further reading material about the community.  You'll be getting to know them better and better.

APPLICATION

If this seems to be the place where God is leading you, tell the vocation director that you want to begin the application process.  She'll give you the details.  The amount of time this will take will vary, perhaps some months.  During this time you'll keep getting to know the community more and more.

ACCEPTANCE

If the community agrees that God seems to be leading you to take the next step, you will be told that you're accepted for the postulancy, and the date of entrance will be set.  The vocation director will tell you what clothing and books to bring and other details.

THE BIG STEP

Now the big day comes, and you are ready.  Despite cold feet and some tearful good-byes, you step through the door of the convent to begin your postulancy.  How pleased God is with your love and your courage, and how the angels rejoice!  You have made this big step generously; know that God will never be outdone in generosity and will be with you every day, every hour as you continue your journey into religious life.

Sr. Susan Marie

SOME NEWS

We rejoiced as our two novices in Nigeria, Sr. Mary Veronica and Sr. Mary Rosita, made their first vows on December 12 at our convent chapel there.  Our five American novices are learning and living the Parish Visitor  charism more and more each day and are getting ready to welcome a new postulant later this month.  A group of  Parish Visitors took part in the Right to Life March in Washington, D.C. recently, leaving Monroe after a very early Mass for the bus trip there.

If you haven't yet seen our newly revised website, parishvisitorsisters.org,  be sure to look at it. Our next vocation retreat is scheduled for Thursday, March 12 through Sunday, March 15; the registration deadline is March 5. However, if you'd like to visit us and can't make these dates, phone me and we can arrange a visit at another time.  Phone me, too, if you have any questions about our community or would just like to get better acquainted with us.  (If ever you phone and I don't return your call, please phone again, as sometimes messages get lost.  Thanks.)

May God continue to guide you in your vocational journey!  God bless you!

Sincerely in Jesus,

Sr. Dolores Marie, P.V.M.I.

Christmas will soon be here! Along with the Advent liturgy, we prepare for Christ's coming His coming in the future at the end of the world, the remembrance of His coming at Bethlehem over 2000 years ago, and His coming by grace into our hearts. 

Yes, let us join in the spirit of the liturgy during this time.  Am I truly grateful that Jesus has come into the world, and that He will come again?   And am I trying my best to grow closer to Him, to open my heart more and more to Him? This would be the best Christmas gift we could give to Him, to be grateful to Him and to be more and more loving toward Him.  And that, of course, includes love of others, as Jesus has taught us.

In our apostolate, the Parish Visitors are happily extra busy during Advent.  Advent is a special time of grace and it's a good time to encourage people to go to confession, especially those who haven't done so for a long time.  Our catechetical classes often have a religious Christmas play or program.  So many children attending public schools need to be reminded what Christmas is all about!  Holy cards showing the manger scene, little religious items, and Christmas carols are some of the other helps in reminding children (and adults also!) that Christmas is Christ's birthday.

Parish Visitors also make a point of giving extra attention to the poor and lonely at Christmas.  There may be families needing clothes or toys for the children, or lonely elderly people needing just a bit of candy to know that someone is thinking of them.  We have often invited people to our convents for Christmas dinner, people who would otherwise be alone on this big day, and we've brought plates of our Christmas meal to elderly persons who can't travel to the convent.  Jesus is the reason for the season, and our joyful and prayerful celebration focuses on His incarnation and His love of us.

As I mentioned in the last newsletter, this year we're commemorating the 100th anniversary of the day that our foundress, Mother Mary Teresa Tallon, received the fullness of the inspiration to begin a new community (though we weren't actually founded until 1920 after she had twelve years of struggles and waiting).  On January 25, 2009, we'll close the year with a special Mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral, New York City, at 2:00 p.m., to thank God very especially for this community.  You're all welcome!  Just give me a call to let me know you're coming.

Some community news is our newly revised website, greatly improved and containing vocation stories and lots of new pictures.  Please take a look at it at parishvisitorsisters.org and let me know how you like it.

Would you like to get to know us better first hand?  Here are the dates of our upcoming vocational retreats.  For registration and information, phone me at least a week ahead of the retreat.

Saturday, December 6, 2009 - Sunday, December 7, 2:00 p.m.

Thursday, January 8, 2009 - Sunday, January 11

Thursday, March 12, 2009 - Sunday, March 15

If you would like to visit us and can't make any of the above dates, phone me and we can arrange a visit at another time.  Phone me, too, if you have any questions about our community or would just like to get better acquainted with us.  (If ever you phone and leave a message but I don't return your call, please phone again, as sometimes messages get lost.  Thanks.)

A little prayer that I found helpful during my own time of discernment was:

God, give me the grace to know Your will,
and the courage to do it.

This little prayer also shows us that there are two steps:  coming to know God's will, by His grace, and then doing it.  That takes courage, which many of us don't have, except by His grace. Keep praying!

May the holy seasons of Advent and Christmas bring you much peace, the peace that He alone can give, and much joy in Him!

A blessed Christmas,

Sr. Dolores Marie, P.V.M.I.