Musings of a Discerning Woman

Sister Monica - a visionary, role model and friend

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Rose, CSJP) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 03:49:00 +0000

My sister is named Monica. Which perhaps is why I've always had an affinity for Sister Monica Heeran, well that and the fact that she is absolutely amazing woman. Happy to see that the Catholic Sentinel agrees!

Visionary nun observes 100,000 patient visits at clinic she founded

When Sister Monica Heeran shakes patients’ hands and introduces herself, she makes everyone feel that their health is the only thing that matters right now.
“Every patient feels they are the most important person to walk through the doors,” said DaLeesa Meashintubby, executive director of the Lane County Volunteers in Medicine, a clinic Sister Monica founded a decade ago. ...
Sister Monica, an 80-year-old member of Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace, is the former CEO of PeaceHealth’s Sacred Heart Medical Center in Eugene. She retired more than 10 years ago after six decades of healthcare ministry.
It was a time when the number of uninsured was on the rise, Sister Monica said.
While Sister Monica was trying to figure out what she would like to do with the next phase of her life, she was invited to check out a clinic founded by Dr. Jack McConnell in Hilton Head Island, S.C., which was connecting the talents of volunteer medical practitioners with the uninsured population. The model was so successful that Volunteers in Medicine clinics, with their “culture of caring,” have popped up all over the country. Oregon has two clinics – the one in Springfield, founded by Sister Monica, and the VIM Clinic of the Cascades in Bend. Sister Monica returned to Eugene, inspired to start a clinic in Eugene. ...
Over the years, Sister Monica’s role at the clinic has changed. She just finished up serving as interim executive director while the clinic filled the position. She also helps with fundraising. She has served on the board for the duration.
But in the near future, Sister Monica hopes to pare down her time at the clinic, preparing for a form of official retirement. ...
Meashintubby said that she has learned more from Sister Monica than she has any other manager. The executive director calls the nun a “visionary.”

Read the entire article here

Simply put ... Sister Monica rocks. I've been honored to be in a small faith sharing group with her since I entered and work with her on a community committee. She is indeed a visionary, a role model and a friend. I hope to have as much wisdom, energy, and grace when I'm in my 80s!

Refreshment, History & Hope

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Rose, CSJP) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 01:36:00 +0000

Sometimes it is good (and perhaps necessary) to step away, relax, have fun and breathe some fresh air for a bit. That's what I did this past weekend ... in New Orleans.

For the past five years, I have spent MLK weekend in the company of young nuns at the Giving Voice under 40s retreat. It has been so life giving to recharge my batteries in a sunny spot in the company of my peers in religious life from a multitude of congregations. Seeing as this is the year I will turn the big 40 (in July), this could have been my last Under 40s retreat weekend in the sun.

Instead, I decided to spend the weekend in another sunny spot with a young nun friend of mine who has already entered her 4th decade of life. You might call it our slightly older young nun weekend. She flew from New York, I flew from Seattle and we met in New Orleans. Her Ursuline community has a few houses in NOLA so we had a free place to stay, new friends to get to know, all within a few blocks of the St. Charles Street Car. What more could you ask for?

I had great fun learning a bit about the long history of the Ursulines in New Orleans. I also met a Christian Brother and learned about some of the post-Katrina ministries of men and women religious in New Orleans. We walked leisurely through the French Quarter. In honor of my mother who LOVED them, we stopped at Cafe Du Monde for some beignets and cafe au lait. We went shopping on Magazine Street and ate lots of yummy food (jambalaya, po-boys, gumbo oh my!). It was a great celebration of my final vows and opportunity to reconnect, relax and get refreshed.

On Sunday we went along with some friends to mass at St. Gabriel's parish, a thriving mostly african-american parish which has come back to life after Katrina despite the odds. For three weeks after Katrina, the church and surrounding neighborhood were flooded with 3 to 12 feet of water. Mold destroyed the rest. Most of the parishioners were scattered all over Louisiana and the country. Slowly the neighborhood has started to come back. You could see a mix of boarded up and abandoned homes and reconstructed ones. The church itself is now quite beautiful ... thanks to the hard work of many. Apparently the Archdiocese had decided to close the parish rather than use the insurance to fix it up. The parish was only able to stay open by agreeing not to expect any of the insurance money.

What most impressed me however was the spirit and prayerful presence of the St. Gabriel's parish community. They sang of being blessed by God. Of loving God. Of praising God. And thanking God. Over and over and over. We were welcomed and enveloped by many during the kiss of peace. I never cease to be amazed by the human spirit and the capacity to hope in the midst of so much suffering.

All in all it was a wonderful weekend. I returned of course to a freakish Pacific Northwest snow storm. But I am still warmed from my memories of walks in the sunny air of NOLA in the company of a good friend. I feel refreshed and able to enter fully into all that lies ahead in my very busy schedule!

The Three Hour Tour with Sister Anthony Marie

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Rose, CSJP) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 05:03:00 +0000

One of the major blessings of my novitiate sojourn to the land called New Jersey was that I got to know our elder Sisters at our retirement community next door. They were so happy to have the novices on the grounds and we were treated to many stories and trips down memory lane.

One day, I met Sister Anthony Marie on the elevator. I was coming from the tower where I used to go to get away and pray--you can see the NYC skyline from up there! Anyway, I met Sister Anthony Marie and she was so very excited to see me. "Would you like to see my room?" she asked. I had a little bit of time before I was expected back for dinner at the Novitiate house so I accepted.

Well ... I barely made it back for dinner! The tour of Sister Anthony Marie's small room did not exactly take three hours, but it did definitely take longer than I had expected! Every drawer she opened, every holy card she touched had a story attached ... a very entertaining but very long story. I remember one particular story had something to do with a former student of hers at the School for the Blind who worked for the New York Yankees and invited her to a game and on to the field. I could see the love she had for those she had ministered with over the years in her gleaming eyes, as well as her love of baseball!

It was great, but I admit I was a bit worried that my novice director was going to start wondering where I had gotten away to. Perhaps Sister Anthony Marie sensed my worry and hesitation. Before she sent me on my way, she gave me a souvenir. I think it was a holy card and medal of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. If nothing else, it helped me to prove where I had been when I returned and sure enough my housemates and novice director were wondering where I had gotten away to!

I got word this week that Sister Anthony Marie passed away at the age of 95. Goodbye Sister Anthony Marie! Thanks for the tour and your faithful joyful presence!

Human Trafficking Awareness Day

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Rose, CSJP) — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 23:57:00 +0000

Today is Human Trafficking Awareness Day. Here is a great video that some students from Holy Names Academy made last year for the high school justice video contest at the Intercommunity Peace & Justice Center where I work.

Hey you high school teacher types .... the deadline for this year's contest is coming up in March! Help spread the word.

128 Years Ago Today - A story of Peace

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Rose, CSJP) — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 03:42:00 +0000

Today is the 128th Birthday of the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace. We celebrate January 7th as our "Community Day of Thanksgiving" because 128 years ago today our first Sisters professed their vows in St. Barnabas Cathedral. Our Constitutions tell our founding story well ...

In 1884 in Nottingham, England,
under the inspiration of the Spirit,
Margaret Anna Cusack, known as Mother Clare,
founded a religious congregation of women
... to promote the peace of the Church
both by word and work. The very name
Sisters of Peace will, it is hoped,
inspire the desire of peace and a love for it. - Constitutions 1884

This congregation had its origin
in the founder's response
to the social concerns and needs of the time.
Deeply moved by the sufferings of poor and oppressed people,
Margaret Anna Cusack sought ways to share her gifts with them:
... it did matter to me a great deal in view
of our common humanity, and in view of my
love of the poor, that I should do all I could
for those whom He had loved so well. - The Nun of Kenmare, 1888

Attracted by this commitment,
Honoria Gaffney, later named Mother Evangelista,
together with a few other women,
joined the new community.
Their faith and humility enabled them
to take great risks in serving their
sisters and brothers in need.

Edward Gilpin Bagshawe,
Bishop of Nottingham, accepted
and encouraged this young community.
At the first ceremony of profession on January 7, 1884,
he referred to the charism of the congregation
in these words:
To secure this divine peace for ourselves
and procure its blessings for [others] in
the midst of the sin, turmoil, and
restless anxiety of this modern world
is the object of your institute.

I was lucky enough to visit St. Barnabas Cathedral in Nottingham during my novitiate, and prayed in the very chapel where our first Sisters professed their vows and began the life of our community.

If you'd like to help me celebrate this important day and would like to know more about the history of community, why not watch the video our novitiate class produced to tell the story of the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace, from our founding to today! (To play the video, just click the arrow in the box below.)

Margaret Anna Fridays

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Rose, CSJP) — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 14:38:00 +0000

Most Fridays, I’m going to share a quote from the founder of my groovy sisters, Margaret Anna Cusack, known in religion as Mother Francis Clare. Today's installment:

But since God has been pleased to give me a gift of writing and since more than one of the successors of St. Peter has been pleased to approve my use of this gift, I feel I would be ungrateful to God and undutiful to the Church if I did not use my poor efforts on the side of truth and peace.”
-MF Cusack, The Question of To-day: Anti-poverty and Progress: Labor and Capital

From My Ministry World - Human Trafficking Awareness Month

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Rose, CSJP) — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 05:23:00 +0000

For the past 4 years or so, education and advocacy against human trafficking has been a major part of my ministry. Longer than that actually, because it started with one of my novitiate ministry experiences where I was privileged to get to know two women who were emerging from human trafficking situations. The resiliency of their spirit in the face of such suffering continues to inspire me in this work. Here's a press release we sent out today as part of a PR push around Human Trafficking Awareness Month. Writing press releases is another transferable skill I learned as a glorified bureaucrat that I now use in the service of justice!

Nuns Organize Against Human Trafficking

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, January 5, 2012—Catholic Sisters in the Pacific Northwest are intensifying efforts against human trafficking during January’s National Human Trafficking Awareness Month, through public witness, schools based education and corporate shareholder advocacy. January 11th is National Human Trafficking Awareness Day.

“We know that the Pacific Northwest is a hub for human trafficking,” said Holy Names Sister Linda Haydock, Executive Director of the Intercommunity Peace and Justice Center (IPJC) in Seattle which is coordinating the effort. “This form of modern slavery is illegal in every country, and yet is thriving not only in far flung corners of the globe but right here in Seattle. We seek to stop the demand for human trafficking.”

Public Witness - Sisters and other advocates will gather at Westlake Park in downtown Seattle on Sunday, January 8th from 1:30 to 2:00 PM for a Public Vigil against human trafficking. “This is our 37th monthly public vigil,” said Saint Joseph of Peace Sister Susan Francois, Anti-Human Trafficking coordinator at IPJC. The Sisters began holding monthly vigils at Westlake Park in January 2009. “Westlake Park is a known recruitment spot for traffickers seeking to exploit young women in the sex industry. We come here each month to take a public stand in solidarity with all children, women and men held in slavery like conditions. We invite others to stand with us.”

President Obama has declared January National Human Trafficking Awareness month and called upon all Americans to “recognize the vital role we can play in ending modern slavery.”

Education - IPJC uses a variety of vehicles to engage the larger community. The Sisters have run advertisements on buses in Seattle and Tacoma, educate middle school students across the country via an online webinar, and provide resources for action on their website—www.ipjc.org. “In the last six months alone, more than 10,000 copies of our anti-human trafficking resources have been downloaded from our website,” said Sister Linda. Online resources are available in English and Spanish, including action ideas, education handouts, and prayer services. The website also offers a special prayer service that Christian and Interfaith groups can use to mark Human Trafficking Awareness Day on January 11th.

Corporate Advocacy - “We also engage in dialogue with major corporations to help stop the demand for human trafficking,” said Adrian Dominican Sister Judy Byron, Program Director of IPJC’s Northwest Coalition for Responsible Investment. Collaborating with the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility, the Sisters recently won significant victories against human trafficking through shareholder resolutions and corporate dialogue with Delta Airlines, Hilton Worldwide, and Wyndham Worldwide. In 2011, the airline and two hotel chains each agreed to sign the Code of Conduct for the Protection of Children from Sexual Exploitation in Travel and Tourism. The Code requires signatories to educate their employees on ways of identifying and reporting suspected incidents of human trafficking. Delta Airlines is the first U.S. carrier to sign the Code.

Hello World

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Rose, CSJP) — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 15:45:00 +0000

Happy New Year Everyone! I am sorry for the long blog silence. The Christmas and New Year Holidays ended up being a time for rest and healing for me as I managed to catch a nasty bug that wanted to stay around for much longer than it was welcome.

But, happily and thanks to the wonders of antibiotics, I am feeling much more myself. I'm also feeling incredibly grateful that I have the resources and ability to go to a doctor when I am ill, receive medication, and take time away from work to rest and help it all work. I realize that vow of poverty or no, that is really a luxury that many do not have. So a prayer of gratitude is definitely in order!

What are you grateful for this 4th day of 2012??

New Year Thoughts

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Rose, CSJP) — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 19:57:00 +0000

The new year is coming. I find this very hard to believe, but it's also an opportunity to pause and reflect on where we've been and where we hope to go.

2011 has held many blessings for me. My final profession of vows. Spending time with my father, some of my siblings and their offspring, community and friends. Good work, lots of learning, and fun. It's been a year of growth and possibilities.

As I look forward to 2012, I pause to give thanks for all the graces that this year has offered. I pause to recognize the challenges, and give thanks for God's presence through the mix of it all. God is very good.

What are you grateful for as this year comes to a close?

Merry Christmas!

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Rose, CSJP) — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 22:10:00 +0000

A repost of a video prayer I put together a few years ago to "Only at Christmastime" by Sufjan Stevens.

Margaret Anna Fridays - Christmas Eve Eve edition

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Rose, CSJP) — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 14:13:00 +0000

Most Fridays, I’m going to share a quote from the founder of my groovy sisters, Margaret Anna Cusack, known in religion as Mother Francis Clare. Today's installment:

Oh, how blessedly near is His advent! Today we are decking our houses for His divine visit; let us not forget to deck our hearts. Let us sweep out every imperfection, every imperfect disposition, every wandering thought, with the besom of penance, and adorn ourselves with the fair bright flowers of contrition and love. To-morrow our Infant King will come. Are we prepared to receive Him? Have we all teh love ready for him we should like to offer him? ~ M.F. Cusack,Meditations for Advent & Easter, 1866

Bugs, Simplicity & Christmas

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Rose, CSJP) — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 22:08:00 +0000

I've been a little under the weather with a yucky bug, but am happily on the mend after lots of sleep. Thankfully I simplified Christmas preparations in my life years ago or else I'd be in big trouble as I've been capable of little this week. Donations have been made. Christmas cards I'm afraid will need to be skipped this year. A few presents for family. Ta Da! Done. :) I love a simple Christmas.

Tomorrow morning I am flying south to visit my oldest sister and her family for the long Christmas weekend. Marie inherited many of our family decorations so it will be a little bit of a walk down memory lane. I'm really looking forward to quality time with my nieces! I know there will be coloring with the 5 year old, and hopefully some Christmas cookie baking as well.

Merry Almost christmas!

Decorating Grace House

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Rose, CSJP) — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 21:33:00 +0000

Grace House is decorated for Christmas! One of my housemates is on retreat this week but my other housemate and I had fun this morning decorating the house while we listened to Christmas music (including Sufjan Stevens of the video clip below).

I put out my manger set this year. Past years I haven't put it out because one of my housemates had her own quite substantial collection of nativity sets and it just seemed like to much to add one more. She's moved though, so I put mine out. It's simple and reminds me of my mom's. I'm going to be in California with my sister's family on Christmas day so I had to tell my housemate where I was hiding baby Jesus and ask her to put him out next Sunday. The 3 Kings and their 2 camels are starting their long trek through the dining room. They should make it to the manger by Epiphany I think. That was always my job as a kid, walking the kings through the house, every day a little closer. Yes, I'm a grown up now but it's still a fun tradition.

Lastly, I set up my little mini Christmas tree. When I closed up my apartment, I gave away the majority of my Christmas decorations. I kept the manger, and I kept a small collection of ornaments that mean something to me. I have a little artificial tree that is just big enough for my few ornaments. It's cute and keeps me connected to Christmas memories past. However, it already has lights on it so I couldn't put the lights on the tree. But I could sing this song!

Happy last week of Advent everyone. May your preparations be merry.

Margaret Anna Fridays - Advent Edition

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Rose, CSJP) — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 14:54:00 +0000

Most Fridays, I’m going to share a quote from the founder of my groovy sisters, Margaret Anna Cusack, known in religion as Mother Francis Clare. Today's installment:

Consider the angelic salutation, "Hail full of grace." If Mary was full of grace before Jesus was conceived in her womb, how she must have overflowed with grace when the Fountain of grace abode within her! ... Mary was so full of grace, that there was no room for self, and no room for creatures. Self and creatures are two great obstacles which prevent us from receiving the measure of fulness of grace which God desires to give us. Let us ask our immaculate Mother to teach us the secret of emptying ourselves, that we may be filled with God. Let us begin this blessed work now. Jesus is coming very quickly; shall we not do all we can to make room for Him in our hearts? ~ M.F. Cusack, Meditations for Advent & Easter, 1866

Sister Mary Rose loved her brownies

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Rose, CSJP) — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 18:44:00 +0000

During my novitiate years, I baked ... a lot. Baking therapy has always been a good coping mechanism for me. The beauty of living at east coast groovy sister hq for the majority of my novitiate years was that I had a ready made audience for my baking therapy. I baked cookies for the maintenance staff, cakes for the elderly sisters next door, and brownies for Sister Mary Rose.

Sister Mary Rose was a lovely (and somewhat mischievous) Sister who lived in the infirmary next door to the novitiate. Each day she would write little jokes on the white board in the pantry to entertain the Sisters and staff as they got their morning cup of coffee. She was also deeply prayerful, faithfully taking her walker into the chapel for daily office, liturgy, and just to visit with Jesus for a while.

While we were living next door as novices, we were invited to join the Sisters for their Sunday afternoon meal each week. Most times, we would bring dessert. I had discovered a brownie recipe (which, truth be told, comes mostly from a box mix) for triple chocolate brownies. The first week I made them, Sister Mary Rose wheeled her walker over to the table where we were sitting and said, dramatically, "Which one of you made these DELICIOUS brooowwwnies." (She was born in Brooklyn so add the accent for full effect). I confessed. She smiled, winked, and walked away.

From that day forward, she was always sure to let me know how much she appreciated it when the dessert selection included the triple chocolate brownies. Even when it didn't, she'd politely thank me but tell me it was nothing like those brownies. After I left New Jersey to start ministry in Seattle, whenever I would come back to east coast groovy sister hq for a meeting she'd be sure to stop by and tell me how much she missed me .... and my brownies.

Well, Sister Mary Rose passed away on Sunday at the age of 92. As I read her obituary, I remembered that her baptismal name was Susan. We'd bonded over that one day ... the fact that she's a Susan turned Mary Rose and that I was baptized a Susan Rose.

I found the little essay on our website that she wrote on the occasion of her 70th Jubilee a few years back. Here's an excerpt, typical of her mix of class and mischief:

My seventy years in religious life have made me strong as stone and fragile as a rose. I entered from Brooklyn in 1936 and continue to appreciate the beauty of religious life. ... Now that I am older and a retiree, I experience slow motion at times. I depend much on God's grace. My goal is to live and die in peace. Only this lends meaning to my life and death. Since this year celebrates the Jubilee Sabbath, the following quote from Sabbath Presence best describes what I strive for as a Sister of St. Joseph of Peace, “ . . . A relationship with God, with others, with the created world and with the inner self.”

Goodbye Mary Rose. Enjoy the brownies in heaven. I hear they are all you can eat.

Advent Waiting

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Rose, CSJP) — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 05:30:00 +0000

I was pointing our house out to a friend this evening after our Justice Movie night held in the parish hall next door. "It's the one without Christmas lights," I said. He looked across the street at the other convent (Dominican sisters live there - yes it is a two convent neighborhood). "The other Sisters don't have Christmas lights either," he said. "That's ironic." "Actually," I said, "it's because it's still Advent." We have an advent wreath on our prayer table. We won't be decorating the house until after we've lit the 4th candle on Sunday. That's how we roll.

Advent is such a short precious and powerful season. It can go by before you know it--you have to pay attention to the anticipation or you might miss it in the midst of Christmas crazyness.

In our world, waiting is something that we've pretty much given up on. In the words of Veruca Salt, "I want it now!" Add to that the commercialization and secularization of our Christmas traditions, with Christmas lights going up after Halloween and coming down on December 26th (when Christmas is just starting!), and it can lead to confusion.

I'm sure some of our neighbors think it odd that the Catholic nuns in the neighborhood don't exhibit the Christmas Spirit. They probably think it's equally odd that once we get our decorating acts together, we leave our decorations up until the 1st week of January. Epiphany, what's that?

I don't mean this post to be a rant against anything in particular, but rather an opportunity to wait in the spirit of Advent. We rejoice this third week of Advent. We anticipate the O Antiphons which will start in a few days! And then, yes, Christmas will come.

Margaret Anna Fridays

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Rose, CSJP) — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 18:31:00 +0000

Most Fridays, I’m going to share a quote from the founder of my groovy sisters, Margaret Anna Cusack, known in religion as Mother Francis Clare. Today's installment:

For as you know, the religious orders in the Church of God are like the flowers in a garden each has its own use, its own duty, its own special perfume and is own beauty. All are good because all have the Divine sanction. All are useful because each has is own special work. Hence let us love and care for all as far as it is in our power to do so and let us rejoice in their joys and sorrow in their griefs. - Margaret Anna Cusack, General Letter to the Congregation, April 1887

This quote from Margaret Anna is appropriate as I'm headed to my first meeting as a member of the core team for Giving Voice, a grassroots organization of younger women religious from a wide variety of congregations. We'll be praying, dreaming, and planning for the future of our organization as we lean together into the future of religious life.

mary moments

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Rose, CSJP) — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 15:40:00 +0000

Perhaps it is my Catholic School girl past, but over my life whenever I have been in a pinch, the prayer that comes to my lips is Hail Mary, full of grace. Whether it was when my mom was in the ICU and other prayers were not coming to mind or even at more trivial moments like when I was late to the airport and hoping the flight would be delayed (that's only happened once in my travels, and thankfully I made it), this is the prayer that is on my lips before I know it. I guess you could say Mary is my go to woman.

For my protestant readers, no I am not praying to Mary but asking her to pray and intercede for me. There's just something about Mary. A strong Mother who wasn't afraid to call her son Jesus to task when he wasn't living up to his potential at the wedding in Cana. A woman of great faith who said yes, even though she had many questions. A woman whose magnifcat speaks prophetically for justice. She ponders the word of God in her heart and acts. And so she is a model of faith, as our CSJP constitutions say.

On this feast day, Holy Mary, mother of God pray for us now and always.

Advent

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Rose, CSJP) — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 02:41:00 +0000

Week two of Advent. Not quite sure how that happened! Here's one of my favorite Advent themed reflections, a poem by Jessica Powers. The nights are midnight dark at 6:30 pm--not hard to imagine waiting in Mary-darkness.

I live my Advent in the womb of Mary.
And on one night when a great star swings free
from its high mooring and walks down the sky
to be the dot above the Christus i,
I shall be born of her by blessed grace.
I wait in Mary-darkness, faith’s walled place,
with hope’s expectance of nativity.

I knew for long she carried me and fed me,
guarded and loved me, though I could not see.
But only now, with inward jubilee,
I come upon earth’s most amazing knowledge:
someone is hidden in this dark with me.

~Jessica Powers

Margaret Anna Fridays - 4 Church Women

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Rose, CSJP) — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 16:52:00 +0000

Most Fridays, I’m going to share a quote from the founder of my groovy sisters, Margaret Anna Cusack, known in religion as Mother Francis Clare. Today's installment is in honor and memory of Maura Clark, Ita Ford, Jean Donovan and Dorothy Kazel, four American church women who were murdered in El Salvador 31 years ago today for carrying out very their own practical Christianity with and for the people suffering from poverty, brutality and violence during the civil war. May each of us be inspired to and move beyond the theoretical to the practical where Jesus calls us to take risks on behalf of the least of these.

So long as your Christianity is merely theoretical, they are very well pleased with you; but once they find you are practical in carrying it out, they part company with you, angrily or scornfully....
-Margaret Anna Cusack

Remembering

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Rose, CSJP) — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 14:26:00 +0000

Today is December 1st. Had she not passed away eight years ago, today would have been my mom's 77th birthday.

This is one of my all time favorite pictures of my mom. It was taken at the Oregon Coast about 11 years ago when I organized a family Thanksgiving with my mom. My two sisters were there, one of my brothers, my mom and dad and the two little nieces in the picture. We had a marvelous time, walking on the beach, eating way too much turkey, and just lounging around together. Mom, as you can tell, was in heaven.

So many happy memories. Sad ones too, but the happy ones are much stronger. After all, when Harry Potter needs to conjure a patronus to ward off scary creatures, he relives the happiest of memories, not the sad ones. They are what get us through the tough times and make us smile in the good times. Thanks for all the happy memories Mom and for everything you taught me. To live. To love. To laugh.

Happy Birthday mom!!

Air travel related blog quiz

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Rose, CSJP) — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 14:42:00 +0000

Since the majority of this afternoon/evening will be in the air. Actually, I will be trying to catch up on my reading for my last Women in Scripture class tomorrow night!

Your Personality at 35,000 Feet Is Thoughtful and Contemplative

Deep down, you prefer spending time alone to spending time with others. You enjoy thinking more than talking.

You don't spend much time thinking about your place in the world. You are who you are - and people can just deal with that!

Your gift is having a way with words. You know how to express yourself well.

You are inspired by freedom. Whenever you are able to do what you want, good things happen.

You are happy as long as you are given some personal space. It's important for you to have your own private life.

The Personality Test at 35,000 Feet

Blogthings: Quizzes and Tests and Memes, Oh My!

Quality Dad Time

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Rose, CSJP) — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 00:55:00 +0000

I've been spending the past few days visiting my Dad in Washington, D.C., the city of my birth. I got here the day before Thanksgiving. In addition to a yummy turkey day meal here at the retirement center, I've also had the chance to do some practical things--go to the doctor with him, show him how to use his new iPad, do some filing and sorting for him--and some fun things--we watched the final saga of Harry Potter together on cable and today went to a museum. We also watched the DVD of my final vows ceremony, since he wasn't able to be there on the actual day.

Tonight I just finished reading his soon to be self-published memoir, Me? I'm From Iowa, one more time. Actually I read the proof to find any last minute corrections before my brother sends the final draft to the printer. Dad's been working on the book for years, but finished it up earlier this year. I helped to edit the book when I was here last summer.

As Dad says in the introduction, he mainly wrote the book "to put on paper something about me and my family, to help answer some of the questions that our children and our friends may have." It really is a joy to read. For one thing, aside from being a cute farm boy in Iowa (pictured), my Dad has had many interesting experiences as a civil engineer, patent attorney, local elected official, transportation specialist and executive director. I especially loved reading about his experiences in local politics in the 1960s as the civil rights movement took root and the old political machine was replaced by new reforming thinkers like my Dad.

But I think the bit I loved the most is hearing his version of how he met my mother at a church young adult group picnic. He wanted a beer. She was sitting on the cooler. He asked her to move. She said no. They had a conversation and the rest, as they say, is history. Once she enters the story, they were a team. Not only when it came to the family stuff, but I love how he describes the discussions the two of them had about politics and his move to get more involved and run for office.

The visit is almost over. I have tomorrow morning and afternoon to spend with my Dad, then off the airport and back to Seattle. It's been a good visit!

Serving Others with a Passion for Peace and Justice

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Rose, CSJP) — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 02:49:00 +0000

I was interviewed last week by a reporter from the local Archdiocesan paper, the Catholic Northwest Progress. Here's the article:

Serving Others with a Passion for Peace and Justice
Susan Francois found an integrated life, grounded in the Gospel, with the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace

Susan Francois had plotted out her path in life — a career as a civil servant, social-justice volunteer work in her spare time, early retirement, then volunteering full time "to make the world a better place."

But a few years into a successful career, Francois began to realize something was missing.

Though she grew up Catholic and graduated from Catholic schools in Maryland, Francois struggled with some of the church's teachings and couldn't see its relevance in today's world. She stopped practicing her faith at age 17.

In a journey spanning two decades, Francois explored other religions, returned to the Catholic church, became "the ultimate church and peace-and-justice geek," discerned a religious vocation and, this month, professed her final vows as a Sister of St. Joseph of Peace.

Now, as a staff member for the Intercommunity Peace & Justice Center in Seattle, social justice is both her ministry and her profession.

"This is where I'm the best able to use the gifts that God gave me, to best serve the world," she said.

Return to faith
After college, Francois went to work for the city of Portland, eventually becoming the elections official. It seemed like a natural path, since both her parents worked in the political arena. They also taught her the responsibility of helping the needy and working for social justice.

During her off hours, Francois energetically volunteered at soup kitchens and a homeless shelter, and for a child-abuse hotline. Still, she didn't feel fulfilled.

Then a good friend asked Francois to attend her installation on the pastoral council at St. Philip Neri Parish in Portland.

"I will never forget going into St. Philip's that day and sitting in that pew and just feeling like I was at home," she said. The next Sunday, she decided to go to Mass, some 10 years after leaving the church.

"Before I knew it — literally within six months — I was a sponsor for RCIA. I was teaching Sunday school, and I got involved in the peace and justice commission. I went from completely not thinking about organized religion to [realizing], this is where I want to be," Sister Susan recalled.

About a year later, while walking along an Oregon beach, the thought of becoming a sister hit her. "It seemed really insane and crazy," she said. "I wasn't ready for it. I clearly remember making a little deal in my head with God that, maybe when I was 40, I would think about it. I just made final vows and I'm 39. It's pretty funny how God works."

Seeking an integrated life
Francois became more open to the possibility of a religious vocation after working through her struggles with God during times of "personal and collective suffering" — her mother's death from cancer in 2003, the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Francois became even more involved in her parish, but felt a disconnect between her parish work and her day job. Then her pastor, Father Steve Bossi, emailed her in 2004, suggesting they talk about how God might be calling her to use her gifts.

"If he hadn't sent me that, who knows if I'd be here?" she said.

Francois started exploring religious life in 2004, at age 32, and began a blog, "Musings of a Discerning Woman," (www.actjustly.blogspot.com) to chronicle her journey.

"My real hope was to find an integrated life — where life in God, life in prayer, life in ministry, was my life," she said.

Finding a home
In October 2005, Francois became a candidate with the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace, which promotes social justice as a way to peace. She began spending regular weekends in Seattle, living and praying in community with the CSJP sisters.

She felt called to join these "groovy sisters," as she refers to them in her blog — "groovy" because they're up-to-date, concerned about what's going on in the world, working for peace and justice, and having fun doing it, Francois explained.

After a two-year novitiate, she professed her temporary vows in October 2008 and began working at the Intercommunity Peace & Justice Center.

"Every step, I felt more part of me and more part of God's plan," Sister Susan said. On Nov. 11, she took perpetual vows of poverty, celibacy and obedience.

Today, Sister Susan is studying at Seattle University for a master's degree in pastoral studies, while continuing her work at the IPJC. Besides editing the quarterly journal and coordinating programs for young adults, she gives presentations at schools and parishes about human trafficking, immigration and other issues tied to Catholic social teaching.

"I yearned for a community grounded in the Gospel, where I could use my gifts to foster peace in our world," Sister Susan said of her journey. "I am so glad that I decided to take the risk and explore religious life."

Giving Thanks

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Rose, CSJP) — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 16:52:00 +0000

Your Thanksgiving Personality is Thankful

At Thanksgiving, all you want is a warm bed to sleep in and a home cooked meal to eat. As long as you have those things, you're grateful.

You're able to rise above any of the stress or drama associated with the holidays. You are just happy for what you have.

Whether it's been the best or worst year of your life, you take this day to count your blessings... no matter how small they might be.

And if possible, you try to help someone in need - anyone from a hungry stranger to a lonely friend.

What's Your Thanksgiving Personality?

Blogthings: Free Quizzes for Everyone

I am on the east coast to spend the long Thanksgiving weekend with my Dad. It will be good to catch up with him, hopefully sort out some things for him, and spend time in the City of my birth.

Many years ago, during a time when I seemed to be flying back east a lot when my mom was sick, I found myself very grateful for something I'd always taken for granted, if not complained about ... air travel. All of a sudden I realized what a miracle it really is that I can step into a big metal structure, sit down, buckle myself in and a few hours later be thousands of miles away. As someone whose family, and religious community for that matter, are scattered about the globe air travel is very important to maintaining those relationships. So, I started a simple little ritual right before take off and after landing. I close my eyes as I sit in my window seat and say to myself, "Thank you God for the gift of flight."

There is of course oodles more to be thankful for, but on a day when I have arrived safely on red eye flight across the country that is one of the many things I am deeply grateful for.