Musings of a Discerning Woman

Ten Month Tune In

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Rose, CSJP) — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 02:22:00 +0000

So I realized this weekend that I've been back in the Pacific Northwest for ten months ... and it's been almost 9 months since my first profession of vows! Wow! Where does the time go? As a wise friend said to me the other day, it's a sign that I'm where I'm supposed to be if the time passes by so quickly - and enjoyably.

I don't really have any unbloggables, but I thought I'd return to my old "tuning in" exercise. To recap, I set my iPod to random and see what songs play ... and if a message emerges.

Song # 1 "The Book I'm not Reading" by Patty Larkin (watch/listen)

The book I'm not reading is riveting
The book I'm not reading keeps me up at night
The book I'm not reading i better than tv giving me insight.
The book I'm not reading is history
The book I'm not reading is by some paperback writer
The book I'm not reading is a mystery
Who dunnit don't matter

Well, the book I'm not reading at the moment is Harry Potter 6. I'm planning to see the movie when I'm on vacation later this month with my old roommate Kathy. We have a tradition of rereading the movie to catch up! But I'm also not really reading any deep spiritual reading right now either. It' summer. I'm busy. I'm not reading much.

Song #2 "So Many Ways" by Mates of State (watch/listen)

There are only so many ways to earn your own surprise

I think what surprises me most is how filled my days and life are. And I don't mean filled with busyness - although that is true most days as well - but just how filled with life they are. I recently had my evaluation at work and in reflecting back, I realized that I'm not stressed out. I go to work, I'm busy all day long doing things I love, and then come back the next day. I guess I'm learning a difference between ministry and just a "job." I'm busy, but not stressed. I'm doing what I think I am meant to do at this point - peace and justice education and advocacy. I guess I'm just surprised that I found a way to spend my time doing what makes me happy, what I'm meant to do!

Song # 3 "Lord You Have Come" (watch/listen)

O Lord with your eyes set upon me,
gently smiling, you have spoken my name
all I longed for I have found by the water,
at your side I will seek other shores

Well said. I know there is a lifetime ahead of me, but at this point I feel like I have found all I longed for. With Jesus at my side. Simple but true.

Song # 4 "Purple Prose" by the Mystery Jets (watch/listen)

I'm a tourist
World at my feet
Across hither and dither
and hither and dither
and hither and dither
won't fall off my seat.

A tourist. Well, I do have abit of travelling ahead this summer. Going to the Bay Area for vacation with my friend Kathy (the aforemention HP6 viewing will occur). Then on retreat - also in the Bay Area. Then a trip back to my old stomping grounds in NJ for a CSJP committee meeting. But more than actual travelling, I guess I do feel a bit like the world is at my feet. In the sense that I'm at a place where I feel I can both make a difference and have my heart changed at the same time. But hopefully won't fall off my seat!

Jesus said

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Rose, CSJP) — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 18:05:00 +0000

In today's Gospel reading, Jesus says:

"A prophet is not without honor except in his native place and among his own kin and in his own house."

How very, very true. And if it was true of Jesus, then how much truer is it of the prohpets of our own day? How true is it of us?

The problem seems to be two fold. A) we put people in our little boxes. Jesus was the carpenter's son. They knew Jesus. What could he have to tell them. and B) we hear what we want to hear, and we don't like to hear the truth sometimes.

Who are the "prophets" in our own lives that we ignore? Is there someone that you have short-changed, dismissed or put in a box?

They said, "Where did this man get all this?
What kind of wisdom has been given him?
What mighty deeds are wrought by his hands!
Is he not the carpenter, the son of Mary,
and the brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon?
And are not his sisters here with us?"
And they took offense at him.

4th thoughts

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Rose, CSJP) — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 06:15:00 +0000

I've never really liked the fourth of July ... well, mostly I've never enjoyed the whole blowing up of things to celebrate our independence concept. When I was little, we'd go to Allens Pond to watch the fireworks ... and I'd end up hiding under the blanket till they were over. In college and my single girl years in Portland, I'd go to the Blues Festival on the Waterfront with people to be socialable ... and enjoy the fireworks, but NOT the crowds! In later years, I'd spend the night of the 4th at home. But that brought problems of it own, as my neighbors insisted on lighting off their own fireworks and almost burning down the neighborhood. Seriously, a tree once caught fire. Eventually, I came up with my own solitary 4th of July ritual. About 9:45 PM, I'd get in my car and drive to Safeway to go grocery shopping. I'd have the store almost entirely by myself, and by the time I got home the smoke would still be hanging around but the fireworks would be over.

Tonight I sat on a bench in our meditation garden here at St. Mary-on-the-lake and listened to the firework shows in Downtown Bellevue and in the distance in Renton and Seattle's Gas Works Park. I could see the Seattle ones poking through the trees, as well as assorted home-blown fireworks here and there. I found myself praying ....

... for all those people in the world for whom the sound of "rockets red glare, bombs bursting in air" mean, quite literally, those things. We celebrate our independence by fireworks. But I think we forget the reality of people in war. I know animals have a hard time on the 4th, but I've often wondered what the day is like for veterans and refugees of war. I'd imagine it brings thoughts and memories to heart and mind.

We have exported our wars. They are no longer on our own soil so we don't know what it sounds like. But I imagine it might sound a little bit like what I heard on the bench this evening ... but without all the fanfare and with much more devestation.

Please join me in taking a moment to pray for peace. To pray for the safety of those called to serve their countries in the military. To pray for courage and wisdom for world leaders to follow the nonviolent path. To pray for the safety and security of civilians caught in the crossfires of war. To pray for the day when we all may realize the reality that we are one family and live together, in peace.

Margaret Anna Fridays

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Rose, CSJP) — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 13:19:00 +0000

Every Friday, I’m going to share a quote from the founder of my groovy sisters, Margaret Anna Cusack, known in religion as Mother Francis Clare. This week’s installment …

The purest patriotism is that which desires the well-being of all.
-The Present Case of Ireland Plainly Stated, 1881

national press

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Rose, CSJP) — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 01:56:00 +0000

For some reason, the Vatican visitation/investigation of American Catholic Sisters just made the secular press ... and the New York Times.

On the Visitation

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Rose, CSJP) — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 04:30:00 +0000

A coworker pointed out this editorial in U.S. Catholic on Women Religious and the Apostolic Visitation. I haven't written much about the Visitation. A) I haven't wanted to get into the fray. B) I figure the religious life I love, with women committed to the Gospel and a life of love and service for the Church and God's people, speaks for itself. This editorial seems to lend some credence to point B. Figured I'd share ...

The good name of religious women in this country is indeed what is at stake here. A blanket investigation of both the "quality of life" of religious women and of the doctrinal fidelity of their leadership is hardly a just response to the breadth of their contributions.
To be sure, religious women in this country have frequently been on the ministerial and theological edge when it comes to interreligious dialogue, ministry to gay and lesbian people, and issues surrounding the role of women in the church-the stated reasons for the investigation. But that does not mean their loyalty or orthodoxy on the whole should be impugned.
I, for one, am the Catholic-and human being-I am today largely because of religious women, and not just the Sisters of Mercy who were at my grammar school.
Among them is Joyce, a Precious Blood Sister who taught me in college to love and pray the liturgy. Most of what I know about the Bible is thanks to two Sister Barbaras, a Dominican and a Religious of the Sacred Heart. Another Dominican has over many years helped me deepen my relationship with God in spiritual direction. Then there's Sister Thérèse, a Sister of Notre Dame de Namur, who opened my eyes to the realities of homelessness.
These are just the ones I know personally. If I had to add the women whose example and writing have inspired and changed me I would quickly run out of room.
Religious women are not perfect, of course, but if I had to pick the group that most challenged me to think more broadly, love more completely, and serve more generously as a Christian, it would be those "bossy nuns." It is precisely because they have been such creative risk-takers-more daring on the whole than their male counterparts or our ordained leadership-that they have inspired me. Where would we Catholics be without such women?
The sisters' response to the "assessment" has been sanguine. "LCWR faces this process with confidence, believing that the conference has remained faithful to its mission of service to leaders of congregations of women religious as they seek to further the mission of Christ in today's world" was LCWR's measured reply to news of the investigation.
Fair enough, but for my part let me be clear: Sisters, you don't deserve an investigation. You deserve a medal.

On Eagles Wings

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Rose, CSJP) — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 04:47:00 +0000

I went for a short hike this afternoon in the gorge on my way home. It was super windy - hence the short duration of the hike. But the wind also invited a group of eagles to join in their own form of wind surfing. (The Columbia River Gorge is well known for wind surfing of the human kind on the water.) I managed to film a bit of one of the eagles.

One more reason

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Rose, CSJP) — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 04:10:00 +0000

In case we needed one more reason to finally close down the School of the Americas/Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation, here's a very serious one ...

The general who overthrew the democratically elected president of Honduras on Sunday is a two-time graduate of the U.S. Army School of the Americas, an institution that has trained hundreds of coup leaders and human rights abusers in Latin America.
Gen. Romeo Orlando Vásquez Velásquez toppled President Manuel Zelaya in a dawn coup, surrounding the presidential palace with more than 200 soldiers and tanks and tear-gassing a crowd outside. The president was then taken to an Air Force base and flown to San Jose, Costa Rica. (Read more in NCR)

He's the latest of a long list of Latin American military personnel trained at the SOA/WHINSEC who have later been involved in dedidedly undemocratic routes to power in their countries.

Argentine Gen. Leopoldo Galtieri who overthrew in a bloody coup another grad, Gen. Roberto Viola who’d come to power in 1981 during the Dirty War.
Guatemalan dictator Gen. Efrain Rios Montt who seized power in a coup in 1982.
Panamanian dictator Gen. Omar Torrijos who overthrew a civilian government in a 1968 coup.
Panamanian dictator Gen. Manuel Noriega, who ran the country while on the CIA payroll.
Ecuadoran dictator Gen. Guillermo Rodriguez who came to power in 1972 by overthrowing the elected civilian government.
Bolivian military dictator Gen. Hugo Banzer Suarez who came to power in a violent coup in 1971.
Bolivian dictator Gen. Guido Vildoso Calderon who took power in 1982.
Peruvian dictator Gen. Juan Velasco Alvarado who toppled the elected civilian government in 1968.

No wonder the General is quoted by the Washington Post as saying, ""Nobody scares us." We trained him that way. And apparently we trained some of the folks who helped him with the coup, including Gen. Luis Javier Prince Suazo, the head of the Honduran Air Force who also was trained at the SOA.

Please take two minutes to write to your member of Congress. Ask them to co-sponsor HR 2567 - the Latin American Military Training Review Act. What's happening in Honduras is just more proof that we need to close the SOA ... now.

Visits and Sunsets

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Rose, CSJP) — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 04:02:00 +0000

My super-social weekend has come to a close ... or it's come to the part where my introvert side gets to take center stage anyway. Tomorrow is a vacation day, and tonight I'm staying in the Columbia River Gorge courtesy of some friends who are letting me stay in their condo (which has a view & wifi). If you've never seen the Columbia River Gorge, it is one of those places that I think our Creator God had a lot of fun creating.

This afternoon I went to a 50th Jubilee party for my friend Sr Pat, an IHM sister (same community as Sister Julie of A Nun's Life). The party was held at Sakura Ridge, a farm and lodge in the gorge owned by the brother of another friend. It was wonderful to be with Pat as she celebrated 50 years of religious life with her family and friends. The farm had the most amazing view of Mt. Hood - fitting really for a celebration of God's amazing gifts and Pat's faithful response.

Tonight I'm staying overnight in the Gorge. Tomorrow I'm going to take some me time with mother nature and make my way back to Seattle in a leisurely fashion. My friends' condo is right on the Columbia River.

And the same view at Sunset.

God is good. You know that, but it helps to have reminders sometimes ... good friends, the beauty of creation, life.

Connections

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Rose, CSJP) — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 19:21:00 +0000

It's the little things in life that matter sometimes. I was reminded of this the other day, when my best friend from middle school left a note on my Facebook Page:

Do you remember staying up to watch Friday Night Videos at your house on the little tv in the study to catch Thriller? All this talk of Michael Jackson has reminded me of that night, and how much fun I had with you.

I don't remember the particular night, but I remember lots of little moments of having fun with her. Learning how to braid my hair. Staying overnight at her townhouse, which I thought was so cool because it was attached to other houses and not all by itself! Working on our colonial history project together, aging the paper with tea to make it look more authentic. Good times.

One of the realizations I brought home with me from my Giving Voice weekend is the importance of building and nurturing relationships, both within and outside community. I'm a thinker and an introvert by nature, but life isn't all inside my head. It's in being with others, talking, sharing, playing laughing, that we grow. The memories from growing up are just reminders of that.

Of course, I'm also a planner by nature. And somehow - perhaps inspired by this realization of building/nurturing relationships but also I think just the fact that everything happens in the summer - I've got a people packed weekend ahead! Last night I visited with a friend and her family (including my 5 year old goddaughter) who happened to be in town. This morning I had great fun going out to breakfast with a CSJP friend. This afternoon I'm going to sneak in a bit of our annual CSJP picnic before I drive down to Portland for another friend's going away party - she's headed to Chicago for grad school. Then tomorrow I'm headed to the Columbia River Gorge for another friend's Jubilee Celebration - she's a member of another community and is celebrating 50 years of religious life! We're friends from my old parish so I should be able to catch up with lots of old friends there. I'm also going to sneak in lunch with another couple of friends on Sunday too.

Lots of connections. My introvert self will most likely be exhausted, but it will be good to see folks. Planner that I am, I've also planned some alone time. I've taken Monday off work and I'm going to spend the night at a friend's Condo in the Gorge Sunday night and go for a hike Monday before I head back to Seattle and work on Tuesday.

I may not be blogging this weekend, although the two places I'm staying do have wifi so who knows. If not .... have a great weekend!

Margaret Anna Fridays

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Rose, CSJP) — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 13:18:00 +0000

Every Friday, I’m going to share a quote from the founder of my groovy sisters, Margaret Anna Cusack, known in religion as Mother Francis Clare. This week’s installment …

A holy man once earnestly prayed that he might know what virtue was most pleasing to our Lord in His spouse. He answered that it was "her generosity of heart."
-The Spirit of St. Gertrude; or The Love of the heart of Jesus to His Creatures, 1866

Be a Voice for the Poor

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Rose, CSJP) — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 18:09:00 +0000

If you live in the United States, you have an opportunity to be a voice for the poor globally in terms of dealing with the effects of climate change.

The US House of Representatives is considering the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009. In fact, they may vote on it as soon as Friday. This bill puts a real cap on the pollution that contributes to global warming and promotes a sound economic strategy for the future.

What it doesn't do - yet - is help the poor and vulnerable people in the developing nations adapt to the climate change caused by our activities in the developed world. People living in poverty contribute least to climate change, yet are more likely to suffer its negative effects. They also have fewer resources to adapt and respond.

Take two minutes to write to Congress today. Ask your represenative to include additional funding for international adaptation. Be a voice for the poor in developing nations!

Visit IPJC's Legislative Action Center to send your e-mail ... it's super easy!

sara groves

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Rose, CSJP) — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 05:46:00 +0000

A while back I accidentally discovered a new to me singer songwriter named Sara Groves. She's a Christian Singer Songwriter whose music is absolutely beautiful and reminds me of a cross between early Dar Williams and Shawn Colvin with a twinge of Sarah Maclachlan. I forget what I was looking for in ITunes, but I discovered "Peace Peace" on her Christmas Album which has become a favorite song for me, even outside of the Christmas season.

Tonight I decided to learn a bit more about her. I discovered her album "Tell me what you know" which has a social justice bent. On her website she writes:

The phrase ‘social justice’ can be loaded. To some people it is a political or a liberal conversation, but to me, it is a Kingdom conversation. There are people behind these stories and statistics, and God’s heart for justice burns on their behalf. I wanted to write songs that drew attention to the people like Elizabeth [a human trafficking survivor she met] who know God deeply because of their suffering. There is a commonality in all of these friends, and that is the perseverance of hope.

Here's a video for one of the songs from the album, inspired by her trip to Rwanda. I think we all have had those moments when we've come face to face with the harsh realities of our world, and the amazing human spirit to perservere and work to make the world a better place in the midst of all the suffering, and come away changed. Or if we haven't had one of those moments, we will some day, I think, if we're living openly and honestly. In any case, this song puts words on that whole experience of transformation through other peoples' journeys ... beautifully.

I'll admit that I often steer clear of "Christian" or "Praise" music - partly because it usually has more of a protestant sensibility than I'm used to, and partly because it's a bit too churchy and not very real. Or not very good music. From what I've heard so far, Sara Groves has a very deep spirituality grounded in her committment to living out God's questions in our complicated and messy world. And her music is truly beautiful. If she's new to you ... enjoy!

generations

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Rose, CSJP) — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 01:52:00 +0000

One thing that we chatted about at Giving Voice, the gathering of women religious under 50, was the generation gap. Most of us, in our 20's, 30's or 40's, are living with people in their 60's, 70's, or 80's. There are so many awesome things about intergenerational living, honestly and truly. You get to have these amazing mentors who are also your Sisters and friends. One of our panelists commented that people spend lots of money and search for "Life Coaches" and mentors ... we happen to have an abudant supply right at home. I've also found that the older women I've lived with in community have an incredibly healthy attitude about life in the institutional Church. They've seen everything and they give me some proper perspective and remind me of the importance of a sense of humor.

There are of course also challenges to intergenerational living. As another panelist said, "Sometimes I just need to have a 'I'm 29 today' day. I spend so much time acting like I'm 70, sometimes I need to just be 29." Point taken.

Another challenge, pretty minor but very noticeable, is the difference in frames of reference. I might compare someone to Master Yoda and get a blank look. Or my elder housemates might start singing a popular tune from the 40's and are surprised that I don't know it. One of the wonderful things about Giving Voice gatherings is spending time with people my age who also are in the sub-culture of religious life. So, when one of my friends commented that we were talking so much about "God, God, God," in the morning session, and another friend said, "If God's name was Marcia, it would be like 'Marcia, Marcia, Marcia'", we all burst out laughing at the Brady Bunch reference. In my house, they would have asked me why I was calling God Marcia.

All this is just a preamble to a moment that I had in the car on my drive home this afternoon from work. I was listening to NPR's new "You Must Hear This" feature. Jesse Carmichael, the lead singer of Maroon 5 was talking about the album Purple Rain by Prince.

It's interesting when you discover somebody that was around before your time. I really got into the album Purple Rain after I saw the movie, and it was one of those times when I thought, 'How could nobody have told me about this earlier?'

It's interesting when you discover that somebody old enough to be the lead singer of a popular band is young enough to name one of your early cutlural references as "before his time." As for me, I received Purple Rain on VINYL for my birthday in sixth grade.

Wow, I thought ... I'm old. Being a younger member of an aging religious community, I rarely find myself thinking I'm old. Except of course when my nephew turns 21, like he did this past weekend. Or when a someone on the radio is too young to have heard of Purple Rain. In any case, the whole experience in the car today gave me something to think about the next time some of my Sisters are talking about something "before my time."

Storms of Life

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Rose, CSJP) — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 02:21:00 +0000

Today' Gospel reading from Mark reminded me of a blog post I wrote a few years ago inpired by a similar passage in the Gospel of Matthew. Figured it was worth a repost (or at least an excerpt).

We all get overwhelmed by the storms of life at some point or another - our own daily lives and the seeming chaos of war and violence around the globe. We look around and wonder where God is. Is he sleeping on the job we wonder? "Lord, save us! We are perishing!" we cry, trying to wake him up. We're terrified, we have little faith just like the disciples. They were able to nudge Jesus on the shoulder. I imagine him rubbing his groggy eyes, looking around and sighing "Come on. Can't you deal with a little storm. Do you need me to prove to you yet again that things will be ok?" Nice guy that he is, he does and there was once again great calm.

Solidarity

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Rose, CSJP) — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 17:38:00 +0000

Last night I attended a candlelight vigil for the situation in Iran. It was a moving experience, one of being in solidarity not only with the brave people of Iran continuing to voice their desire for fair elections but also in solidarity with the diaspora - Iranians living in this country worried about their loved ones at home. Last year I was living in community with one of my Sisters who is from Kenya, as the post-election violence and turmoil took place in her country. We were able to be there for her at that time, but I know it was so painful for her to be so far away.

Please join me in praying for peace in Iran and around the world and for the safety, strength and courage of all people committed to social change and justice through nonviolent action.

Margaret Anna Fridays

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Rose, CSJP) — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 13:17:00 +0000

Every Friday, I’m going to share a quote from the founder of my groovy sisters, Margaret Anna Cusack, known in religion as Mother Francis Clare. This week’s installment …

How could the Heart of Jesus refuse anything to one who trusted Him so entirely?
-The Spirit of St. Gertrude; or The Love of the heart of Jesus to His Creatures, 1866

Post Script: Today is the Feast of the Sacred Heart. Since it is what is considered a "moveable feast," I had no idea it was today when I scheduled this particular passage for today's Margaret Anna Friday! This little bit of kismet doesn'st surprise me ... after all, I was "haunted" by the Sacred Heart during my entire novitiate! And Magaret Anna herself had a particular devotion to the Sacred Heart.

Blog Life Meets Real Life

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Rose, CSJP) — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 21:36:00 +0000

In the past week I have met four people in real life that I've come to know over the past few month/ years through the blog. Three were fellow Sister Bloggers: Sister Julie of A Nun's Life who I met today in Chicago for coffee, soon to be RSCJ Candidate Juliet of Seeking Sophie who I sat next to at the Giving Voice Conference all weekend, and Sister Nicole of Life of a New Sister who I also met at Giving Voice. The fourth wasn't a blogger (at least I don't think so) but someone I've come to know through my blog and a subsequent Facebook friendship (thanks for the tour Michelle!).

I have made some very good and quite possibly life long friends via the electronic medium. I've also kept in touch with other real life friends via e-mail and facebook and blog over the past few years. Yes, the internet can be a place fo dangerous and illegal activities to happen. But it can also be a place where like minded and hearted people can gather, share thoughts and dreams and hopes and challenges, and form community of a sort.

But as much as I love my internet based relationships, it's always nice to meet them in person and put a face and a real human being to the web based personality!

Tonight is my last night in Chicago. Going out to dinner with my sister and her husband and one of my sister's best friends from elementary school who is also in town. It will be fun to reconnect with her in person as well.

I've had so many in person connections this past week!

Chicago

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Rose, CSJP) — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 02:16:00 +0000

I spent the day at the Art Institute of Chicago. It's been about 9 years since I was there ... they've built a new wing! I also discovered a new to me painting by Maurce Denis, Easter Mystery. It's the story of the three women going to the tomb after Easter Sunday. If you look in the middle of the picture, you'll see my favorite part is the disembodied hand offering the Eucharist to the white robed folks. Very interesting!

Giving Voice

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Rose, CSJP) — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 12:13:00 +0000

Our gathering of women religious under the age of 50 (aka "young nuns") is coming to a close here today in Milwaukee. But what has started here will continue. Our Sisters back home, with a few exceptions, know the beauty and joy of spending time with lots of other nuns your own age. There is no need to translate pop culture references. When you're thinking about something about your experience, there's a chance someone else in the room will be thinking something similar. You're at the same developmental age, so you can act your age. In short ... deep connections, rich sharing, and so much fun.

The only difference between us, the younger generation of American religious life in the 21st Century and those who entered in the large classes of the middle years of the last Century is that back home, we're among a few or perhaps the only "young one." Now, for the most part, this works. We've had amazaing conversations about the women we work and minister with. Our lives back home are rich and worth giving it all for, or we wouldn't be there. But it' also great to be able to gather with those close to our own age, to give voice to our experiences, to give voice to our laughter, to pray, to play, and to be. So glad I came.

We've also had some incredibly DEEP and challenging conversations. Lots to pack up and take home and then unpack and sort through. And I'm not just talking about my laundry!

First though, we gather this morning for prayer and liturgy. Then I'm off to catch a bus to Chicago for part two of my midwest summer adventure to visit my sister - the other kind.

Cheers

Susan

Margaret Anna Fridays

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Rose, CSJP) — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 12:17:00 +0000

Every Friday, I’m going to share a quote from the founder of my groovy sisters, Margaret Anna Cusack, known in religion as Mother Francis Clare. This week’s installment …

Everything we have belongs to God, because God has given us everything.

-Advice to Irish Girls in America

I Heart Religious Life

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Rose, CSJP) — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 21:20:00 +0000

I'm here at the Giving Voice gathering of younger religious in Milwaukee. So far, folks are still arriving and getting settled. We start tonight. I'm loving my new "I Heart Religious Life" T-Shirt!

Obedience, Community and Life

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Rose, CSJP) — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 13:06:00 +0000

Eliza left a comment on a recent post asking me to share my thoughts on obedience. I've only got a wee bit of computer time this morning before I head to work, and then I'm taking a red eye flight to Milwaukee tonight so it will probably be a future post. But rest assured I'm pondering ... the short answer is that as I've come to understand it, the vow of obedience is not about blind acceptance but rather an active committment to search out the voice of God - in the Church, in community, in the world, in my own heart - and to live accordingly. Once I give it more of a thought I'll post a longer answer.

I'm heading to Milwaukee for the semi-annual gathering of younger women religious at the Giving Voice Conference. Our topic is Living Community in the 21t Century. I'm really looking forward to pondering this topic with my peers in religious life - some who are as new to the life as I am, others who have 10 or 20+ years of expereince living the life.

What I'm not looking forward to is my red eye flight. I used miles for this trip and ended up with a crazy flight combination. Oh well ...

I probably won't be checking in for a few days. Don't know what kind of internet access I'll have on the road.

Summer Mode

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Rose, CSJP) — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 03:22:00 +0000

You Should Spend Your Summer in the Mountains

You're quiet, introspective, and a great thinker.

You need a summer vacation that gets you away from the crowds and the heat.

So retreat to the mountains, where you can clear your head.

Where Should You Spend Your Summer?

Sorry for the lack of posts. I guess I'm in summer mode. Still working (with a few breaks here and there) but it's warm and there's lots to do and fun to be had too! The ironic thing is, my summer has lots of fun things and interesting places in store, but no major time planned in the mountains (although I may go up to Mt Ranier with some friends for a day hike).

This Wednesday I'm heading to Milwaukee for the Giving Voice Conference. Giving Voice is the organization of women religious under 50. We are gathering to contemplate Living Community in the 21st Century. I'm looking forward to catching up with old friends, making new ones and spending a few days with my peers in religious life. From Milwaukee, I'm headed to Chicago to spend a few days with my own big sister and her husband.

Then it's back to Seattle and ministry for a month or so before my next summer plans ... down to California for retreat and to hang out with an old college friend.

I'm sure I will have lots to share about Giving Voice. Just not sure when that will be. In the meantime, consider this a preemptive and belated apology for inconsistent summer blogging!

Margaret Anna Fridays - Founders Day Edition

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Rose, CSJP) — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 15:33:00 +0000

Today is June 5th, which means it is "Founders Day" - one of the main feast days of my community, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace. Our Founder Margaret Anna Cusack, known in religion as Mother Francis Clare, died on this day in 1899. 110 years ago! (If you want to read more about her, I suggest reading some of my earlier founders day posts.)

Margaret Anna was a prolific and prophetic writer in her day. She wote and published spiritual works, biographies of saints, histories of Ireland and later political analyses. By 1870, more than 200,000 copies of her work had circulated throughout the world. Profits from the sales of her books were used for the Sisters' work with the poor.

Today many of her books are available to read on the internet! Margaret Anna has reached the internet age.

Normally on Fridays I give you a quote from Margaret Anna, my spiritual friend and mentor. Today I thought I'd give you links to her books online in case you want to read more of her own words.

Enjoy!

Online Books by MF Cusack (read or download PDF)

The Nun of Kenmare: An Autobiography (1889)

The Present Case of

Ireland

Plainly Stated (1881)

Cloister Songs and Hymns for Children (1881)
Advice to Irish Girls in

America (1876)
The Speeches and Letters of the Liberator (1875)

A History of the City and County of Cork (1875)

Woman’s Work in Modern Society (1874)

The life of Father Mathew : the people's Soggarth Aroon (1874)

Life of Daniel O'Connell, the liberator : his times - political, social, and religious (1872)

Life of St Patrick, Apostle of

Ireland (1871)

The Student’s Manual of Irish History (1870)

Patriot’s History of Ireland (1869)

An Illustrated History of Ireland (1868)

Meditations for Advent and Easter (1866)

The Spirit of St. Gertrude (1866)

*The picture was taken in the fall of 2007 when I was living with our Sisters in England. We went to visit Margaret Anna's grave at the Anglican cemetary in Leamington Spa.