Musings of a Discerning Woman

Geek Out

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Rose, CSJP) — Fri, 25 May 2012 14:10:00 +0000

Today, my friends, is apparently Geek Pride Day. Why May 25th? Well, since you asked ... On this day in 1977, geekdom was born with the release of the original Star Wars film. At least, that's what wikipedia tells me!

Life is so very serious, it helps at times to have something a little less so in your life. Or at least where the seriousness is projected off into a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away.

So whether you are a Star Wars Geek, Social Justice Geek, or Church Geek (I proudly claim all three as part of my geekdom) ... embrace your inner geek today!

Master Yoda expects no less.

Margaret Anna Fridays

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Rose, CSJP) — Fri, 25 May 2012 13:58:00 +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.

It is a matter of grave temporal importance, and it has strangely come to be also a matter of momentous spiritual importance, whether certain economic theories are of benefit to the human race.

Let's Talk About Love

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Rose, CSJP) — Thu, 24 May 2012 14:48:00 +0000

In today's Gospel (John 17), lifting up his eyes to heaven, Jesus prayed saying: "I pray not only for these, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, so that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us, that the world may believe that you sent me. ... I made known to them your name and I will make it known, that the love with which you loved me may be in them and I in them."

LOVE. UNITY. Seems to me the Gospel writer makes it very clear what Jesus would have us focus on. This is a big call, don't get me wrong. It's not a matter of a Barney sing along, holding hands and all getting along. We are humans, with reason and difference of opinion. Differences give us life and energy and fuel for passionate conversation and creative work so that we can all be about the common good from our various perspectives. Yet when I look around at our world or dare I say it, our Church, I don't see a lot of conversation or collaboration grounded in love. I see a focus on that other three letter word that starts with s and ends in x. I see a lot of action motivated by fear and or control. Yet you can't control love. God is love and we can't control God either!!

This may sound a little preachy, and if so I am preaching a message I myself need to hear. It is so easy for me to ground myself in fear or my need to control. I do well to remember the wise (fictional) words of Master Yoda. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering.

So let's talk about love. That we all may be one.

Young Nun Connections

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Rose, CSJP) — Wed, 23 May 2012 13:33:00 +0000

My experience of religious life has been vastly different in its early years than that of many of the Sisters in my religious community. For one thing, I entered a community that had already gone through the messy bits of the renewal of Vatican II. By the time I came around, the Sisters were firmly claiming their charism and history (one of the calls of the Church to religious communities after Vatican II). Yes, they were in the midst of what we call "diminishment," with the majority of members in the upper age brackets, but the energy and commitment to the Gospel and a faith-fulled response through ministry with and on behalf of people who are poor and marginalized was alive and well.

My experience has been different in other ways as well. I did not enter with a large group of young women. I wasn't that young either, comparatively. Whereas my novitiate classmate was in her early 20s when we started this journey together, I was in my early 30s. Young by today's standards still, but by no means fresh out of high school or my parents' house.

My experience has also been different in that from the very beginning, I have been connected to younger Sisters across Congregations and even across Continents. I've written before about the network of younger Sisters I am involved with called Giving Voice. I've also made a number of bloggy religious friends over the years, both women discerning or living religious life and a few Jesuits, Paulists and assorted other men living the life as well. While my primary commitment is to my own religious community and our charism of Peace calls me and guides me into the future as I follow Jesus, I would be lying if I didn't say that having this larger community of peers without borders gives me hope, sustains me, and helps me see that the Spirit is at work. As my Giving Voice T-Shirt says, I heart Religious Life and believe in its future, in no small part because of these young nun connections.

Speaking of, I'd like to point you to another reflection by a younger Sister who I've gotten to know virtually through a combination of the blog, Facebook and Giving Voice. Her name is Amanda and she is a postulant with the Dauthers of Charity. She just posted a truth-telling and future-facing blog post about Facing the Truth of who is entering religious life today. Well worth a read. Here's a teaser:

Discerners - don't be afraid to just dive in. Worry more about God's calling than the average age of a community. In the end, it doesn't matter. What matters is your joy and peace with them and their spirituality. Just follow God's call, don't worry about the rest.

Sisters - don't be ashamed of your average age. If you and your religious community are living the Gospel, young people will come. There may be less than before, but God is still calling us. And we're willing to listen to you and soak in your wisdom. Some of the best discernment advice has been from our Sisters in the retirement Villa.

Others - don't believe for a second that just because a community gets lots of young vocations, it's better. Don't get me wrong - there's nothing wrong with those communities. You can praise those communities who get lots of young vocations...but also praise those that don't. (By the way, did you know, the retention rate of postulants/novices is the same for both?) You want to encourage vocations, but by bad-mouthing the ones getting older, you're discouraging what you would actually love to see - young women following God's call. (Read the whole post)

Great wisdom from someone just beginning her path of life, love and truth with her religious community, in the company of young Sister friends within and across congregations.

Which leaves me very grateful for our 21st Century reality. Yes the world is in disarray and in great need of people working for the Gospel vision of justice and peace. But people are still answering that call, and thanks to the wonders of the internet we are able to connect virtually and yet deeply across the miles.

Full Circle

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Rose, CSJP) — Sun, 20 May 2012 14:02:00 +0000

Twenty Two years ago I was a rising Junior in high school looking at colleges. My Dad had a conference in a little town called Portland, so my mom and I tagged along. While my Dad met to talk about highways and asphalt, my Mom and I explored from our base at a hotel near Lloyd Center. We went to Powells Books, rode the light rail, visited the rose garden, and experienced the beauty of the Oregon Coast. We also took a campus tour of Lewis and Clark College. The rest is history. My history.

Life has come full circle in a way. I was the one attending a conference this weekend, giving a presentation on the church's call to respond to human trafficking and immigration. I am staying at the exact same hotel near Lloyd Center.

Life has a funny way of surprising you and reminding you of loved ones long passed, or the first time you tried marion berry ice cream, or your first steps on the path to adulthood.

A good weekend of ministry for the common good and memories of spirit filled moments in my own life.

Margaret Anna Fridays

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Rose, CSJP) — Fri, 18 May 2012 13:36:00 +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.

When I was in charge of the order, I tried to do all I could for those who, like ourselves, were trying to do their best in their own way, for God and the poor.

A Saint for the Rough Patch - Saint Théodore Guérin

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Rose, CSJP) — Thu, 17 May 2012 06:11:00 +0000

I've often told the story of Margaret Anna Cusack, the founder of my religious community, here on the blog. One of my favorite quotes by her is from a letter she wrote to Archbishop Corrigan of New York, who had refused to meet with her for more than three years. She wrote, "I am no saint, but your eminence has read the lives of the saints, and you know how often and how cruelly the founders of religious orders were belied and misrepresented even by good people."

One relatively new Saint that keeps popping up in my mind (and prayers) these days is Saint Mother Théodore Guérin, the founder of the Sisters of Providence of St.-Mary-of-the Woods, canonized by Pope Benedict XVI in 2006.

I first read her story when she was still Blessed and not yet a Saint. She is one of the amazing pioneer Sisters of the 1800s who traveled West on a wing and a prayer and established ministries that continue today. She began her religious life in France in 1825, but made the trek to the United States and eventually Indiana in 1840:

We continued to advance into the thick woods till suddenly, Father Buteux stopped the carriage and said, 'Come down, Sisters, we have arrived.' What was our astonishment to find ourselves still in the midst of the forest, no village, not even a house in sight.

The foundation of the Sisters of Providence of St. Mary-of-the-Woods had begun! Shortly afterwards, her challenges with church hierarchy also began. I've read this part of her story before, which is neatly summarized in this article. It's almost too hard to believe.

In the early years of the community, she struggled with the local bishop who had his own ideas of what the Sisters should be doing. In 1843, she travelled to France to raise money for the new community. When she returned, she learned that the Bishop had admitted novices, opened and closed schools, and ordered the Sisters to elect a new superior while she was away fundraising.

This is where the power of community comes into the story. The Sisters elected a new superior ... Mother Théodore! As you might imagine, the Bishop wasn't particularly pleased with this outcome. There were some more power struggles, resulting in his locking her inside his house until she agreed with his demands.

I guess she wasn't feeling so inclined, so he released her from her vows and told her not to write to the Sisters. When they heard what had happened, the Sisters said they would leave with her. Again, this did not seem to make him happy, so he threatened to excommunicate them and arrest them if they took anything with them from the convent! Seriously, you can't make this kind of stuff up.

Happily, the Holy Spirit seems to have been on the case. Word came from Rome. The Bishop's resignation had been accepted. A new Bishop was appointed. And not only are the Sisters of Providence still alive and kicking, Mother Theodore is now Saint Mother Théodore.

I'm reminded of another favorite quote by my friend Margaret Anna Cusack.

Act together in everything and you will be holy and happy children of peace.

Pray for us Margaret Anna and Saint Mother Théodore Guérin.

Finding our joy ... living through rough patches

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Rose, CSJP) — Thu, 17 May 2012 05:17:00 +0000

Tonight I was honored to be a guest, with about 100 other Sisters from a number of religious communities, at the annual Sisters' Appreciation Dinner hosted by the local Chapter of the Serra Club. Last summer I shared my vocation story at Viva!, a retreat for young women in the Archdiocese discerning a call to be a Sister. This wonderful retreat was subsidized by the Serra club. Thanks to the subsidy and the support of the women's religious communities, the cost to attend is only $10. For any readers who may be interested, the next Viva! retreat is June 30-July1.

Back to tonight, however, it was great to see some of my favorite women gathered in one place. It was also nice to meet some of the folks who give their time and resources to help promote religious vocations, both to the priesthood and to religious life, here in the Archdiocese of Seattle. In fact, visiting their website just now I learned that the Seattle Serra club was the first one founded in 1935!

We all of course have a calling in life. The Church teaches that there are vocations to marriage, the single life, and religious life. But I also know people who are quite obviously called to be teachers. Or parents. Or elected officials. Or artists. Or some mixture of a variety of things. It's always incredible when you've known someone for a while, and one day everything "clicks" and they find their calling. Who they are called to be. What gives them joy, energy, and purpose.

I clearly remember that day for me. I'd been dancing around the whole Sister thing for months. I was still working at the City, moving my way up a bureaucratic ladder that, while I was good at it, did not give me joy, energy, or purpose. Meanwhile, I'd been getting more and more involved in peace and justice issues through the church, and I'd started to think that maybe God was calling me to religious life. But that just seemed crazy. Me, a Sister?

Then one day, I was in the women's restroom in City Hall, when it hit me ... the joy. I remember looking in the mirror, washing my hands, filled with joy at the wondrous possibility that I could become a Sister. I could use my gifts to serve God and help transform the world. I was literally bursting with joy and wanted to tell the whole world. Instead, I was a good bureaucrat and went back to my desk to what seemed even more like drudgery in comparison to the joyous possibilities that lay ahead for me to explore. But I never forgot that moment.

Over the next few months thought, I did explore the crazy possibility with renewed hope. At every step, this calling has seemed to make more sense as I've become more and more me. Yes, there have been rough patches. Religious formation is not for the faint of heart, for one thing. Then there are the ongoing challenges with human institutions of various shapes and sizes. Just because you've found your calling or discovered your vocation doesn't mean that it's all roses and moonbeams from there on out. Even roses have thorns after all. And anything involving other human beings (including yourself) is bound to be messy from time to time.

Sometimes, when I'm in a particular thorny patch of life, I think back to the promise, wonder, and even insanity of that moment in the City Hall restroom. I also think of all the people who have affirmed me on my journey as well as those who have challenged me on the way. Maybe this is why I'm so grateful to know that there are people like the Serra Club out there working to support women and men exploring the particular calling that is the religious vocation.

I'm also aware of all those who make up the Church, as in the body of Christ, not the institution per se. No matter what our calling, we all play a vital role in living out the Gospel as best we can. Sometimes, it can be discouraging when our role is not respected, appreciated, or understood. I find it helpful to remember that we stand on the shoulders of our parents, grandparents, generations and generations of folks who have tried in their own way to love God and serve God's people. It may not always be easy and each of us needs to follow our hearts and act with integrity. But we are not in this alone. Perhaps that's why the idea of the communion of saints is so important to me spiritually.

So tonight, I pray for all the people who make up our Church. That filled with the immense love of the God who created us, drawn by the life, ministry, death and resurrection of Jesus who became one of us, and open to the ever-present guiding of the Spirit we may grow together in love and act in justice and great love for the world, especially those that are living in poverty or oppressed in any way. In joy, through the rough patches, together. Amen. So be it. Peace.

Peaceful Mother's Day

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Rose, CSJP) — Sun, 13 May 2012 14:00:00 +0000

It is hard to believe but this is my 9th Mother's Day with my mother in heaven. In addition to being an awesome Mom and a great friend, she inspired me by her love and concern for all God's creatures. In her honor, today I continue my bloggy tradition with this re-post.

How many of you know about the original pre-hallmark meaning of the day? Read Julia Ward Howe's Original Mother's Day Proclamation from 1870. Here's a teaser:

"Arise, then, women of this day! Arise all women who have hearts, whether our baptism be that of water or of fears! ... We women of one country will be too tender of those of another country to allow our sons to be trained to injure theirs. From the bosom of the devastated earth a voice goes up with our own. It says "Disarm, Disarm! The sword of murder is not the balance of justice."

Somehow that meaning has gotten lost over the years. But it is so very important and needed today in a world where so many families are torn apart by violence. Domestic Violence. Street Violence. Violence of war, poverty and oppression.

So, I'm spending some time in prayer this Mother's Day in thanksgiving for my own mother who rests in eternal peace, but also in solidarity and love with mothers in war torn countries and the mothers of those serving in the military. Seems an appropriate way to mark the day.

Reconnecting

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Rose, CSJP) — Sun, 13 May 2012 02:48:00 +0000

I'm here at east coast groovy sister hq for a community meeting. This is also where I spent the majority of my novitiate years. It's been great to reconnect with the Sisters, such amazing women who have faithfully lived through the renewal of religious life and given life to our charism of peace in so very many ways. Stories, laughter, engaging conversation.

On Thursday evening I was at a nearby parish here in New Jersey giving a presentation on human trafficking. Afterwards, a number of folks came up to speak with me. More than one asked if I was in the same community as Sister ____. In each case, I was able to say yes. When I did, the person's eyes would light up and a smile would cross their face. It was clear that the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace have made a lasting impression on the people they taught, worked with, and served over the years here in Bergen County.

Today I also had the chance to walk the grounds of our property here on the banks of the Hudson river. It was a glorious day, and while I spent most of the day inside it was nice to have this time to enjoy the beauty of God's creation.

As I was walking, I thought how interesting it was to come home again. No, this is not my home now. But it was at one point, and it has been one of the centers of CSJP life since Margaret Anna Cusack first bought this property more than 125 years ago to provide a place of rest and respite for working women from the city. Later, this became an orphanage for boys, the novitiate for a growing community, and in time both a center of prayer and to care for our elder Sisters.

While the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace have a long standing presence here in Bergen County, NJ, we also are part of the present, history and future of Jersey City, NJ. This week's Jersey Journal has a great story about one of our ministries there, the York Street Project, and the ministry of Sister Maureen D'Auria, CSJP in particular. Here's a snippet, but you can read the whole article here:

“I love uniting with the women and children around natal health and health care issues,” said D’Auria, a Brooklyn native, whose high school teachers attracted her to the Peace Sisters. Back in 1891 her religious community built an orphanage, which is now St. Joseph Home, and a residence for single working women, still St. Mary’s Residence, at York and Washington Streets. Most were closed for a long time until the religious community refurbished and reopened them with a new vision and new missions reflecting reforms these Sisters embraced.
These new ventures are replicated all over the U.S. by nearly 2,000 religious communities of women. D’Auria mentioned that one of the former residents said about her stay at St. Joseph Home, “This is the holy ground where I began my life.” I think this can be said about the ministry of any of the 57,000 Sisters in this country.

Margaret Anna Fridays

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Rose, CSJP) — Fri, 11 May 2012 13:47:00 +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.

They took up the cry that I was interfering in politics! God help me, all the politics I cared for was to feed the hungry. But so that I could be silenced when I said there was distress was all they cared for ... It seems to me, however, it was not a question of politics; it was a question of humanity.

Mixed Signals

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Rose, CSJP) — Thu, 10 May 2012 19:43:00 +0000

I spent a little extra time in the airport yesterday. While my plane and flight crew were ready for my connecting flight at Midway, we were apparently in a "weather hold" due to earlier rain in Newark, our destination. Go figure.

It wasn't an extremely long layover, but I had the opportunity to walk around the terminal a few times, from one end to the other. This of course was made easier by the moving walkways, or "escalators on the ground" as I once heard them described by a four year old. It was this experience that led to this reflection.

I realized that as I stepped with one foot onto the moving walkway going in the direction I intended. As I took this action, I clearly heard the announcement over the loud speaker meant for those about to step off the moving walkway from the other direction: "Caution, the moving walkway is ending." A helpful message I suppose for folks not paying attention and just enjoying the ride, but a mixed signal of sorts for those of us just starting out on our mini electronically assisted journey through airport distraction. If you took the message seriously without pondering it in the split moment before your foot touched the ground, you could end up going nowhere fast.

How often do we stop and start, move backwards and forwards due to our own internal mixed signals. Or the mixed signals of family members, loved ones, elected or church leaders. It takes wisdom and a discerning heart to sort through all the noise and know that yes, I do want to take this step forward. It is the right path for me, at this time.

Jersey Girl

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Rose, CSJP) — Wed, 09 May 2012 03:12:00 +0000

For the next week, I will be in the great state of New Jersey. No, I'm not a Jersey Girl, although I did live there for a time during my novitiate. However, we do have oodles of CSJP community there so I head back from time to time. I leave early in the am to travel across the continent via the wonders of air travel.

I am going to be staying at east coast groovy sister hq for the week, the same property in fact where I lived during my novitiate. I'm looking forward to catching up with some of my favorite wisdom women, walking the grounds, catching sight perhaps of the turkeys and groundhogs, joking with the staff, checking out the color du jour of the lights on the empire state building (this picture is the view from a nearby park--our house is right on the Hudson across from NYC), and other assorted things.

My main reason for heading back is for our CSJP Care of Creation and Climate Change committee (I've written about the committee before). We do most of our work long distance via conference call and email, but find that it helps to actually get all the committee members, from the UK, East & West Coast of US, together in one room every once in a while!

I'll also be giving two Human Trafficking presentations while I am in New Jersey. Thursday night I will be at St. John the Baptist Parish in Hillsdale. Monday night I will be at Holy Trinity Parish in Westfield (co- hosted by St Helen's Catholic Community). I got my start working on this important issue during my novitiate in New Jersey, so it will be interesting to come back to where my own passion was ignited to end human trafficking.

I'm sure I will check in a bit over the next week, but if not you know where I am!

Language Lab

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Rose, CSJP) — Tue, 08 May 2012 02:41:00 +0000

You Should Learn French

C'est super! You appreciate the finer things in life... wine, art, cheese, love affairs.
You are definitely a Parisian at heart. You just need your tongue to catch up...

What Language Should You Learn?

Or re-learn French as the case may be. In fact, I need to spend time this summer re-immersing myself in French. But first, I'm trying my hand at Latin. You see, next year I will be studying in a research Masters in Theology program that requires reading proficiency by the end of the first year in a modern research language (hence the French). But as I am planning to study Ethics as my area of concentration, I also need to have some reading proficiency in Latin as well.

So, for the past two weeks I've spent an hour in the morning three days a week online for a Latin class. Really it's like a semi-private tutor, since there are only two of us in the class. Interestingly enough, the other person taking the class is also a Catholic Sister! What are the odds of that. My Latin teacher says it's certainly a first for him.

I did study two years of Latin during my first two years of high school. But truth be told, I don't remember much. Most of my memories involve my ill-fated attempt to build a diorama of pompeii out of sugar cubes. Good in concept, but you try using superglue on sugar cubes.

July and August I'm going to dig back into French. I had four years in high school, and lived in a french speaking country for ten months where I also took French classes. Hopefully I can get back into the swing of things without too much trouble. We shall see!

Happy Birthday Margaret Anna

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Rose, CSJP) — Mon, 07 May 2012 01:29:00 +0000

Today is the birthday of Margaret Anna Cusack, whose wisdom I often share on Fridays on the blog. She was born on this day in 1829. Next month on June 5 the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace will celebrate Founders Day on June 5, the day she died. But today is her birthday. I like to think that her attention is intensely focused on us these days, as we go about the mission she founded us for. As she wrote in our original 1884 Constitutions: "The very name, Sisters of Peace, will, it is hoped, inspire a desire for peace and a love for it."

When I was a novice, my class created a video that tells the story of Margaret Anna Cuscak, the founding story of the Sister of St. Joseph of Peace, the courageous response of our Sisters to the Second Vatican Council, and the ways we live out our founding mission today. It was a labor of love. Enjoy!

Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace Charism Video from Margaret Anna Cusack on Vimeo.

Happy Birthday Margaret Anna!

Yes, people are still listening

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Rose, CSJP) — Sat, 05 May 2012 06:02:00 +0000

In the midst of all the recent hullabaloo, you might be surprised to realize that not only is God still calling people to religious life (a WIDE variety of communities), people are still listening and even taking the plunge! Here's a great video from the National Religious Vocation Conference featuring younger men and women religious. Be sure to watch until the end to check out my friend Sister Sarah, a Dubuque Franciscan, talking about "the Sister thing."

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If you've been having those pesky thoughts that maybe, possibly, perhaps God might be inviting you into this wonderful crazy life of love, prayer and service, I highly recommend checking out Vision Vocation Guide (think of it as an omnibus "college catalog" of religious communities) and Vocation Match (think of it as the religious life version of online dating, only better). Both are also sponsored by NRVC.

Margaret Anna Fridays

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Rose, CSJP) — Fri, 04 May 2012 13:01:00 +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. If my math is correct, this coming Sunday would have been her 183rd birthday.

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

Inherent Contradictions

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Rose, CSJP) — Thu, 03 May 2012 04:14:00 +0000

If we're honest, each of us carries with us a few inherent contradictions. I can't speak for you. But I know that folks I've met in the past 7 plus years are often surprised when they discover two of my long time loves .... Star Wars and Ice Hockey.

First of all, let me just say that I have two older brothers. Yes, that is how I was first introduced to both of these things that I love. And yes, I realize that there might be some contradictions between my love of these two things, both of which arguably have a constitutive violent element, and my desire to grow in nonviolence as a Sister of St. Joseph of Peace.

I could try to explain it away. I could talk about the mission of peace of the Jedi order. The wisdom of Yoda. The beauty of a breakaway goal (especially when shorthanded!) or the wonder of the illusive hat trick. The speed and intensity of hockey. The imaginative world of Star Wars. Those things are all true.

But there's no explaining away the contradictions. So I choose to accept these two particular contradictions as something that makes me just a little bit more interesting!

Of course for friends and family who knew me in my past life, they'd probably be more concerned if all of a sudden I lost my love of Star Wars and Washington Capitals hockey. Truth be told, I'd be a little worried too. It's part of what makes me me! And life enjoyable.

Even when the aforementioned hockey team loses to the New York Ranges in triple overtime of game 3. Oh well. It was a great game and there's always game 4.

Blog Quiz Morning ... My Happy Word

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Rose, CSJP) — Wed, 02 May 2012 14:12:00 +0000

No profound thoughts this morning, so instead I give you a silly blog quiz:

Your Happy Word is "Bliss"

You are happy because you don't need a lot to be content. You experience happiness in the best and worst of times.
You see the divine in everything. You believe that every moment, person, and creature is unique and special.

You are an oasis of calm in this chaotic world. You never lose your head.
You can feel totally elated and exuberant from the smallest pleasures. You don't hold back when it comes to ecstasy.

What's Your Happy Word?

I don't know that I'm an expert at bliss nor ecstasy, but over the past seven+ years my life has become more simple, as has what makes me happy. I'm also not sure that I am an oasis of calm in this chaotic world, but I do find that being grounded both in community and a regular prayer practice helps me stay focused on what matters. Life, love, beauty, God. In the grand scheme of things, I am pretty lucky. Not only are my basic needs met, I am able to share my gifts to make the world a better place, have a loving family, great friends, and a community to challenge and support me. What more do I need?

Praying & Working with Joseph

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Rose, CSJP) — Tue, 01 May 2012 14:31:00 +0000

From time to time, someone will ask me who who St. Joseph of Peace was (the patron of my religious community). I usually explain that the "of Peace" was more of an attribute than a place, and that the title refers to the St. Joseph, husband of Mary and foster father of Jesus. The carpenter man.

Our founder Margaret Anna Cusack chose Joseph as our patron because she believed he was a model of peace:

"No doubt we may point to St. Joseph as the great model of every virtue, but it would seem as if peace was his crowning grace. In peace he fulfills all the Divine commands, many of which required from him the exercise of the greatest self-sacrifice; and in peace he submitted to the cruel injustice of Herod."

Or, as our CSJP Constitutions say: "“His courage to live a life of faith inspires us to trust in God's abiding love,especially in times of struggle and uncertainty.”

Today is the feast of St. Joseph the Worker. And yes, this Joseph is the same one as well. But as tradition tells us that he was a carpenter, hence the title worker.

Pope Pius XII instituted the Feast of St. Joseph the Worker on May 1st in 1955. This was in the midst of the cold war, and was no doubt in response to the observance of May 1st in most of the world, and especially cold war era communist countries, as May Day, International Worker's Day.

While this Feast Day is a relative late comer to the liturgical calendar, it is nonetheless an important one in the Catholic Tradition. Catholic Social Teaching has a strong respect for the dignity of work and rights of workers.

Yet the workers' rights cannot be doomed to be the mere result of economic systems aimed at maximum profits. The thing that must shape the whole economy is respect for the workers' rights within each country and all through the world's economy. ...

Created in God's image, we were given the mandate to transform the earth. By their work people share in God's creating activity....Awareness that our work is a sharing in God's work ought to permeate even the most ordinary daily activities.

By our labor we are unfolding the Creator's work and contributing to the realization of God's plan on earth. (On Human Work, John Paul II)

To all of my bloggy friends who are sharing in God's creating activity through work .... Happy Feast Day!

To all of those who are living through times of struggle and uncertainty, let's pray for the intercession of Joseph. May we too be inspired by his courage to love.

Nuns Online

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Rose, CSJP) — Tue, 01 May 2012 04:16:00 +0000

I appreciated the post by Sister Maxine over on A Nun's Life today. If you're interested and intrigued by the life and times of modern day Catholic Sisters, I highly recommend A Nun's Life to you. Sister Julie and Sister Maxine have an amazing ministry of presence through their blog and podcasts and provide a generally helfpul outlook on life. They help to keep the online nunly presence both real and reasonable and for that I for one am very grateful.

Sister Maxine's post pointed out a news story from Baltimore's ABC news affiliate that seems surprised to find Sisters on the internet, as they say, "recruiting."

Nuns Go High Tech to Recruit
The Internet has made a huge difference in how religious communities are recruiting, Tuohy said. Besides websites and Facebook pages, some are using podcasts, YouTube videos and chat rooms. According to a 2009 study commissioned by NRVC, 87 percent of religious institutes had used the Internet for vocation promotion in the past five years.

"Many of the religious communities are very savvy," Tuohy said. "I think people find this surprising, but in fact because they're working with young people, they're trying to stay in tune with young people -- that's who their market is, young men and women."

Audra Turnbull, 23, turned to the Internet when she felt the calling in college. Inside the chapel at Quincy University in Quincy, Ill., she pulled out her laptop, Googled "nuns" and found a website called A Nun's Life. In time, she checked out dozens of other websites, YouTube videos and social media before getting touch with a motherhouse in Monroe, Mich., where she plans to join the ministry.

Those tools are invaluable for "nunnabes" -- wannabe nuns -- like her, she said.

"It's hard to find nuns these days to talk to them," she said. "So a sister being interviewed or giving ministry on YouTube has been huge because you put yourself in that place and visualize what you want to be doing."

Turnbull expects to become a sister in two to three years. She's also created a blog of her own called The Awkward Catholic, which takes readers through the process of entering religious life.

Read more: http://www.abc2news.com/dpp/news/national/nuns-go-high-tech-to-recruit#ixzz1taUv2bP2

This is actually not news. Well, "nunnabes" is a new-to-me term, which I love! But otherwise, as I say this is not news. Way back when, in 2003 when I thought that maybe possibly some day I might listen to that persistently annoying thought that God might be calling me to be a Sister, I was a nun website lurker.

I visited the websites for various religious communities, including the one I now call my own! While I was taught by a few Sisters and knew a few in my parish, it was great to be able to read about the different communities, read their news tidbits, see that people still were answering the call to religious life. I also visited the websites of all sorts of nun related organizations and checked out different discernment blogs. Really, that's why I started this blog. Finding Sisters online, and "nunnabes" online--see, I'm already using your term Audra!--gave me permission to explore this wonderful crazy way of life myself.

I know I'm not alone. Both Chero and I who made final vows this past year found the community online. The two women who just became Candidates found the community through our website as well, and I believe the two women who are considering applying for Candidacy are in the same boat. It's really wonderful if you think about it. The Spirit moves in surprising and techno-savvy ways!

Speaking Out for the Voiceless

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Rose, CSJP) — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 21:44:00 +0000

Many moons ago, when I was a glorified bureaucrat and fledgling Church geek, I spent my Thursday lunch hours with a group of folks who, like myself, were reluctant public speakers. For about three years, I was a member of a Toastmasters group held in City Hall.

The folks who just experienced my polished presentation on human trafficking at a local parish this morning might be surprised to learn that I used to be very leery of speaking in public. I wouldn't say that I was exactly afraid of public speaking, it's just that I didn't like to do it. I'd get nervous and anxious and just generally unhappy with the prospect, which of course would impact my actual ability to speak publicly.

About 14 years ago, a friend invited me to join her Toastmasters group. At first, I was dubious. Why would I, someone who doesn't like to speak in public, spend my lunch hour learning how to do so? To humor her, I went to my first meeting and was hooked. It was great! Here was a group of other folks like me who had something to say to the world but just weren't comfortable doing so. In a safe environment, we tried out different roles, gave speeches, worked on extemporaneousness speaking, and gave each other feedback. Each of us developed natural abilities and learned skills in areas that weren't so natural,

These days, in my ministry as a 21st Century Sister and Peace & Justice Educator & Advocate, I draw heavily from my Toastmasters experience. When I'm putting together a talk or presentation, I think about what I learned. My PowerPoint becomes my visual aid, simultaneously serving to draw the attention of the audience way from me--when they look directly at me I'm always more nervous!--and provides a cheat sheet of my notes/outline so that I can appear to be speaking off the top of my head. There are other tricks I learned over the three years of mostly weekly meetings, but that's the main take away and it has proved invaluable.

Which is great, because even though I still don't exactly enjoy public speaking, I love being able to educate and empower folks to work for justice and speak out for the voiceless. Whether I'm on the human trafficking presentation circuit or talking to a group of high school students about immigration reform, I love the fact that I am able to educate to inform and inspire people to take action.

The Dream of the 90s is alive in Portland

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Rose, CSJP) — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 20:44:00 +0000

In the funny 'cause it's true category, I give you Portlandia's "Dream of the 90s"

Visitation

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Rose, CSJP) — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 20:42:00 +0000

I lived in Portland for 16 years. They were great years. College. Bureaucratic Adventures. Becoming a Church Geek-Extraordinaire. My time in the City of Roses means a lot to me, filled as it was with amazing people, spiritual and personal development, and opportunities to learn and do good work. Plus Portland is, well, Portland. Those in the know understand. I need say no more.

It was hard to leave six years ago to begin this journey into religious life. I'm glad I took the risk and left the "People's Republic of Portland," as my Dad used to call it. Life is good now too, filled with amazing people, spiritual and personal development, and opportunities to learn and do good work. But I will always miss Portland.

Even though I only live about a three hour drive away, I haven't been able to visit in a few months. My weekends have been filled with homework, workshops, community meetings, etc... Tomorrow in fact I'm scheduled to give a workshop in Seattle, so even though I'm writing this from the comfort of my friend's house in Portland, I need to drive home tonight. This is a quick visit, but an important one. In a few hours I will head to a local parish for my god daughter's first communion! I am so happy I can be there with her on this day.

I drove down yesterday and had some time to catch up with old friends, run a few errands, and get a great night's sleep in what may just be the comfiest guest bed I've ever slept on. And I've slept in a lot of guestrooms. Today I met one of my best friends for brunch at one of my all time favorite breakfast places. Got a fresh strawberry smoothie from Burgerville (heaven!). Did some birthday shopping for nieces and nephews at my favorite toy store, and bought a workbook for a class I'm taking at my favorite bookstore in the entire world. (Yes, lots of bests and favorites).

I've managed to pack a lot into this 30+ hour visitation of stumptown. Looking forward to coming back again soon!

Building Community Through Prayer - Round Two

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Rose, CSJP) — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 07:18:00 +0000

Tonight I was lucky enough to be able to attend a prayer event at a local mosque. It was part of the second series of interfaith visits sponsored by the peace and justice center where I work. (I wrote last fall about the first series). The event is called One God, Three Faiths: Building Community Through Prayer. The idea is that you visit Christian, Jewish and Muslim places of worship with people of all 3 faiths to pray together and learn about the traditions.

The members of the Muslim community tonight were such gracious hosts. First of all ... the food!! Hummus and stuffed grape leaves and fresh fruit and just general yumminess that kept coming around the table. The Imam greeted us in prayer, then several younger men and women from the community led us through a series of informal talks, table sharing and a panel discussion. We broke in the middle for their sunset prayer, which they invited us to join as we were able. It was very moving to follow the other women in their movements. God felt very present, whatever name we choose for our loving God, and we were very present to God.

When we arrived at the mosque, we were invited to choose where we would sit by picking out a particular attribute shared by our faiths. There was a place card on each table with the name of one of the attributes. I was drawn to "trust," and so I sat at that table. They had more table spots than people, so eventually I moved with the two other women who found themselves at the trust table to the "justice" table which had a few empty spots. As we were joining in conversation about our personal and faith perspectives on trust and justice, it struck me that in a way they go hand in hand.

Trust is about God. Ultimately, its up to God, not us. These days in particular I've been feeling especially called to spend time in prayer, trusting in my loving God and my ongoing response to that love. When we get out of the way, we can let God be God.

Justice, it seems to me, has to do with God but more so with us. God desires justice and peace. Humans tend to mess it up. But humans also have the responsibility and the ability to participate in building Gods reign of justice and peace here, following in the footsteps of the Prophets, of Jesus, and leaders of other faith traditions. It is no coincidence that all of the major faith traditions, at least to my knowledge, share the call to justice.

I was left with a feeling of community with our global family, and hope that we can grow together in the love of our creator to live more as one people with many faces.