SPIRITUALITY
From Our Spiritual Moderator
Sr. Joanne Donovan, DC
Gratitude and Hope
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As I write this reflection we are in the Third Sunday of Lent. Today is March 24 and tomorrow we celebrate the Feast of the Annunciation. I am aware that, when this is published, we will be celebrating the Resurrection of Jesus on Easter Sunday. Finding a way to focus on one event is a challenge.
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Last week twenty-nine Ladies of Charity participated in a retreat titled: "Beatitudes, Our Stepping Stones to Christ." Especially during Lent, each of us must take time to examine our pathway to Christ. Lent calls us to turn our hearts entirely to God and empty ourselves for the good of others.
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The quotes from Mary and Jesus noted here present to us their complete surrender to the will of the Father. Of course, their surrender was much greater than ours, yet we are asked to willingly respond to God's call: taking time for a retreat as well as finding some time in our day to pause and reflect on our relationship with Jesus, Mary and the Father.
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Today we are experiencing a lot of turmoil in our world and in our own country. We need to trust in the Lord and seek to shape reform in our world. Let us immerse ourselves in our own realities as well as in those we serve in our ministries. These are challenging times and those you serve have different needs. Some of you have shared the difficulty in serving clients who cannot speak or understand our language. I recall a Daughter of Charity at St. Louise House saying to me when I told her that I regretted not speaking her language, "You speak it with your heart." I have never forgotten that simple statement. Your service, whatever it may be, speaks from the heart and, like Mary and Jesus, you say "Amen" to God's will and "Alleluia" at Easter.
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