Our Sister Rena, who teaches theology at St. Pius X High School in Albuquerque, New Mexico, had been inviting us to share the Felician mission in Haiti since last year. Finally, we had the opportunity to do so. We began the day at 7:15 a.m. with a communion service. We spoke to 16 groups of students in 8 classes. The students were attentive, and it was a joy to spend the day with them.
We truly miss our kids in Haiti after talking about them all day!
On Wednesday, October 14, in the morning, Sister Paula invited us to see St. Felix Panty, our Felician-sponsored-ministry in Rio Rancho. She has been serving the poor with a joyful heart for the past few years. Felician Sisters began this ministry to the poor many years ago, distributing food and clothing to the poor. This ministry has grown over the years and now has many volunteers and other programs that assist the poor in the area. We are so proud of our sisters as we see God being made known, loved, and glorified! It is truly a response to love.
After our retreat, on Tuesday, October 13, Sisters Dorothy and Lucy came to pick us up in Pecos. On our journey back to Rio Rancho, we stopped in Sante Fe to visit St. Francis Basilica, the new life-size Stations of the Cross, and the famous Loretto Chapel where tradition says St. Joseph built stairs from wood using no nails. We stopped at a famous Mexican restaurant in the town and met Guadalupe, who just happened to be the owner. She gave us our lunch for free! This was a blessing and true celebration after our retreat, because we had just finished a whole week at Our Lady of Guadalupe Monastery, praying in Our Lady of Guadalupe chapel.
October 6-13, we were blest to go for our annual retreat to Pecos Benedictine Monastery in Pecos, New Mexico. It was holy ground, filled with the glory of God’s creation. We shared the rhythmic prayer life with the monks, which included praying the hours of the day, daily praying of the rosary, and Eucharistic adoration. The mountains and Pecos River flowed with healing graces. We remembered all you in our prayers and thank God for each of you.
On Monday, October 6, the day before we were to go on our annual retreat, we were blest to go to the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta in Albuquerque, New Mexico, with our dear Sisters Dorothy and Paula. We got up at 4:30 a.m. and left at 5 a.m. for the grounds where the famous balloon launch. It was drizzling a bit at first, but then it stopped when we reached the grounds. It was a spectacular show of light and color as the dawn began to rise.
We loved the balloon that reminded us that October is Breast Cancer Awareness month.
Then the balloons began to rise around us everywhere.
Sisters Inga Borko and Marilyn Minter participated in the Mission Congress 2015, “Witnessing Mission: Called to be Missionary Disciples,” October 1-4, 2015 in Houston, Texas. The Congress was sponsored by the Catholic Mission forum.
The Congress included powerful presentations on being missionary disciples, common liturgical celebrations, experience of service in Catholic Charities and a meeting of unaccompanied minor immigrants that live in group homes sponsored by Catholic Charities in the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. During one of the prayer services, we all celebrated the Transitus of St. Francis which made us very happy. Saturday evening we had the opportunity to visit the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart and celebrate Mass with the Most Reverend George A. Sheltz, Auxiliary Bishop of the Galveston-Houston Archdiocese. Sunday we heard Dr. Carolyn Woo, Director and CEO of CRS (Catholic Relief Services). The Congress finished with a beautiful ritual of commissioning. The whole weekend also had the wonderful service of the Knights of Columbus, who have been such a blessing to our Felician Mission in Haiti. We leave this Congress with a renewed enthusiasm and energy to live our call as missionary disciples.
Monday afternoon, September 28, we went to the Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, PA, to participate in the gathering of families from the Neocatechumenal Way. People gathered from all over the world.
Cardinal Sèan O’Mally, OFM Cap., Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, Archbishop Charles Chaput, OFM Cap., and other bishops gathered with over 20,000 people and families from the Neocatechumenal Way who had participated in the World Meeting of Families.
Kiko Arguello, founder of The Way, proclaimed the Kerygma. After the prayer to the Holy Spirit, there was the vocation call to evangelize China.
On Monday, September 28, we took the opportunity to visit the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul, the mother church of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. This was also the place of the shrine of Our Lady Undoer of Knots. This was created for the World Meeting of Families by Mercy Sister Mary. Everyone knows that the Holy Father has a great devotion to Our Lady Undoer of Knots.
In this place, we were given a long strip of paper on which to write intentions, then we tied them to a branch below the image of Our Lady Undoer of Knots. Next we had to untie a petition and take it inside the small grotto next to the image and pray for that intention. We entrusted to Mary many “knots”!
On Saturday, September 26, we were blest to gather with thousands of families, religious sisters, brothers, and priests from 150 countries around the world. It was a spectacular experience of encounter–truly God in our midst. We even saw our Haitian flag!
We were sitting on the curb, watching the big screen nearest us. Then we met our Sister Eliana. She shared with us that a young priest in her group was on the other side listening to confessions. We thought this was a great idea. We had just met a priest from Columbia and one from Kansas so we got on a mission of mercy. We asked them if they would listen to confessions on the street. We looked for chairs for them, asking people if we could borrow their chairs. Then the lines formed. It was unbelievable!
At about 4:00 p.m., we received a message from Mary, a woman we had met early that morning while standing on the street waiting for Pope Francis. She had two tickets for inside, with seats! We were in shock to hear this. And where was she standing? Under the Haitian flag! We went inside, filled with awe that the Lord had led us all day to this moment. Our tickets were in different sections. But you know us, we decided to walk around to see the stage and the people.
After we finished roaming, we sat down in the section where Sr. Inga was to be; and we prayed our Evening Prayer. As soon as we finished, a gentleman in a suit and a Liberty Bell pin sat down next to us. He asked us where we were from and, of course, we said Jacmel, Haiti. He then said I have something special for you. I have two tickets for you in the second row in front of the Pope!!! We were in awe and unbelief! We asked his name; it was John. He was one of the head committee members of The World Meeting of Families. This happened right before everything started.
We went to our seats, and they were right in front of the Holy Father’s chair! Then Sister Sledge came out and started to sing “We are Family.” We started to dance in our seats. We thought about all our Felician Sisters throughout the world, all families, friends, benefactors–everyone who accompanies us in the Haiti mission!
When the Holy Father arrived, there was a bolt of the Holy Spirit that filled the place. It felt like Pentecost. The families that gave witness were moving and inspiring.
Then Pope Francis came to the podium, right before us. We were literally sitting at his feet. He spoke from the depths of his heart, about the gift and blessing of the family and the call to love and forgive. We felt as though he was looking at us.
After he spoke, Andre Boccelli came out and sang the Our Father, the most moving experience of unity in the moment.
As Pope Francis gave us the final blessing, every one of you were in our hearts. May God continue to be known, loved and glorified!
https://gma.yahoo.com/video/pope-francis-gives-speech-world-014911674.html
Felician Sisters of North America Mission: Haiti 