News from Minneapolis

The National Religious Vocation Conference’s  Convocation brings together the membership of NRVC with its trademark excellence in workshops, liturgies, keynote presentations, and networking.  Sister Mavis, from our Cluny Community in Pomona, California, attended the October 31 - November 4th gathering in Minneapolis.  Here are some of her remarks and photos from the five days event.

I was privileged to be part of this year NRVC.  It was an experience that was spiritually uplifting, as well as an opportunity for personal growth. I am truly grateful for such an enriching experience as I was part of a larger group of many religious communities. The weather became cold after a day of rain, but I was delighted to see snow for the first time in my life!

Participants of NRVC Convocation from a variety of states and countries

The Theme of the Conference; “Walking Humbly Together” was appropriate. There were more than 200 religious men and women, priests and lay faithful who are committed to promoting vocation for Religious Life and the Priesthood. In our four days of praying, sharing, and listening, we truly were Walking Humbly Together to promote Vocations of Consecrated Life and Priesthood for the Church. 

Experiencing  a new culture in celebrating November 2.

Our liturgies and other communal prayers were edifying, and life giving and enabled us to open our minds and hearts to the Spirit as we participated in the various workshops. Together we listened, shared, and learned. It was an experience of walking together in hope into the future. The Keynote presenters and workshops were excellent and challenging. The topics – God’s Call is Everywhere; We Walk Humbly as we reflect on Community Life and Tough Conversation in which we must engage to truly be communities of love and hope. As Vocation Promoters, we were inspired to be leaven of Hope and also to face the realities of Racism in the world of many young men and women.

New friends sharing the same Mission

We were encouraged to believe that Religious Life is still the hope of the world, therefore, we need to be courageous to “Walk on the waters” with strong faith and hope. Young people today are calling on us to reach out to them.

Our Vocation is worth living and worth promoting. Promoting Vocation is promoting life. Hence, I would like to ask all the Sisters, Affiliates, Associates, friends and benefactors to join hands together in praying for an increase in vocations to religious life, especially into our dear Congregation/Community.

 

Celebrating Vocations Awareness Week

 

Join Us in Praying For Vocations

As we join together in celebrating 

Blessed Anne Marie Javouhey,

may you be inspired to share 

her Charism 

of freedom and liberation

in new and creative ways.

May you do a little good 

wherever

God’s Will leads you

so that the joy of the Gospel

may spread,

and all people may one day

love God and others

without measure.

 Baptized in Christ Jesus

During the 18th and early 19th century, Martin was a very popular saint in France, especially in Burgundy where Anne-Marie was born, probably because he was the patron of vintners as well as soldiers.  Born in Hungary in 316 to pagan parents, he was conscripted in the army because his father was an army officer. He later became a Christian and a conscientious objector. 

The charges brought against him were  eventually dropped and Martin was free to become a monk. In 360 he settled in Gaul (France) and was soon joined by disciples. Together, they founded the first monastery in  Gaul.  In 371 the people proclaimed Martin Bishop of Tours. He served as a bishop –monk and converted many pagans to the faith. He died in 397. 

The biography of Martin written by his friend, Sulpicius Severus, relates the many good works and wondrous deeds that made him such a popular saint. In art, he is usually shown on horseback, handing his cloak to a poor man.  

Anne-Marie Javouhey saw in this saint, both a model for evangelization and a protector as she began working to save the faith from the destructive influences of the French Revolution.  The fact that she was baptized on November 11, the day the Church celebrates his life, made him all the more significant to her.

Called to Holiness

“Let all try to become saints”

AMJ  Letter 126

Those whom God calls to live in communion with Him as followers of Anne Marie Javouhey, are also called to holiness and this is not optional.  It is not enough for them to admire this woman, sing her praises and rejoice that she is known, admired and celebrated by others.  They have to take the pathway to holiness.  It is willed by God: “The Will of God is our sanctification,” writes St. Paul (I Thess 4:3)

Union with the Will of his Father was the goal of Jesus’ life from the first moment to the last. This is what he said on coming into the world… “God, here I am. I am coming to obey your will.” (Heb. 10:3,7) “Father…let your will be done, not mine…” (Lk. 22:42)

Anne Marie Javouhey had the mind of Christ in this matter. She dedicated herself wholly to God and to the doing of his Will. Because of this total availability, God led her to become a founder and a missionary. Today, God is just as ready to “do great things” for anyone who is united to him. Devotion to God’s Will is the beginning and the end of holiness. All that affects us and that does not originate in our will may and should be looked on as coming from God – as God’s will for us.

Season of Creation 2024 #3

  September 1 - October 4

For The Cry of The Earth

 We pray

that each one of us will hear and take to heart the cry of the Earth

and of victims of natural disasters and climactic change,

and that all will undertake to personally care for the world in which we live.

The Season of Creation is the Annual Christian Celebration to pray and respond together to the ‘Cry of Creation’: the Ecumenical Family around the World unites to listen and care for our Common Home.

 There are seven goals outlined by Pope Francis’ 2016 encyclical, Laudate Si! That provides guidance on urgent and immediate actions each one of us can take in caring for our Common Home.

 “All of us can cooperate as instruments of God

For the care of Creation,

Each according to his or her own culture,

Experience, involvements, and talents.”

- Laudato Si!  14

1.  Respond to the Cry of the Earth
2. Respond to the Cry of the Poor
3.  Ecological Economics
4. Adaptation of Sustainable Lifestyles
5. Ecological Education
6. Ecological Spirituality
7. Community Resilience and Empowerment

Explore these Goals and go to:

laudatosiactionplatform.org

 

Season of Creation 2024 #2

  September 1 - October 4

For The Cry of The Earth

We pray 

that each one of us will hear and take to heart the cry of the Earth

and of victims of natural disasters and climactic change,

and that all will undertake to personally care for the world in which we live.

Season of Creation 2024

Theme and Symbol

The theme for 2024 is “To hope and act with Creation” and the symbol is

“The firstfruits of hope”, inspired by Letter of St. Paul to the Romans 8:19-25.

“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.  For the eagerly awaiting creation waits for the revealing of the sons and daughters of God.  For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. And not only that, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons and daughters, the redemption of our body. For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, through perseverance we wait eagerly for it.

This year we capitalized Creation - Our theme emphasizes that Creation is not an object that has been created for human use, but rather a subject that we are called to relate to and collaborate with as fellow creatures. By capitalizing Creation, we refer to both the created order and the mystery of God’s continuing act of creation. We acknowledge the whole created order, or the whole cosmos, including all living and non-living parts of God’s Creation, showing our theological respect, reverence, accountability, and interdependence with the natural world.

First fruits of Hope (Romans 8:23-25)

Hope is an instrument enabling us to overcome the natural law of decay. Hope

is given to us by God as a protection and guard against futility. Only through

hope we may realize the gift of freedom in fullness. Freedom to act not only to

achieve enjoyment and prosperity but to reach the stage in which we are free

and responsible. Freedom and responsibility enable us to make the world a better

place.

We act for a better future because we know Christ has overcome the death

caused by our sins. There is a lot of pain on Earth because of our shortcomings.

Our structural and ecological sins inflict pain on Earth and all creatures, including
ourselves. We know that we have caused a lot of damage to Creation, and
to the world we are living in because of our negligence, because of ignorance,
but as well, in many cases, because of our unrelenting wish to satisfy unrealistic
selfish dreams (cf. Romans 8:22).

We know how much bold action to restrain the climate and ecological crises is
urgent, and we also know that ecological conversion is a slow process as humans
are stubborn to change their minds, their hearts, and their ways of living.
Sometimes we don’t know what our actions should look like. As we journey in
life, we get new ideas and inspirations to find a better balance between
the urgency and the slow rhythm of long-lasting change. We might not
fully comprehend all that is happening, we might not understand the ways of
God, but we are called to trust and follow with concrete and sustained actions,
following the example of Christ, the redeemer of the whole cosmos.

Ways To Incorporate The Symbol

• Organize an encounter to introduce this year’s Season of Creation theme and symbol. Briefly introduce and explain the theme and symbol, then dedicate a few minutes to open dialogue or small group discussions so people can share how they feel about the theme and symbol and what activities they would like to organize during the season.
• Hold a procession of the fruits of the Earth from your local community or region, inviting a diversity of people to help bring these gifts to the table: different ages, different races, different genders.
• Research on what are the local seeds that are easy to grow and cultivate where you live, and see if your community can offer these seeds to the faithful. You can incorporate this at the end of a prayer service, offering some reflection on how we are all called to bear the first fruits of hope, and commit to check on how these seeds have grown by the time of next year’s Season of Creation.

Sharing of peace
In Christ, we are called not to conform to this world, but to be transformed
by the renewing of our minds.

We seek to discern the will of God, to do what is good and acceptable
and perfect.

Let us not lag in zeal but be ardent in spirit and serve God.

We intend to live in harmony with one another and with all of Creation.
Let us strive to live peaceably with all and share a sign of peace with
one another.

The peace of God be with you.  Amen.

Thank You Sister Anne

 

We Send You Forth

on a

Mission of Love

Sister Anne, we are sending you out with joy, gratitude and blessings!

The Labor Day Weekend has brought our 2024 Summer Mission Appeals to a close.  Sister Anne ‘Yatta’ Lansana will be returning this week to Sierra Leone, West Africa. As she journeys home to Freetown, Sierra Leone and returns to her school, St. Joseph Secondary Junior School where she continues to lead the school and projects to build additional classrooms and furnishings.  We are grateful for all the support, interest and financial support she has received throughout her travels….. Rhode Island, Massachusetts, California, New Jersey and New Hampshire.

  

Interested in donating to her ministry, send checks to:

Sisters of St. Joseph of Cluny

PO Box 66

Newport, RI 02840

Please note West Africa Mission

or

Donate online through our secure website donation page:

https://clunyusandcanada.org/share-in-our-mission/#make-a-donation

We are grateful to Sister Anne for her life with us during the Summer Mission Appeals for West Africa, specifically Ghana, The Gambia and Sierra Leone.  May she be abundantly blessed and kept safe on her journey home.   We are telling ‘Papa God, Tinki’!

The Final Four Missions with a  Thank You to all God’s People

 To  Hope  and  Act  

with

Creation

For The Cry of The Earth

 

We pray

that each one of us will hear and take to heart the cry of the Earth

and of victims of natural disasters and climactic change,

and that all will undertake to personally care for the world in which we live.

Monthly Prayer Intention for September

Pope Francis

 

Begin by celebrating the “Feast of Creation”

of September 1 on Sunday

The Feast of Creation of September 1, also known as Creation Day or World Day of Prayer for Creation, is the big celebration that inspires and nourishes the larger season that flows from it. Inspired by a rich tradition of the Orthodox Church, it was later embraced by most other churches. Besides being a moment to repent for our sinful desecration of the gift of Creation and pray for its healing, the feast honors God as Creator and commemorates the great mystery of the creation of the cosmos). In other words, it is not just about celebrating “Creation as the created world” that God gifted us, but most importantly it is about celebrating “Creation as foundational mystery” of our Christian faith. In a nutshell, it is a moment to thank and praise God as Creator. The Season of Creation begins on September 1^st and continues until October 4^th, the Feast of the Patron of Ecology, Saint Francis of Assisi.

 

September 1: Online prayer service for the Feast of Creation

The Feast of Creation, or Creation Day, also called the Day of Prayer for Creation or World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, opens the season each year. Pope Francis, Patriarch Bartholomew, Archbishop Justin Welby, the World Council of Churches, and many other leaders have called the faithful to celebrate it. Globally, Christians are invited to join an online prayer service to come together in a joyful celebration of our common cause.

 

The Online prayer service is available on the Website

SeasonOfCreation.org

and on social media.

Mission Appeals June 2024

Mission Appeals for West Africa

Once again, we, Cluny Sisters are hosting Sr. Anne Lansana from Sierra Leone, as she participates in the Missionary Cooperative Plan in the dioceses of Providence, RI, Worcester, MA, Manchester, NH, Trenton, NJ and the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, CA.

In sharing the ministries of the sisters and the stories of the those whose lives are touched by the sisters, Sister Anne has, so far, brought the Cluny Spirit to a number of parishioners in Rhode Island and Massachusetts.   With their prayer and financial support, they have come to understand their call to work with us in proclaiming the coming of the Reign of God.

Feast of Pentecost

  

Pentecost is considered the Birth Day of the Church.  With the Disciples of Christ around the world we pray today for the coming of the Holy Spirit to fill us, fill our Church, fill our world with the manifold gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit.

Three Theological Virtues        Faith, Hope, and Love
Four Cardinal Virtues               Prudence, Justice, Fortitude and 

  Temperance

Seven Gifts of the Spirit           Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, 

  Fortitude, Knowledge, Piety and

  Fear of the Lord

Twelve Fruits of the Spirit        Charity, Joy, Peace, Patience, 

                                               Kindness,
                                               Goodness, Generosity, Gentleness,
                                               Faithfulness, Modesty, Self-Control and

  Chastity

As it is told in the Acts of the Apostles …

On the Day of Pentecost (50 days after Easter) the Apostles and Followers of The Way were gathered together when suddenly there was a noise like a violent rushing wind and there appeared tongues of fire resting on each one and they were filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke in tongues all understanding in their own language.

“Now there were Jews living in Jerusalem, devout peoples from every nation under heaven.  And when this sound occurred, the crowd came together, and were bewildered because each one of them was hearing them speak in his own language. They were amazed and astonished, saying, “Why, are not all these who are speaking Galileans?  And how is it that we each hear them in our own language to which we were born? Parthians and Medes and Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the districts of Libya around Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs—we hear them in our own tongues speaking of the mighty deeds of God.”

Missionary Disciples throughout the world today are…

         filled with the Spirit,

                  and speak of the great things that God had done.

         afraid, but

                  the Lord is in our midst and says to us:

                  “Peace be with you, peace be with you.”

         set free,

                  letting the Lord breathed upon us and say to us:

                  “Receive the Spirit, receive the Spirit.”

         we are sent forth

                  to become bearers of Christ’s reconciling love

                  many the gifts of the Spirit given…

Litany of the Holy Spirit

Dan Schutte

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bp0vQdAju8Y

During the day, join the Church praying this Pentecost Sequence as we gather around the world and are filled with the Promised Advocate, the Spirit of God

              Come, Holy Spirit, come!

            And from your celestial home

              Shed a ray of light divine!

            Come, Father of the poor!

 Come, source of all our store!

    Come, within our bosoms shine.

 You, of comforters the best;

 You, the soul’s most welcome guest;

    Sweet refreshment here below;

 In our labor, rest most sweet;

 Grateful coolness in the heat;

    Solace in the midst of woe.

 O most blessed Light divine,

 Shine within these hearts of yours,

    And our inmost being fill!

 Where you are not, we have naught,

 Nothing good in deed or thought,

    Nothing free from taint of ill.

 Heal our wounds, our strength renew;

 On our dryness pour your dew;

    Wash the stains of guilt away;

 Bend the stubborn heart and will;

 Melt the frozen, warm the chill;

    Guide the steps that go astray.

 On the faithful, who adore

                   And confess you, evermore

                      In your sevenfold gift descend;

                   Give them virtue’s sure reward;

                   Give them your salvation, Lord;

                      Give them joys that never end.

                     Amen.  Alleluia!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0d3gO6qDLNA

This year’s Earth Day Theme is a focus on the

plastics crisis, its impacts, and how we are called to respond and heal what Pope Francis calls “our throwaway culture.”

 

Over the past 50 years, world plastic production has doubled. 

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that the production of plastic products accounts for a 4-8 percent of

global oil production. A 2023 report from Pacific Environment  called for a 75 percent reduction in plastic production by 2050 to avoid a disastrous increase in global temperatures. We must deal with the

plastic crisis if we are to control the climate crisis, to improve the health of our air and oceans, and to protect the earth’s biodiversity and human health. 

Let's begin with a prayer.

LEADER: Today, we face a creation longing to both be healed and be praised!

 All: We gather today to praise God.

L: Our earth is precious and is in need of gentleness and kindness as we face pollution and climate

change.

 All: We pray for all of creation: the sky, land, sea, and all living creatures.

L: We pray that God grants us the wisdom and ability to protect all our brothers and sisters, and all

ecosystems and natural habitats, freeing them from harm and inhumane actions.

 All: We will protect the earth from plastic pollution, keeping the earth in God’s loving care.

L: We are created for relationships: with God, with one another, and with the earth.

 All: Let us honor those relationships today and every day.

L: We seek to care for our common home, the earth, to heal rather than wound, to treasure rather than

discard.

 All: Let us understand that all creation is connected and in need of healing.

L: God of providence, transform us, that we may place the welfare of our common home and your

people before our fleeting desires.

 All: Grant us divine wisdom and embolden us to replace systems of destruction and wasteful

consumption with systems of justice and sustainability.

L: May we commit to new ways of honoring God’s creation as a means of sharing Jesus’ transforming

Love.

 All: And let us seek God’s grace, justice, and mercy for all.

(Prayer adapted from Season of Creation Morning Prayer, “A Culture of Relationships That Heals Our Throwaway Culture” (World Council of Churches), and Plastic Free July Prayer

 (St. Columban Mission Society)

Reflection Questions

1. Where have you personally seen the impact of plastics in your    community and/or in your life?
2. How is the plastic crisis a symptom of our “throwaway culture?”
3. How are the impacts of plastic production and pollution a justice issue? How are they a pro-life issue?
4. How are we, as Catholics, called to counter the “culture of waste and disposables,” to “promote a culture of solidarity and encounter,” and to heal the plastic crisis? Think back to the actions you jotted down earlier!
5. Make a personal and family/community commitment(s):

Some Commitment Ideas

1. Watch the Video on Plastics Pollution                          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=euSqO5tW6aY
2. Purchasing decisions that reduce plastics:
3. Reuse and give plastic packaging a new purpose. If you must buy a plastic  bottle or a plastic container, reuse it instead of throwing it away.
4. Recycle plastics correctly. Look at the labels: #1 and #2 plastics are almost always recyclable, while #6 plastics aren’t always accepted. Check with your local municipality to see what is locally accepted for recycling.
5. Share the Plastic Pollution Treaty Petition with friends, family, and community members.
6. Participate as a community (parish, school, religious community, etc.) in Plastic Free July .
7. Coffee cups: If your church, school, or organization serves coffee, encourage everyone to start bringing their own non-disposable cups. Have a “mug drive” and encourage everyone to donate one of their extras. Setting out the mugs on the table next to the coffee pot is an excellent way to reduce paper and plastic waste.
8. Plan a beach, stream, or park cleanup.
9. Think about alternatives to plastic dinnerware (cups, plates, knives, spoons, and forks) and disposable plastic bottles. Find biodegradable or reusable/washable substitutes.
10. Join the Catholic Climate Covenant                          https://catholicclimatecovenant.org

         And take the Laudate Deum Pledge
   https://catholicclimatecovenant.org/my-laudate-deum-action-pledge/

 Alleluia!  Christ Is Risen!  Alleluia!

The Empty Tomb

Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came early to the tomb, while it was still dark, and saw the stone already taken away from the tomb. So she ran and came to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.” So Peter and the other disciple went forth, and they were going to the tomb. The two were running together; and the other disciple ran ahead faster than Peter and came to the tomb first; and stooping and looking in, he saw the linen wrappings lying there; but he did not go in. And so Simon Peter also *came, following him, and entered the tomb; and he saw the linen wrappings lying there, and the face-cloth which had been on His head, not lying with the linen wrappings, but rolled up in a place by itself. So the other disciple who had first come to the tomb then also entered, and he saw and believed. For as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead.

Rejoice, O Earth, In Shining Splendor!

Easter Proclamation of Creation’s Joy

Rejoice, heavenly powers! Sing, choirs of angels!

Jesus Christ, our light, risen! Sound the trumpet of salvation!

Rejoice, O earth, in shining splendor,

Radiant in the brightness of your Sovereign!

Christ has conquered! Glory fills you! Night vanishes forever!

 

Rejoice, O servant church! Exult in glory!

The risen Savior shines upon you! Let this place resound with joy,

Echoing the mighty song of all God’s people!

This is the night when Jesus Christ broke the chains of death

and rose triumphant from the grave.

Therefore, gracious Creator, In the joy of this night,

Receive our evening sacrifice of praise, Your church’s solemn  offering.

Accept this Easter candle,

A flame divided but undimmed,

A pillar of fire that glows to your honor, O God.

For it is fed by the melting wax, which  he mother bee brought  forth

to make this precious candle.

Let it mingle with the lights of heaven and continue bravely burning

To dispel the shadows of this night!

May the Morning Star which never sets find this flame still burning:

Christ, that Morning Star, who came back from the dead

And shed your peaceful light on all creation,

Your only begotten one who lives and reigns forever.               AMEN.

Sisters of St. Joseph of Cluny

Wish You A

Blessed and Joyous Easter