Week of Prayer for Christian Unity - January 18-January 25, 2025

As children we were invited to learn what it meant to be Christian: who we believe in and why. As a young Catholic I didn’t know we were Christians! We generally learned about our religion for marks or holy cards in school, stars in Sunday School or pats on the back at home. Memory work is a wonderful skill but when did we start really believing in what we have learned?

The theme this year for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity invites us to answer the same question Jesus asked both Martha and Mary as they grieved their brother Lazarus “Do you believe this?” (John 11:11-26) He was of course asking if they believed that HE IS the Resurrection and the Life. They did.

As children, our knowledge of that phrase was rote memory. As an adult, what is the deeper meaning for me today? What did I learn in the past that made sense or didn’t make sense. What do I truly believe in my heart of hearts about Jesus, unity, resurrection and life now? Do those beliefs guide my daily interaction with all God’s creation?

To start the week of Christian Unity this year I will be joining many others at a Sing, Sing, Sing event at a local United Church; after all, those who sing pray twice! 😊 For the rest of the week I will rest with Jesus and answer, Yes Jesus I believe, help my unbelief; there is still so much room for growth.

-Maureen Condon, Associate with the Sisters of St. Joseph

Image: Amaury Gutierrez @amaury_guti/Unsplash

Crafting the Ultimate Divine Tagline

In a thoughtful, yet not-too-serious moment, I found myself pondering an unconventional question: If God were to hire a marketing agent to design His sacred tagline, what might it look like? Sure, God’s brand is timeless, after all, He's been around forever. Yet, even the Creator wishes to make sure His message resonates with today’s fast-paced, ever-evolving world.

Surely, the astute Creator would understand the core principles of effective taglines: memorable, customer-centric, emotionally engaging, and evoking a positive feeling. So, what tagline would Almighty’s innovative marketing agent, ChatGPT, create? Here are suggestions for Divine consideration:

• "God: The Original Influencer"

• "Join the Divine Club – Everyone’s Welcome"

• "Faith: The Ultimate Power-Up"

• "God: Turning Chaos into Creation Since the Beginning"

• "God: Where Miracles Happen"

And then, of course, there is the simple elegance of Sacred One's existing tagline: "I AM." Concise, meaningful, and timeless, there is really nothing more memorable than that!

 -Sister Nancy Wales, CSJ

Image: Wojtek Witkowski @wojtek/Unsplash

The Power of Prayer

A Reflection on the Power of Prayer from Sister Mary Raphael

I was in the hospital from October 14 – 25 with a bowel obstruction. Upon returning home I was placed in our Care Center. Being weak, I knew I needed to be there.  After a short time, I had a conversation with our Director of Care. Since I could see how things improved a bit each day I felt that remaining in the Care Center was a good option. However, I did not want to move there prematurely. It was suggested that I take a month to make my final decision. I answered, “As far as I’m concerned, I’ve made my decision.”

Image: Daniele Levis Pelusi | Unsplash

Many people – my Sisters, my family, and friends had prayed for me that things could be resolved without a second surgery. Their prayers were answered, and miraculously a second operation was not required. The prayers not only prevented further surgery but enlightened me to see that the best insurance I had against further hospitalizations was to remain in the Care Center. Now I could see that things could be monitored more closely in the Care Center. 

During and following my stay in the hospital, I was restless and unable to pray.  However, there is one prayer from a novena which I repeated frequently – “O God, I surrender myself to you. You take care of everything.” And God did take care of everything!

While regaining my strength, I began my move from my 3rd floor room to the east wing of our Care Center.  I filled the basket on my rollator daily which meant I would not have boxes to unpack once I moved permanently.

Now, for meals I sit with three Sisters, one of whom is Sister Olga.  At 101 years of age, she has taught me by her example the power and benefits of maintaining a positive attitude.  She frequently comments on the blessings we have, and her ministry is one of presence and example.

Looking back over these last few months, I too, am moved by the power of prayer and the blessings of community life.

-Sister Mary Raphael, CSJ

Image: wallace Henry @ghostdogg187 / Unsplash

EPIPHANY

EPIPHANY

The lyrics of the following traditional hymn beautifully summarize the events and meaning of the  feast of the Epiphany as the story of the first Christmas continues to unfold.

As With Gladness Men of Old

As with gladness men of old

Did the guiding star behold;

As with joy they hailed its light,

Leading onward, beaming bright;

So, most gracious Lord, may we

Ever more your splendor see.

As with joyful step they sped

To that lowly manger bed,

There to bend the knee before

Christ, whom heaven and earth adore,

So may we with hurried pace

Ever seek your throne of grace.

As they offered gifts most rare

At that manger crude and bare;

So may we this holy day,

Drawn to you without delay,

All our costliest treasures bring

Christ, to you, our heavenly king.

Christ, Redeemer, with us stay,

Help us live your holy way;

And when earthly things are past,

Bring our ransomed souls at last

Where they need no star to guide,

Where no clouds your glory hide.

In the heavenly city bright

None shall need created light;

You, its light, its joy, its crown,

You its sun which goes not down;

There forever may we sing

Alleluias to our king.

Text: William C. Dix, 1837 – 1898; alt.

Tune: DIX, 77 77 77; arr. From Conrad Kocher, 1786 – 1872, by William H. Monk, 1823 - 1889

A New Year Message for 2025

As 2024 comes to a close and we step into the promise of 2025, we reflect on how far we’ve come. Twenty-five years ago, the world was gripped by the Y2K challenge, anxiously wondering if our computer systems could successfully transition from ‘19’ to ‘20’ without chaos! That moment feels like yesterday, yet a lifetime of changes has unfolded since then.

In our personal lives, our congregation, our community, and our world, we’ve witnessed untold changes. The year 2024 brought with it times of overflowing joy and deep sadness, moments of outrage and delight, instances of concern, miracles, and even tragedy. Along the way, we said goodbye to cherished friends, confronted challenges, and faced uncertainties.

Through it all—the complex and beautiful journey we call life—we are reminded of one unshakable truth: God is with us every step of the way. Guiding our steps, shaping our choices, and offering strength in moments of doubt, God’s presence is constant.

As we welcome this new year, let us carry forward a renewed sense of faith and hope. Let us remember that God walks with us, always.

May 2025 be a year of purpose, grace, and blessings for us all, knowing that we are never alone.

Happy New Year!

-Sister Nancy Sullivan, CSJ

Images: Kelly Sikkema @kellysikkema ; Danil Aksenov @nebe3etogo| UNSPLASH