The Blogging Sisters page is a collection of blog reflections written by young women religious.
If you're interested in publishing your blog here, please contact us by email at adminasst@giving-voice.org.
March 5, 2017
I was bubbling with anticipation as we pulled up to the Humanitarian Respite Center. I had heard so much about it and was waiting to experience their ministry to immigrants just released from the detention center. I expected to see a bustling place, filled with life and love. But as we walked up to the door, the tents outside were empty and once inside, only a handful of volunteers populated the place. I was puzzled. What happened to the hundreds of immigrants I saw in pictures and videos of the Humanitarian Respite Center? They were gone.
March 1, 2017
I was asked to give a reflection for the Ash Wednesday service at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College this evening. Here’s what I’ve prepared:
What is it that Lent asks of us?
What do your Lenten practices mean?
I know I have a history of using Lent to jump-start new goals. Isn’t the great thing about being Catholic that you get a second chance for New Year’s resolutions just a couple of months in?
February 22, 2017
Amazingly, I was wide awake this morning when we began our journey to Texas at 6am. So I drove the early morning shift. The quiet was tangible, and as the city lights faded behind us, they were replaced by pillowy clouds of fog cradled in the Kentucky valleys, wrapped in a blanket of night. The scenery invited a peaceful contemplation.
As we ventured further south, little signs of spring began to pop out at me. Trees were flowing and small new-green buds populated branches on the side of the road. (Pictures 1-2)
February 21, 2017
I have been thinking–and writing–a lot about listening lately. As I look back over my last two blog posts, while I was willing to listen for the voice of God, it seems that I expected to be asked to do big things or thought I would hear clear answers to my questions. I expected an obvious path to open in front of me so that I would know what exactly what to do. This week, I realized that is not always the case.. I discovered that when my actions, like my listening, are focused on the small, every day things, they will get me exactly where I need to go.
February 10, 2017
I have a bit of news to tell you...In approximately 1 week, 4 days, 14 hours, 33 minutes, and 48 seconds from the time this was posted, I will be starting the 21 hour drive to Weslaco, TX where I will spend the next 3 months. I will be making an effort to document my journey on this blog, including the prep time remaining and the road trip down.
January 17, 2017
I told myself when I started this blog that I wanted to make sure I remained consistent. For a number of reasons, that hasn’t happened.
December 18, 2016
This is how the birth of Jesus came about.
When Jesus’ mother, Mary, was engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Joseph, her husband, an upright person unwilling to disgrace her, decided to divorce her quietly.
December 13, 2016
Advent Greetings!
Guadate! Rejoice!
Today in Dayton, OH we had the first big snow of the season. It was perfectly timed. Snow is something, that for some people just causes a euphoric sort of feeling of joy inside. The first snow blankets an earth that may still be a little green, and it causes a wonderful stillness. It is quiet, really quiet. Something happens to the earth that softens sounds, so that when you go outside surrounded in white, everything is a little softer.
December 7, 2016
Mystics & Prophets: What Are We Waiting For?: In my life and in my ministry, I often engage individuals and groups in conversation about their hopes and dreams for moving their lives an...
August 6, 2016
Mystics & Prophets: Interwoven Networks: I participated in the Sisters of St. Joseph federation event in early July. It was a great celebration and an opportunity to connect with ...
July 1, 2016
Hello friends! This post is the first in what will likely be a few posts about Marianist women throughout history. Lately, Sr. Caitlin and I have been doing a lot of reading about Marianist History, especially about some Marianist women–two in particular– Marie Therese de Lamourous (who helped found the Bordeaux sodality with Fr. Chaminade) and Adele de Batz de Tranquelleon (foundress of the Daughters of Mary). As we keep learning cool stuff, it seems important to share.
June 26, 2016
Sometimes, I get so caught up in what I am doing day-to-day that I forget the reasons I am living like this. Somehow, this un-ordinary life of living in community with adult women, praying and going to mass every day, and dedicating my time to serving others and serving God has become my new normal. I have a routine I am used to and I am not in a state of transition anymore. What seemed like an odd way to live at first became exciting once I started living the life with passion, and has now moved to a more stable existence.
June 1, 2016
“When you Sisters are here, the bathrooms look great!”
I feel so proud of this fact. When the Marianist Sisters show up, bathrooms are cleaned for women and children to use, perhaps for the first time in many days or weeks.
May 31, 2016
Growing up, gardening was always a chore. My mom loves to garden and has always taken special care with her flowers. Our entire backyard doesn't even have grass. Piece by piece, my mom has transformed it into her little oasis. She tried to get my sisters and I involved at different times in our lives, to pass on the gardening gene and get some help with weeding. But I always saw it as an unpleasant task. I never quite understood how my mom could enjoy working in her garden for hours on a hot, sunny Saturday when she could be enjoying the pool or a good book.
May 14, 2016
First of all…sorry for our delay in postings. Sometimes we get caught up in our typical Novitiate things and all of a sudden we find ourselves saying “Oh yeah…our blog…who’s turn is it?” Apologies, friends!
May 13, 2016
Mystics & Prophets: Pentecost – Spirit Filled Lives: We celebrate Pentecost each year as an invitation to all of us to lead spirit-filled lives. This season is particularly important for tho...
May 6, 2016
I've been hiking a lot recently, it helps me to clear my mind and pray. I've learned that being in silence with God does not have to be motionless.
Below are some pictures and poems from my hikes in the past couple weeks.