Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Church

Sisters  of  Mary,  Mother  of  the  Church    •  6910  S  Ben  Burr  Rd    •  Spokane,  WA  99223

509-448-9890    •  www.sistersofmarymc.org    •  Visit  us  on  Facebook

The  Bulletin  is  a  triannual  publication  of  the  

Sisters,  sharing  a  glimpse  into  their  daily  lives.  

Bulletin

March 2014 Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Church Bulletin

Greetings   from   wintry  Spokane!     This   bulletin   is   a  new   publication   by   our  community   as   an   effort   to  share   some   of   our   day-to-day   activities   with   our  friends   and   benefactors.    Published   three   times   per  year,   the   bulletin   will  describe   our   personal   lives  and  the  simple  joys  that  God  shares  with   each   of   us.    We  

Sr. Paschalina’s “Experimental” Dinners What’s   for   dinner   tonight?     As   Sr.   Paschalina  Marie  would   say,   “It’s   experimental!”   Sister   joyfully  undertakes   the   task   of   preparing   dinner   for  “Community  Night”.     On  Wednesdays,   we     enjoy   a  special  meal  as  well  as  time  for  recreation  as  a  family,  which   may   include   games,   a   walk,   or   something  spontaneous.    Sr.  Paschalina  carefully  chooses  a  recipe  she’s  never  made  before,   adapts   it   to   the   ingredients  we   have   in   the   pantry,   and   usually   adds   fruit   to   as  many   dishes   as   she   can!     Her   dishes,   which   are  usually   casseroles,   never   fail   to   delight   us   in   taste,  color,   and   creativity.     Thank   you,   Sr.   Paschalina  Marie,  for  your  service  to  our  community.    

Notes from the Novitiate Though   our   canonical  novitiate   has   brought   more  time  for  prayer  and  seclusion,  the   joy   of   interaction   with  sisters   across   the   country  has  continued   as   we   deepen   our  faith   through   Scripture  

studies.   Thanks   to   the   Institute   of   Catholic   Culture’s  Magdala  Apostolate,  we  have  been  fortunate  to  stay  in  the  “cloister”   of   our   novitiate   while   reaching   to   the   outside  world   for   quality   instruction   in   the   Faith.   Last   semester  we   studied   the   basics   of   ancient   philosophy   and   this  semester  we   are   studying   the   Old   Testament   in   order   to  be er  appreciate  and  understand  the  entirety  of  the  Bible.

hope   that   you   will   discover  the  beauty  of  our  charism  of  communal  charity  and  joyful  evangelization   as   you   read  about  the  happenings  in  our  community.   Although   these  stories   are   brief,   we   invite  you   to   maintain   contact  through   our   website   and  Facebook  page.  

In   the   past   months,   we   have  celebrated  the  great  feast  of  the  Nativity   and   the   joyous  Christmas   season.     Our   days  of     celebration   ended   on   the  feast  of  the  Epiphany  with  the  

tradition  of  giving  gifts  to  our  Kristkindl.    We  put  a  lot  of   thought   and   care   into   our   gift-giving,   trying   to  anticipate  a  sister’s  needs  and  using  our  own  skills   to  provide  a  gift.    In  February,  we  joined  the  members  of  the   Cathedral     for   the   Our   Lady   of   Lourdes   Novena  that   also   launched   our   Diocesan   Centennial  celebration.      May  Our  Lady  of  Lourdes  watch  over  us  and  intercede  for  our  diocese.            In  Jesus  and  Mary,  

Singing  the  Marian  Anthem  

during  the  Lourdes  Novena

Christmas  Evening  Prayer  

Mother’s Message: An Update from the Sisters

The  sisters  gathered  for  Christmas  dinner  at  IHRC

Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Church Bulletin March 2014

In  May  2013  after  a  visit  to  the  doctor,  Sr.  Maria  Consuela  was  diagnosed  with  cancer,  and   her   doctor   quickly   planned   the  necessary   surgery   and   the   chemotherapy  treatments  to  fight  the  disease.    For  many  months,   Sr.   Consuela   received   this   care,  enduring  all  with  a  smile  and  gratitude   for  the  care  of  her  community,  her  doctor,  and  her   “guardian   angel”   Debbie  who   sat  with   her  during   each   treatment.     In   December,   tests  showed   that   Sr.   Consuela  was   “cancer   free”,   and  we   held   a   Mass   and   dinner   of   thanksgiving   to  God  for  his  work  as  the  Divine  Physician.      

Current Material Needs We  thank  God  for  our  benefactors  continue  to  

support  us  in  many  ways.    Please  contact  us  if  you  are  able  to  donate  any  of  the  following  items:

x� Chapel  size  lectionary x� Frequent   flyer   miles  

(to   be   used   for   travel  to   formation   and/or  education  workshops)

Monetary  donations  can  be  made  through  our  website

x� Wireless  router x� Gift   cards   for   gas  

or  groceries x� 8   qt.   double   boiler  

(stainless  steel) x� Washing  machine

We  are  blessed  to  serve  in  retreat  ministry,  faith  formation  and  youth  ministry,  and  ministry  to  

the  sick.   F   F       Our   sisters   are   preparing  children  for  First  Reconciliation,  Confirmation  and  First   Holy   Communion   at   St.   Peter   and   the  Cathedral   of  Our   Lady   of   Lourdes.    Other   faith  formation  programs  include  Children’s  Liturgy  of   the   Word   and   Religious   Education.     Sr.    Joanna,   Sr.   Magdalena   and   Sr.   Paschalina  visited  local  Catholic  schools  during  “Catholic  Schools  Week”  in  January.     Y  M        Sr.   Margarite   Marie   and  Sr.   Paschalina   Marie   recently   a ended   the  

Diocesan  Youth  Ministers’   Retreat,  where   Jake  Khym   presented   reflections   on   “The   Paschal  

Mystery”.     They   also   brought   teens   to   the  Middle  School  Youth  Rally.  Thanks  be   to  God   for   entrusting    us  

with   these   ministries   in   the  Diocese  of  Spokane!

Apostolic Endeavors A Sacrifice of Praise and Gratitude

Events and Special Dates March  10—19 St.  Joseph  Novena  

(To  pray  with  us,  visit  our  Facebook  page  for  the  daily  prayers.)

March  11—14 CMSWR  Formators’  Conference March  19      Blessed Feast Day, Mother Kathryn Joseph!

April  26            Blessed Feast Day, Sister Maria Consuela! May  30—June  7 Pentecost  Novena June  10—14 SMMC  Annual  Retreat June  24 SMMC  Founding  Day

Nativity  of  St.  John  the  Baptist

July  7—10 Vocare  2014 (Vocations  camp  for  high  school  girls,  hosted  by  sisters  of  Spokane)

Protector of the Church

A :  Sisters  with  Jake  Khym  

at  the  YM  Retreat  

R :  Visits  during  Catholic  

Schools  Week

Sr.  Consuela  with  

Dr.  Bergman