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VOCATIONS ABOUND:
COULD GOD BE CALLING YOU ALSO?
"Fan into a flame the gift you have been given." (Jn.) They come from all walks of life, from all parts of the country, from different backgrounds, different experiences, but all with one common desire: To spend their life in service to our Lord out of love for the God who has loved them so much. They have heard the inner calling in their hearts--a calling that does not go away, but gets stronger with each prayerful moment, each act of serving others, each contact with God's people. And so they COME.
This year beginning in August we will have someone at every stage of formation: in the candidacy program, the postulancy, the novitiate, and in temporary vows.
We give thanks to God for these three new servants of the Lamb of God, and we invite others to pray about the possibility of being called to the religious life. What is it like? e-mail audrey@sistersofthelambofgod.org for more information. CONFIRMATION: A REALITY FOR VICTORIA!  Each week, on Friday evening, for five months, you could hear vivid discussion and laughter of joy, or tones of seriousness and wonder resounding from the conference room of our convent at Wyandotte Ave. in Owensboro. It was Victoria and Sr. Audrey Mary meeting to help Victoria to be prepared for confirmation.
She worked diligently, and discovered a love of the Old Testament stories. For her project, she recorded the Holy Father's Encyclical on the Eucharist on tape for a blind lady.
May God give her the grace to persevere in her life and service in the Church. |
At Youth 2000, in Owensboro, KY, Sr. Lisa Marie and postulant, Debra Ann, participated as group discussion leaders.
it began on Friday evening with some music, a conference, the mass, and the rosary. This was the pattern of Saturday and Sunday also. Throughout the weekend there were ongoing opportunities for the sacrament of reconciliation and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. It topped a group of tiers on which candles were burning.
Sr. Lisa Marie and Debra Ann were group leaders for those who were 17 and 18 years of age. The openness and hunger of these ladies for truth, for growth in faith and in their relationship with God is commendable. Anyone interested in religious life had the opportunity to talk about vocations with any of three congregations represented at the conference.
Another beautiful highlight of Saturday was the international rosary done in five different languages. Sr. Lisa was happy to lead a decade in french.
It is often said the youth are the future of the Church. We can rest assured that our Church will go on if the attendants of this conference continue to be supported by those who have gone before them.
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From our mission in Jaurez Mexico
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In a certain activity, Rueben is now able to sit in a chair. (You see, our children are very limited).
Sometimes with the help of the teachers and aides, these children make little packages of sweets which their parents can sell to their neighbors or whoever they wish for ten pesos. And Sister Marie Carment looks for small businesses where they can sell a few bags. This gives the children a sense of usefulness and pride.
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Since my return to Jaurez this year, many families have been hit hard as times get worse economically. Many factories have closed and more people are without work. We try to assist these families. One has ten children and one of them is disabled. Another who moved here from the south (as many of them do hoping for employment), has three small children. They live in a casita a one room house without any heat. This man works six days a week for 450 pesos ($45). They survive only on beans. We take them milk for the baby and fruits for the other children who lack vitamins. There are many like this who appeal to us for help.
I know the situation is worse in other countries and even in parts of this city, but what I see is enough to break my heart. I admire the courage of the young mother who never complains. The courage of parents with children with disabilities who never complain. One mother who is along has five children four of them are mentally retarded. I am a witness to the fact that it is often the poor who help the poorest to survive. One mother who has raised 11 children takes everyday to her elderly neighbor a good breakfast. This neighbor has no pension, nothing. We provide her with food regularly. We are able to do this because of donations from people who support our mission. JAUREZ MEXICO; Although we continue to miss Sister Michael who has not yet returned to the mission here from France, the mission work goes on as best we can without her, though her absence is dearly felt. She is expected to return in August.
After Sister Mary John's visit back to Kentucky last summer, she returned once again with joy to our mission in Jaurez Mexico. I have lived here for five years, and I feel like one of them because of my love for the Mexican people, she writes. I was happy to meet again with the groups of Faith and Light.
Sister Marie Carment goes every day to the Center for those with disabilities to meet with the young children in the morning and the older ones in the afternoon. She also works very hard to find the money to pay the psychologist, the teachers, and all the other needs. In Mexico, there are no government grants for persons with disabilities. These people are so grateful for this center, that some of them are brought to our house at 4:30 in the morning to wait for the bus which takes them to the center. The center is still located in a large room at a nearby seminary. We have a dream of having a stand alone facility for this center one day when the right place is found and funds are available to maintain it.
At the center, the children will play, sing, do exercises, Sometimes we are witnesses of great progress. Ismael, who we thought would never walk, has benefited tremendously. With the help of a neurologist, who donates his time every Wednesday, told us he will walk one day. Little by little he is now standing using a walker. Another child, Ruben, was always on the floo even eating on the floor. (could not sit in a chair) But now with motivation due to intere(no amount is too small) the address is:
Sisters of the Lamb of God
2400 Marr Street
El Paso, TX, 79903.
Thank you in advance, and keep our people in your prayers.
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