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FROM THE OFFICE DIRECTOR
Spring has often inspired poems for me because of the hope implicit in its promise. As we are coming out of the pandemic, perhaps you also feel the need for a deeper grounding in hope. This morning I read, "the darker it gets around us here, the more we have to open our hearts to the light from above." St. Edith Stein said that and thinking of the context in which she might have said those words, they are very compelling. My hope in the joy of heaven propels me to want to share the love of Jesus with every suffering person. As I pondered the transformation of pond area near a home I used to live in over the course of a month, this idea of steeping myself in Him to better serve my brothers and sisters came out in this poem. May you each find hope in the Risen Christ as we watch and wait this Passiontide, Maria
Overtaken by Life
Despite the onset of spring, the decay remains.
Nature does not chafe at her unsightly appearance:
the battered thistle stalks can barely stand
the once smooth and dark velvet cattails
are weather-beaten and withered
Yet surreptitiously green blades rise,
Grossly outnumbered by the disheveled cattails.
Flowering rush, wild millet, burr reed
encroach
press onward,
self-assured:
they will prevail.
Still the thistle patch persists, quietly defiant
dull brown and washed out grey
dominate
But time favors LIFE
Abundance advances,
Overcomes.
At last, the old has succumbed,
not uprooted, not resisted,
But overtaken by gentle abundance.
I marvel that it ceased and desisted.
Maria Reinagel - April 29, 2017
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YEAR AT A GLANCE
March
- 3.29.21 Mary-Cabrini Durkin on Angela Merici Paves a Way in Women's History
- 3.30.21 Zoom and See Discerner Series, 7 - 8 pm. Register here.
- 3.31.21 Direct Care Assistance applications due for NRRO.
Upcoming
Fall
- 10.9.2021 Let Service Shine - Bicentennial Event organized by Religious
- 10.23.21 TBC Jubilee Celebration for 2020 and 2021
- 11.4-7. 21 Religious Formation Conference: National Congress, Chicago, IL
- 11.10.21 TBC Major and Local Superiors meet with Archbishop
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Pastoral Planning-Restructuring Process in the Archdiocese
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March 13, 2021
Greetings!
I hope this finds you all well at the point in Mid-Lent! Having spent this morning in a meeting of the Archdiocesan Pastoral Council, I thought it worth sharing some information with you on the current process in the archdiocese called Beacons of Light in my capacity as a member on that Council. It struck me that as people engaged in various kinds of ministry – and some belonging to or frequenting a range of parishes – we should be aware as religious serving in the diocese. (Maybe you are more aware of this than I was heading into this meeting).
Currently this diocese has 211 parishes clustered in 109 regions. The goal of the Beacons of Light process is to reduce the “families of parishes” to something like 65 (in light of the fact that by 2026, the dioceses expects to have about 65-75 priests who could serve as pastors. Once established as “families” each of these more regional parishes will be developing its pastoral plan.
The diocese has been working on a communications plan to get this information out so that people will be aware and feel invited and empowered to take part in working together to strengthen missionary discipleship. However, awareness of this process seems to be not as widespread as one might hope. At the pastoral Council we discussed to need to help people be aware, to engage in the process, and to assist in promoting the needed dialogue and addressing the understandable grief that will likely result. As Consecrated Persons it seems that we will want to reflect on how we can be a positive presence in the midst of this challenging time. Here's the link to the one-page summary of the process. Laura Leming, fmi
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New Series
This online series for discerners creates fellowship for those seeking to discover God's will for their life. They can register here or email me.
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April 16 at 7:00 pm - April 17 at 2:00 pm EDT
Virtual
1 Sisters of Providence
Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, IN
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On March 4, 2021 the Poor Clare community held their chapter. I was privileged to be present and witness the simplicity with which they live obedience and the service of authority. They thanked Sr. Pia Malaborbor for her service these past three years as Abbess and welcomed the newly elected leadership with openness and joy. Sr. Anna Marie Covely was elected Abbess (center), Sr. Vickie Griner, Vicaress (left) and Sr. Ann Bartko, councilor (right). We commend them to our prayers as they continue following our Lord in their lives of hidden service and prayer. You can learn more about their life here.
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Bicentennial and 33 Day Marian Pilgrimage
In three months, the Archdiocese of Cincinnati (founded as the Diocese of Cincinnati) will celebrate our 200-year anniversary as a diocese! A Mass of Thanksgiving will be celebrated at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Peter in Chains on Saturday June 19, 2021, which is the anniversary date of the diocese. At present, the archdiocese is comprised of 19 counties in western and southwestern Ohio and more than 440,000 Catholics. To celebrate the bicentennial of the archdiocese a website has launched with an extensive timeline history of the archdiocese, ethnic and religious communities in ministry in the archdiocese and events planned in celebration of the bicentennial. Included in the planned events, a 33 day, more than 300-mile, Marian Pilgrimage. The longest Marian Pilgrimage in the U.S!
Website Resources
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Sign up to be a Marian Guardian!
Each day Guardian Pilgrims will carry a statue of Our Lady of Fatima between 6-15 miles as they process from one parish to the next. Guardian Pilgrims will commit to specific legs of the journey which last from 3-4 days. We will stop at approximately 36 parishes and other institutions along the way.
Please consider joining as a pilgrim for 3-6 days of the trip. You can learn more and register as a Statue Guardian pilgrim at mary2021.org and click on “Join In” before April 15.
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Religious Brothers Day Virtual Gathering
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Join the National Religious Brothers Day Virtual Gathering, Saturday, May 1, 1:30-2:30 p.m. (ET). The afternoon will include prayer, reflections by younger brothers and small group conversation. Learn more and register for the link to this free gathering here.
Presenters include Br. Luis Guivas, CP; Br. Herman Johnson, OP; Br. Nicholas Romeo, OFM Conv.; Br. Rafael Vargas, SDB; Br. Bill Boslet, OSF; and Br. Peter O'Loughlin, CFC. The sponsors for this event are CMSM, National Religious Vocation Conference, Religious Brothers Conference, and Religious Formation Conference.
Learn More / Sign Up
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On March 20, three men were ordained to the priesthood for the Glenmary Home Missioners, including their first Hispanic priest. The newly ordained celebrated their first Masses on Sunday. You can learn more about it here.
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Update Your Listing in the Catholic Directory
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We are so grateful to the many congregations who have helped us set the record straight. Our goal is to have complete and accurate listings of all the consecrated women and men in the 2021 Catholic Directory. If you have had membership changes in your community, please click below and let us know!
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Grant Opportunity
The Sisters on the Frontline program in collaboration with Catholic Extension (through the generosity of GHR) has given the Leadership Collaborative $100,000 to distribute to 100 Sisters at $1,000 each. For this grant, an application is made to the Leadership Collaborative by any woman religious between ages 20-70 yo. The $1,000 is to be spent on a community/family/person in need in the US – Sisters receiving these grants will have full discretion on how to use the funds when received but of course there are some reporting requirements. Here is a link to a flyer that will give you information of this $1,000 grant. Leadership Collaborative Invitation to Sisters on the Frontline
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National Religious Retirement Office
REMINDER: Applications for Direct Care Assistance are due to the National Religious Retirement Office (NRRO) by March 31. Direct Care Assistance provides eligible religious institutes with funding to help meet retirement needs. If you need help completing the application, please contact NRRO Grants Specialist Monica Glover, mglover@usccb.org or 202- 541-3216. Whether or not your institute is eligible for or requests funding, you are urged to complete the application. Your community’s information helps the NRRO develop a more complete assessment of retirement needs and assets among US religious institutes.
For more resources from the Office for Consecrated Life, visit our website.
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100 East Eighth Street | Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 | CatholicAOC.org |
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