Pilgrim progress- a disciple on a journey!

Picture taken at Niagara Falls (from the Canadian side!) Photo: KJM Mondays. Bad days. Nobody is immune to them. Not even nuns! When the stress of life edges out the joy, remember to Whom you belong...you are a child of God! Next time tough times come your way, know that this too shall pass. Let your heart soar and live the fulness of life that Jesus promises! (John 10:10).

Sharing Sr. Kathryn's column which is printed weekly in the church bulletin of St. Peter and Paul's Parish, Athlone.    "At a particularly difficult moment, when waves of negativity threatened to swamp me, some of my friends tried to help me snap out of it. Well intentioned, they gave wise counsel and offered various strategies for getting on top of it. Some tried a hearty and cheerful approach. Try as I might, I couldn’t put it into practice. More bad feelings! However, at my lowest ebb, one small phrase filtered through the fog. These strangely encouraging words imparted light and strength: “Kath, now more than ever, you are a real disciple.” I remembered these words when praying today’s Gospel. Simon, Andrew, James and John know the thrill and challenge of being called by Jesus. Without doubt, they are filled with expectations of something new and wonderful. They will have expert training to equip them for their mission, they hold onto the promise of succ

A simple prayer which came from a grateful heart during Adoration as I spent the last hours of my birthday with my Spouse before the Blessed Sacrament: For the gift of life, I praise you Lord. For the gift of family, I bless you Lord. For the gift of community, I thank you Lord. For the gift of friends, I glorify you. For the gift of another year, I stand in awe at your grace. For the gift of this day, I magnify you. For the gift of faith, I adore you. For the gift of experience, I stand surprised. For the gift of pain, I stand before you purified. For the gift of love, I strive to love you in return. For the gift of hope, I look to the future. For the gift of trust, I walk a slow steady journey. For the gift of being simply 'Louise', thank you Lord.

I am happy to share some of Sr. Kathryn's thoughts which are published weekly in the parish bulletin of the Church of St. Peter and St. Paul in Athlone. Sr. Kathryn is one of my PDDM sisters in our Athlone community.     "I belong to a congregation called the Disciples of the Divine Master. So whenever the word disciple pops up in the gospel, it immediately connects to something very close to my heart. It’s heartening to acknowledge that I belong to a people whose vocation to discipleship can be traced right back to the Gospel story. Actually, we can all claim to be a thread in the long line of sinners or saints or in-betweens that Jesus looks upon so lovingly. Today we are given a glimpse at how Jesus calls his first closest friends. Our own call is just as authentic as theirs. As we know, the initial encounter is just the beginning. We don’t just follow Jesus or remain with him. As our Gospel unfolds, we too are invited to enter into a very close friendshi

‘John was standing with two of his disciples, when he saw Jesus walking by. ‘There is the Lamb of God!’ he said. The two disciples heard him say this and went with Jesus. Jesus turned, saw them following him and asked ‘What are looking for?’ They answered ‘Where do you live Rabbi?’ ‘Come and see he answered’.’ (John 1: 37-39). This is an invitation to relationship. Jesus began the relationship by saying, “What are you seeking?” (v. 38). We hear Andrew say to his brother, “We have found the Messiah.” At first, they were only seeking where he was staying. Then because they came to him and spent time with him, they saw. The point is that if you come to Jesus, you see. You see the key that unlocks the ultimate meaning of all things. “Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ). And he broug

Dear God, you who did not invent tizzies, be with me when I get caught in the wild worrying of my mind, and the needless scurrying around in my fearful heart. Trip me up when I fret and stew so I can see the trap of tizzies, with their schemes to keep me bunched up in stress and strain. Let me fall headfirst into the truth of your never-ending presence, wrap your kind arms around me and calm my doubts and fears. Shout loudly in my spiritual ear when my nerves get knotted, my mind feels cramped, and my stomach screams. It may be difficult, but do try to get my full attention, because tizzies are not healthy, and they definitely chase peace out the front door of my heart. Dear God, you did not invent tizzies, I did, and only I can send them on their way, and I will, if you strengthen me to let go of my anxious hold on what is nonessential. ---Joyce Rupp

Shrine to St. Elizabeth Setton Photo: KJM Today would be the memorial of St. Elizabeth Anne Setton but obviously the second Sunday after Christmas takes precedence. Given my love of the saints, I count myself very blessed to have been able to visit many saints tombs, birth places, places of conversion and strong spiritual experiences. During my stay in New York last Christmas 2013 I had the opportunity to visit the Shrine to St. Anne Seton there. It is quite a strange architectural juxtaposition against the dizzying skyscrapers of the Manhattan skyline. Located directly across from entrance to the Staten Island ferry, it is hard to miss and definitely merits a visit. It is a beautiful red-brick stately building which pays homage to St. Elizabeth Anne Setton. Her story is quite interesting. Convert to Roman Catholicism; foundress of the American Sisters of Charity, which was the first sisterhood native to the United States; a wife, mother, widow, sole parent, foundress of the Ame