hello again

As predicted, I hit 2,000 visitors while I was gone. Welcome & thanks for visiting!

Also as predicted, I had a wonderful time with the groovy sisters this weekend. Words cannot describe how I feel after spending time with them. Let’s just say my face hurts from smiling, my stomach muscles hurt from laughing, and my heart is filled with deep peace and thankfulness. I spent some quality time with old friends and made some new. Heard wonderful stories of days past. Was awed per usual by their commitment to justice and peace and the integrity with which they live their lives. I keep thinking one of these days I’m going to have a "so-so" community experience, that it’s inevitable. Hasn’t happened yet.

The main event was the Jubilee celebrations – anniversaries of vowed life. 10 Sisters celebrating their 75th, 70th, 60th & 50th anniversaries as Sisters of St Joseph of Peace with family and friends gathered in prayer and thanksgiving. Despite my lack of a singing voice I was part of the hastily assembled choir which gave me the added advantage of a perch above the altar where I could see all the smiling faces. The choir practice was also quite the event itself … such a cast of characters! There’s where a lot of the pain in my face and stomach muscles comes from!!!

This morning I met with my contact person and talked about moving onto the next step (moving from pre-candidate to candidate) Well, we began talking about it anyway. I have the application materials (worthy of another post – it’s quite the process!) so I can start gathering the loads of documentation. My next step is to write a letter to the director of initial formation expressing my interest in applying for candidacy. We’ll then get together and talk about what that might look like.
Like I said much happened that I’m processing. I’ll try to write more. But for now let’s just say I had a glorious weekend with some glorious women.

I was also able to visit with our Congregation Leader, Sr. Sheila. (By the way, I love how it feels natural to say "our" not "their"!). She was out visiting from DC. When I was last in DC visiting my Dad I was blessed to have the opportunity to have lunch with her and have a good long chat. She’s a wonderful woman – and was my friend Tom’s elementary school principal! Anyway, the point of bringing her up is that she told me she's read my whole blog and loves it. Nice to know I have the approval of the boss lady :) …

More later. Thanks everyone for your prayers and good thoughts.

Peace,
Susan