Making it a habit…

Sr. Carolyn, Sr. Cara Grace, and Sr. Katie are all smiles.

Dear Friends and Supporters,

Peace and thank you for all your prayers! On August 6, I received my habit and entered the novitiate. The picture above was taken after our investiture where many of our sisters came to support us and celebrate our special day.

From our provincial website (http://www.ascjus.org/called_to_be_an_apostle/formation.asp)

The Novitiate consists of a two year period. The Canonical year is dedicated to the religious and spiritual formation of the novice. During the Canonical year the novice will experience the consecrated life through study and internalization of the evangelical counsels of poverty, chastity, and obedience. The Canonical year is completed at Mount Sacred Heart. The Apostolic year is a year of practical experience when the novice is assigned to an Apostle community to experience the many dimensions of religious life and share in that community’s life and ministry. The Novitiate period is a continuation of the journey towards holiness, by means of a deeper experience of God.

This year I will be an apostolic novice teaching and ministering at our schools in Bronx, NY. I am looking forward to living and working alongside my Apostle sisters and learning from my students!

As a novice, I will no longer be updating my blog. However, you can follow me and the new group of pre-postulants on our website: www.ascjus.org. If you have prayer requests and/or would like to receive an occasional email with updates, please email me kpress (at) ascjus (dot) org and I will add you to the list.

In His Sacred Heart,
Sr. Katie

PS- Lastly here’s a shout out to Michele, a fellow Apostle-discerner. Many prayers for her as she works to eradicate her debt. Michele’s blogs: http://conventbound.weebly.com and http://shelltonsblog.blogspot.com

Pictures and Videos Galore

Happy July! I mentioned in my June post, that life here at Mount Sacred Heart was busy. In the past three weeks, I’ve been fortunate enough to have great reasons to celebrate– first the jubilees of our sisters celebrating 80, 75, 65, and 60 years of religious profession. Then another party for a 50th Jubilee–it’s kind of a big deal. And then after a wonderful week-long retreat, saw three of our sisters renew vows and then witnessed Sr. Angela Gertsema, ASCJ profess perpetual vows. One of Sr. Angela’s former students traveled from New York to come and sing, and Sr. Angela herself composed the final song of the liturgy. Beautiful celebrations.

Please take a moment and look at both the photo gallery and video gallery (vows are at the very top of the page) of the Congregational website as they are all updated.

Happy Feast of the Sacred Heart

Happy Feast of the Sacred Heart!

I myself will pasture my sheep; I myself will give them rest, says the Lord God.
Ezekiel 34:15

“There’s nothing sadder than a life without love. But even in those seasons when we feel most alone and uncherished, how dearly beloved we are! When in doubt, look to that blazing Sacred Heart on fire with yearning for your joy and fulfillment. Every good thing under heaven is offered to you in the benevolent gaze of Jesus Christ. Trust this.

Written by Alice Camille

It’s quite the celebration here in Connecticut. Today we gather with sisters from all up and down the east coast in one of the largest gatherings of the year. At our Mass this evening we will honor eight sisters celebrating over 500 years of religious profession (80th, 75th, 65th, and 60th Jubilees). They’re an inspiring witness to the fidelity of their vocation. Do stay tuned to our website as pictures will likely be posted this week.

Please also know that today we remember all of our benefactors and supporters in a special way in our prayers. May the Sacred Heart bless each of you and inflame your heart anew.

Spring has sprung

A snapshot of life in the convent. The other weekend, we postulants were fortunate enough to have a weekend off to spend at our lake/retreat house tucked in the woods of central Connecticut. The weather was agreeable so we christened the paddle boat for its first ride of the season to the island. As you can tell, it’s early spring and the grass isn’t quite green yet. But we had a great time nonetheless. Can’t wait until it’s warm enough to picnic and go swimming.

Benefactor Thank You

Greetings to all. Two months since my last post- wow! I last wrote in Lent and now Pentecost is upon us. In the joy and celebration of Easter, I have been particularly thankful for all the benefactors who helped support me with their donations and prayers in the past year. Many of you (I hope) have received a “News note from the Convent.” If not, it’s available by clicking on the link below.

I cannot express my gratitude for all those who helped plan and attend my Bingo Fundraiser last year. People continually showed me kindness as I moved across the country. This is a simple but heartfelt way of saying thank you.

News Notes from the Convent

Lenten Thoughts

Here we are into our third week of Lent. Many people I know give up or reduce their time on the internet or blogs during Lent and here I am trying to resurrect mine. In trying to shed some light on life in the convent, I thought it appropriate to begin by sharing with you how my community is praying during our preparations for Easter. Our theme is “Embracing the World You have given us..” which is taken from the alternative opening prayer for the Fifth Sunday of Lent:

Father in heaven,
the love of your Son led him to accept the suffering of the cross
that his brothers might glory in new life.
Change our selfishness into self-giving.
Help us to embrace the world you have given us,
that we may transform the darkness of its pain
into the life and joy of Easter.

After much thought and planning, the sisters planning our Lenten Prayer events offered us six prayer intentions to pray during each week of Lent stemming from our theme.

Week of Feb. 21: For the decline of moral relativism in Western society.

Week of Feb. 28: For religious and political freedom in North Vietnam.

Week of Mar. 7: That world leaders, especially in Iraq, Pakistan, and Afghanistan might put greater energy into alleviating poverty in their countries.

Week of Mar. 14: For peace in the Congo and in Sudan.

Week of Mar. 21: For greater financial integrity among the wealthy in our country, and for our commitment to the common good.

Week of Mar. 28: For reconciliation among the peoples of Rwanda.

The Lenten Prayer Cross outside our chapel with images that invite us to embrace the world you have given us. (Artwork by Sr. Mariette Moan, ASCJ)

Please join us in prayer as we look to embrace the world we live in and look for the life and joy of Easter.

Happy New Year!

A blessed 2010 to all readers.

Just a note to say the blog will be updated in the near future (by the end of the month).

Please stay tuned!

Connections in the blogosphere… and the real world too.

A tremendous thank you is owed to Fr. James Kubicki, S.J. This past week, Fr. Kubicki traveled from Wisconsin to Connecticut (and brought with him some snow flurries!) to offer a whirlwind class on Sacred Heart (heart-centered) Spirituality to those of us in formation here at the Mount (novices and pre-postulants- 6 of us total). His insights, to both scripture and the history of our Church, were very valuable to me. I never considered myself as being “devoted to the Sacred Heart” per se. Yet, I loved our sisters and the way they exuded holy love. That was one of the things that drew me to join the Apostles.

To read about Fr. Kubicki’s time at the Mount, please see his blog.

And a reading recommendation on Sacred Heart spirituality is Wendy Wright’s “Gateway to God”.

Internet Fame

The Apostles have a great province website which was recently updated… and I made the cut! If you scroll down a bit, you can see my community’s photo HERE. We’re also in the rotating banner pictures on the main homepage HERE.

Also, two recent Apostle publications came out:

- Caritas, the province newsletter (includes stories from the sisters’ pilgrimage to Rome this summer).

- Women of the Heart, discernment newsletter (stay tuned as there will be a new edition posted soon).

Thanks to all for your continued prayers. Should you have intentions that you wish for the sisters to include in prayer, you may submit them on our website. Alternatively, you can also email them to me directly: katieJpress<at>gmail<dot>com (you know the drill, take out the stuff in brackets and replace with symbols).

My First Month in the Convent

Wow… where to begin. It’s hard to believe that I’ve already been here in Connecticut for a month. Some days it feels like it’s barely been a few days, and other days it feels like I’ve been here for ages (in a good way, not a bad way). Thanks to all who’ve sent notes and pictures sharing your prayers and words of support.

I’ve been blessed with many new experiences so far. We’ve taken trips to the Bronx and Washington, D.C. I’m also very involved in ministry. A few days each week I visit with the older sisters in our retirement home. Two or three days a week I also help teach freshman religion in our all-girls high school (attached to the building where I live… so nice). The weather is also turning into a nice fall and we’re eagerly awaiting the changing leaves to take in some more of the east coast scenery.

Apostle Women in Formation

Here is a link to a photo album of pictures chronicling some of the adventures we’ve had so far. (Yes, the link is to facebook, but you do not have to be registered to view the photos.)

**Stay tuned I hope to post in another month or so.**