This weekend the Sisters of Charity hosted our annual Mass of Thanksgiving for our benefactors, that is, you who contribute in so many ways to the works of charity of the Sisters of Charity of Our Lady, Mother of the Church. Holy Mass was followed by the gratitude luncheon at St. Michael Center, the Athletic/Arts Center on the campus of the Academy of the Holy Family here in Baltic, CT. We were thrilled to welcome so many of you to our celebration. Father Josemaria Barbin, F.I., one of the Fransican Friars of the Immaculate who serve as Chaplains at our Motherhouse, celebrated Mass for us. To hear so many voices lifted in prayer and song in our chapel made our hearts soar. Those were holy moments, to use the phrase of Matthew Kelly. Thank you to all who participated in person or through the live streaming that brought the sacred Liturgy into your homes.
Some of the High School Choir made up of our Academy students from throughout the world joined us in worship at Mass, and entertained us at the Luncheon at St. Michael’s Center afterward. These beautiful young women also worked behind the scenes all week setting tables, decorating the Center and then serving the meal to our beloved guests. Their poise and their generosity in tending to the needs of our guests were truly impressive. Coming from across the United States and from countries around the world, our students helped to make our guests feel welcome, assisting the Sisters in so many ways throughout the day. When everything was over, we found our girls gathered together, enjoying their meal and sharing stories of the wonderful people they had met in the course of their serving tables.
We wish you could have all been here to meet our student body as they showcased their talents and their stunning inner and outer beauty. They’ve only been here for a few weeks and some are still experiencing homesickness. Many of these young women are here on scholarships made possible through your goodness, and they want to express their gratitude to you for making their incorporation into the multicultural student body possible. All too soon some will be leaving us to begin their college experience. Please pray for them and for the Sisters as together we try to find financial aid for them to enter the universities of their choice. That’s a worry for them, for their families and for us who have fostered them through their secondary school years with us. They have their dreams—oh, such wonderful dreams they have—and we hope to help those dreams come true.
We loved meeting so many of you, dear friends, this weekend. Thank you for the long trips, the short trips, the planning and the effort you made to be with us for this wonderful experience of our Gratitude Celebration and Family Blessing. Your kindness today touched us deeply. Some of you traveled from far away alone. We hope you brought home the same precious memories the Sisters and students have after our beautiful time with you. May God grant you all the graces you request of Him, all the blessings you need: of health and financial assistance; of healed relationships and safe delivery of tiny new grandchildren; of the conversion of loved ones, of forgiveness of sin, and a happy death for your dearest relatives. And to those of you who were unable to come, our hearts thank you as well! We certainly missed you, but were still very much a part of our day.
Please know that we carry all of you and your many needs in the pocket of our hearts, right where God finds you every morning as we Sisters kneel to receive Him in Holy Communion. Not one of you is ever forgotten by God. And, after days like today, you can be sure we could never forget you, either. How good is the Good God to have given you to us, the Sisters of Charity of Our Lady, Mother of the Church. After all, you have each become family to us. And as we think of you and you think of us, we both stand on Holy Ground.
Have a Blessed Week.
With love and prayerful gratitude,
Your Sisters of Charity
and then