"Savoring Lent"

We are grateful to the Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth, Convent Station, NJ, for sharing this Lenten calendar, "Savoring Lent," which contains daily, simple actions to make this Lent a "season of deep joy."

We hope to share other possibilities for your Lenten reflection in the days to come.  Stay tuned . . .

February Issue of Stop Trafficking Newsletter

The February 2019 issue of the Stop Trafficking newsletter -- highlighting the growth of networks and partnerships -- is available here.

Days of Grace

We have experienced days of grace during our 15th Provincial Chapter as we met for sacred discussions about what is most important to us.  Thank you for accompanying us with your prayers.

We have reflected on the "new wine" in our lives and have challenged ourselves toward transformation into fresh wineskins.  This is no small task. We ask for your continued prayers and we promise you our prayers as we journey.  

Here are some photos from our final day: 

Sister Mary Edward addresses the Sisters during the closing ritual.

Sister Mary Ann explains an artistic representation of our Chapter.

Sister Josita leads us in our closing ritual.

The Sisters receive a memento of the Provincial Chapter.

Our faithful trumpeters share their gifts during liturgy.

Hopefully, you were able to join us on Facebook for our Provincial Chapter closing liturgy.  If not, check it out here. Thanks to Casey and Brent Dolan for helping to make this happen.

Sundaes on Sunday

After a full day of prayer and work, we were treated to ice cream sundaes!  We are grateful to our recreation committee for preparing the treat and serving us so generously.  The smiles on these faces show how much the sundaes were enjoyed.

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Please join us on Monday, February 18, at 2:00 P.M on Facebook for our closing liturgy.  Thank you for your prayers for our Provincial Chapter.

Sunday's Reflection: Good Wine Overflows

We are grateful to Sister Ann Marie Paul, SCC, for today's haiku reflections on our Chapter theme:

Mary at Cana
Son, they have no wine to drink
Do what he tells you

Jesus at Cana
Bring the water of your lives
Leave the rest to me

Servers at Cana
Water jugs filled to the brim
Good wine overflows

- Sister Ann Marie ministers at the Passaic Neighborhood Center for Women (Passaic, NJ).
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The Sisters of Christian Charity of the North American Eastern Province began our Provincial Chapter yesterday, February 14, 2019. The Chapter will close on Monday, February 18.  Please join us in praying the prayer for our Provincial Chapter.

During the Chapter, we are posting updates here and on our Facebook page.  Also, we are very happy to announce that the closing liturgy of our Provincial Chapter can be viewed live on Facebook.  Tune in on Monday, February 18 at 2:00 P.M. EST.  Hope to see you there!

Chapter Saturday

As we shared previously, an artistic rendering of the four original Sisters of Christian Charity watches over our proceedings this weekend.  Today we are happy to share a picture of the artist, Sister Geralyn Schmidt, SCC, who painted this work of art in 2005 for a community celebration.

One of the most beautiful aspects of this Provincial Chapter is that -- because of the move to the new Motherhouse -- we are able to gather the entire Province under one roof.  Previously, the Sisters who might have been unable to travel from Danville, PA to Mendham would remain in Danville and support us prayerfully from afar.  However, with the move from Danville to Mendham, everyone is here!  An especially beautiful moment from today was when we took a "leaning" on an issue we had been discussing.  (A leaning is not a vote; it simply "takes the temperature" of the room.)  By raising green cards, we indicate our agreement with the matter at hand, such as in the photo below.

The Sisters who are unable to come to St. Joseph Hall because of illness or physical challenges can watch the proceedings on closed-circuit television from their bedrooms.  But that does not prevent them from having a voice in the meetings.  The Sisters pictured below ran upstairs to the bedrooms to receive input from the Sisters in their bedrooms.  Here, they share the results with us:

We are so very grateful to everyone who has supported us in our move to the new Motherhouse and during the eight months since the move.  Because of you, we are able to be truly united during our Chapter gathering.

Of course, the weekend is not only work, work, work.  In the photos below, the Sisters enjoy some recreation time together.

Saturday's Reflection: "They have no wine."

We are grateful to Sister Marie Pauline Demek, SCC, for sharing this poem, which reflects on the Gospel of John and our 15th Provincial Chapter:

John 2/Chapter 15

"They have no wine."

 A great lack for a feast that unites.

Mary whispers the lack,

then takes the lead to make change ignite.

Authentic Woman,

in relationship with the One, 

she comes to understand her Son . . .

rooted in faith; harvested with trust,

whatever is asked -- is done -- 

what water was now wine becomes!

Lady, "Chosen Vessel, Chalice holy,"

we come ready -- to be wine-pressed

from within -- where all growth begins . . . 

wineskins for New Wine

-- wineskins wisdom-filled by prayer and giving;

-- wineskins brimming with compassion to heal what needs healing;

-- wineskins flowing forth new hopes for loving and living.

Mary, our Mother, 

Woman of the New Wine,

ask your son again, 

speak the lack we need to see,

and

like you --

new wineskins let us be!

- Sister Marie Pauline ministers at the Eastern Province Provincialate and Villa Pauline Retreat and Spiritual Center ( both in Mendham, NJ).
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The Sisters of Christian Charity of the North American Eastern Province began our Provincial Chapter on February 14, 2019. The Chapter will close on Monday, February 18.  Please join us in praying the prayer for our Provincial Chapter.

During the Chapter, we hope to post updates here and on our Facebook page.  Also, we are very happy to announce that the closing liturgy of our Provincial Chapter can be viewed live on Facebook.  Tune in on Monday, February 18 at 2:00 P.M. EST.  Hope to see you there!

More Provincial Chapter Moments

Friday began with Eucharistic Adoration.

A good breakfast fortified us for the day ahead.

Choosing table numbers

The Sisters prepare for the first session.

The work of the day continues.

Table discussions

Blessing bags being prepared

The Sisters write notes to include in the blessing bags.

Sister John Paul and Sister Josephine prepare snacks.

Friday's Reflection: Prayer, Discernment, Transformation

We are grateful to Sister Maria Pia Arca, SCC, for today's reflection:

As I started to read and meditate about the Provincial Chapter theme, "New Wine in New Wineskins," I realized that I needed to stop relying on books, YouTube, or TV for answers and to rely on God, who will show me, teach me and pour into me what I needed.  I asked, "Lord, what do new wineskins look like?"  Three words came to me very clearly -- prayer, discernment and transformation.

Prayer:  In my experience of working with the Sisters, I need to pray for fresh wine in every situation, every day.  As I pray to my Divine Spouse as a real person, He shows Himself to me in each sick and suffering Sister.  I pray for others from my heart, with love and faith.

Discernment:  As I allow the Holy Spirit to guide my meditations, I attempt to listen to what He tells me.  Can I shed the "old wineskin" in order to receive the "new wineskin" that God wants me to have?

Transformation:  Although releasing the old ways can be painful to my flesh, when I give up my old ways, I gain peace and joy.  When I allow my old self to die, God can pour new wine into my new wineskin.   Can I give God permission to lead me?  Can I allow transformation to happen both "outside in" and "inside out?"

- Sister Maria Pia ministers at Mallinckrodt Convent (Mendham, NJ).
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The Sisters of Christian Charity of the North American Eastern Province began our Provincial Chapter yesterday, February 14, 2019. The Chapter will close on Monday, February 18.  Please join us in praying the prayer for our Provincial Chapter.

During the Chapter, we hope to post updates here and on our Facebook page.  Also, we are very happy to announce that the closing liturgy of our Provincial Chapter can be viewed live on Facebook.  Tune in on Monday, February 18 at 2:00 P.M. EST.  Hope to see you there!

Provincial Chapter: Day One

Click here to access a series of photos from the Motherhouse prior to the beginning of Chapter on Thursday.

Here are some additional photos from the Votive Mass of the Holy Spirit and the opening of Chapter:

Entrance Procession

Sister Mary Ann proclaims the First Reading

Sister Mary Joan proclaims the Second Reading.

Sister Joanne shares greetings from our Superior General.

Father Joseph delivers the homily.

Father Joseph celebrates Mass.

Sister Mary Edward, Provincial Superior, welcomes the Sisters.

Sister Katie Clauss, IHM, Chapter facilitator, welcomes the Sisters.

Sister Josita explains the origin of our wine press display.

The wine press with our four founding Sisters watching over the room.

These items will be used to prepare "blessing bags" for the homeless.

Thursday's Reflection: "New Wine Moments"

We are grateful to Sister Elizabeth Kovacs, SCC, for sharing today's pre-Chapter reflection:

Change is not usually my favorite thing.  Most often, I find myself very content with things just the way they are.  So when we begin to discuss newness and moving into the unknown, I start getting the "heebie jeebies."

This past summer, the department in which I work went through a very dramatic transition.  Most of my beloved colleagues were replaced with new colleagues.  During this time, I found myself obsessively worried about the new people with whom I would be working.  As it turned out, the new providers are fantastic teammates, and we all work very cohesively together.

The few times I was transferred to different convents, I found myself very anxious about going to a new living situation.  Again, I would internally obsess over what I was getting into.  I have always found a wonderful home and deep joy wherever our Sisters are, and I have genuinely loved every place to which I have been assigned.

It is clear that all the time I often spend brooding over "What if . . .?" questions is such a waste of time and energy.  Throughout my entire life, God has challenged and surprised me with plans that I could have never imagined -- and, honestly, never would have chosen -- for myself.  He is constantly guiding and challenging me to experience new things.  Each new experience has been an unexpected gift that has brought me closer to God in trust.

In recalling some of these past "new wine" moments that God has poured upon me personally, I feel very excited about what this upcoming Chapter will hold for our Congregation.  I trust that He will lead us into an amazing future where we may continue to be "new wine" poured out for others in ways we could never have imagined!

- Sister Elizabeth ministers at Geisinger Holy Spirit (Camp Hill, PA).
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The Sisters of Christian Charity of the North American Eastern Province will begin our Provincial Chapter today, February 14, 2019. The Chapter will close on Monday, February 18.  Please join us in praying the prayer for our Provincial Chapter.

During the Chapter, we hope to post updates here and on our Facebook page.  Also, we are very happy to announce that the closing liturgy of our Provincial Chapter can be viewed live on Facebook.  Tune in on Monday, February 18 at 2:00 P.M. EST.  Hope to see you there!

Wednesday's Reflection: What Are You Seeking?

We are grateful to Sister Susan Keatley, SCC for sharing today's pre-Chapter reflection:

Jesus is walking down the road and he is aware someone is following him.  He does not turn around.  Instead, he continues to allow these men to follow him.  After a while, Jesus turns and looks the men in the eyes and says:  "So how is it going for you?"  "What are you seeking?"  (Paraphrased from Living the God-Breathed Life, by Thom Gardner)

When I first read Jesus' comment to his future disciples, "So how is it going?", I stopped dead in my tracks.  These few words touched the core of my being like a piercing light.  I cannot tell you how many times I have read or though of those words, and each time I go back to Jesus and say, "Come, Jesus. Show me the way."  He knows me better than I know myself.

When I read the Wedding Feast at Cana (John 2:1-12), my imagination took me to a great celebration of laughter, food, connection with friends and strangers, and the consumption of wine -- which heightens any celebration.  Mary recognized that the jars of wine were empty.  Amazingly, it was a woman who sensed the longing for MORE in the human heart.

I cannot help but think about the empty wine jars as symbols of myself as an empty vessel in search of that "SOMETHING" to fill my life.  How often are we those seekers of that "SOMETHING" like the empty jar?

As I have come to embrace my emptiness without running from it, I have discovered, like John the Baptist, that Jesus must increase and I must decrease.  THE EMPTY JAR IS NOW BEING FILLED WITH THE LIFE OF CHRIST.    Imagine each of us being filled to the brim with this profound and amazing grace and the LIFE OF CHRIST!  Our blindness becomes the vision of Jesus.  Our deafness becomes his capacity to hear the cry of the poor.  Our lameness is Jesus extending his hand for us to stand up with courage and walk into the future.

He will reveal his way for us during this Chapter.  He will, if we but listen to him and listen with a surrendering YES. Chapter is a time of awakening, a time of renewal, a time to ponder the questions of Jesus, individually and collectively -- "So how is it going?"  "What are we seeking?"  Could the answer be right in front of us in our grace-filled identity -- CHRISTIAN CHARITY, that is, Christ's love?  Is Jesus inviting us to delve deeply into that new life-giving wine?  Paraphrasing the words of Carole Marie Kelly:  When we discover a new level of existence and the life of the Word of God . . . we know we have found our true home (A Handful of Fire: Praying Contemplatively with Scripture).

- Sister Susan ministers at St. Mary Manor (Lansdale, PA).
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The Sisters of Christian Charity of the North American Eastern Province will hold our Provincial Chapter from February 14-18, 2019.  Please join us in praying the prayer for our Provincial Chapter.

Tuesday's Reflection: What Do I Bring?

We are grateful to Sister Mary Amata Reifsnyder, SCC, for sharing this pre-Chapter reflection:

Jesus referred to himself, his message, and its recipients as new wine poured into new wineskins.  As we prepare for this Provincial Chapter, I wonder how I am being asked to pour myself out?

If I am honest, fear sometimes gets the best of me and I worry that what I bring will not be enough.  I am slowly realizing that Christ isn't asking me for perfection.  He isn't asking that I come polished and perfect.  He just asks me to bring ordinary water so he can turn it into new wine.

I'm not sure what this Chapter will bring, but I know I bring my heart -- sometimes raw and broken, sometimes joyful, sometimes sorrowful.  I bring my struggles and my crosses, hoping to lay them down rather than to hold them in fear.  I bring my praise for God's blessings in good times and bad times.  I bring myself, ready to be broken and poured, hoping to be able to respond with a full-hearted "Yes" to God's call even when I am not sure where it will lead.

I bring all my intentions, big and small, to the God of miracles, knowing that transformation is not only a possibility, but also a catalyst for our mission:  "Transformed by a eucharistic lifestyle, we are impelled to give and receive Christ's love, joy, peace and healing for the life of the world" (Eastern Province Mission Statement).

- Sister Mary Amata ministers at St. Joseph's Health (Paterson, NJ).
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The Sisters of Christian Charity of the North American Eastern Province will hold our Provincial Chapter from February 14-18, 2019.  Please join us in praying the prayer for our Provincial Chapter.

Monday's Reflection: Make Us New Wine

We are grateful for today's pre-Chapter reflection from an anonymous Sister of Christian Charity:

Jesus, Real Presence
Poured in Consecrated Life
You make us new wine

The Presence of Jesus calls for new wineskin
We cannot live Consecrated Life without Him
Practices that neglect His teachings and way
Must be replaced with focus on Jesus today
Maybe we need to be stretched and simplify
From our comfort to sacrifice, to purify
As workaholism and relativism fill our culture
We are wine of Truth, we are spiritual mother
The essence of our wineskin is still based on His Presence
Consecration, Christ's beloved spouse, corporate witness
Just as Mother Pauline envisioned our lives of service
Let us be courageous in mission, not nervous
We are the new wine -- new, because of Christ's Presence within
Our way of life, reflecting this, is the new wineskin
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The Sisters of Christian Charity of the North American Eastern Province will hold our Provincial Chapter from February 14-18, 2019.  Please join us in praying the prayer for our Provincial Chapter.

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Today is the 27th World Day of the Sick.  In his message for this day (click here), Pope Francis urges all of us -- especially those engaging in the ministry of healthcare -- to promote "the culture of generosity and of gift, which is indispensable for overcoming the culture of profit and waste. . . . The joy of generous giving is a barometer of the healthy Christian."

We give thanks today for all Sisters of Christian Charity, past and present, who have given their lives to the ministry of healthcare. 

Sunday's Reflection: Sewing Cloth on an Old Cloak

We are grateful to Sister Regina Bathalon, SCC, for sharing this pre-Chapter reflection:

It has been hard for me to wrap my mind around the "New Wine in New Wineskins" theme because I have little to no understanding about wineskins (beyond what the Bible says).  However, Mark 2:18-22 struck me in a particular way that has helped me immensely.  Jesus, the incredible teacher that he was, couples his teaching about wineskins with something that I can totally relate to -- sewing!  "No one sews a piece of unshrunken cloth on an old cloak. . . ."

When I entered the community I tried to embrace different ways of being frugal.  Once (and only once) I tried patching a t-shirt.  I don't think the t-shirt made it through the wash one time before the hole had grown back.  It happened just as Jesus taught.  That was a waste of time, but I certainly learned a good lesson.

It may be silly that thinking of old t-shirts helps me so much to understand the theme of our Chapter, but it does.  You have a t-shirt for several good years.  It becomes comfortable with wear.  Perhaps it even takes you back to fond memories of when you got it. Inevitably, you start to notice that it becomes stretched out and dingy, or holes start to pull away at the seams.  Then one day, you have to decide that enough is enough.  You take out the scissors, re-purpose your favorite t-shirt, and your rag collection grows.  The next day is bittersweet as you get to take a new t-shirt out of the drawer and begin to break it in.  

I certainly don't mean to be diluting the reference to wine with talk of old t-shirts.  It hasn't escaped me that "new wine" speaks directly to our Eucharistic lifestyle and our mission statement which says that we are outpoured "for the life of the world."  My meditation on Mark 2:18-22 so clearly connects t-shirts, wine and community matters that will be addressed during our Provincial Chapter.  The process of change is so similar.  We have it. We love it. We use it up.  We need to move on and embrace the new.  With time the new will become comfortable.  That being said, it is much easier to move on to a new t-shirt than to embrace "New Wine."  Thank God for the help of the Holy Spirit who will direct our hearts and our work during the Provincial Chapter.

- Sister Regina ministers at the School of Saint Elizabeth (Bernardsville, NJ).

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The Sisters of Christian Charity of the North American Eastern Province will hold our Provincial Chapter from February 14-18, 2019.  Please join us in praying the prayer for our Provincial Chapter.

Saturday's Reflection: Prophetic and Liminal

We are grateful to Sister Mary Joseph Schultz, SCC, for sharing this pre-Chapter reflection:

In a mere three years, I will be celebrating my Golden Jubilee.  How is this possible?  And how is it possible that women religious are still unsettled, searching, re-organizing, and trying to discover the path of the Holy Spirit as they were when I was a novice right after the Council?  The answer is, “Because we are alive!”

Another answer lies in the webinar,  “New Wine in New Wineskins,” that we watched in preparation for the Chapter, where Brother Reginald Cruz, CFX, stated, “The Holy Spirit is disastrous!”  It is true!  The Spirit cannot be put into a container.  Religious life is a living organism, enlivened continually by the Spirit, and our survival depends on how well we listen and follow.

Wineskins are vessels for fermenting wine.  They must be strong but equally flexible.  The new wine of our lives that is put into the wineskins is not the wine that will be poured out.  If the new wine of 2019 religious life were to be poured into old 1972 wineskins -- our old ways of routine, safety and functionality -- the “disastrous” Spirit would soon explode the wineskins and all would be lost.

The new paradigm of religious life described in the document, New Wine in New Wineskins: The Consecrated Life and its Ongoing Challenges Since Vatican II, and explored by Brother Reginald states that today’s religious life is prophetic, charismatic, liminal, contemplative and non-generic.  It must be constantly developing and changing because that is what society is doing.  If we are not liminal, working at the margins, I believe we will be irrelevant.  Our self-understanding cannot be generic because our living charism and Mother Pauline’s spirit are alive in us.

I am truly excited about our Provincial and General Chapters because in my heart I believe women religious are needed now more than ever.  We have an integral part in the healing of our Church and the restoration of trust and credibility that has been destroyed.  May the Holy Spirit continue to be disastrous!

- Sister Mary Joseph ministers at the Church of Christ the King (New Vernon, NJ). 

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The Sisters of Christian Charity of the North American Eastern Province will hold our Provincial Chapter from February 14-18, 2019.  Please join us in praying the prayer for our Provincial Chapter.

Friday's Reflection: Becoming New Wine

We are grateful to Sister Mary Rose, Mroz, SCC, for sharing today's pre-Chapter reflection:

When we first started talking about the upcoming Chapter and "New Wine in New Wineskins," I must admit that I was not exactly looking forward to it.  In fact, the opposite is true.

First, there are the reflection questions and gatherings to discuss them.  Then, we must pull our local discussion into a coherent response (a job that usually falls to me).  It all just seemed to take too much time, to be too much to do and to be too overwhelming.  Additionally, I generally draw a blank when I start to reflect.  However, when we gather, we usually have a great discussion that winds up revitalizing me -- and, probably, all of us.  Then, the cycle starts over with the next set of reflections.

Now that the Chapter is drawing near, I think of the time that will be spent together with Sisters that I do not get the opportunity to see often and how we will catch up, share life and, of course, share and discuss Chapter topics.  Some things will be easier than others to discuss, some more spiritual and others more practical.  But all will call us to deepen our understanding and our commitment to our vowed life.  As I continue to pray and prepare, I can honestly say I am looking forward to it.

Whenever I read the Scripture about new wine in new wineskins, I feel a bit ill at ease.  Usually, my pragmatic nature wonders about practical uses for the old wineskins.  I tend more toward the wedding at Cana where the wine is in sensible jugs. They are reusable and much more attractive than an old-fashioned wineskin.  I realize that my reluctance to reflect on wineskins might be reluctance to let go of the "tried and true."

During our pre-Chapter discussions, I began to see some of the wisdom of our theme.  We are trying to be relevant in the 21st century, so clinging to constructs based on the 19th century (or earlier) might not be what we need to do.

My life as a consecrated religious is more about wine than about skin.  So, while the core processes of wine making do not change, there are changes to take into account from year to year, such as grapes, weather and soil, which make each batch of wine a new creation.  Jesus tells us that this new creation must be put into new wineskins.

We use what we have learned from the past, keeping what is of value, and we let go of those things that will hold us back from living and ministering effectively in today's world.  In order for us to grow and thrive, we must create and embrace new wineskins that can both hold and expand with the wine we are currently creating.

-Sister Mary Rose ministers at Vitality Catholic Healthcare Services (Camden, NJ).
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The Sisters of Christian Charity of the North American Eastern Province will hold our Provincial Chapter from February 14-18, 2019.  Please join us in praying the prayer for our Provincial Chapter.

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Today -- the Feast of St. Josephine Bakhita -- is the International Day of Prayer and Awareness Against Human Trafficking.  Click here to access the St. Josephine Bakhita prayer card from the USCCB.

Thursday's Reflection: Embracing Change

We are grateful to Sister Gerardine Tantsits, SCC, for sharing today's pre-Chapter reflection:

In a homily (available here) from August 5, 2015, "New Wine and Old Wineskins," Bishop Darlingston Johnson, of Bethel World Outreach -- City of Hope, spoke about the importance of embracing change.  His homily focused on what Jesus had to say about change, especially in Luke 5, when Jesus was feasting in Matthew's house.  The Pharisees and scribes ask (v. 30), "Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?" Then they say (v. 33), "The disciples of John fast often and offer prayers, and the disciples of the Pharisees do the same; but yours eat and drink."

Bishop Johnson explains that Jesus' reply to this question shows that it is more important to feast with sinners than to fast with saints.  So, by teaching his disciples to prioritize people over things, Jesus was changing the way things had always been done.  Additionally, Jesus acknowledged the difficulty of change when he said (v. 39), "No one who has been drinking old wine desires new, for he says, 'The old is good.'"

The reference to our Chapter theme appears in Jesus' words in verses 37-38:  "No one pours new wine into old wineskins.  Otherwise, the new wine will burst the skins, and it will be spilled, and the skins will be ruined.  Rather, new wine must be poured into fresh wineskins.'"

When wine is fermenting, it releases gases that create pressure and stress on the animal skin, which needs to be flexible in order to accommodate the expanding gases.  But the old skins have been stretched numerous times and can no longer expand.  If you put new wine into old wineskins, the skin will burst because it cannot accommodate the change.

Jesus asks us to be sensitive enough to recognize when the old has served its purpose and to let go of the old and embrace the new.  How can we cooperate with Jesus so that we do not allow what has always been to prevent us from accepting what could be?

In his homily, Bishop Johnson refers to a study by Professor Howard Hendricks, who notes that when change is introduced:

• 3% of people are early innovators of the change.
• 13% of people are early adapters.
• 34% of people are the "slow majority" that will follow the early innovators and early adapters.
• 34% of people are the "reluctant majority" that will follow, but will not like it.
• 16% of people refuse to change.

God is doing something new among us.  Which of these people will you be?  Will you be an old wineskin or a new wineskin?

- Sister Gerardine ministers at the Passaic Neighborhood Center for Women (Passaic, NJ).

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The Sisters of Christian Charity of the North American Eastern Province will hold our Provincial Chapter from February 14-18, 2019.  Please join us in praying the prayer for our Provincial Chapter.

Wednesday's Reflection: Chapter Theme in Art

We are grateful to Sister Josephine Wagner, SCC, for sharing this pre-Chapter reflection:

While this work of art speaks for itself, a brief explanation is included here:  This Sister of Christian Charity bears the names of her Sisters around the world.  She also carries a new wineskin inscribed with an excerpt of the First Draft Toward the Constitutions of the Congregation of the Sisters of Christian Charity, written in 1849 by our Founder, Pauline von Mallinckrodt.  The excerpt begins:  "The purpose of the Congregation of the Sisters of Christian Charity is to glorify Our Lord and Savior, the source and model of holy charity. . . ."  The blood which flows from the wounded hand of Jesus -- the new wine poured into the new wineskin -- is made up of the words that every Sister of Christian Charity says at her first profession, at every renewal of vows and at her perpetual profession, beginning with, "In response to God's call and with firm determination to consecrate myself completely to him and to follow Christ more closely throughout my entire life, . . ."

- Sister Josephine ministers at Little Flower Manor (Wilkes-Barre, PA).
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The Sisters of Christian Charity of the North American Eastern Province will hold our Provincial Chapter from February 14-18, 2019.  Please join us in praying the prayer for our Provincial Chapter.