Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity were ‘named’ recently both at St. Thomas More Newman Center, Ohio State University and among Nazareth Young Adults, an outreach of Holy Family Parish, Fond du Lac, WI. Having a new found identity in both these Spirited settings is totally awesome. After all, one serves the largest university in the nation and the other the largest parish in Wisconsn.
It was on Good Shepherd Sunday Eucharist, May 15, 2011, that Paulist Father Vinny McKiernan introduced us (Sister Mary Ann Spanjers and Sister Julie Ann Sheahan) from Wisconsin to the Ohio congregation and reminded all gathered at Mass that the “Lord calls us to love our enemies!” Needless to say, this kind of ‘naming’ leaves a lasting impression. We met other good-humored Paulists Father Joe Ciccone and Father Chuck Cunniff, Campus Minister Austin Schafer and of course, the students themselves, who make a Sunday evening spaghetti dinner a tradition. Food and fellowship was good. Count on us to return.
Later this week, precisely Tuesday May 17th, it was Christina Novak who ‘called us by name’. She sent out a notice that Nazareth Young Adults should come, be inspired and find out how prayer can become a catalyst for faith-filled action! That’s where we Franciscan Sisters came in. We presented on ‘Eucharist: Adoration to Action’ using the writings of St. Francis and St. Clare.
Picture having Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament after some interactive sharing with a group that are committed to getting together. (Thank you, Father Luke Strand, for presiding over this communal prayer including Benediction.) Another perfect evening with possible life-changing consequences and the beginnings of new relationships.
It feels good to be called by name. (Here’s another example…Father Michael Gorman names us at Cathedral of St. Joseph the Worker Parish, La Crosse WI! When was the last time you felt good about being ‘named’?