Following Vespers the evening before All Saints Day, we celebrated our communion with the Saints in glory. The most anticipated moment followed supper, when a basket was passed round the table and each sister chose (blindly!) her new patrons for the year. Although we draw from among the slips of paper, it seems that it is the Saint who chooses the sister! Sometimes the correlation between the two souls can be surprising or amusing… and other times the significance is imperceptible.
It is an altogether enjoyable tradition and being able to count on the intercession of these holy men and women gives a great assurance that friends above are helping us. This year on November 1st we also had the joy of anticipating the investment ceremony of one of our postulants (formerly Sr. Nicole) who this past November 5th became Sr. Marie Celine of Our Lady, Handmaid of the Lord! Named after the virgin martyr Saint Cecilia, our new novice is still glowing with the joy of being ‘called by name’ and clothed in the religious habit. There was also striking evidence that Divine Providence was at work on Sister’s behalf… Fr. Joseph MFVA chose the votive Mass for Our Lady, Handmaid of the Lord not knowing that that was the title chosen for Sr. Marie Celine! Congratulations to our Sister and her family! Please pray for our fervent new novice that she will always be filled with the joy that comes with responding to God’s ever-inviting grace. Ecce ancilla Domine, fiat mihi secundum verbum tuum… Behold the handmaid of the Lord, be it done unto me according to thy word!The above pictures show the soon-to-be Sr. Marie Celine having her hair shorn at the Investment ceremony and the newly clothed novice.
7 comments:
Congratulations on Sister Marie Celine's investiture!
Actually, there IS a Saint named 'Celine' (her actual name is 'Celina'....'Celine' is the French spelling). She was the mother of St. Remigius, first Bishop of Reims, France. He baptized Clovis, the first Christian King of France, in the year 496.
And of course, Celine was the name of the beloved sister of St. Therese of Lisieux! Also, Therese used to get pretty ticked off when she saw any calendars that didn't have St. Celine's name on it!
Barb from NY
What a wonderful testimony of saying yes to God. May the Lord richly bless you, Sr. Marie Celine, and grant you more graces than you could possible imagine!
Congrats big sister! I am soooo proud of you! You are in my constant thoughts and prayers! God bless you and all of the other sisters!!!!
With love,
Tori Schmidt...a.k.a..Sr. Marie Celine's sister!
I was unable to attend the ceremony, but was there in spirit. Sr. Marie Celine is an inspiration to so many. I know that her parents and siblings are very proud of her, so am I. God Bless You Sr. Marie Celine. You and your family are in my prayers.
Love you,
Laura Jenkins from St. Peters's Catholic Church, Pine Prairie, La.
Sr. Marie Celine,
I'm so proud to be your pastor. OH yea, your candle is still burning.
Love,
Fr. Richard Dale Broussard
Thank you Sisters! Your lives are a great support for the rest of us.
Hi Sister Marie Celine, Congratulations on this awesome step in your life! We are proud to know you and your family. Please pray for our family during your visits to our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament.
The Paul and Ruby Mayeux, children Sarah, Nicholas, Ashley, Luke, Joseph, John, and Isabella from Orange, Texas
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