Of Storms and Such

Living in a community whose members come from all over the map, provides an opportunity in times like these when tornados & disasters hit so many places to starkly experience St. Paul’s words: “When one member of the body suffers, all the members suffer with it.” While we were spared the more tragic devastation left by the tornadoes that recently tore through nearby Cullman, the effects of these events were experienced far outside the destruction zones. While our daily lot following April 27th consisted of finding inventive ways to carry out various tasks without electricity, many of our neighbors were doing without so much more, and grieving much loss. Waiting through each funnel sighting in the crypt chapel in silent prayer with families who were wondering if they would have a home to return to was a sobering reality. During the critical storm hours and ever since, we have benefited from the compassion – the ‘suffering-with’ of our family and friends who offered up prayers & wrote or called in concern. Even more recently, as Sisters with families in the red zones of the Midwest storms prayed for their safety, all shared the burden of their apprehension and intercession. This is one of the beauties of our life as Christians! When the deeper questions of life surface, especially in such drastic circumstances as various areas in our country have seen, one must look deeper. Here, in the greater picture of life and in very real situations, one can find oneself as it were in the parable of the Good Samaritan, the illustration of the house built on rock, or the agony in the Garden – watching with Christ and the suffering members of His Body. When we respond to these opportunities to bring help, to provide support and offer prayers for our brothers and sisters, the reward offered to us surpasses what we can give – that is - hearing the words of Jesus spoken in the Gospel… “you did it to me.”

Silver Celebration

On April 30^th, despite the horrific storms, tornados and catastrophes that occurred earlier that week here in Hanceville and nearby Cullman, we had a great reason to rejoice in God’s goodness and mercy. On that eve of Divine Mercy Sunday, Sr. Mary Agnes of Jesus celebrated 25 years of Religious Life! One of the verses Sister chose to commemorate this milestone was taken from Revelation: "Be faithful until death and I will give you the crown of life." As Fr. Joseph, MFVA mentioned in his homily at the Jubilee Mass, it was a most fitting day to celebrate ‘faithful love’ – Sister’s fidelity to Christ in prayer for the Church and in a special way, for the newly beatified John Paul II! Could there be a better anniversary gift than to see the person one had been interceding for, for so many years, raised up as a Blesssed?! Overwhelmingly apparent too, was the evidence of God’s faithfulness as he brought Sister and her family together in the midst of terrific ‘odds’ for this joyous occasion! Having become a bride of Christ during the Easter season more than two decades ago, there could be no better time for Sr. Agnes to renew her vows than during the Easter octave – the great ‘day that the Lord has made!’ The ingenuity exercised by all – cooks, sacristans, etc… as they prepared by daylight & lantern light for this celebration, certainly added to the solemnity of the day! We give thanks to God for all the ways He has blessed us and the whole Church through Sr. Agnes’ fidelity these 25 years! May He continue and fulfill the good work begun in His bride 25 years ago!

Thank you to all who kept us in prayer during the tornados that recently swept through Alabama. God certainly preserved us from harm and we cannot thank Him enough - that alone is enough for a post of its own!!! Our prayers are with those suffering from the immense destruction the storms caused and those who are struggling to live day by day.