January 2024 News - Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word, Houston, TX

January 2024 E-NEWS Pope's Prayer Intention for January

For the gift of diversity in the Church: Let us pray that the Spirit help us recognize the gift of different charisms within the Christian community, and to discover the richness of different ritual traditions in the heart of the Catholic Church.

Mary, Mother of God

Theotokos, in Greek, meaning God-bearer, is a beautiful title of Mary. During the Christmas Octave, we remember Mary's divine motherhood which adds a feeling of Christmas joy. It is a day of prayer for world peace. Mary is the mother of the Prince of Peace. It is the first day of the new year. Mary continues to give new life to us her children, who are also God's children.

Poem by Sister Sheila Marie O’Sullivan From Reflections on the Scriptures and Other Poems

Back in the Godhead, Jesus, Before you took flesh In the womb of Mary And before she said, “Yes”

At someone so beautiful So gentle, so young The woman God chose To give birth to His Son.

Did you wonder what this world Would look like through human eyes?

Did you long to see each creature And were you surprised …?

Yes, this was your mother.

You are in her hands now.

Back then, she would take care of you You knew, somehow!

On the night you were born When you looked up and saw A creature so lovely Were you filled with awe …?

You closed your eyes again You could think of none other Than the beautiful woman Who is now your mother!

And wonder and delight As she looked at you there Holding you lovingly, Didn’t you stare?

January 2024 News & Notes

Celebrating the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe

by Marcella Cabrera, Casa San José, Program Assistant The women’s group that meets at the CCVI Casa San José Ministry at Brookdale Village Apartments organized its second annual Novena Prayer to Our Lady of Guadalupe, which drew hundreds of faithful to pray the rosary and venerate the Blessed Mother between December 3 and December 12.

On the 8th, I attended the 5th day of the novena. I was expecting a 20-minute rosary, but, to my amazement, the ladies of the women's group, Voces de Maria Rosa Mistica, had other plans. The ladies had organized a procession of about 10 people who were carrying the Virgen de Guadalupe and singing songs in her honor. You could hear the beautiful voices coming from far away. We were a handful of people waiting for the Virgen to arrive, but as the music got closer, the crowd got bigger. They set the altar down in front of us with the beautiful statue of the Virgen in the middle, adorned by various roses and other flowers. As we started praying, more than 25 chairs filled up, and more people stood behind us. It was a full house that night as we prayed the sorrowful mysteries.

So, for nine consecutive days, our ladies group, together with people from our community, committed to praying the rosary. On the last day, the same group of people prayed the joyful mysteries and sang songs, accompanied by a much larger crowd who came to honor the patroness of the Americas. Afterward, they celebrated by serving tamales, pizza, coffee, and hot chocolate.

January 2024 News & Notes

CHRISTMAS CAROLING AT

The Villa

January 2024 News & Notes

January 2024 News & Notes

Christmas Festivity

by Sister Ethel Puno, CCVI This year’s annual Christmas party for our Villa Associates, with many of the Sisters present, was very memorable and truly festive. The celebration started with a prayer service at the Villa Chapel, followed by a festive luncheon at Dubuis Conference Center. Sr. Rachel O’Keeffe, Villa De Matel Administrator, welcomed everyone and led the blessing of the food. Sr. Celeste Trahan, Congregational Leader, addressed the staff, expressing gratitude and sincere appreciation to all of the associates on behalf of the Sisters.

Twenty-one associates were especially honored for their years of service; one special associate was voted Associate of the Year for her faithful and excellent work, and another associate was honored as he retired after 19 years.

Deidra Payne, Linda Malagon, Monica Hatcher, Manjuka Weragampita Dissanayake, and Shirley Warren have been with us for 5 years.

Hanna Woldeyohannes and Maria Hernandez-Gomez have been with us for 15 years.

January 2024 News & Notes

Lisseth Berrios, Mary Gold Te, Patricia Lopez, Stephany Martinez, Veronica Garza, and Osakpamwan Ojo-idahosa have been with us for 10 years.

Three associates have graced us with 20 years of service: Carol Rodriguez, Jeff Mabson, and Ruben Hernandez.

Denise Phillips Blaise has been with us for 25 years.

Our Human Resources Director, Toni Stanford, was recognized for her 30 years of service.

Howard Gordon, Anthony Garcia, and Ignacio Ramirez were honored for 35 years of faithful service.

Carmen, Associate of the Year, pictured with Sr. Rachel O’Keeffe.

Carmen Rodriguez, this year's Associate of the Year, was completely taken aback when she heard her name called; however, it was no surprise to anyone else why she was voted for this special award because she is very dedicated, hardworking, and excellent in what she does.

Jim Kubin attended as our retiree this year. His wife, mother, two sisters, and niece came to support him.

Everyone cheered with excitement and support for the honored associates as they came up one by one to receive their plaques. Everybody also enjoyed a scrumptious meal and had fun during the raffle of poinsettias and gift baskets. We, the Sisters, are blessed to have so many amazing associates working with us and who have worked with us over the years! May God continue to bless them in all they do.

January 2024 News & Notes

by Sr. Adel Leonida, CCVI On December 4, 2023, the Lights Up Carrigoran House event ushered in the residents, staff, and administrators alike for the holidays. For the first time, Christmas lights were set up on the grounds so that residents could enjoy the spectacular view of the lights from every window. The event was well attended by people from neighboring areas like New Market, Shannon, and Six Mile Bridge. The administrators and staff served mulled wine and minced pies to residents and guests. Aside from receiving special treats, the children in attendance had the chance to take a picture with Santa Claus. The festive mood was further enhanced with the singing of Christmas carols by the Shannon Golf Club members. One of the highlights was the raffle, where the majority of winners were families of residents. The day after the event, residents commented that they had the most magnificent view of the lights from their windows.

Days leading up to the event, Irish singer-songwriter PJ Murrihy performed for the residents, and then in the succeeding days, they listened to Christmas carols, followed by choirs from different neighboring school districts, which provided not only entertainment but also set a festive mood among the residents, which got them excited for the Christmas season.

January 2024 News & Notes

St. Austin Literacy LEARNING TOGETHER

PRAYING TOGETHER

CELEBRATING TOGETHER

January 2024 News & Notes

By Sr. Helena A. Ogbuji, CCVI The Sisters in Formation and Vocation ministries as well as the Leadership Team, gathered in Houston, Texas, for our biennial international meeting from November 26 to 30, 2023. The theme for our international meetings was: “The Emmaus Walk: Recognizing Jesus on the Vocation and Formation Journey.” All the Sisters in formation and vocation ministries/team members were physically present.

Africa Region: Sisters Annunciata Kavinya Kisuva, Edith Wasike Bulubisi, Justina Nzula Mutiso, and Rose Nyambura Githuka.

Central America Region: Sisters Ernestina Mejia Chavez, Maria Magdalena Rodriguez Ortiz, Maria Ubalda Romero Ramirez and Vilma Ramos.

United States Region: Sisters Deenan Hubbard, Ethel Puno, Helena Adaku Ogbuji, Ita Harnett, and Kim Xuan Nguyen.

Leadership Team: Sisters Betty Campos Arias, Celeste Trahan, Joyce Susan Njeri Mbataru, KimPhuong Tran, and Ricca Dimalibot.

The meeting began with Solemn Vespers on Sunday, November 26, 2023, at 4:30 p.m. on the Solemnity of Christ the King. Sr. Celeste Trahan, Congregational Leader, officiated the evening vespers.

In her opening remarks, Sr. Celeste welcomed and thanked the attendees for their ministries, which are essential for the Congregation. She urged us to continue to journey more compassionately with the younger Sisters in their different formative stages. She reiterated the importance of these two ministries (Vocation and Formation) as the foundation for the congregation's future. After the vespers, we enjoyed a festive dinner at the Villa dining room with many Sisters present.

During the meetings, we had excellent speakers and relevant topics for formation and vocation ministries. On Monday, November 27, Fr. William Jarema (Mercy Center, Colorado) spoke on “Incarnational Spirituality: Nourishing our Spiritual, Mental, and Emotional Life.” He stressed the need for self-care of those in ministries and for us to become more balanced spiritually, physically, mentally, emotionally, and psychologically. We are encouraged to fall in love with what we do and to begin each day with our cup full of compassion to use!

January 2024 News & Notes

On Tuesday, November 28, Sr. Rose Pacatte (Daughters of St. Paul) shared around: “Reimagining Consecrated Life in Our Changing and Digital World.” Sr. Rose took us through the challenges and benefits of the digital age. We pondered these questions: What are the best practices for digital control and addiction? Do we have plans for a digital culture? What are the implications of the digital age for religious life? Are we aware of the Church’s stance on technological advancement? What kinds of stories do we tell on our website? How do we use stories to bring people to Jesus? She encouraged us to play an active role in shaping the world's future through social media. We do that by updating our website, telling stories so people can return to the website to be enriched, using the internet for outreach and evangelical/spiritual services, creating an online spiritual community, enhancing lifelong learning, and empowering others through digital platforms. She finally advised us to have balanced online and offline aspects of life. These two talks were opened to all the CCVI Sisters. Some Sisters were physically present, while others joined through Zoom.

Sr. Mary Pat Garvin (Sisters of Mercy of the Americas) presented on: “Walking the Road to Emmaus: Accompanying as Jesus Accompanied,” on Wednesday, November 29. Sister Mary Pat reminded us that the women in formation are the main actors on the journey, and they need to take the initiative. We are only to “listen with the ear of our hearts,” as Jesus did. The model Jesus used to accompany the disciples to Emmaus was that Jesus joined them, walked with them, talked with them, and empowered them to become better disciples to spread the Good News. Just as Jesus noticed the facial expressions, tone of voice, and emotions of the disciples, formators and vocation animators are to listen deeply with compassion and walk side by side with those in formation.

The meeting ended on Thursday, November 30, 2023, with a sharing around the issues that concern formation and vocation ministries. In the evening, we were treated to a festive dinner at Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen, Houston, by the Leadership Team. We thank all our Sisters for praying for vocations to our Congregation. May God continue to bring laborers into His vineyard!

Praised be the Incarnate Word—Forever!

January 2024 News & Notes

From December 15 to 17, 2023, the Sisters in annual vows gathered in Houston for their international workshop entitled: Living a Balanced and Holistic Vowed Life as Consecrated Religious and Its Challenges Today. All the nine Sisters in annual vows were present. Six were physically present: Sisters Adelwisa Leonida, Benedetta Malindi, Cecilia Tran, Juana Matias Tomas, Lilian Nyongesa, and Sharon Anam. The other three Sisters joined from Kenya through Zoom: Sisters Agather Nakiweewa, Christine Baraza, and Fridah Munjuri. The four second-year novices joined the workshop: Sisters Maruca Ramirez Lopez, Minh Tran, My Nguyen, and Noella Alice Kashemwa. Sister Helena Ogbuji, their director, and Sister Celeste Trahan, Congregational Leader, were also present during the three-day workshop.

The workshop was facilitated by Sr. Linda Buck, Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange, CA.

January 2024 News & Notes

During these days, Sr. Linda led us to reflect on what helps us flourish or challenges us in community relationships. What allows us to flourish or challenges us in ministerial relationships? Quoting Richard Rohr (OFM), she explains: “We all seem to be suffering from a case of mistaken identity. Life is a matter of becoming fully and consciously who we already are. But it is a self that we largely do not know.” She asked the questions: Who did you learn to be? Who are you called to be? She emphasized that no holistic living will exist without adequate self-care and healthy boundaries. When we do not take care of ourselves, we experience burnout and become overly irritated, grumpy, and extremely tired; we experience sleepless nights, unexplained tension, feelings of helplessness, and stress all the time. The Sisters enjoyed these days and have these to say in their own words: I found the workshop very informative and engaging. Our facilitator, Sr. Linda Buck, was knowledgeable, and she used her life experiences to explain the challenges of living a holistic life in religious life. Our shared experiences united and bonded us. As I progress in my formation, I will continue to be self-reflective on the importance of being aware of what’s happening with myself and around me. I will also continue to deepen my relationship with the God of my life in my reflective prayers and seek wisdom through spiritual direction. To work on my wholeness, I realized the importance of setting boundaries and effective management of priorities for my goal of holistic living and selfcare as a religious sister. ―Sr. Adelwisa Leonida. ,

Although I participated through Zoom, I felt connected with my sisters. Sharing time and inspiring stories with my sisters in annual vows is pleasurable. I am so thankful for the workshop. I have been inspired and know that my past does not define me. I can be free from its constraints but guided by its wisdom. We all struggle with something, but I must take one step at a time and fully live my religious call. ―Sr. Agather Nakiweewa.

January 2024 News & Notes

Embarking on the sacred journey of living a balanced and holistic vowed life as a consecrated religious, life today is a captivating tapestry of integration skillfully weaving the threads of tradition into the vibrant fabric of the present. The challenge lies in the compelling call to a radical wholeness, a transformative embrace, where every side of life harmoniously converges. This invites me to a complex dance to navigate the ever-evolving realities of the contemporary world. At the heart of this journey is the commitment to living a relational life where the bonds cultivated within the communities and society blossom into an enchanting garden of authenticity and mutual support. Yet, the challenge unfolds in the rhythm of today's fast-paced currents, demanding a delicate balance. How do I construct a bridge that spans from the rich tapestry of my past to the dynamic demands of the present? On the other hand, holistic living and self-care emerge as practices and acts of profound nurturing parallel to cultivating a garden with meticulous care and intentional attention. The challenge lies in recognizing that self-care is not a luxury but an indispensable wellspring of vitality. It ensures that the soil of my inner self remains fertile, replenished, and resilient in the face of the demanding commitments intrinsic to consecrated life. In this intricate dance of integration and authenticity, living out my narrative becomes a compelling challenge and a source of profound strength. Like radiant beacons, my narratives guide me toward a deeper understanding of who I am and who I am becoming as I enjoy my life as a consecrated religious. ―Sr. Benedetta Malindi.

“I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall be always in my mouth." I wrote my reflection on Psalm 34 for the term paper this semester and have been praying with it. It came back to me when I reflected on our meeting for the annually professed with Sr. Linda Buck, CSJ. No matter where we are, Kenya, Central America, Ireland, and the US, we are called to live a relational life with one another in the Incarnate Word, a call to radical wholeness. Nine of us and the four novices, gathered on Zoom and in person to learn, share and support one another in the "Journey towards God." We hold each other accountable and remind each other that we've received many blessings from God, our families, and our Congregation; therefore, we should "bless the Lord at all times" and be forever grateful.

Thank you, especially to Sisters Celeste and Helena, for journeying with us. I pray that each of us will continue to broaden the "open" part of the "Johari window," to take care of ourselves, to live the vows authentically and holistically, and "live out of our narratives" according to God's will for us. ―Sr. Cecilia Tran.

The importance of self-care came out strongly during our workshop. It is necessary for me as a religious person because when the mind, body, and spirit receive what they need, I fully live and flourish in the here and now. Self-care plays a significant role as I strive to integrate and balance my prayer life, community life, and ministry. This is living a holistic vowed life. ―Sr. Christine Baraza.

January 2024 News & Notes

I am so grateful to God for this nourishing three-day workshop. Our presenter and my sisters shared their lived experiences from their hearts. I have reflected on the question: What is God's deepest desire for me? This question has awakened my soul again as it calls me to repeatedly sit, relax, and pray over it. This question sounds pregnant because I can imagine God's deepest desire for me. However, during the presentation, I picked the sentence that said, God's deepest desire for me is to realize the full potential of who I am meant to be. Precisely, this sounds very true. If only I could catch a glimpse of who I truly am by the guidance of the Holy Spirit and live it to the fullest, then I would be living the desires of God. In line with this, I still affirm that God wants me to be joyful in any vocation I find myself in. I have the freedom to choose and should not complain about the life I have chosen freely. I pray that no challenge I find in my way will diminish the joy I feel in me but that I will be strengthened by it. This will help me grow spiritually and reach a higher level of faith and total surrender to the Incarnate Word. ―Sr. Fridah Munjuri.

Living a balanced and holistic vowed life as consecrated religious today means becoming more integrated and allowing my body, mind, and spirit to stay connected for a healthy and better relationship with God so that I can be a prophetic voice in the Church, community, and ministry. Furthermore, becoming an integrated person helps me have an immense love for the Incarnate Word, and I will radiate this love amid challenges, expectations, and biases. I cannot get drowned in difficulties and negativity and forget who I am, but rather, I must learn from them to flourish in God’s mission and reach the potential to which I am called. ―Sr. Juana Matias Tomas.

My call to radical wholeness is to care for myself holistically, mind, body, and spirit, and become aware of what will help me flourish in my religious vocation. I am reminded to integrate and balance my community, ministry, and prayer life through healthy self-care. I have learned to gather wisdom from my past narratives and to practice gratitude in every experience l encounter in life. I will summarize my reflection with the words of C.G. Jung: "The privilege of a lifetime is to become who you truly are." l firmly believe that it is God's deepest desire for me. I thank the Leadership Team for this opportunity and Sr. Helena for planning this workshop. I feel enriched and rejuvenated. ―Sr. Lilian Nyongesa.

January 2024 News & Notes

In my call to radical wholeness as a vowed religious, I am to be more prophetic in the world through my daily living. Living a relational life entails being in a relationship with God, self, creation, community, family, and people in ministry. This web of relationality is broken when I make the wrong choices and do not value the dignity of God’s creation. I am a social being, created to be in union with the whole creation. Any negative interruption to this web of relationality causes me suffering as an individual. ―Sr. Sharon Anam.

At the end of the workshop, the Sisters in annual vows and the novices entertained all the Sisters at the Villa dining room. Praised be the Incarnate Word―Forever!

January 2024 News & Notes

Martin Luther King, Jr. By: Dorothy Harris, Villa librarian Martin Luther King Day is a federal holiday held on the third Monday of January. The King holiday observance is a time to celebrate, commemorate, and honor the life, legacy, and impact of Martin Luther King, Jr. Dr. King, an influential American civil rights leader, was born in Atlanta, Georgia, on January 15, 1929. He is most well-known for his contributions to the American civil rights movement, his principles of nonviolence, and his efforts to create monumental change in U.S. legislation. His most famous address was his “I Have a Dream” speech delivered on August 28, 1963, at the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D. C. He became the youngest man awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964. On April 4, 1968, an assassin took Dr. King’s life as he stood on the balcony of his room at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee.

Celebrating MLK day every year helps to remind all of us that what he believed and stood for continues to be true and relevant today.

January 2024 2024 News News && Notes Notes January

Groundbreaking Ceremony for the Archbishop Joseph A. Fiorenza Plaza

DEC. 18, 2023 January 2024 News & Notes

Wise words to keep in mind so we may look at life and remain grateful and steadfast in living it lovingly and to the fullest.

January 2024 News & Notes