September News - Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word, Houston

Pope's Prayer Intention for September

September 2023

For people living on the margins: Weprayforthosepersonsliving onthemarginsofsociety,ininhumanelifeconditions;maytheynot be overlooked by institutions and never considered of lesser importance.

Sister Celestine Kavanagh

Sr.Celestine,(Catherine)wasborntoJuliaandJamesKavanaghonFebruary10,1933,in Cranmore,CoCarlow,Irelandwhereshewasbaptized,receivedherfirstHolyCommunion andconfirmationaswellasprimaryandsecondaryeducation.Inherlateteenageyears,she decidedtobecomeanurseandbeganthisjourneybyenrollingintheNationalMaternity HospitalinDublin,Ireland,totrainasamidwife.SheservedasastudentnurseatCity GeneralHospital,Stoke-onTrentinStaffordshire,Englandgraduatingasaregisterednurse in1956.TwoyearslatershereturnedtotheNationalMaternityHospitalinDublinwhereshe receivedcertificationasamidwifeinIreland,England,andWales.

ShejoinedthePostulancyoftheSistersofCharityoftheIncarnateWord,HoustonatSt. Michael’sConventinCarrigoran,Co.ClareonJune29,1959,andcompletedthisprocessby travellingtoVilladeMatel,Houston,TexasonJanuary2,1960,wheresheenteredthe NovitiateonAugust15,1960.ThedateofherFirstProfessionofvowswasAugust15,1962. ShecelebratedherPerpetualProfessiononthatsamedatein1967.

WhenSr.Celestinepassedherstateboardexaminationin1962,sheimmediatelybegan ministeringintheCongregation’shealthcareministryatSt.JosephHospitalinHouston, TexasandcontinuedservingasaNursingSupervisorinTexas,Louisiana,andCaliforniafora totalof17years.Meanwhile,eventswerehappeningfarawayinKenyawhichwouldradically changeherlife.

On April 12, 1981, Sr. Loyola, CCVI General Superior, received a letter from Sr. Rosa Marta, CVI. She and her sisters were serving in East Pokot, Diocese of Nakuru in Kenya. In this letter Sr. Rosa wrote: “The Bishop told me that by September he needs a nurse to initiate a public health /preventive medicine project for approximately 3 years. She could live with us. The Bishop prefers a sister for this apostolate, but if there is none, maybe a very fervent apostolic lay nurse. Would you be interested in your Congregationhelpingwithasisterforthisneed?”

In her letter dated May 18, 1981, Sr. Loyola responded to Sr. Rosa Marta saying: “I shared most of your letter with our Sisters in our April newsletter. I did not ask specifically for anyone to respond; but three of our nursing Sisters did so. I am asking Sr. Celestine Kavanagh to answer the call from Africa. In fact, I talked to her just a few minutes ago and she is excited and delighted at this new opportunity and challenge. Sister Celestine is presently stationed at St. Joseph Hospital, 1919 La Branch Houston, Texas 77002, U.S.A.”

In her own story about her Kenyan experience, Sister Celestine wrote: “It was my privilege to volunteer for a Kenyan mission in August 1981. My first 6 months in the country were spent learning the Swahili language and, in general, getting acquainted with the traditions, customs and rituals of the Pokot people with whom I would be working. I also got registered as a nurse and midwife in Kenya and became acquainted with the District Medical Officer (DMO). With his help I learned about my medical parameters in Kenya. The Health Promotion, Disease Prevention Project that I was to lead had 3 phases, Immunization, Antenatal Care and Basic Hygiene for Adults and Children. This task was approached by training groups of Health Extension Workers, selected, and approved locally by the elders in each area. They were assigned to an area to work closely with a goup of families to teach the basics of simple hygiene, use of household remedies, the making of oral rehydration drinks and basic childcare. In addition, they were given antimalarial drugs with specific instructions for use with recognizedsymptomsandsignsofmalaria.

Sister Celestine on a truck moving furniture, passing through the equator (1981)

At first, I visited each of the areas to support the Health Extension Workers and to resupply their needs. We held monthly ‘Integrated Clinics’ in each area, where, because the people walked a long way to the clinic and back home, we tried to care for many needs.”

In addition to her love for the Pokot people and her appreciation for the natural beauty of the country Sr. Celestine was especially grateful for the elders, the Health Extension Workers, and the friendship of other missionaries. She also was fortunate in meeting the U.S. Ambassador to Kenya, who provided two refrigerators for preserving medications. Before returning from Kenya on March 3, 1985, she wrote “Even though distances were enormous and tiresome, I found people helpful everywhere I turned, andsoIkeptfromgettingdiscouragedattheenormityofthetaskthatlayahead.”

Sr. Celestine had sabbatical time in Spokane, Washington and Hopedale, Arizona from 1985-1987. She was then missioned to St. Patrick Hospital in Lake Charles, Louisiana, and to St. Elizabeth Hospital, in Beaumont, Texas. She served as a Patient Representative in both places completing 38 years of health care ministry before retiring first to Marian Convent and later to St. Placidus Convent. She was known and loved as a peaceful, prayerful presence to all who visited her. She especially enjoyed visiting with our Sisters from Africa who are CCVIs today because of her pioneering ministryinKenya.

Sister Celestine enjoying a ride during the 2008 Nun Run. During the dedication ceremony of the flags on the Villa de Matel campus, Sister Celesine pictured with the flag of Kenya (2001).

Mary, Humble Maiden, Born to Bear and Love Jesus, the Incarnate Word of God

childhasthepowertospreadGod'sloveandpeacethroughouttheearth.

In Mary, everything of this is magnificently true. If Jesus is the perfect expression of God'slove,Maryisitsprecursor.IfJesusisthefullnessofsalvation,Maryisitsemergence.

This is all true in a glorious way in Mary. If Jesus is the perfect expression of God’s love, Mary is the foreshadowing of that love. If Jesus has brought the fullness of salvation, Mary isitsdawning.

Birthday festivities offer joy to the celebrant as well as to family and friends. Mary's birth, along with the birth of Jesus, brings the greatest joy to the world. Every time we commemorate her birth, we can surely aspire for a rise in peace in our hearts and the worldatlarge.

Saint Augustine ties the birth of the Virgin Mary to the saving work of her Son, Jesus. He asks the world to rejoice and gleam brilliantly in the light of her birth. “She is the flower of the field from whom bloomed the precious lily of the valley. Through her birth, the nature inherited from our first parents is changed.” The opening prayer at Mass refers to the birth ofJesus,Mary’sSon,asthetimeoursalvationbegan,andoffersanincreaseofpeace.

(Source: Franciscan Media – https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/nativity-of-the-blessedvirgin-mary/)

“Wenevergivemorehonor toJesusthanwhenwehonor hismother,andwehonorher simplyandsolelytohonor himallthemoreperfectly.We gotoheronlyasaway leadingtothegoalweseek–Jesus,herSon.”

-----St.LouisMariedeMontfort

BySr.HelenaAdakuOgbuji

OnTuesday,August15,2023,ontheSolemnityoftheAssumptionoftheBlessedVirgin Mary,Sr.FridahKiritoMunjurimadeherfirstprofessionofvowsandSr.FlorenceMuthoni MuchaibeganherNovitiatejourney.TheEucharisticcelebrationwasofficiatedbyFr.Evaristus Chukwu,MSP,andconcelebratedbyFr.ValentineMayaka,FMH.Duringhishomily,Fr. EvaristusencouragedSistersFridahandFlorencetosoakthemselvesinprayerandontheWord ofGodbecausereligiouslifeisalifelivedintheworldbutisnotoftheworld.Heemphasized thatreligiouslifedoesnotmakesensewhenGodisnotatthecenter.Itisalsoalifemarkedby thevowsofchastecelibacy,communalpoverty,andobediencetoGodandtheleadersofthe religiouscongregation.Fr.EvaristusconnectedMary’sjourneywiththejourneytoreligiouslife whichissummarizedbyMary’sresponsetoGod:“Behold,IamthehandmaidoftheLord,letit bedonetomeaccordingtoyourWord.”

“Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord!”

Fathers Evaristus Chukwu, main celebrant, and Valentine, celebrated the Mass together. Also pictured with Sisters FridahandFlorenceareSistersCelesteandHelena.

Sisters Florence and Fridah with the U.S. Formation Team(L-R):SistersKimXuan,Ita,Helena,andEthel

Other Sisters in initial formation celebrated Sisters FridahandFlorence'smemorableday.

Afterthehomily,Sr.FridahvowedtoGodchastity,poverty,andobedienceforoneyear, accordingtotheConstitutionsoftheSistersofCharityoftheIncarnateWordofHouston.Sr. CelesteTrahan,theCongregationalLeader,receivedthefirstvowsofSr.Fridahinthename oftheCongregationandoftheChurch.ShegavehertheemblemoftheCongregationwhile saying:“Sr.Fridah,receiveouremblem,whichrepresentsthesufferinganddeathoftheWord madeFlesh;wearJesus’snameuponyourheartthatHemaydwellthereandbecomeyour onlyLove.”TheemblemisasymboloftheloveeveryCCVISisterhasfortheIncarnate Word.ItremindsusofourcommitmentandloveforJesus,theIncarnateWord!

Sr.CelestealsoofficiatedtheritefortheentranceintothenovitiateofSr.Florence.She receivedacopyofourConstitutions,whichcontainsourwayoflife.Shewasaskedtostudy andreflectontheConstitutions,sothat“shemaybecomealivingsignoftheIncarnationto thepoorandsufferingofeverykindwhoseekreliefatherhands.”Attheendoftherite,Sr. CelesteentrustedSr.FlorencetoSr.HelenaOgbuji,theNoviceDirector,toaccompanyher asshecontinuesherdiscernmentduringhertimeinthenovitiate.

ThecelebrationwasgracedbyCCVISistersandfriends.SomeSistersandrelativesalso joinedusthroughalivestream.AftertheEucharisticcelebration,theSistersandtheguests enjoyedafestivemealattheVilladiningroom.

Praised be the Incarnate Word! Forever!

School Fair at Brookdale

BYALANPERALTA SocialServices/ProgramCoordinator,CasaSanJose,St.AustinCenter

CasaSanJosehosteditsyearlyback-to-schoolfaironSunday,August14,2023,withamissionto helpauniquecommunityofnewimmigrantsatBrookdaleVillageApartmentsandsurrounding complexesinHouston'sEastEndpreparetheirchildrenforschool.

HISD’senrollmentbus,alongwithareaschools,socialservicesagencies,clinics,andcultural organizationswerepresenttoprovideresourcesandinformationtofamilies.

Thisyearwemadesomechangestotheevent,includingmovingthelocationfromdirectlyin frontofourCasaSanJoseapartmenttoamorecentrallocationwithinthecomplex.Thishelpedmore peopleattendthefair.Withthehelpandsupportofthepropertymanager,wealsomanagedtosecure theleasingofficeforeyeexams.

Topreparefortheevent,ourstaffmetwithvariousorganizationstodiscusstheneedsand challengesfacingnewimmigrantchildreninenrollingandattendingschool.Onesimplewaywe addressedtheaccessproblemwasbydecidingagaintohostthefaironaSunday,whenfamiliesare homeafteraburdensomeworkweek.

Weestimatedthatabout45childrenwereenrolledinschool.Another30gotschool immunizations,withabout15adultsbeingvaccinatedorboostedagainstCOVID.Manymorevisited vendorbooths.

Onespecialguest,BenitoJuarezwiththeMayorofHouston’sOfficeofNewAmericans,whoalso speakstheMayalanguage,attendedwiththe“AlianzaGuatemalteca.”Theyprovidedauthentic Guatemalanfoodtovendorsandthecommunity.Itwasasuccessfulandworthwhileevent.

Ecological Education

Sisters promoted awareness for the care of our Common Home and for its climate in their convents and ministries as part of their participation in year one of the Laudato Si' Action Platform.

Here are our results for Goal #5 - Ecological Education

GOAL: PROMOTE AWARENESS FOR THE CARE OF OUR COMMON HOME AND FOR ITS CLIMATE IN OUR CONVENTS AND CONGREGATIONAL MINISTRIES.

Wecommittomakingtheneedsoftheearthandofcaringforcreationvisibleandknowninour Congregationalministries.

DETAILS:

Wewillsupportorpromoteactivities(e.g.,attendprayerservices,trashpick-upevents,lectures,video viewings)and/orawarenessthroughcommunications(e.g.,creatingordistributingflyers,posters,videos, e-mailorsocialmedia)foratleasttwoofthefollowingcampaigns:SeasonofCreation(Sept1-Oct4); EarthDay(April22);LaudatoSi’Week(May16-25);EarthHour(March25);ReduceSingleUse campaigns, or other occasions to highlight features of local biodiversity or natural resources and conservation/wastereductionefforts.

EVALUATION:

Central America Region

-Recyclestrashandavoidsusingsingle-useplasticitems.

-Useslessballoons,Styrofoam,andplasticsforspecialoccasions.

-Usesbasketstocarrygroceries.

-Sistersareencouragedtomaintainabalanceddietthatavoidscannedbeverages.

-ParticipatedonanEarthDaywalkonApril22nd.

Ireland Region

-Onourownfreetime,separatelywatchedthevideoon-linecourseforalltheearthbySr.LaurieBrink OP.

-SowingHopeforthePlanet,Webinaronnon-violentactions–March22,2023

-March25,2023-“TheLetter”:LaudatoSiFilm,byPopeFrancis,encyclicalletteronecologicalcrisis.

Kenya Region

-Videoviewing/watchingandreadingmaterialsoncareofcreation.

-Educatingourcoworkersandlearnersontheuseoforganicmanureandpromotingawarenessofthecare ofourcommonhome.

-Attendingworkshopsonthecareofcreation.

U.S. Region

-Watchingandstudyingnaturalprogramweekly

-Attendingwebinarsandworkshopsasacommunityorindividual.

-ShareprayerservicesandDVDswithfamilyandfriends.

-PromotedArchdiocesaneventoncareofcreation.SistersattendedtheArchdiocesanpresentationonways torespectandrespondtothecareofcreation.

-Ecologicalconversionisanurgentcallforallofus.InRuah,weaskgueststohelpusliveour Congregationalcommitmentbyusingthepropercontainersforrecycling,composting,andtrash.

-WeareactiveinpromotingtheSeasonofCreationfromSeptember1toOctober4.

Whatisyourreflectionabouttheresponsibilitytoeducateourselvesandothersontheclimatecrisisand caringforourcommonhome?

CentralAmerica:

-Becameawareofcaringfortheenvironmentsothattherewillnotbealackofcleanwaterorairinthe future.

-Feltcalledtocontinuallyeducateourselvesforthecareoftheecology.

IrelandRegion:

KenyaRegion:

-Respectandappreciatehowinterconnectedweareandtheneedtotakecareofourcommonhomeforus andfuturegenerations.

-Reducewastageoffoodbyrecyclingleftovers.

-Groworganicfoodusingorganicmanure.

U.S.Region:

-Ourstudyandsharingofmanyoftheseprogramsaswellasreflectivewalksonthegroundshaveincreased ourappreciationforthemanyfacetsofnature.

Thebestwaytofighttheclimatecrisisisthrougheducation,notonlyaboutclimatechange,butalsoabout generalknowledge.Themoreweareknowledgeable,themorewewouldwanttocarefortheplanet.We wouldn’twanttodestroywhatwecometoknowandappreciate.

Sisters participating in a Care of Creation Conference Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston Houston, Texas, USA

Guestspeaker and Sisters presenting about the Care of Creation at the Central America Spring 2023 ARC Guatemala

Archdiocesan Youth Conference (AYC)

BySr.KimXuanNguyen,CCVI

OnJuly28-29,2023Srs.PaulineTroncale,KimXuanNguyen,SymphonieNgo, JuanaMatias,FridahMunjuri,MarucaRamirezLopez,NoellaNshobole,andFlorence MuchaiattendedtheArchdiocesanYouthConference(AYC)attheHiltonofthe AmericasHotelindowntownHouston.AYCisthelargestevangelizingeventforolder adolescentsthattheOfficeofAdolescentCatechesisandEvangelizationhostsannually.

Thisyear,theAYCinvitedmanypopularkeynotespeakerssuchasFr.CaseyCole, PaulKim,andMegHunter-Kilmer.Morethan1,000teensalongwiththeiryouth ministersandsomeparentsfromalloverthelocalchurchgatheredtopray,share fellowship,andtalkaboutthefaithwiththethemeof“GiftReceivedGiftShared.”Itisa wonderfulopportunityforyoungpeopletoshareanddeepentheirrelationshipwithJesus Christthroughdynamictalks,dailyMass,ExpositionoftheBlessedSacrament,the SacramentofReconciliation,interactiveworkshops,andexhibitorsfromvariousCatholic organizations.Itisalsoanopportunityforustobepresentandendorsereligiouslifeasa vocationforyoungpeople.WehadourlivelycommunityofSisterstheretosingand promoteconsecratedlife,particularlyinourcongregation.Itwasawonderfulexperience toseemanyfromGenZattheevent,fullofenergyandhope,wantingtodeepentheir relationshipswithGodandothers.

Learning from a Faith-filled Outsider

BySistersinAnnualVows

FromAugust18-August20,2023,mostoftheSistersinannualvows,SistersBenedetta Malindi,CeciliaTran,JuanaTomas,SharonAnam,AdelwisaLeonida(throughZoom), FridahMunjuri,andSr.HelenaOgbuji,ourdirector,gatheredatthelakehouseforaninpersonmeeting,forfaithsharing,prayer,storytelling,andfellowship.WewelcomedSr. Fridahinaspecialway,asitwasherfirstmeetingwithus,andprayedforGod's blessingsuponher.WealsocelebratedSr.Helena,whosefeastdaywasonAugust18.

UsingthestoryofJesusandtheCanaanitewoman(Mt.15:21-28),weshared profoundly and prayerfully about the evils of ethnocentrism and prejudice in interculturalliving.BecausewewatchedThePope'sExorcistonNetflix,weconnected thetortureandhorrorofthefateoftheCanaanitewoman'sdaughterwiththismovie.It waseasytoseethedesperationoftheCanaanitewoman,hertraumaticsituation,and herpersistentfaith,evenwhenshewascalled"names."Jesuslaterpraisedherfaith! Wealsodiscussedhowwecouldbemoresensitive,respectful,compassionate,and incarnationaltothepeopleweserve,livewith,andespeciallyotherswhomaynotbe fromourinnercircle.WepraytoGodtoincreaseourfaith,tobeinclusive,andlikethe Canaanitewoman,toremainfocusedandfaithfulevenwhentherearenegativevoices within/aroundorwhenJesusisperceivedas"silent"toourrequest.

Duringthesedays,wedidnotonlypraybutalsohadfunandconnectedwithone anotheronadeeperlevel.Likeothergatheringswehavehadbefore,itwasindeeda wonderfultimetobetogetheragain!

PraisedbetheIncarnateWord.Forever!

Sister Adelwisa Leonida joined Sisters Cecilia, Juana, Sharon, Benedetta, Fridah, and Helena by Zoom.

Thank you!

Dearsisters,

We, Sister Fridah and Sister Florence are grateful to God for calling us to serve Him. We extend our gratitude to the Leadership Team, the Formation Team, and all our Sisters for your support and prayers. We thank you all for your wonderful gifts, kind words, and for Masses offered for us. We pray that our good Lord may bless you abundantly. Thankyou!

PraisedbetheIncarnateWord-Forever.

AnewCitizenCelebrates!

Sister Symphonie was sworn in and became a naturalized US Citizen on August 23, 2023, at M.O. CampbellEducationalCenterinAldine,TX. Congratulationsonachievingthisimportantmilestone!

Sister Symphonie with Sr. Mary McHale and Sr. Kim Xuan Nguyen