Holy Spirit Missionary Sisters PO Box 6026, Techny, IL 60082-6026 319 Waukegan Rd., Northfield, IL 60093 Office of Vocation Ministry Phone: 847-441-0126, ext. 704 sspsovm@aol.com www.ssps-usa.org www.worldssps.org November 2012
“Let us always have great confidence, for God the Holy Spirit can help us in all our anxieties and needs, even the greatest.” --- Bl. Mother Maria Helena Stollenwerk, SSpS Dear Friends, When I read some of the writings of our founders I am amazed how their lives were so different yet so similar to ours. Many of them founded religious communities in the nineteenth century when the world’s situation was very different than it is today. Yet, many of them were courageous to the point of even risking their lives for what they believed was right. Our Co-foundress, Blessed Mother Maria Helena Stollenwerk was one of the women in Europe who desired to spread the word of God as a missionary in foreign lands. Her deep desire was to go to China and teach the little children about the love of God. That desire was never granted to her because of the political situation but it did not prevent her from sharing the Good News of the Gospel wherever she was present. She also shared her passion for mission and her ability to take risks. I am always amazed by her patience and her ability to risk. She was ready to, like we use to say, jump into the deep water and say yes. As a young lady Maria Helena went to Steyl when she heard that St. Arnold Janssen established the Divine Word Missionaries hoping that some similar opportunity would happen to women of her time. Maria Helena waited seven years before the foundation of the Holy Spirit Missionary Sisters began. Her waiting years were filled with prayer, dedication and great love for God. She was filled with the Holy Spirit! I think there is much we have to learn from our Co-foundress nowadays. One of the things would be the courage to jump into the unknown and trust that God is there for us. Have you ever spent time reflecting on your trust in God? What does God say to you about taking risks? I know that taking risks might be considered a crazy thing to do sometimes and in today’s society it is not the most popular thing to do. However, there are times when we just need to gather some courage and jump into something that is not quite familiar. Each one of us needs to take this step trusting that God is always near to guide us to the place designed just for us. Happy Feast Day, Blessed Maria Helena, and thanks for your example! I also would like to invite you to our retreat that will take place in Miramar Retreat Center near Boston on the weekend of February 15 through 17, 2013! Call or e-mail for more information. Sincerely, Sr. Elwira Dziuk, SSpS
Called by the Spirit, Embracing the World.