Greetings to each of you!  Wow. Where to begin. So much has been going these past couple of months. Perhaps I can use the photos to tell the story... The story begins at Holy Week...

Sisters prepare Hot Cross buns

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Even the holy water channel is prepared for the great Paschal celebration!

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Two of Sr. Mary Andrea's brothers (Mike and Rob) come to build a new closet for us in the Eucharistic chapel

Rob shows off the "blueprint" on a paper plate!

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Preparing Easter Eggs

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Friends Chuck, Ethan and Mark build us pantry shelves on Holy Saturday!

All in a day's work!

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Beautiful Spring

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Easter visiting our Sisters

Last known photo taken of Sr. Margaret Mary on Easter 2 weeks and 2 days before her death on May10th. Dear Sister, faithful Daughter of the Passion and Bride of Christ, rest in the eternal embrace of your God.

Our dear Bishop William Medley made time in his busy schedule to offer the Funeral Mass for Sr. Margaret Mary of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

May her soul, and the souls of all our dearly departed, rest in God's eternal Love

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In the midst of all this the walk-in refrigerator broke down - a perfect opportunity to do some much needed spring cleaning!

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Last week brought us some of the Fathers of Mercy on a mission of mercy.

Fr. Tony, CPM points out a tree that will come down

Working hard in the woods...

Back at the generalate and all cleaned up. God bless and reward you our dear brothers in Christ!

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This week brought us the "Goretti Girls" on a vocation retreat.

    This group was formed out of the heart's of mothers desiring further Catholic teaching and fellowship for their daughters after the reception of the Sacrament of Confirmation. We had 10 14-18 year old gals here from the Toledo, OH area. "The Goretti Girls" take their name from St. Maria Goretti. They seem to have had a wonderful time here. And they loved learning about our charism and our saints. Yesterday we had a grand 4 innings of baseball (without gloves!). It has been a long time since I ran bases or fielded balls. I am sore today but it was so much fun! Last night they had a thrilling adventure of joining all the nuns in the basement, along with our chaplain, because of tornado warnings. They never thought they would get to come into the cloister…much less with all the nuns.

Deadly spring tornadoes - this picture was taken on the other side of our county. Let us be united in praying for the victims of these natural disasters.

May the Lord show us His mercy!

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    I hope you have enjoyed this update. As I put this together half of us Sisters have begun our annual 8-day solitude retreat. We are referred to as the "Marys". The other half of the Sisters are keeping the monastery up and running. They are the "Marthas". We would certainly appreciate your prayers for us! We have been so busy and need time to slow down and hear the voice of the Beloved on a deeper level.

   Please know that your needs and intentions and those of our entire world are remembered in our daily prayers, works, joys and sufferings. And please pray for us.

   May the Passion of Christ and the Sorrows of Mary be ever in our hearts!