Wow, it has been so long since I posted I almost forgot how...I guess I shall take you on a little journey covering highlights of this past month... When I last left off we were preparing for Mother Catherine Marie's Gaudeamus Day.

I shall let the pictures tell the story...

These first photos are of some handmade gifts we brought to Mother for her to keep or give away...

 A beautiful Thomas Kinkade (RIP) cross stitch done by Sr. Mary Therese

Decade and 5-decade rope rosaries plus a lovely bookmark which Sister has been working on for about 5 years! Or maybe it is 7 ??? Anyhow, she finally finished it.

yes, we got those granny squares sewn together.

A fruit of Sr. Rose Marie's 8 day retreat. The little girl on the left is looking at Jesus as the rays of his love and mercy flow upon her.

For our "After Meal Entertainment" we enjoyed some live music.

(Also, we were sad, but accepting of God's will, as we said "goodbye" to Anne who returned home on June 12. Please keep her in prayer as she continues to discern the Lord's will for her life. We miss you dearly Anne! God love you!)

With delight Mother Catherine Marie opens her last gift - a kite!

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A few days after the Gaudeamus Sr. John Mary, after receiving permission, was blessed to attend her brother Fr. Jeff's ordination to the priesthood.

Visit the website of the Diocese of Evansville IN to read about it and see some photos of the ordination.

Congratulations to Fr. Jeff along with his parents Bill and Bernadine and his brothers and sisters.

Fr. Jeff's Ordination card

AWESOME...

Fr. Jeff's First Mass at St. John's Catholic Church in Daylight, IN

Fr. Jeff incensing the altar and the crucifix

Fr. Jeff consecrates his life as a priest to our Lady, Mother of all Priests.

Please do pray for Fr. Jeff and all our newly ordained priests - may they be men after the heart of God...contemplatives active in the heart of the world.

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We've also been happily preparing for Sr. Mary Elizabeth's Golden Jubilee celebration which will take place this Sunday, July 8th. Her actual anniversary is Monday, July 9th - the Passionist Feast of our Lady of Holy Hope.

Image of Our Lady of Holy Hope - Our Holy Founder, St. Paul of the Cross, was very devoted to our Lady under this title.

In an upcoming post I will share photos with you of Sr. Mary Elizabeth's celebration along with a message from her heart about living vowed Passionist life for 50 years.

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We also recently printed an 8 page newsletter. We are in the midst of stuffing them with envelopes, then they will be off to the post office and in your mail box!  If you don't receive our newsletter and live in the United States and would like to receive it please leave your name and address in the comment box below. We'll gladly add you to our newsletter list.

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We have been very united with our nation during this Fortnight for Freedom. One point of interest - our novice Sr. Cecilia Marie created a summary of the history of our Congregation during the Napoleonic suppression of Religious Freedom in the early 1800's. She has been reading this to us each evening during the Fortnight.  I hope to share that with you soon as well!

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I must say adieu!  (I commend you "to God" - a derivative from the Old French)

Take care of yourself in this heat - we have been in triple digits for a week now and our grass has been brown for several weeks. The lake is getting low.We are beginning to feel we live in a dust bowl - please God, mercifully send us rain!