July 11, 1949 Anniversary of Approbation of Our Institute
On July 11, 2016, our Community Service Board reminded us to recall the legacy left to us by our Sisters. The C.S.B. wrote: “We reflect upon the bond we share with them and each other as we continue the journey that began over 125 years ago. We marvel that we are joined to them by the same faith and trust in the God who guides and loves us. We grow in appreciation that we can count on each other to bring different resources to our common task.
Mary Frances Cunningham models, invites, and inspires us to claim and daily reclaim our call to witness to the mercy and compassion of the Sacred Heart as we respond to signs of our times. This day we particularly embrace our role as ecclesiastical women; women of the Church challenged to respond to the signs of the times as Mission Helpers of the Sacred Heart.
Submitting and receiving approbation of our Way of Life expressed in our Constitutions is a powerful symbol of our commitment to being in communion with the Church. It is this legacy that is ours and that inspires and stirs us to “be of one mind in the truth and of one heart in charity.” Then and now, we go forth “for the love of God.”
Just as our early Sisters were led by God and prayed for guidance in responding to the needs of their times so too we are called. They were given insight and wished to share and preserve that insight – for themselves and those of us to follow in their footsteps as well as the whole Church. Our Constitutions then as now embody that response – a living, evolving response to God’s call that guides us into the future. Together with each other, our partners in ministry, our friends and benefactors and the whole Church we witness to that something greater – the reign of God. We keep before us our pondering about what are the questions to be asked in our moment in time and to whom do the questions need to be addressed.
In this Year of Mercy, Pope Francis urges us to be the visible face in the world of a God whose name is Mercy. This day, in a most particular way, we claim our call as women dedicated to the Heart of God. Women called by our Constitutions to be faithful to our deep and ardent desire to articulate and embody our charism as Mission Helpers of the Sacred Heart.”
The words of Mother Demetrias that follow seem to provide a wonderful context for our 2016 Chapter Vision Statement:
“If we wish to leave after us in our Institute the Spirit which will enliven the hearts of those who follow us, we must grow in it ourselves.”
Mother Demetrias
“Confident in the work of God within us and among us
drawing…
revealing…
challenging…,
we, Mission Helpers of the Sacred Heart, go forth ‘for the love of God’.”
Chapter 2016 Vision Statement
In gratitude,
Dear All,
I cannot open the link. I have an old lap top. The message was fabulous. We all need to be reminded what the great women before us accomplished, risked and suffered, but the challenge is ever new.
Sue Engel