Maryknoll Sisters

The last couple of weeks, our sacred scriptures spoke about the “end times” and described apocalyptic scenarios.  And if we look at what is happening in our world, such prophecy is taking shape and at times, they seem to overtake our lives.  Yet our inner call is not of despair and passive yielding to powers that are overwhelming. 
 
Here at Maryknoll, New York, nature obliges us insights about our inner longings with the display of changes in all that surrounds us.  Trees yielded their golden fineries and now stand bare in the winter sun. The birds even rarely perch languidly in their branches. They too are stirred to do their journey south.  The fields have been harvested and darkness envelopes us early.  We live in a household that is readying itself for the long and sacred silence….hibernating, resting, sleeping, waiting….still and quiet postures that bring forth dreams and visions of days to come, for new birthings to new life.

Advent is here!  It is our making time to be alert, to be watchful for and to be of hope to that which is innately present in us, Emmanuel, God-with-us. The one whom we constantly seek and yet, is always the sacred presence who came as a gentle wind and as a gentle babe in a manger. Our call is to stay awake for the sacred promise that is within us and coming to us, even in the most terrifying moments of our life experiences:  God’s bounty of life and love, of providence and compassion, of mercy and justice are always present in our midst.

What does Advent, the gift of Emmanuel, look like in our relationships…with those for whom we care: children, parents, spouse or significant other; in the service we give at work; in our faith community; in the healing of our earth?

Let’s enter into the adventure of finding God in the midst of our household….

• in our compassion for those who are deeply challenged to be well;
• in our holding each other in our hearts as we forgive and ask for mercy;
• in the solitude of communing with nature;
• in our being a plain and ordinary neighbor…..to  welcome a stranger in your community,  receive  someone deemed different,  assist an elder or anyone in need, laugh with someone who is lonely, dance the playful rhythms of sounds in our neighborhood.

It is in this household where God always dwell! Let’s be Advent. Let’s make God’s kin-dom come.

Maranatha! Lord, Jesus, Come!

Blessings of love and peace,

 – Sister Rebecca Macugay, MM

Fall is in the air but, today, the colors have not yet peaked.  In our cloistered court,  flowers are still beautiful, but while taking my walk down to our Maryknoll Sisters cemetery, I felt a nip in the air.

It is a good time to pause and give thanks to God for Life. Every growth-stage of each living thing reflects uniqueness. In the silence of my stroll, I felt a deep Peace. I am mindful that during these troubled times, in every nation, we are called to experience Peace through reflection on the life within us and around us. 

Saturday will be the Maryknoll Sisters International Bazaar. Each year people come to see and purchase products from the 25 countries in which we work. As they travel here,  along the many roads leading to the Maryknoll Sisters Bazaar, the trees will have peaked with full color and will “season” the joy of those journeying to Maryknoll, NY.

If you are close enough to come to Maryknoll, watch the road and drive carefully so that Peace and Joy can fill you, as you experience the love of God, expressed in  all Life around us at this fall season.

 – Sister Virgeen Healey, MM

 

One weekend this August saw an inter-religious group of about 60 people from the neighboring towns and villages near Ossining, N.Y., for a walking tour of our “sacred space.” The Historical Society of Ossining asked if they could come to visit us, as many know little or nothing about our mission center, although they live comparatively near us. This whole event was well planned by Sister Theresa Mangieri and a group of Maryknoll Sister hostesses.

All gathered at the front entrance of the center where a short explanation was given by Miguel Hernandez and Patricia Sacchi from the Historical Society. We proceeded to our chapel, where Sister Theresa gave a splendid talk citing our history and explaining the many characteristics of the chapel.

Next was the Heritage Room where there were lots of “ohs” and “ahs” as the people saw many unfamiliar but interesting artifacts. On to the cemetery outside our front door into the Garden of Beatitudes. Mr. Tim Rafferty, author of a book on the cemeteries of Westchester County, gave us an interesting account of the history of this particular one. We learned much about the Ryder Family, whose burial ground this had been since the early 19th century.

Going right along, we arrived at Kateri Tekakwitha’s shrine, where Sister Joan Peltier, (a.k.a. Sister Kateri) told the story of this first Native American Blessed, of whom many had never heard. Joan also had some lovely holy cards of Kateri to distribute to our visitors.

From there we walked to the Lourdes Grotto, where Sister Rita Kane gave a great talk on the history of this shrine and Mother Mary Joseph’s impetus in having this erected in Our Lady’s honor on our grounds in the 1940s.

We then proceeded to our own cemetery, where both Mr. Rafferty and Sister Rose Corde McCormick told of the development of this resting place of our foundress and over 200 Maryknoll Sisters. There was great interest and appreciation shown in relation to the monument bearing the names of our Sisters who died outside of the United States.

After this long walk on a very sunny day, all were ready to come back to our lounge, where our visitors could sit down and rest a bit and enjoy some cold punch and cookies prepared for them. They were shown one of the latest superb videos about the history and works of the Maryknoll Sisters with the background song, “Come with Me into the Fields,” which was enjoyed by all.

One of the participants in the tour stood up and suggested that they leave an offering for the hospitality shown by the Sisters, plus all they had seen and heard during the tour. They left us a generous offering of $260 for a “free” tour!

A great time was had by all. Our new friends left with promises to return again soon to really look at what they saw with more time.

— Sister Helen Phillips, MM

Come… walk with me. Maryknoll is beautiful in every season and this spring is no exception. I’d like for you to join me as we walk around our yard here at Maryknoll, NY.

Let us think of ‘Resurrected Life,’ as New Life and our call to go out to every creature of the world, in the Name of our Risen Lord.

This is spring 2011 and it is easy for me to recall that my first spring at Maryknoll was in 1945. Having lived ten years in Guadalupe and the United States (in Stockton, CA), and 48 years in the Philippines, there were many springs here that I did not see. Today the birds are singing and there is a certain magic to the day…to Life.

Welcome to Maryknoll!

This tree (right) was planted after I came to Maryknoll. There has been a lot of living since then.

We have a Garden of Beatitudes at the right side of the entrance to our house. There are graves here that predate the time that Maryknoll moved to Ossining, NY, 99 years ago.

The Stations of the Cross were carved by Sister Marie Pierre Semler. It is a prayerful garden.

Our sideyard is seen from Ryder Road and Pinesbridge Road. This is the same road but the name changes between our first entrance and the Main Entrance.

It was during my novitiate that the Lourdes Shrine (left) was built by Mr. Kato. Mother Mary Joseph requested him to live here at Maryknoll during World War II rather than in the camp where the Japanese were required to stay. During his stay, much of the natural beauty of Maryknoll was developed. It is said that Father Thomas Frederick Price, co-founder of the Maryknoll Society, frequently prayed where the shrine is now located.

I believe that the whole of Maryknoll is holy ground, but especially our cemetery, which gives witness to an eternal Peace and Joy Spirit. Mother Mary Joseph Rogers is buried here, together with many of the other members of Maryknoll in Heaven. The ‘world-shaped’ structure near Mother’s grave and the statue of Our Lady of Peace holds the names of the Maryknoll Sisters who have died in their Mission country. (Maryknoll Sisters are buried where we die.)

All around the back portion of our buildings is forest. Ecology, respect for creation, is important in our lives and reflected in the present beauty we are experiencing. I’m sorry that you cannot hear the birds, as I did when I took these pictures, but please let your imagination complete the picture.

Also at 10:30 each morning, a chime echoes three times. This is our Peace gong, as our silence is prayer for peace in all hearts that have the power to bring Peace to the World.

May we walk or journey together with many throughout the world, always respecting the season to provide opportunities to be refreshed in the newness of life.

Walk on….

– Sister Virgeen Healey, MM