Awareness of God’s presence …

Twenty-four years ago, the sisters of the then Immaculate Heart of Mary Province in Buffalo, NY, responded to a suggestion to come together each month for the purpose of faith sharing.

A new spiritual practice at the time, it was designed to bring together two or more people to share experiences about their relationship with God, their awareness of God’s presence in the events of their lives, the ways in which they have responded to or resisted God’s presence in their lives as well as places of suffering, confusion or joy that have been entry points for their prayer. It is grounded in a humble acceptance of the truth that God is present and active in peoples’ lives. It brings home the belief that God often chooses to minister to people through the sharing and support of others.

The sisters gather together at different convents; however, for the last 2 ½ years, they have been meeting at Immaculate Heart of Mary Convent. The meetings begin with some “hellos,” followed by a prayer and then a 15-20 minute period for re-reading the selection assigned for that meeting.

The gatherings take place in an atmosphere of reverent listening and confidentiality surrounded by prayer. Each person’s sharing is followed only by a prayerful silence during which the group holds the person in prayer. According to SM Juanita Nowak, “There is a very strong consensus within the group that regardless of how heavy the day has been and how much more appealing it would be to just stay home and relax–when the faith sharing is over, everyone feels energized, revitalized, so much closer to our dear Foundress and so very much more bonded with each other.”

“In his book The Holy Longing:  The Search for a Christian Spirituality, Father Ronald Rolheiser, OMI, writes that a healthy spirituality is one that does two things: ‘It keeps us energized and glued together. It gives us zest and HOPE’

 

Stations of the Cross

The links below are for you to use during this Lenten Season.

Stations of the Cross Booklet (2012) PDF Download

Droga Krzyżowa_PL

Adapted from Stations of the Cross from Catholic Relief Services,
Environmental Stations of the Cross and Food for the Poor.
Provided by the Buffalo Diocesan Justice and Peace Commission

 

You Have Won the Weather Contest!

You Have Won the Weather Contest!

Principal SM Janita Krawczyk and her students at Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament School at St. Martha’s Parish in Depew, NY, were very excited when Andy Parker and a video crew from Buffalo’s Channel 2-WGRZ TV News arrived at the school on Thursday, February 2.

Andy was at the school to tell the students that they had won the “Weather Machine Contest!” Schools from all of the counties in Western New York were eligible to enter the contest. According to SM Nicolette Wichrowski who teaches at the school, 20 schools were in the running. During the entire month of January, students had to listen to Channel 2 each morning for The Weather Machine word of the day. Students then voted as many times as they could using the weather word and a special security code. Families, friends and coworkers could also vote. Each day, Channel 2 reported on how the schools were doing in the contest.

On February 17, Andy Parker came to OLBS with the Weather Machine. The students assembled in the auditorium and welcomed Andy with the song that the teachers composed. Then the show began. The Weather Machine can produce all types of weather, from a 7-foot tornado to wind-whipped snowstorms and just about anything in between! Students were engaged by the “Unanswerable Weather Question,” prompting creative thinking and introducing the concept that weather affects all aspects of life. Parker explored how weather has influenced everything from history to music, and students participated in an impromptu weather orchestra utilizing unique weather instruments and sounds. The Weather Machine has been on the road at schools throughout New York and has played to full houses in the auditorium at the Buffalo Museum of Science.

Sister Nicolette said, “It was an excellent science lesson that the students enjoyed and we’re sure that it will be remembered for a long time.” Andy Parker, AMS meteorologist, radio personality and presenter, is a highly rated forecaster and the creator of the popular presentation, “The Weather Machine.”