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’