Reflections – Contemplatio
Hope, One Day at a Time
First, I would like to thank Sister Diane and the Dominican Sisters for inviting me to give a reflection today. I admire all the work that you do for our community and the world, and I am honored to be speaking today Two weeks ago, we began the season of Advent by lighting the first […]
Our Lady of Guadalupe: A Mother for All Peoples
The original image of Our Lady of Guadalupe impressed on the cloak of St. Juan Diego is seen in the basilica in Mexico City February 13, 2016. (CNS photo/Paul Haring) Today, the Church celebrates Our Lady of Guadalupe, patroness of the Americas and one of the most tender expressions of God’s closeness to all people. […]
Advent: Returning to Our Roots
The first verse from the Isaiah reading (Isaiah 11:1-10) we heard this evening said: “Then a shoot will sprout from the stump of Jesse; from Jesse’s roots, a branch will blossom.” According to Google, the stump of Jesse is a biblical prophecy that symbolizes hope for a future ruler from the line of Jesse, the […]
Answering Advent’s Call
Today, we enter the season of Advent, a time of longing, watchfulness, and hope. The readings place us right at the threshold: God is coming. We are invited to prepare, not by fear or anxiety, but by opening our eyes, our hearts, and our world to the transforming presence of Christ. Isaiah stands before us […]
EPISODE 3 – Guided by the Sisters at St. Mary’s, Fulton
In this episode, we visit St. Mary’s Elementary School in Fulton, New York, where the Sparkill Sisters taught from 1914 to 1971. Alumni share memories, life lessons, and the inspiration they carry from those formative years. Among the pioneering Sisters were Angela, Agatha, and Henrietta, whose dedication shaped generations. To mark the Sisters’ 150th anniversary, […]
Through Mary’s Eyes
We are all quite familiar with the saying, “the eyes are the windows of the soul.” Upon meeting a familiar face or a complete stranger, we can learn a great deal about a person’s state of mind simply by observing their eyes. When we live closely with someone over time, we come to understand their […]
Mary, Model of Courage
How appropriate it is that the feast of the Sorrowful Mother, which we celebrate today, falls immediately after the commemoration of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. It speaks to us of how closely the heart of Mary was entwined with that of her crucified Son.
Our Lady of the Rosary Chapel: An Anniversary of Faith
Tomorrow is September 11. Where were you 24 years ago, on 9/11? I suspect that all of us recall exactly where we were on September 11, 2001. That day of horror and tragedy is seared into our hearts and into our memory. Now… where were you on September 10, 2001? Do you remember that day? […]
Feast of Saint Augustine
A portrait of St. Augustine of Hippo. Photo Credit: Saint-augustine.org St. Augustine, whom we honor this day, spoke these memorable words back in the fourth century: Late had I loved you, O Beauty so ancient yet ever new, late have I loved you! Behold, you were within and I was abroad, searching there for you. […]
St. Rose of Lima
St. Rose of Lima lived on this earth for only 31 years, and yet she has left a great and lasting “heart-print” not only in Lima, Peru, but throughout the world. She was born in 1586 of noble parents, a beautiful child, full of God’s grace. She was destined to touch the lives of countless […]