Recently, Sr. Mary Monica was featured on Divine Mercy Radio.  She was able to share her vocation story to those listeners; now we want to make it available to you.

 

Right click here to download

 

The Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary would like to invite you to join them in honoring our Eucharistic Lord during this time of Eucharistic Revival.  See the flyer below for more information on times.

You are welcome to come during the times the chapel is open to the public.  If you would like to sign up for hour, see our sign-up: 40 Hours Sign-up (this link will take you to another website)

When you arrive, please use the doors closest to the chapel (south and west).

 

On Saturday, February 11, our postulant, Kailey, became a novice in our community.  Taking the name, Sr. Mary Louise, she wanted to honor the great contribution St. Louis Marie de Montfort has made to Marian devotion. 

One quote of St. Louis de Montfort that particularly struck Sister was, "If you put all the love of all the mothers into one heart it still would not equal the love of the Heart of Mary for her children." 

Sr. Mary Louise will continue her formation, preparing for her next step - profession of vows.

 

Who Are Lovers of Newman?

The IHM Sisters cherish St. John Henry Newman, who composed the Litany to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, following in the footsteps of our foundress, Mother Joanne Brummel. 

 The Lovers of Newman consist of lay men and women, with some priests and religious, who, like the saints’ friends in the 19th century, seek to pray, study, discuss and evangelize from the saint’s wisdom.

Why the word “Lover?” A lover connotes one who will sacrifice all for the sake of the beloved. In ordinary language, a man will sacrifice watching the Super Bowl to discuss Newman’s sermons with friends. A woman will opt to read his sermon The One Thing Necessary over texting friends. At our gatherings, five elements mix for a perfect recipe: study, prayer, reading aloud, discussion and friendship. In a secularized, de-humanized word, grey and bleak, the Lovers of Newman rise as a colorful menagerie of Catholics from all walks of life uniting.

John Henry Newman again stirs a new Oxford movement in the atheistic technocracy of the 21st century.

Sister Mary Francesca was featured in the publication, Religious Life.  We wanted to share with you her article.

Please pray for vocations!

For more information, see their website: https://religiouslife.com/resource/rlm

Many times, we are asked to tell our vocation stories. This is just one aspect of our call. Our families have played a large part in us being in the convent; their love and support sustains us. We thought you would enjoy reading the story of Megan, the sister of Sr. Mary Monica.

-As a sibling, what do you appreciate about having your sister in the convent?  

 As a sibling, I love how I have gained a second family with all the sisters. I know that I am loved and cared for, and most importantly, prayed for, by all of the sisters whom I have built a great relationship with over the years.

 -What were some struggles you had to work through when your sister entered the convent?

 Sister Mary Monica is my twin sister and only sibling, so it was very hard when she entered the convent, because not only did I lose my best friend, but I didn’t have any other siblings to rely on when she left. I had to figure out who I was without her, which at first was very difficult and I had to accept the grieving process that came along with her entering the convent. There was a loss of the relationship that we had all our lives and having to accept that life would never look the same again, which took many years to do. Over the years though it has gotten easier, and God has blessed me in so many ways, most importantly, by teaching me who He created me to be as an individual person, not just as a twin or as someone who looks like another person. It has been over nine years since Sister Mary Monica entered the religious life and God is still forming our newfound relationship that we have with each other today and there has been so much healing that has happened between us that we never knew needed to happen. Though I still miss her and not having her around, God has blessed our family greatly and we wouldn’t change it for the world.

 -How do you see your sister's vocation benefiting you?

 I think by seeing how Sister Mary Monica has been able to give her life to Jesus and Mary over the years, I have been able to see her transform into the person God created her to be. This has also taught me to not to be afraid to say “Yes” to God when He asks me to do certain things in my own life and to have complete trust and confidence in His plan. I am not saying that my “yes’s” have been perfect and without fear and trembling, but I at least have a witness of faith life Sister because He has taken such great care of her, so I can trust that our Lord will also do the same for me and my family.

 -What do you like about the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary community?

 I love the IHM Sisters because they are so devoted to their religious calling, and you know this because of the JOY that they exude anytime you are around them. They are filled with gratitude, humility, kindness, always smiling, they are so respectful to every person they meet. You know that the Holy Spirit is living within them and you can’t but feel loved when you are in their presence. There are so many good things to say about the sisters, I guess the most important thing to say is that they live their life to give glory to God in all things and to be a light to the world so others will come to know our Lord as well.

 -What are some words of encouragement to other families?

If you have a daughter or sister who is interested in entering the religious life, some words of encouragement that I would offer to families would be, “Do not be afraid”. If she is truly being called to this life, God has a great plan in store for her. She will be taken care of not only by her sisters, but by our Lord, who is calling her to be His Bride; What else could be more beautiful than that?! To have a sister or daughter who is married to our loving Lord, who will love her more perfectly than you could ever imagine?! Please support her in this decision, it is not easy for her to leave everything and everyone behind to discern such a radical call, but if she knows that she has her family in support of this decision, it gives her heart more freedom to enter in to see if this is really where God is calling her in life. Yes, it will be hard to let her go, maybe there is a lack of understanding of the religious life, or a fear that she will not be happy, but I promise that if God is calling her to this life, God will provide everything she needs to live out her calling just like God provides a man and woman to live out their calling to marriage or a priest through Holy Orders. You will also be blessed through her yes as well, I promise.

For the Sisters, Advent is a special time in the convent. It is a time of prayerful preparation for the coming of the Infant Christ. There are many special practices that make up the Advent season.

Below, the Sisters share some of their favorite parts of the season.

“My favorite part of Advent in the convent is...

being able to live the liturgy so wholeheartedly through the Mass, Liturgy of the Hours, and our beautiful communal practices.  It allows us to be united to Jesus and Mary and live as we are meant to live the season of Advent – one of penance and joyful expectation.”

the building anticipation for Christmas.”

the celebration of Gaudete Sunday (the third Sunday of Advent) with the rose candle and vestment. It is also enjoyable on this day to decorate for Christmas and enjoy hot chocolate and cookies.”

all the prayers and readings from Scripture; they fill my mind and heart with an eager longing to celebrate our Lord’s birth at Christmas. I love being immersed in the rich symbols and themes of Advent in the liturgy.”

living the liturgical life in the convent because we are very intentional about living each season well.  Celebrating Advent creates a great anticipation for the coming of the infant Jesus and when we prepare well, we are more able to receive His gifts.”

 praying the St. Andrew novena." (see below for the prayer)

 looking for a Light in the darkness."

more concentrated effort to keep interior and exterior silence."

understanding more the purpose of the Advent season. I never knew how to celebrate Advent before I entered the convent; now it is my favorite liturgical season.  Now I know what it means to wait for Christ with joy."

waiting for Jesus and the Advent wreath that charts the weeks of waiting."

 the time of the “O” Antiphons."

celebrating the Advent Liturgy of the Hours: the music/songs, Office of Readings, Scriptural passages and psalms."

reflecting on Emmanuel: God with us…how much God loves us."

the silent waiting an expectancy that is particular to Advent liturgies."

having a particular Sister to pray for as her Advent Angel."

being able to prepare my heart for Jesus’ coming, in history, mystery and majesty."

reflecting on Mary as spiritual model and guide to Jesus."

the excitement of preparing to welcome Jesus, our great King!  It puts everything else in perspective.”

the anticipation and preparing our hearts for Jesus."

the quiet time of Advent."

the Advent program that Mother gives us to help us enter into the season."

 Advent Reading

Here are some of the books/sermons that the Sisters enjoy reading during the season of Advent

• "Watching" by St. John Henry Cardinal Newman (link opens into another website)
• The Reed of God by Caryll Houselander