Blogging from Boston

We have been in Boston for a little more than a week now, and we are soaking in all the beautiful experiences of prayers, study, and community. When we arrived, we found the Sisters in the middle of the St. Paul Summer Program. This is a program for high school women to come and stay at the convent in Boston to experience the life and mission of the Sisters. The young women who come live with the Sisters, experiencing the prayer life, attending classes on the spirituality and charism, and joining in experiences of mission. I myself am a graduate of the St. Paul Summer Program, having come for three years in a row! It’s a great opportunity for young women interested in learning more about religious life. You can read more about it on our website: http://www.daughtersofstpaul.com/daughters/vocations/events.html#events.
We were able to join the Summer Program participants for some of their prayer times, classes, and recreation. Sr. Carmen and I taught a class on Mother Thecla.

The next big happening was First Profession! Sr. Lynette Constance and Sr. Emi Magnificat made their first profession as Daughters of St. Paul on Saturday, June 28. The Mass was beautiful, the two newly professed Sisters were radiant, and the whole day was a celebration of God’s love, grace, and mercy. The next day, we joined Srs. Lynette and Emi and their families at our retreat house for an afternoon meal and games. Sr. Lynette left for Singapore on Thursday; Sr. Emi will leave for St. Louis at the end of July; and Sr. Ana Maria (who did her postulancy and novitiate here but will make her first profession in her native country of Romania) will depart in a couple weeks.

On Monday, classes began! The class on St. Paul has been amazing so far. Celia provides so many insights into the character and theology of Paul. It really makes me want to get to know Paul better. I hope to take this year as an opportunity to “make friends” with this great saint who is the true Father and Founder of our Congregation! Sr. Raymond has been joining us for the St. Paul class, and Sr. Frances is one of our classmates for Italian class!
Mercoledi, abbiamo preghato preghiere serale in italiano e poi abbiamo mangiato una cena italiana. Abbiamo parlato soltanto italiano alla tavola. Molto difficile! On Wednesday, we prayed Evening Prayer in Italian and then we ate an Italian supper. We spoke only Italian at table. It was very difficult!

A big gift this week has been the presence of Sr. Filippa. Sr. Filippa is a Daughter of St. Paul from Italy who is here in the States to guide the annual retreats for our Sisters. This past week she has been guiding five of the senior Sisters in reflecting on their life and vocation in the light of St. Paul’s life and vocation. Sr. Carmen and I have been blessed to attend her conferences. Sr. Filippa is truly filled with the spirit of St. Paul, and she communicates that every time she speaks about him. She has helped me to see how rooted Paul’s life was in his experience of the love of God, and how everything in Paul’s life pointed not to himself but to Jesus.

I’m sure that there’s more, but this post is long enough! To conclude: can anyone tell us the meaning of this Italian sentence? Gesu Maestro, Via, Verita, e Vita, abbi pieta di noi. God bless you!

- Emily