On November 10, a special liturgical celebration was held in our motherhouse chapel to bless and welcome the new covenant companion leadership circle (CCLC).  They are Ophelia Barsketis, Dave Pfeifer, Tom Ruggaber, Kathy Schneider (who lives in Michigan) and Vickie Wojciechowski.  We also thanked the outgoing CCLC:  Mary Ellen Durbin, Consuelo Cabral, Sue Monaco, Joanne Pfeifer and Karen Diersen.  As covenant companionship continues to evolve and thrive, they bring many gifts and talents to our region as we together create a flourishing future.

During Advent, our motherhous faith community donated bags of Thanksgiving Day foods for distribution to the poor at a local food pantry.  The generous response made the day a very special time of giving thanks for those receiving the food.  For donors, this food drive brought a deepened awareness of how many families in our local area suffer from hunger and struggle to put food on the table for their families every day.  In many of these households, parents work two jobs and still struggle to make ends meet.  Although some states have increased the minimum wage recently, these increases have not kept pace with inflation and the rising costs for housing and food.  We continue to advocate with the federal government to raise the minimum wage to a “living wage” so that all families can provide for the basic necessities of life.

Christmas 2024 was also a time for our faith community to meet the needs of those too often forgotten at this time of year.  During the second week of December we collected over $4000 in gift cards to distribute to Canticle Place (CP) and Bethany House (BH) residents as Christmas gifts.  CP is a 12 apartment residence for people living with HIV/AIDS.  BH is a residence for women and children refugees who have applied for asylum in our country and who are awaiting an immigration court hearing.  We are so blessed to be able to welcome each of them with $100 in gift cards!

In November 2024 the US had our presidential election.  We had prayed and hoped for a leader who would lead with compassion, truth, openness of heart and concern for not only the US but for the world.  The election result was a shock to many.  A paper called Project 2025 and released prior to the election layed out many of the aims for governing that the present administration is now trying to implement.  These goals threaten to undermine many of the institutions of our government.  We pray that the citizens of the US will recognize when executive actions will be harmful to the common good and/or to human rights.  We also pray for the courage to let those in power know when we do not agree with proposed policies or procedures.  Please join us in prayer for all of us here in the US, and throughout the world.  We recognize that what happens in the US affects the entire world.  We pray for vigilence and action, courage and openness of heart, compassion and love, care for creation and care for the least among us.  May these and other Gospel values help us to create a global community and a flourishing future for all.

In this Jubilee year of 2025, Pope Francis has chosen the theme of Pilgrims of Hope, calling us to be signs of hope in our broken world. We are called to be rooted in gospel hope, lived out and lived daily in great and small ways throughout our pilgrimage on earth.  2025 is also the 800^th anniversary of St. Francis’ Canticle of Creation in which he recognizes all creatures as our brothers and sisters.  All of us reveal the divine presence that surrounds us and is within us.  We are all one with each other and with all creation.  Together, these celebrations inspire us to walk as “pilgrims” with hope, working to build a peaceful, just, and welcoming world. As we enter 2025, let us embrace our shared responsibility for God’s creation and live with love, humility, and care for all.

On Sunday, January 4, the St. Clare Region in the USA celebrated Sharon Devo returning to us as a covenant companion.  Sharon is also the director of the Tau Center for Spirituality and has been journeying with us in that capacity for several years.  Sharon had been a covenant companion in the past and we are thrilled to have her with us again following the charism of Mother Clara, St. Francis and St. Clare. 

Written by Sister Beatrice Hernandez