“A soul which gives itself to prayer, either much or little, should on no account be kept with narrow bounds.”
— Saint Teresa of Avila

“Without prayer, without faith in the Almighty, the civil rights movement would have been like a bird without wings.”
— Congressman John Lewis
This past weekend, Sister Cecilia Jacko brought prayers and birthday balloons to the grave of her late sister, Sister Julia Jacko, who would have turned 100 on July 19.
The Places We Pray
The suspension of religious services this spring due to COVID-19 stirred a yearning in our collective soul to be back in church, practicing our rituals, receiving the sacraments, and being among friends of faith.

But we have learned that prayer can be practiced anywhere at any time. Some of us choose the sunrise to embrace the promise of a new day and share our thoughts with God. Others are particularly inspired by nature.

"As I plant, weed, and water flowers, I listen to the calming chatter of the birds and I contemplate the gifts around me," says Sister Jo Goolish , who serves in San Antonio Texas. "I set my worries aside and have a silent conversation with my God."

We are moved by music and special readings. Prayers delivered for those we've lost are especially sacred. Prayer is possible everywhere, and its battery never loses charge. It requires no particular locale or dot on a map and won't get lost without GPS. It can happen while we're washing dishes, sitting in traffic, folding laundry or walking the dog. It's perfectly portable, so don't leave home without it.
Sister Jo Goolish finds that tending her garden puts her in a prayerful mood.
Sisters Joyce Burkhart, Pat Marie Buranosky and Pat Mahoney share prayful porch time.
Where will you take your prayers today?
More importantly, where will your prayers take you today?
One-on-One with Our Sisters
As we endure the COVID-19 pandemic and other unrest in our country, our Sisters reflect on what brings them strength and solace and offer wise words for our friends in faith.
Is there any special place you go or routine you follow that makes your prayer time more fulfilling?
“God has blessed us here at Monacacy Manor with beautiful property. I enjoy walking different sections each day, praising and thanking God for the lovely flowers, trees and bushes that I see along the way. A few days ago, as I sat in the garden behind the White House, I saw a beautiful red fox pass behind the statue of St. Francis. He, too, was praising God. Then as I was returning to St. Francis Center for Renewal, I noticed two baby fawns frolicking in the meadow — all God's creation. Praise the Lord!”
— Sister Marguerite Stewart
We cannot travel right now, but we can revisit our favorite travel memories. What was your best trip?
“ Going to Chile was both exciting and scary. I suddenly realized I was leaving my homeland. So I took a little plastic bag, filled it with some dirt from outside of Mount Assisi Convent, and put it in my shoe. As the plane took off over the ocean, I felt secure in the knowledge that I never left the USA; part of it was walking with me. In all the years I worked in Chile, that little bag was in my shoe. It was torn and taped, but the soil was always there. I brought it back with me and buried it beside the grave of one of our Sisters who I know prayed for me during my time in Chile. ”
— Sister Barbara Ann Webster
Jubiliarian Spotlight
Join us in congratulating our 2020 Jubilarians as they celebrate milestones in religious life amid this year's extraordinary circumstances. In our final Jubilarian Spotlight of 2020, meet Sister Margaret Elaine Rovnak , who marks her 70th year in religious life.
As a young sister in the late 1950s, Sister Rosalia Giba water-skiies along the Ohio River in Pittsburgh, Pa.
Warm Days on the Water
“ Any day during this pandemic brings my mind back to my childhood and early religious life, ” remembers Sister Rosalia Giba . “ Growing up here in Pittsburgh, I had many opportunities to go swimming. My twin, Sister Bernadette, and I went swimming every day during the summer at the Roberta Lang swimming pool in Woods Run. There we had boys’ day and girls’ day. On boys’ day we went down to the river instead. There we would spend our entire afternoon. Since we learned how to swim in deep water at an early age, we also learned to water-ski off the boat owned by our brother. We water-skiied from Emsworth (a town about eight miles northwest of Pittsburgh) down to town. ”
A Song Before You Go
It seems as though quite a bit of troubled water is passing under our collective bridge these days. Simon & Garfunkel wrote their gospel-inspired Bridge Over Troubled Water in 1969 amid racial tensions and the assassinations of Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr. Here's hoping that this stirring rendition sung by father-daughter duo Mat and Savanna Shaw lifts you above the waves of today's turbulent times.
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Past Editions
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Tidings in Troubled Times here .