Congregational E-News ~ May 15, 2019
I imagine all of us have times in our lives when we feel like everything is coming apart—sometimes metaphorically and sometimes literally. During one of those times in my life, I remember telling a friend that I felt like a knitted or woven spread or scarf that was coming apart stitch by stitch. Later, as I thought more about, I realized that the same God who had created me could also put me back together—maybe with a slightly different pattern. That image has stayed with me and my “weaver God” has helped me through many of life’s challenges!
Weaver God

Fear
Like tapestry unraveled
Straggles into tangled threads of doubt,
Twisted strands
Of what might be.
Lost amid the scattered
Tattered threads,
Patternless
I stumble
Through bewildered jungles of
Knotted fear
And severed strands
Till softly,
Calmly,
My Weaver God
With gentle touch
Gathers up the tangled mess
And weaves with
Gentle hand
And loving heart
A pattern new and strong,
Tapestry
Both beautiful and
Unafraid
Creating wholeness
Out of what had been
And weaving newness
Out of fear.

Sr. Ann Marie Slavin, OSF

SISTERS TAKE CORPORATE STAND AGAINST GUN VIOLENCE!
The Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia take great joy in announcing that the congregation, as a result of a recent referendum, have declared a corporate stand against gun violence. The Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia, conscious of the growing use of assault and other weapons in our society, take this corporate stand on behalf of gun safety reform, thereby committing to educate ourselves and others toward a safer culture of life.

The debate over gun safety reform in the United States has waxed and waned over the years stirred by a series of mass shootings in civilian settings. In particular, the killing of 20 school children in Newtown, Connecticut, in 2012 prompted a new national discussion about gun laws. However, legislation that would have banned semiautomatic assault weapons was defeated in the Senate despite extensive public support. It must be said that allegiance to the National Rifle Association (NRA) played and continues to play a role in the failure to pass legislation.

The statistics of death and injury by gun violence in the U.S. are breathtaking! They challenge the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia and their companions to do what we can to bring to light the enormity and the costs of human life because of the lack of adequate gun safety reform. Furthermore, our documents, our values, and the Gospel call us to educate ourselves and to put that knowledge into action on behalf of our brothers and sisters. This is our call; this is our challenge. “It is so important to challenge ourselves and others to move out of our own comfort zones and speak the truth to power—whether it be with politicians, faith leaders, or even our own family and friends,” said Sr. Kate O’Donnell, coordinator of the Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation Committee . “We strive to be women and men of peace by our work toward fair and adequate legislation on gun safety reform.”

We plan to take action on this stand by advocating for extensive and up-to-date background checks on people purchasing guns; by participating in actions both locally and nationally that challenge the present gun laws, by voting to elect those who support gun safety reform; by volunteering with organizations who support gun safety reform; by reading and by signing letters, e-mails, and making phone calls to senators and representatives; by including gun safety reform in our daily prayers; and by avoiding shopping in stores that sell guns. Join us in our fight for a safer, more peaceful world.

Read the corporate stand and view the reflection guide/resource packet on our website by clicking here.

Catholic High: Offers a Path to Success

The Sisters of St. Francis are proud to support the Catholic High School of Baltimore as one of our sponsored ministries. May is the month of Mary and every year the Catholic High School of Baltimore students honor the mother of Jesus with the May Crowning Ceremony. The senior who is selected as Miss Catholic High has the honor of crowning the Blessed Mother. This year’s Miss Catholic High is Bayley Lindsay. With her court by her side (the Students of the Year from each grade), Bayley placed a crown of roses on the Mary statues both inside and outside of Catholic High.

Bayley, Class of 2019, is attending University of Maryland, College Park, next year, study bioengineering. Her sister, Hannah Lindsay, a 2015 graduate from TCHS, is graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy this year and was commissioned to medical school at Bethesda. She hopes to be a pediatrician. Their mother wrote the beautiful note below. “We are so blessed with the most amazing young women at Catholic High,” shared Dr. Barbara Nazelrod

Dr. Nazelrod,
We truly feel we are blessed that our girls had your guidance and support for four years. We are so thankful for their experience.

To think that Bayley would be named Miss Catholic High would not have occurred to us her freshman year—not because she wasn’t a talented or dedicated student, but because she hadn’t yet found her voice. You and your gifted faculty/staff helped Bay find her path. You all lit her way and, in doing so, she found her own light. I know she’ll use that light to shine for others—a beacon of hope, strength, and compassion.

Watching our girls become impassioned, kind, thoughtful leaders has been a gift!
Thank you — and all there — for recognizing the potential in both of our girls.

Take care,
Mia Lindsay
Franciscan Night - Last Chance for Tickets
Franciscan Night is only a few days away! On May 18 at 7 P.M., the Sisters of St. Francis Foundation will host their annual Franciscan Night fundraiser! Get ready to place your bets as you play to win some awesome prizes from wonderful gift baskets to a signed Jason Peters jersey or a brand new flat screen TV. If you don’t want to gamble, come for some great food, friends, and fun! Enjoy the amazing atmosphere and listen to live music performed by the talented Bob Grove. Support the sisters and enjoy a fun Saturday night! https://osfphila.org/events/franciscan-night/
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Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia | 610-558-7726 | communications@osfphila.org | www.osfphila.org