Congregational E-News ~ Feb. 15, 2021
I remember memorizing the Fruits of the Holy Spirit—along with the Gifts of the Holy Spirit—in grade school. I can’t say that I really understood them but yet I knew that they were somehow a part of who I am. Reflecting on them these many years later, I marvel at the generosity of my God—and wonder why I am sometimes so slow to utilize these “fruits.” On those days when nothing seems to go right, I may well whisper, “God, give me patience!” Have I ever stopped to recall that God has already done that? In later years I’ve often prayed for the gift of gentleness. Again I realize that God has already bestowed this gift. More appropriate would be to pray “God, help me to utilize the gifts of patience and gentleness that you’ve already bestowed on me!”
Fruits of the Spirit
 
“The Fruits of the Spirit are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” (Gal. 5:22)
 
Fruits of the Spirit – gifts on a tree
The Gospel of God to hear and see
 
One named love, another named joy
Blight or drought will never destroy
 
Patience and kindness go a long way
Nourished by generosity and caring each day
 
Faithfulness and gentleness put to a test
Reaching out to others and trying our best
 
Last but not least peace and self-control
Hard to attain but so good for our soul
 
Which, if not all, do we struggle to sow
And nurture the roots so the seed will grow
 
Into fruits that bloom on our spiritual tree
Ripe and juicy in you and me!
 
Phyllis Petryk
Franciscan Companion in Mission
National Catholic Sisters Week - Food Drive

Fifty-two weeks a year women religious stand with the poor and immigrants, teach children, fight injustice, heal the sick, share spirituality, empower women, defend the planet, promote peace, create community, offer hope …But for one week, March 8-14, we shine the spotlight on women religious and encourage a wide range of campaigns and events that invite all who follow Jesus to
  • expand and support their gospel witness
  • grow the service networks they have seeded
  • share their spirituality, charisms, and community
  • encourage young women to consider a vocation to religious life
  • support their pastoral, teaching, and prophetic works
  • and focus on the new world they call into being.

This year the focus of National Catholic Sisters Week is on Food Insecurity. One bad month. That’s all it takes for many Americans to be economically devastated. The Covid-19 pandemic has brought more than a year of bad months and the United States is experiencing a crisis of hunger and food insecurity that hasn’t been seen since the Great Depression.

As part of the Catholic Sisters Week Challenge to End Hunger and Food Insecurity, the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia are sponsoring a food drive on March 12 from 2-6 P.M. and March 13 from 9 A.M. – 12 P.M. Donations collected will go to support Anna’s Place which serves those who are food insecure in Chester, Pennsylvania. Walking with our sisters and brothers at the west end of Chester, Anna’s Place staff discovered there was a need for food, toiletries, and household supplies and now, during this pandemic, provide almost two hundred bags of food and supplies every week. Those able to join our effort may bring donations of nonperishable food, toiletries, household supplies, monetary donations, or grocery gift cards to the Our Lady of Angels Convent parking lot located at 609 S. Convent Rd., Aston, PA 19014.  For more information or directions, please contact (610) 558-7726 or communications@osfphila.org.

Start collecting your food now! Anna's Place is our foundation's featured need this month. Learn more here.
Celebrating Lent
You are invited to use our Lenten calendar as a way to reflect, pray, and fast. Take daily actions. We offer you quotes/statements from Pope Francis’ Fratelli Tutti during this Season of Lent and through Holy Week. Allow these quotes to reside in your heart throughout the day and take action to live as we as Catholics are being called during this season. Click here to access the printable calendar.
Justice Cafe - February 21
Looking for a program to help build community? Want to deepen your spirituality through the lens of social justice? Join a growing movement of young adults acting together for justice!

We will be hosting Justice Cafes the second Sunday of each month with the exception of February—this month it will be hosted on Sunday, February 21 from 3-4:30 P.M. EST / 12-1:30 P.M. PST via Zoom. The Inter-Community Peace and Justice Center (IPJC) Justice Cafes will be offered to all who are interested for intergenerational conversation on particular justice issues identified. The February topic is on Essential Workers.

Each participant will be given informational materials prior to the meeting. The format on Sunday will involve prayer and information sharing with small and large groups. Join others for a meaningful conversation on the connections between spirituality and justice. Please invite anyone that you may know who is interested in justice concerns—in particular essential workers this month. Other monthly topics will be shared at a later date.

For more information OR to register for 2/21, contact Sr. Florence Hee at fhee@osfphila.org. Please register by for February 18 in order to receive information and the Zoom link.
Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia | 610-558-7726 | communications@osfphila.org | www.osfphila.org