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“Aging is an extraordinary process where you become the person you always should have been.”
— David Bowie

“Beautiful young people are accidents of nature, but beautiful old people are works of art.”
— Eleanor Roosevelt
Sister Marie Therese Sherwood (seated at center) with parishioners from St. Matthias who attended Senior Day at St. Francis Center for Renewal.
Blessings Received
Retreat Program Reveals Peace in Aging for Parishioners
Earlier this month, Sister Marie Therese Sherwood and 12 members of the Senior Ministry at the Catholic Community of St. Matthias in Somerset, N.J., carpooled to Bethlehem, Pa. to attend St. Francis Center for Renewal's Aging with Grace: Senior Day at SFCR program. In addition to the others who took part in the day-long retreat, the St. Matthias contingent was joined by three other parishioners who attended online via the wonders of technology.

The special afternoon welcomed senior citizens from near and far to relax, pray and laugh together with an informative and inspiration program on aging and time to stroll the grounds and socialize. The featured presenter — our own Sister Marguerite Stewart — welcomed and led participants in prayer and offered a presentation on the four stages of aging.

Afterwards, time was allotted for personal reflection in the small chapel or other designated areas of the Center. Among the topics participants were invited to ponder: “The second half of life is not about achievements, but about appreciation. This time of life is a sacred time of grace and gratitude.” Group sharing was followed by a delicious lunch, which nourished retreatants in body and spirit and offered the opportunity to meet other participants and enjoy each other's company.

Sister Marie Therese invited the St. Matthias group to share their personal experiences of the day. To read their reflections, please click the button below.
Never Too Late to Learn
Did you miss Senior Day at SFCR but want to discover the hidden treasures in aging? No matter where you live, you can join St. Francis Center for Renewal for the final session of Growing in Wisdom, Age & Grace, set for 10 a.m. on Thursday, May 26. The program is offered entirely online through Zoom.
More Aid on the Way to
Sisters Helping Near Ukraine
Thanks to the generosity of our friends near Closter, N.J., we have just sent $3,000 to our Sisters in the Slovak Republic to continue their work with and care for Ukrainian families. Our Slovak Sisters volunteer at the border; collect food, clothing and other necessities; offer hospitality in their homes; and assist with recognition of documents in state offices. Likewise, our Sisters in the Czech Republic are helping with similar activities, integrating refugee children into religion classes, and hosting Ukrainian students who have begun attending high schools in Prague.
Support Our Czech & Slovak Sisters
If you’d like to support the work of our Sisters in the Slovak Republic and Czech Republic, checks payable to “School Sisters of St. Francis” can be sent to:
 
School Sisters of St. Francis
Attn: Helping Ukraine
4900 Perry Highway, Suite 201
Pittsburgh PA 15229
Support Catholic Relief Services
In March, we made a $2,500 donation to Catholic Relief Services (CRS) to aid Ukrainian refugees. If you, too, would like to help through CRS, click below. We ask that you join us in continued prayer for peace in Ukraine and all around the world.