The energy of the grace of God Mission is adventure. When the U.S. bishops, through the LCWR (Leadership Council of Women Religious) invited religious of different congregations to volunteer to go to Albania in the 1990s, I said, “Yes.” I had the openness and the enthusiasm to go. I had never been to Europe or […]
Hawaii’s Carmelites celebrate 40 years of ministry in the Islands
“To understand what contemplatives do and how their lives benefit us, you must recall what everyone knows about trees. Yes, trees. … Forests are essential for our physical survival because they perform such important functions as drawing water from the clouds and ‘breathing’ for the entire population of human beings and animals — trading their […]
Viriditas: Sister Fidelia Villa, Sisters of St. Paul of Chartres
Rediscovering faith, discovering purpose God works in so many ways. I see him in everything. Without a personal relationship with God, to whom could I run? Of course, God sends people to help me. However, when I wrestle with him like Jacob, sometimes he wins, and sometimes I do. I complain of course, but I […]
Viriditas: Father Jon Cabico, diocesan priest
‘This too shall pass’ Hospital ministry is a heavy ministry. It is not easy to be around the sick and dying all the time. Emotions can run high, and exhaustion can follow. What are some of the things I do to keep on going? First of all, I have discovered how important it is to […]
Viriditas: Sister Yoo Soo Kim, Maryknoll Sisters
Seasons of God’s beautiful creation “When I enter my studio, I feel the sacred air. Brightness of the candle flame, smoke of the incense, and smell of tea … At that moment my heart becomes pure, An armful of flowers in the sacred air, softness of sea air … As I fill my room with […]
Viriditas: Sister Rose Miriam Schillinger, Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet
‘Whatever God wants, is what I want’ Forty-three years ago when I was asked to go to Hawaii, I told my provincial superior: “No, I don’t want to go. I am a homebody and I love my home in Watervliet, New York.” She said that Hawaii really needed someone with a degree to teach social […]
Conversation: Aloha, Sister Rochelle and Sister Joan
Sister Rochelle Liu, left, and Sister Joan Roddy, Hawaii’s Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia. (HCH photo | Sister Malia Dominica Wong, OP) Boxes have been mailed; a palette shipped. Hawaii’s only two Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia left this week for Tacoma, Wash., leaving the Diocese of Honolulu minus another religious order. […]
Viriditas: Sister Anne-Marie Tamanaha, Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary
Music in the heart Within every letter I write, and throughout the day, I repeat the following Scripture: “Be joyful in hope, persevere in hardship; keep praying regularly.” (Romans 12:12) As a sister of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, my primary ministry is of adoration. It is through my life’s practice of eucharistic […]
Viriditas: Brother Dennis Schmitz, Society of Mary
The spirit at work One of the most significant periods in my life was when I worked as a Marianist brother in Korea for 12 years. While I was there I was very much involved in helping to pass on the charism of Marianist religious life to another generation in another culture. This deepened my […]
Viriditas: Sister Judith Abique, Sisters of St. Paul of Chartres:
My day begins with praise of God Three years ago when I was asked to accept the mission to come to Hawaii, I had to reflect back on my motivation for joining the congregation, the religious life. The motivation I had was to share the love of God. Yes, it was to share that love […]
