Written by Barb Spies, OFS, Director of Mission Services and Pastoral Care
Catholic Sisters Week invites us all to celebrate women religious (Sisters and nuns) from March 8-14. This annual celebration began in 2014, to honor women religious by bringing greater focus to the lives of these incredible women. It’s a chance to recognize this valuable vocation with the hope that more people will learn about women religious, and invite others to follow their example.
The theme of Catholic Sisters Week this year is “Stories of Hope and Heart.” Here at Felician Village, we celetrate the story of Blessed Mary Angela Truskowska who began a congregation of women focused on serving where they were needed. We also tell the stories of the first Felician Sisters who came to North America in the late 1800s. Finally, we look at the stories of the 330 women who served at this ministry over the first 138 years of its existence.
As we focus on the theme this year, we are participating in creating a Ribbon of Hope with the Felician Sisters of North America and all of their ministries. The ribbon focues on faith, resilience, and shared commitment. Each link of our ribbon has a word or short phrase of hope that we tied together and entitled Hope Unbroken. Residents and staff participated in the creation of this ribbon.
The Catholic Sisters Week website tells us much about who these women are in our world: The world is weary and searching for light. Catholic Sisters remind us that hope is alive, carried in the hearts of faith, compassion and courage. In a divided world, Catholic Sisters build bridges of understanding and unity. Their hearts remind us we are stronger together. In a world of need, Catholic Sisters turn compassion into movement. Their Service is love made visible – faith lived through action. Amid noise and uncertainty, Catholic Sisters ground the world in prayer. Their quiet strength becomes the heartbeat of hope. Catholic Sisters stand where others stay silent – speaking truth, defending dignity, and leading with unwavering courage.
Sister Cathy K. Tshitenge, f.m.m., writes about Who is a Catholic Sister? “She is a woman of faith, strength, courage, and vision. A follower of Jesus and doer of the Word of God, A daughter attentive to the cries of the poor, women, children, and migrants. An advocate of keeping our planet and environment healthy and clean. A person who prioritizes personal and communal prayer. A voice for the voiceless and outcasts of society. A fearless woman of hope and peace. A caregiver, a listening ear, and a compassionate person towards the sick, children, and the aged. Let us Celebrate our Catholic Sisters now and always…”
Blessed Angela: “Wait very quietly and perform peacefully what the Lord asks of you at this precise moment.”