Remembering July 8, 1993

As we move toward the month of July our thoughts turn to July 8, 1993 - 20 years ago- when we experienced a fire that totally destroyed our main academic building. It was a blazing hot day - 103 plus - and painters using heat guns while painting the trim on our main building caused a huge fire that destroyed the five story academic building.

This incident in the history of our monastery and school reminded us of a steadfast teaching of our founder, Francis de Sales; namely, that God's good pleasure may be discovered in the incidents and accidents of our lives. It is our challenge to make certain that these incidents and/or accidents become blessings. 

Our fire indeed brought our monastery and school innumerable blessings as well as some huge challenges. We have grown stronger as a result of this experience which can be likened to the rise of the phoenix from the ashes

In the words of the Editor of our 1995 Yearbook: 

"This year we have truly risen to the occasion. We have adapted to our new situation (classrooms in trailers) and succeeded within its limitations. As the Academy building continues its journey to perfection, so do we. With each new day we rise like the phoenix."

May God be Praised!

Sr. Mary Berchmans Hannan, VHM

Ordination of Ed Ogden

Today will be a day filled with blessings as we attend the ordination of our Campus Minister, Ed Ogden. Ed has been a brother in the Order of the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales for 25 years and during the past year discerned a call to the priesthood. 

Many members of our school and monastery communities will be traveling to de Sales University near Allentown, PA to witness this glorious occasion for soon-to-be Father Ed Ogden

Our Campus Minister has been a great source of Salesian spirituality for our faculty and staff and for many of our students who have participated in the Kairos retreats he leads.

Please add your prayers to ours as three members of the Oblate community will be ordained today Thursday, June 27.

MAY GOD BE PRAISED!!!!!

Sr. Mary Berchmans Hannan, VHM

Fill me with grace

Today I wish to share with you an inspiring prayer which fell into my lap a few days ago.  It beautifully expresses our Salesian spirituality and has given me an extra "oomph" in my efforts to follow Jesus more closely.

It comes from the Oblates Helper's Guild.

Jesus, be a guest in my heart today.

Help me always to recognize you.

When I feel sad, send me joy,

when I feel flawed, pour in your love,

when I feel empty, fill me with grace.

Jesus, I am grateful that you live in me.

Make my heart warmer, more vulnerable,

more pliable and easily mended.

O Jesus, let my attitude be yours. 

Help me to empty self

and be filled with service for others.

Engrave LIVE  JESUS on my heart

so that all my actions speak your love.

I ask this in your name.  Amen.

Sr. Mary Berchmans Hannan, VHM

Calming the Tempest

Today we offer a timely thought from our Foundress, St. Jane de Chantal

She offers us a little model of what we might do when we are taken by surprise as we peacefully row our boat throughout our day.

"When all our emotions arise to stir up a great internal storm that seems certain to overwhelm us or drag us after it, we must not wish to calm this tempest ourselves. Rather, we must gently draw near the shore, keeping our will firmly in God and coast along the little waves which are found closer to the shore."

Sr. Mary Berchmans Hannan, VHM

Language Immersion Trip to Spain

Sr. Mary Roberta enjoying the beach in Cadiz, Spain, during a two-week, language-immersion trip from June 8th to June 22nd with a group of our school's juniors and seniors. More photos to come later!

June 24, 1799

Today is the 214th anniversary of the founding of Georgetown Visitation in 1799. Our hearts are filled with gratitude for the rich history of our monastery and school. The Sisters who have gone before us experienced with courage the many vicissitudes that life brought them during these early years - wars, depressions, slavery, dire poverty - yet in the midst of these hardships our dear Sisters always showed a beautifully resilient spirit.

Today we stand on the shoulders of these remarkable women with hearts filled with gratitude for the rich heritage they have left us. It is  now our sacred responsibility to carry their spirit forward as we face the challenges of life in this 21st century. 

The history of our monastery and school continues to teach us many lessons of steadfast faith, long-lasting hope intertwined with an undying charity. God has blessed us in so many ways and we are deeply grateful.

Sr. Mary Berchmans Hannan, VHM

St. Francis de Sales on "Devotion," offered by Sr. Eleanor

Devotion:

The virtue of devotion is neither more nor less than a general inclination and promptitude of spirit to do what we know is pleasing to God. It is the joyful expansion of the heart spoken of in the Psalms: "I have run in the way of your commandments since you have set me free."

Ordinary people walk along the path of God; devout people run; very devout people fly.

Times of prayer must become so much a part of our day that we never omit them except out of great necessity.

The length of our prayer should be in proportion to the amount of work we have to do.

From St. Francis de Sales, offered by Sr. Eleanor May Klaber, V.H.M.

We're back on the blog!

Response to moving to Facebook was not good, because even though our Facebook page is open to the public, many people cannot access it because of firewalls at their employers' offices. We know that you want to catch up with Visitation Monastery whenever you can throughout the day, so for now we will post in both places until another solution is found.

If you recall, originally everything posted here also showed up on the Facebook page, but that changed when Blogger (run by Google) and Facebook failed to reach an agreement on cross-posting. We'll do it mechanically for now and then keep you apprised of future changes.

Final Day, Four Days of Photos From Lourdes

Today is the last of four days of photos from Sr. Anne Francis and Sr. Bernardine's visit to Lourdes. Accompanying the photos have been commentary from Sr. Anne Francis.

Pilgrimage To Lourdes

Pilgrims from all over the world who come here immerse themselves in the grottos, 17 pools (6 for men and 11 for women).

Here is where I was able to see and witness faith uniting all. Everyone was kind and loving. There seemed to be an infusion of love to every soul. Strangers smiled and waved at one another. This was a moment to behold as one watched and felt the Spirit of Gold reign in the hearts of all. I shall live to savor those very beautiful moments for the rest of my life.

Day Three of Four Days of Photos From Lourdes

Beginning two days ago, plus today and tomorrow, we will post photos from Sr. Anne Francis and Sr. Bernardine's visit to Lourdes. Accompanying the photos will be commentary from Sr. Anne Francis.

Pilgrimage To Lourdes

As you might already have known, Lourdes lies south of Paris in the foothill of the Pyrenees mountains.

The Grotto of Massabielle is the site of St. Bernadette’s visions of the Virgin Mary in 1858. The Blessed Virgin is said to have pointed out a previously undiscovered spring into the grotto and instructed Bernadette to drink from it.

The spring water is believed to possess healing powers from our Blessed Mother, and the Church officially recognizes miraculous healing. (continued tomorrow)

Day Two of Four Days of Photos From Lourdes

Yesterday, today and for two days to follow we will post photos from Sr. Anne Francis and Sr. Bernardine's visit to Lourdes. Accompanying the photos will be commentary from Sr. Anne Francis.

Pilgrimage To Lourdes

When mother Jacqueline told me that I would be a companion to Sr. Bernardine I was taken by surprise, and it took me a while to think over about the words I had just heard from her. Yes indeed I was going to be part of this wonderful history of our faith. (continued tomorrow)

Four days of photos from Lourdes

Today and for three days to follow we will post photos from Sr. Anne Francis and Sr. Bernardine's visit to Lourdes. Accompanying the photos will be commentary from Sr. Anne Francis.

Pilgrimage To Lourdes

I had always read about Lourdes and even heard stories about the place. Never at any time of my life have I ever dreamt of ever stepping my feet in that historic place. (continued tomorrow)

Thankfulness

Thankfulness all year round, not just on Thanksgiving Day!




Sr. Mary Roberta Viano, VHM

Fr. Schall and Lord Peter Wimsey

A fascinating article from one of our former chaplains, Fr. James V. Schall, S.J. Fr. Schall has a legendary reputation as a professor and scholar at Georgetown University, and he retired this year.

http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2013/a-liberal-education-reading-lord-peter-wimsey.html

Sr. Mary Roberta Viano, VHM 

St. Damien De Veuster, Part II of II

The blog posts for May 9th and 10th will be about Saint Damien De Veuster, known for decades as “Father Damien of Molokai". Saint Damien was canonized on October 11, 2009.


The feast of Saint Damien De Veuster is celebrated today. Usually a saint’s feast day is the date of his or her death, but as April 15th often falls in Lent, the choice was made instead for May 10th. According to the Hawaii Catholic Herald, that date was picked because it marks a significant event in his life, a day on which he performed a particular act of supreme charity and selflessness that would ultimately lead to his canonization. On May 10, 1873 he stepped onto the island of Molokai and made it both his life’s work and eventual place of death. The opening prayer of the feast day Mass reads in part, “Father of mercy, in Saint Damien you have given us a shining witness of love for the poorest and most abandoned. Grant that by his intercession, as faithful witnesses of the heart of your Son Jesus, we too may be servants of the most needy and rejected.”


Sr. Joanne Gonter, VHM

St. Damien De Veuster, Part I of II

The blog posts for May 9th and 10th will be about Saint Damien De Veuster, known for decades as “Father Damien of Molokai". Saint Damien was canonized on October 11, 2009.


Joseph De Veuster was born in Belgium January 3, 1840. In 1859 he entered the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts and took the name Damien. Arriving in Honolulu in March 1864, he was ordained for service as a “country missionary” in Hawaii. When the Hawaiian Government deported anyone infected by leprosy, then thought to be an incurable disease, to the island of Molokai, Bishop Louis Maigret asked for priest volunteers to take turns visiting the island. In 1873, Damien was the first to go and then, “at his own request and that of the lepers, he remained on Molokai” for the rest of his life.

When he contracted the disease in 1885, Damien, using the expression “we lepers,” found his strength in the Eucharist. He died on April 15, 1889, having served sixteen years among the lepers.

In 1938 the process for his beatification was introduced in Belgium. Pope Paul VI signed the Decree on the “heroicity of his virtues” in July 1977. In July 1995, he was beatified by Pope John Paul II.


Sr. Joanne Gonter, VHM

Remembrances from Sr. Josephine

The following quotations are from a small handwritten collection made by Sister Josephine Di Biase (1930-2013) and found after her death in her room:

“The education of children depends less on the spoken word than on the living examples set by the teachers themselves.” Thomas Merton

“Be patient with everyone but above all with yourself.” Saint Francis de Sales

“The opportunity to do great things for God does not come very often, but at every moment we can do little things with great love.” Saint Francis de Sales

“Love is our reason for living. Love is our reason for giving.” (not identified)

Photo of Sr. Josephine with Michelle, a nurse in our infirmary.

Sr. Joanne Gonter, VHM

More thoughts about Sr. Mary Josephine

Last week we shared a message on two days about Sister Mary Josephine DiBiase, VHM. Sister died in our infirmary on April 25th and her funeral was held in our chapel on April 30th, enabling family members to be present. Sister Josephine, born in Fairmont WV in 1930, was a graduate of Fairmont State University. For 11 years she taught in an elementary school in Loudon County VA. In 1963 she became a member of the Georgetown Visitation community and in 1968 transferred to a Visitation community where there was an elementary program for boys and girls: De Sales Heights Academy in Parkersburg WV. Noted for her skill in teaching reading, she taught there for 23 years. Most recently she was a member of the Visitation community in Wheeling WV for five years and since 2010 has been here at Georgetown. The following is an excerpt from the homily given by Father Charles Currie, SJ, at her funeral:

“Teaching little children is so important, especially in the earliest years when their precious spontaneity and creativity need both channeling and nourish- ing... Teaching reading is a special vocation in itself...What a gift, for a child or an adult, to be able to read, to have the excitement of words bouncing off a page... Sister Josephine made that kind of revelation possible for children for 23 years in Parkersburg WV. Think of what so many women and men today owe to her.”

Sr. Joanne Gonter, VHM

Sisters' Dinner at the Jesuit Residence, Part 7 of 7

The Visitation Sisters were guests of Georgetown University's Jesuit Community at Wolfington Hall on Monday, April 15. From April 24-30 we'll post photos from the event.

Sisters' Dinner at the Jesuit Residence, Part 6 of 7

The Visitation Sisters were guests of Georgetown University's Jesuit Community at Wolfington Hall on Monday, April 15. From April 24-30 we'll post photos from the event.