Thursday, November 26, 2009

November Happenings





Sorry it's been so long since we posted on this blog! We've been busy getting ready for the FUN Raiser, getting out newsletters, etc.
The above pictures (top): is from today! We had a great Thanksgiving meal together and invited some residents from St. Ann's. It's become a tradition now for us to have friends over from there.
The middle picture is of Sr. Mary Felice making an afghan for the FUN Raiser Craft Store.
The bottom picture is of the list of all the Sisters that have died here in this Region since it began in 1954. Many Sisters have lived their lives of service and love for the people here in the Texas Panhandle. May they rest in peace!

Sunday, November 15, 2009

Youth Groups - One of our Favorite thing to do!

This is a picture from one of our recent travels -- this is actually a 5th Grade Class in a Catholic School!!! We also love to visit (or be on the team) for Youth Groups. We've gotten to visit a few lately -- always looking for ways to spread the reality of God's Love to His People.

God is passionately in love with us! He likes us too! He delights in us! Take some time to receive that love!

Friday, November 6, 2009

College Debt and Vocations

This video clip is about many Catholics that are helping those with college debt to enter the priesthood or religious life! This is so awesome!

http://cbs2chicago.com/local/college.debt.Catholic.2.1253610.html

Monday, November 2, 2009

All Saints Day -- All Souls Day



We hope you can see this -- saints all over the table, celebrating All Saints Day(s) with the saints from all over the house!!!
We also went to the cemetery today for All Souls' Day. We have a custom on this day to visit each Sisters' grave, to put holy water on it, and to tell stories or memories about that Sister. Then we say a prayer for each one. It was awesome.
God bless you all!


Friday, October 30, 2009

God Continues to Bless Us!

The Genius of Woman retreat went very well! One has to plant seeds everywhere they go, and then God waters it. Only He knows what fruits will come from our "Texas Tour" from last week.

We were able to meet a bunch of neat people, talk to youth groups, students at colleges, and much more!

Thank you all for your prayers! Keep praying -- we have a 3rd Order Franciscan Group here this weekend for a retreat.

God bless you all!

Thursday, October 22, 2009

The Genius of Womanhood

We are about to give a retreat on one of the most interesting topics: The Genius of Woman.

John Paul II called it this.

Wow. Contemplating the different aspects of each woman . . . way too much to mention here. I will mention one. Receptivity.

The woman receives love from her spouse. This is an imagery used in how the Church is the Bride and Jesus is the Bridegroom. God the Father gives us love and grace, we simply receive it. It's not a passive receiving, it's an active receiving. So, stamped in our very bodies, we have a symbol of how God works in our lives. All of us are to be "brides" of Christ (even men). We can all actively receive God's grace and love.

Pray for our retreat on Saturday! Thank you and God bless you all with his infinite and awesome love!

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Love is a Choice

Dear Friends,

Love is definitely a choice.

So many people today seem to be struggling in their lives, either in their marriage or loving other people in their lives. We must remember that Love is a Choice! Yes, there are some fuzzy warm feelings sometimes with love, but this cannot be the end-all and be-all of our relationship. After the new wears off, we choose to love those around us. Love is unconditional. It is self-sacrificial. It is willing to be crucified (Jesus gave us the example). It's amazing how God's grace kicks in and helps us to love.

Help us pray for marriages! A good example of this is Greg and Julie Alexander. They couldn't stand each other at one point. They say that they were only in it for themselves. When the new wore off, they were ready to hit the road. Then they began learning about the scriptures and what it says about marriage. Greg says that he began being the head of the family and leading the family in prayer. They eventually turned their whole lives around . . . and now you'd think they were newlyweds. They love each other so much!

Nothing is impossible with God. Nothing. Whatever you may be struggling with in your life -- hand it over to God. Ask for His Grace. Watch the miracle. That doesn't mean that pain will not be involved. We can embrace the cross and anticipate the resurrection!

Greg and Julie are now marriage coaches: thealexanderhouse.org