One of Our Own in the Greatest Generation

Mother f Perpetual Help Monastery
Esopus, New York

Celebrating 60 Years 
as a Redemptoristine

Tom Brokaw has declared them to be "the greatest generation". These are the sturdy souls whose earliest years were often marked by the hardships of the Great Depression; whose youthful adulthood was given to defense of liberty; whose later years were filled with accomplishment produced by dedication and



Sgt. Peggy Banville
Canadian Women's Army Corps - 1945



faithful perseverence. Our Sister Peg is one of that generation. She is celebrating the 60th jubilee of her first vows in religious life. Never tall, always petite, she is now our small treasure, ailing but still so spirited, faithful and wise. After serving in the Canadian military during W.W. II and having had a taste of civilian life she went on a retreat only to be surprised by a call from God. She found it rather unbelieveable at first. Especially unbelieveable was the call to be a contemplative nun. But she never pushed it away. Much to the surprise of family and friends, she followed the call into the first Canadian Redemptoristine foundation then only a few years old. 



Toronto, Canada



Like most of the older members of our community, Sr. Peg has served in almost every  post in community including that of prioress for a number of terms.  She has been our representative at international meetings, become certified as a spiritual director ,  organized our archives, and continually enriched her mind. She was one of six young nuns who came from Canada to Esopus, New York in 1957 to make this foundation. So she is a pioneer.



One of six foundresses
of the Esopus monastery
1957



Her favorite theological theme is that of the humility of God; a God who endowed created humanity with free will; a God who condescended to take on our mortal flesh, our fragile physical and emotional being for our sake that we might know the love of the Father, the energy of the Holy Spirit, and see the life of Jesus as invitation to transformation.

With author Madeleine l"Engle - 1990s



Sr. Peg's energy held yesterday through the celebration of the Holy Eucharist at which she renewed her "vows of proverty, chastity and obedience in the Church and for the world." She intends to continue to attempt each day to be a "living memory of Jesus Christ" in the true spirit of Redemptoristine life, the charism first revealed to Maria Celeste Crostarosa in 1725. We are so blessed to have a member of  "the greatest generation" among us today.  

   

Have some time to give away?

Many Programs and
Organizations Looking for
a Few Good Women and Men

You might think that as the Vocation Director for our contemplative monastic community I wouldn't be pointing to other avenues of service to God, the Church and the world. But it was our Prioress who passed this booklet on to me because sometimes those who think they have a religious vocation to enclosed contemplative life need to have an experience of active apostolic ministry in order to make an informed discernment.

But I am also passing this information on because I know that there a lot of high school grads these days who think its a great idea to take a sabbatical year before entering college. They also want to make it pay off as a positive contribution to society and a good looking addition to the college application, maybe even a topic for the essay.

And there just may be some folk out there contemplating retirement but not ready for the rocking chair.

This booklet is a directory of volunteer opportunities across the country and around the world. It was produced by the St. Vincent Pallotti Center for Apostolic Development, Inc. Their motto is "Inspiring volunteer service, strengthening faith and community." Check out their website. Request a copy of the directory for someone in your family, for the guidance office of your high school, or for the Religious Education Office of your parish. And how about you? One of these opportunities could be your next adventure, your next response to the mysterious invitations issued by God.

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"The times they are a changin' "

Ordinary Time:

Not So Ordinary

This is not an ordinary sight. It is called hoarfrost; the masterpiece created by mother nature when residual moisture from rain or snow is quick frozen during an exceptionally cold night. In the process, every branch, twig, blade and pine needle receive a crystaline coat which glitters in the light of dawn. Everything is at one with the ice coated river.

We may have entered Ordinary Time in liturgical terms but these are not ordinary times in our nation and our world. Hoarfrost served as a reminder of the lack of ordinariness. The violent event, the tragedy that took place in Arizona earlier in the week had already set another tone.

We live in exceptional times. The violence of murder, the savagery of war are surely exceptions to the norm. The current economic challenges experienced by so many are not ordinary. Surely these times are exceptional in the speedy application of every technological advancement. Today I searched the Internet, blogged, sent e-mail and enjoyed a video SKYPE conversation with a friend in Europe. That is exceptional in my lifetime. But, at the other end of the spectrum, the continuing violence of war, civil unrest, and natural disasters are also exceptional, disturbingly exceptional.

In the last and glorious liturgical season we celebrated the Incarnation, the Mystery of Emmanuel, God-With-Us. In these times, in this lack of ordinariness, in this period of exceptional challenges we have an invitation to more consciously walk with that God-With-Us, that God who is faithful companionship. We are also called to live our lives more consciously, always asking ourselves about our actions, our choices, our commitments, our responses to the exceptional. In the face of such 'not so ordinary times', everything we do becomes so much more important. 

Great Feast for the "Double Institute" of Redemptorists and Redemptoristines

St. John Neumann,
Redemptorist
and Bishop of Philadelphia

Today is the feast of a great Redemptorist and immigrant American saint. It is receiving a great deal of attention from the Redemptorists and in the Diocese of Philadelphia because this year marks the 200th anniversary of the birth of John Newmann in Bohemia. In addition, his shrine at St. Peter the Apostle Church in that city has recently undergone an extensive renovation in preparation for celebrations and for receiving many pilgrims.

St. John Newmann was very small in stature, spoke with a strong accent and indifferent to his attire. He did not suit the Catholic elite of Philadelphia set as they were on enhancing their image in the eyes of what was perceived as a critical if not prejudiced Protestant majority. It seems that those who supported John Neumann's assignment as Bishop of Philadelphia were less interested in the the needs of the wealthy than they were in the needs of an ever increasing flow of immigrants into the city. For them, John Newmann was the prefect choice for Bishop, a true pastor. A narrated slide show on the life and work of this saint can be viewed at the Redemptorist website.