How are SSND Sisters, Associates, and Sponsored Ministries celebrating Advent?
The Season of Advent is here and with it comes a time of hopeful longing, joyful expectation, prayerful penance, and spiritual preparation as we prepare for the coming of Christ.
There are many ways to observe this liturgical season—by setting aside extra time for daily prayers or devotional readings, lighting an advent wreath, decorating your space, listening to special Advent music, displaying a nativity scene, or volunteering with or donating to those in need. Below are a few of the ways SSND sisters, associates, and sponsored ministries are celebrating Advent this year.
Sister Lynore Girmscheid begins her Advent preparations during autumn by attending craft shows as both a vendor and a buyer. She keeps her gift-giving simple, preferring to share home-made gifts. She also finds that avoiding the commercialism of shopping malls allows her to remain more peaceful. And, since she celebrates the twelve days of Christmas, Advent decor graces her home for most of December!
Associate Hawley Iseke, theology instructor and department chair at the SSND sponsored ministry Notre Dame High School in Guam, looks forward each year to the special tradition of coming together as a school community for a weekly prayer service during the Advent season. “We assemble as one in the gym around our school’s emblem located on the floor, where the Advent Wreath is placed,” said Hawley. “We gather in a circle not just because of the wreath, but also to connect us back to our SSND heritage and charism as reflected in the emblem. We are challenged to remember our call to one-ness and the importance of everyone who makes up the circle.”
Sister Barb Linke spends time each evening praying with Jan Richardson’s book Night Visions. The book is organized around the weekly themes of Darkness, Desire, Preparing a Space, and Hope leading to Birthing, and contains original artwork, reflections, poetry, and prayers.
Sister Dominica Sento, who works in campus ministry at SSND sponsored ministry Notre Dame University in Kyoto, relishes the many Advent traditions she shares with the university community. A favorite of the students is an advent calendar filled with chocolates sent by a graduate who lives in New Zealand. Each student writes her name on one door before Advent begins and then savors her special treat when the day arrives. In addition, the entire community enjoys the light displays around campus. “We light it up at the beginning of Advent and continue until Christmas,” said Sister Dominica. “The Catholic population in Japan is only 0.35%. We hope that neighborhood people, people driving and walking on the streets, can see the lights and feel the coming of Jesus during Advent.”
Associate Barbara Carpentier created her own Nativity figures from pine. She fashioned each figure using a jig saw, then cut the figures into sections, varnishing each section with a different color. Barbara then glued the sections back together, creating a one-of-a-kind creche.
Sister Pam Moehring updates her Facebook feed each week with a new photo of her advent display to mark the weeks of Advent.
This Advent, Sister Margaret Roozen is spending time over coffee in the bistro with residents of Windermere in Shakopee, Minnesota. The group shares stories of how they celebrated Advent and Christmas growing up and how they celebrate with their families.
Every Advent, Sister Renee George and Sister Kathleen Donovan sing the Advent Novena. They send Christmas greeting to family, friends, and neighbors, letting them know that their intentions are remembered.
This Advent, Sister Ndukeobong Clement is extending hope, peace, joy and love by consciously sharing her smile with the people around her, especially with the less privileged children under SSND’s sponsorship program at Caritas Makeni in Sierra Leone. “I made time for each of the 20 scholars who came to write Christmas Letters to their donors,” said Sister Ndukeobong. “I presented the token provided by the sponsorship program to each child with a beaming smile. I also visited a young woman whose January baby came earlier in November. The joy on the faces of these wonderful people is, for me, like the fulfilment of the Advent prophesies: ‘…our God comes to save us…’ Maranatha, Come Lord Jesus!”
Sisters living in Mankato and North Mankato, Minnesota, gathered at the home of Sister Monica Wagner and Sister Joyce Kolbet. Following a potluck, sisters prayed and faith shared on the theme of peace. The evening continued with an enjoyable game and singing Christmas carols together.
The “Community Without Borders” consisting of Sister Mary Lorentz (Minnesota), Sister Carol Dwyer (Connecticut), Sister Jan Gregorcich (Wisconsin) and Sister Barb Pfarr (Wisconsin) have been meeting online with others on Mondays during Advent using the “Disrupting Darkness Advent Series” sponsored by Black Lives Are Sacred Milwaukee.
Sister Celeste Reinhart kick started her Advent season at a retreat provided by her parish spirituality committee. Entitled, “Finding Healing in Advent Darkness”, the retreat utilized paintings by Sister Barbara Paleczny to focus on darkness as a place where God dwells. On December 12, Sister Celeste celebrated the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe and the National Day of Prayer for Indigenous Peoples. Later in the month, she led her own program, entitled, “Disrupting Darkness,” to sisters at the motherhouse in Waterdown, Ontario. Finally, Sister Celeste joined three other sisters to hear Sister Rosemary Howarth sing in the Inshallah choir which sang Christmas songs of peace with immigrants from around the world. These varied and meaningful experiences have helped prepare her for the celebration of Christmas!
Sister Justine Nutz created an Advent board for the community room at the Watermark in Bridgeport, Connecticut, where a number of sisters reside. The board includes candles representing the four weeks of Advent, the shape of the flames evoking dewdrops from the old humn, “Drop Down Dew Ye Gracious Heavens”. It also features quotes from SSND foundress Mother Theresa of Jesus Gerhardinger. To the right of the board is a beautiful candle bookmark, an example of the 120 such bookmarks Sister Justine made to give out to both the sisters and laity who live at the Watermark.
To read reflections on Advent from sisters in the Atlantic-Midwest Province, visit https://atlanticmidwest.org/posts/advent-2024.