LifeSigns, July-Aug 2012 - Sisters of the Holy Cross
LifeSigns, July-Aug 2012 - Sisters of the Holy Cross
LifeSigns, July-Aug 2012 - Sisters of the Holy Cross
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Branches: <strong>Holy</strong> <strong>Cross</strong> Around <strong>the</strong> World<br />
Women moving<br />
forward<br />
Retreat teaches to love self<br />
in response to God’s love<br />
Approximately 35 Latina women from <strong>the</strong><br />
Mujeres Saliendo Adelante (Women Moving<br />
Forward) group <strong>of</strong> St. Adalbert Parish, South<br />
Bend, Indiana, participated in an April retreat<br />
at Saint Mary’s Convent facilitated by Sister<br />
M. Michaeleen (Frieders). <strong>Sisters</strong> Alice<br />
Lamping, Amalia Marie (Rios), M. Gladys Marie<br />
(Martin), Pamela Welch and Patricia Ann<br />
Thompson, as well as Saint Mary’s College<br />
student Alma Bravo and two volunteers,<br />
Anamilena Dillon and Beth Spitere, assisted.<br />
The retreat focused on <strong>the</strong> <strong>the</strong>me, “We<br />
Are Loved by God.” Sister<br />
Michaeleen referenced<br />
Genesis, explaining how<br />
God created men and<br />
women in God’s image<br />
saying it is good.<br />
“God created you and<br />
you are good,” she told<br />
<strong>the</strong> women. “You have<br />
value, and God wants you<br />
to love yourself because<br />
you must first love yourself<br />
before you can show love<br />
to o<strong>the</strong>rs.”<br />
A discussion followed<br />
on how to live <strong>the</strong><br />
commandment <strong>of</strong> love and<br />
<strong>the</strong> importance <strong>of</strong> loving<br />
self in response to God’s love. Anamilena, a nurse<br />
at Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center, focused<br />
her remarks on <strong>the</strong> question, “How do we know<br />
when we love ourselves?” A group sharing on<br />
“affirming self” came next. During one animated<br />
conversation, a woman was overheard to say to<br />
her companion, “We have been friends all <strong>the</strong>se<br />
ABOVE: Sister M. Michaeleen (Frieders), left, with<br />
three women from <strong>the</strong> Mujeres Saliendo Adelante<br />
group <strong>of</strong> St. Adalbert Parish, South Bend, Indiana<br />
LEFT: Sister Gladys Marie (Martin), left, with a<br />
retreatant<br />
years but this is <strong>the</strong> first time we have had a<br />
chance to talk alone.”<br />
The women enjoyed lunch with <strong>the</strong><br />
sisters and a tour <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> campus, including<br />
<strong>the</strong> Church <strong>of</strong> Our Lady <strong>of</strong> Loretto and <strong>the</strong><br />
Chapel <strong>of</strong> Loreto. They evaluated <strong>the</strong> day<br />
in glowing terms and said <strong>the</strong>y would like<br />
to return.<br />
“To know myself was a unique<br />
experience,” one woman wrote.<br />
Ano<strong>the</strong>r, when asked what she learned from<br />
<strong>the</strong> experience, replied: “We can do all things<br />
through Christ who streng<strong>the</strong>ns us.”<br />
The day concluded with prayer, and <strong>the</strong><br />
women were presented with a peace rosary made<br />
by Sister Alice.¡<br />
july / august <strong>2012</strong> ¡ <strong>LifeSigns</strong><br />
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