An Update About IRA Gift Transfers
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Provisions of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 will allow tax-free contributions from IRAs up to $100,000 for those age 70-1/2 and older. Learn more...
Providence House Filled with Formation & Friendship
Top, Sr. Kristin Battles, provincial, postulant Kris Fuller and formation director Sr. Kathleen at Kris' entrance ceremony. Bottom, Sr. Rosaria and Sr. Kathleen in traditional Korean dress.
In Autumn, 2007 two novices from the province of Chardon, Ohio joined California novice Sr. Mary Rosaria Park and postulant Kris Fuller at Providence House in Long Beach to continue their formation under the direction of Sr. Mary Kathleen Burns. Srs. Nanette Mary Zeimet and Maria Marcela Machiote returned to Ohio in early June after a year filled with spiritual growth and new experiences.
The women of Providence House shared a diverse range of backgrounds. Sr. Nan was raised in the Midwest as an only child. A native of Argentina, Sr. Marcela experienced diversity growing up in a country with a predominant majority of European immigrants (her own family includes Basque from Spain/France and Jews from Russia). Sr. Rosaria grew up in Korea and is in the process of becoming an American citizen. Kris Fuller worked in creative fields such as photography and the entertainment industry before answering the call to religious life and becoming a postulant.
“As with any community, trying to understand one another takes time, effort and energy,” said Sr. Kathleen. “Our blessing as a formation community is that we have ample opportunities for reflecting and sharing together.”
Kris and the novices traveled to Covington, Kentucky for a National Formation Gathering for a weekend of prayer, study and fellowship with ten other women who are postulants, novices and junior professed sisters. “It was a wonderful time of sharing with the other women in formation,” said Sr. Rosaria. “At the end of the weekend, we each selected a stone with the name of another woman in formation on it to remind us to pray for that person during the year.”
The purpose of a canonical year is to give a novice time to grow closer to God without the normal obligations of ministry. Yet this growth occurs with a busy, structured schedule that includes time for morning and evening prayer, daily Mass as well as classes. The novices also lead a weekly faith reflection on Fridays and serve at St. Cornelius Parish in several ministries.
“They are slowly taking on the role of ‘Sister’ in the parish by becoming the heart, hands and voice of Christ to his people,” said Sr. Kathleen.
Sr. M. Paulynne Tubick found living in the formation house to be a special blessing. “Being present in the House of Formation this year with our novices and postulant has engendered within me a greater appreciation for community, prayer life and living our charism in a deeper sense.”
“This is my first experience of community life and it helps to have sisters that can relate so well to where I am in my journey,” Kris said. The novices also felt blessed during this year. Sr. Marcela noted that she felt a deeper union with God. “I really grew up a lot,” she said. Sr. Nan observed, “I’ve had so many blessings living at Providence House. I look forward to every day, but I do miss the sisters from Chardon.”
“I feel God’s goodness and provident care for me day by day,” said Sr. Rosaria, “Everywhere I go, I know God is with me.”