Soundings Update...

The latest issue of Soundings Update is now available on our Boston CSJ website .  In this issue:

• Remembering and Celebrating -- Maria Convent Celebration
• The Women's Table at Brighton Allston Family Fair --In Partnership with the Dear Neighbor
• Volunteers in Mission -- Community, Sharing Prayer, and Service among the Dear Neighbor
• Bethany Prayer Shawl Ministry: Celebrating 500 Symbols of God’s Loving Presence
• Casserly House Celebrate's Tenth Anniversary

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 Soundings Update is not published in July and August. Enjoy the summer!

Maxim Monday: Summer...Quietly Await Grace

May you quietly await the movement of grace,

and when it comes move gently

with humility, fidelity, and courage.

Quietly Await, Joanne Gallagher, CSJ, ©1976 
Based on Maxims of the Little Institute, #84

This is not the exact translation of Maxim 84 but it is what has become quite popular among the Boston Sisters of St. Joseph and Associates. As many readers know, these words are the refrain for the song, Quietly Await, that I wrote quite a few years ago. Writing this song was, in itself, a true moment of God's grace which continues to humble and amaze me.

"Maxim Monday" is taking a "summer break." When I thought about a Maxim for moving into summer, this version of Maxim 84 seemed appropriate. So I offer it for summer reflection. The last of the four verses is also part of my summer prayer for all of us:

To be a healing presence, for this you are called forth

to offer strength through gentleness

toward all whose lives you touch.

Last Saturday, I had the opportunity to spend several hours sitting quietly on one of the porches of St Joseph Retreat Center in Cohasset. The sailboat above was one of many that passed grace-fully by on what was an idyllic day. Happy Summer. May you have a few graced moments during the weeks ahead.

Maxim Monday: Love every kind of person...

The virtues which will help you acquire and maintain this union and which will be a summary of your Little Institute are:

…the very perfect love of neighbor, which loves every kind of person purely, constantly, and equally in God and for God… Maxims of the Little Institute, 100

There are a number of maxims that speak of unioning love, love of neighbor without distinction as does Paul’s letter to the Galatians in this week’s Sunday Liturgy. Maxim 100 is very long – perhaps the longest of all the maxims. It is the final maxim in Médaille’s Maxims of the Little Institute and what is printed above is one portion of it that reflects what we hear from St. Paul in Galatians, “You are all one in Christ Jesus.” [Galatians 3].

Being Jew or Greek, slave or free, male or female were huge cultural realities in Paul’s world. What are the distinctions that have the potential to create divisions in our world? How might we as in the spirit of the Maxims of the Little Institute and in the spirit of Paul’s letter to the Galatians embrace differences and welcome the Dear Neighbor without distinction?

Soundings Update: "Send Us Good Summer, O Lord"

June has been a busy month. The June 16, 2010, issue of Soundings Update tells a bit of that story.
You can also view slide shows of the events in this issue at the NEWS link on our website .

Maxim Monday: Unselfish Love

When you work for the neighbor do it with a very unselfish love which expects no reward for its services, and aim at nothing other than helping him or her and being at the same time pleasing to God. Maxims of the Little Institute, 55

There were two events this past weekend that capture the
essence of Maxim 55. On Saturday there was a Allston-Brighton Family Fair at Herter Park/Artesani Playground in Brighton. Mary Rita, Director of The Women's Table, one of our CSJ ministries, was part of the planning committee.  The goal of the fair is to bring many resources together in one location so that families of
young children can easily and conveniently obtain many different kinds of needed information. The drizzly weather didn't seem to dampen anyone's spirits.

While roaming around to the different displays I met a young woman who has been involved with our work on behalf of survivors of human trafficking. She was so complimentary about the importance of our work. I was glad I met her.

From there I headed to Casserly House where they were celebrating their 10th Anniversary. It was another environment with an upbeat spirit.

There will be more pictures of these events later. For now it's enough to commend those who work at Casserly House and The Women's Table for their generous hearts, and greathearted giving of oneself in service of the Dear Neighbor.

Maxim Monday: Total Union with God

For the understanding and the practice of the Maxims of Great Virtue, union with God is absolutely necessary … Therefore, work tirelessly towards the total union of your soul with God. Maxims of the Little Institute, 99

Yesterday we celebrated the Feast of “The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ” – formerly called “Corpus Christi.” I’ve selected part of Maxim 99 as a lens through which to reflect on this feast. Think about the liturgical hymns we sing that speak of Christ’s body: “We Are One Body,” “One Bread, One Body,” “One Is [the body]” just to name a few. Think of the many scripture passages that speak of being one body in Christ, having many parts but one body. Is this not the union with God of which Maxim 99 speaks?

The Constitution of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Boston states: Impelled toward realizing the union of ourselves and all people with God and one another, we engage in the mission of reconciliation wherever people are separated from one another. [Spirit and Purpose #7] Is this not the union of the soul with God that is nurtured through our participation in Eucharist?

Sisters of St. Joseph Soundings Update 6/2/10

The June 2, 2010 editon of Soundings Update is now available on our website. In this issue read about

• The Literacy Connection Celebration of Accomplishment and Gratitude
• Commitment liturgy for New Mexico Associates
• Information about the 10th Anniversary of Casserly House

Casserly House is a ministry of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Boston,

the mission of Casserly House is to be a living presence in our Roslindale neighborhood, one that fosters unity of people with one another and with God. Our motto is "Rooted in Boston, Open to the World."

Consider joining in this 10th Anniversary Celebration. All the details of how to participate are at: http://www.casserlyhouse.org/