Mother of the Church
Pope Francis initiated this feast of Our Lady Mother of the Church a couple of years ago. We Catholics look to Mary as our mother and know her as the Mother of the Church. But this feast day a special meaning for my family.
You might recall I have a sister that is a Sister and a brother that is a diocesan priest. My brother is a priest in Brookings, South Dakota. My sister is in an order known as Sisters of Charity Our Lady Mother of the Church. This order began in the Netherlands many years ago.
It was shortly after my sister had become a nun that the order began to take some liberal aspects. The order in the United States broke away to remain more conservative. You can Google this name. In their webpage you will see pictures of the sisters, but they do not list all of them. However, my sister is involved with vocations. In one of the pictures, you will see her in a white habit with younger girls seeking discernment.
When Pope Francis declared this a feast day my sister’s order now has a feast day to celebrate their patron Saint. This order has charisma of teaching and taking care of the elderly. My sister is also a degreed registered nurse.
My brother and sister are both around the forty-year mark for vocations. They have dedicated their lives to God. How remarkable! And what wonderful examples to all of us.
May the Lord bless you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen