Sr. Judith Moran
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Dear Sisters,
“When comest thou, my Savior? When comest thou, my Lord?” The lovely Advent hymns are a reminder that Christmas is not far away. Therefore I hasten to send my best wishes for a very Blessed and Merry Christmas. We are also reminded to make straight the way of the Lord so that the door of our hearts will be open to welcome his coming in Eucharist on Christmas Day. May it be a day of happiness and joy for each of you.
As usual the year has slipped away filled with many activities, ups and downs, but all gifts of the Lord. We are happy that for a few short weeks we will all be together. No trips are planned until after Christmas. At the beginning of January Sr. Maria del Rosario and Sr. Maria Josefina will enjoy some time in their home provinces. It is summer there and vacation time. Sr. Adalberta and Sr. DeSales will also be traveling to South America a few weeks later. And so it goes but for the moment we will enjoy Christmas and the joy of all being able to celebrate together.
No matter where one is at Christmas it is so nice to know that we all celebrate in the same way. When I wrote the article for Bread Broken a few years ago it was nice to see that Mother Pauline began and we continue celebrating Christmas together in the same way in our convent homes. We will begin with Vespers at 5:00 and include the blessing of the crib and tree. Sr. Adalberta, as Jubilarian this year will place the Infant in the crib. The next two Sisters to celebrate Jubilee will carry the candles in the procession. After a festive supper we will gather to receive the gifts from the Sister who chose our name at the beginning of Advent. Midnight Mass will be at 10:00. We will also have a Holy Mass on Christmas Day however, for that Mass Sr. DeSales and I will go to St. Susanna to celebrate with the English speaking people in Rome, residents or pilgrims. Our day will end with the singing of carols for recreation.
Before we could celebrate the feast the house was a flurry of activity, decorating chapel, trimming trees, preparing the Feastday meal, visiting with friends who stopped by to share some gift with us. Now, as I write the house seems quiet as all are in expectation of the coming of the Lord after an Advent of longing and walking with Our Lady as she prepared for the Child Jesus.
Various meetings again found some of the sisters at the UISG meetings, peace and justice meetings, treasurers meetings. Sr. Adalberta hosted the major superiors here in Rome for their monthly meeting. They had much to share as Sr. Adalberta and Sr. Mary Lou, as representatives of the major superiors in Rome, had attended the General Meeting of the UISG Superiors which was held in Brazil.
The coming week will be busy with guests we have invited. The rector and the Sisters from Campo Santo will come on the 26th and the priests of the Generalate of the Blessed Sacrament Fathers will come on the 27th. Sr. Clarentia will be quite busy. We will go to visit Campo during the holidays also. Usually the Sisters make pilgrimages to many of the cribs in the various Churches of Rome. Naturally all of you are remembered in our prayers at the various presepios.
If you look on our web page in the computer you will find a very interesting letter from Sr. DeSales. I will not repeat all that she has written but it gives you a good idea of happenings here in Rome.
I have enjoyed chatting with you again. Once more I wish you a Merry Christmas. I hope that the New Year will be blessed with the joy and peace of the Lord. I thank you as always for the many joys that you all have brought to me over the years. You are remembered in a novena of Holy Masses here at the Generalate in Rome.
Lovingly,
Sister M. Judith
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