November

Dear Family & Friends,

     Today I share a reflection, a story, and an announcement!! So, keep reading because they are all connected! 😊

Reflection:

     In the month of November, the Church turns toward the souls of the faithful who have gone before us… to pray for them, to ask their prayers for us, and to again unite ourselves with them in this battle against evil for the salvation in Christ of the whole world. Have you ever heard of the Church Militant, Church Suffering, and Church Triumphant??

     Church Militant is us… those of us on earth who are part of the body of Christ through baptism and profession of faith. We are working out our salvation in this world by grasping onto Christ and the grace He offers in His Church amidst the influences of sin that we find within ourselves and around us in the world. We are seeking to know Him, love Him, and serve Him in this life so that we may be with Him for all eternity in a glory that we cannot even begin to imagine!!

     Church Suffering are those who have passed from this life and are still in the state of becoming purified before they enter the full glory of heaven. They have Hope… they know they are going to heaven and will be with God. They have already made the definitive choice for God. Their suffering is a suffering of Love and longing to see God face to face. Their sins are forgiven and now they are being purified in love of the dross left from the effects of sin in their lives. Some souls have completed this process on earth before they die, but if not, we still have this opportunity! These souls rely upon our prayers, and they also pray for us.

     Church Triumphant are the souls who have made it!! They stand before the face of God with no veil, praising Him with the angels, and living in perfect union and intimacy with the God who created us .Now that they have “fought the good fight” and “finished the race” (2 Tim. 4:7), it doesn’t mean that they have left us behind as we struggle through the afflictions of this world. No! They are our older brothers and sisters in Christ who care for us. They are praying for us and helping us along our way. There is a beautiful quote from St. Therese of Lisieux that illustrates this. As she was approaching the end of her earthly journey, she said, “I will spend my heaven doing good on earth.”

     We are all one big, beautiful family!! It is amazing to think of how VAST the Church is… all of these souls who have gone before us and are in this battle with us. It’s not just a crowd of people we will get to see some day when we make it to heaven… they are united with us in the precious blood of Christ now, and they love us and care for us.

     That is why the Church takes a whole month to remember these souls. On November 1st, we celebrate the Feast of All Saints (the Church Triumphant), and on November 2nd, we celebrate the Feast of All Souls (the Church Suffering), and throughout November we pray prayers for those who have died. Then toward the end of November, the daily scripture readings at Mass remind us of our own mortality and that one day, we will hopefully join those souls beyond the veil of this life. Here at the Mother of Good Counsel Home, we are in a privileged place to accompany souls on their journey from the Church Militant to the Church Suffering and Triumphant!!

Story:

     Last night some of the Sisters and I were enjoying a chilly Fall evening over a roaring bonfire outside, roasting marshmallows (well… leftover Peeps from Easter… 😊), singing Praise and Worship songs, and telling stories. How Glorious!! Our conversation turned toward Sister Mary Grace, one of our Sisters who, we believe, is part of the Church Triumphant. Sister Mary Grace passed away suddenly last January from an unknown brain aneurysm. She was only 66 years old and was, at the time, in all evident ways, healthy and vibrant. Her death was a shock and a deep sorrow for our community. Sister Mary Grace entered our religious community in her early thirties and over time competently fulfilled several roles in the domestic and administrative sphere. However, we will always remember Sister Mary Grace for who she was… a joyful, pure, and loving soul. She was small of stature with a huge smile. Her eyes and smile were radiant. She was always oriented toward the other, and not herself… interested in how you were doing, bringing your intentions to the Lord in her prayer, and encouraging you with her spiritual perspective. She was just beautiful on every level!! Reflecting on this last night, one of the Sisters commented that after Sister Mary Grace came to know God in a deep way, which happened in her twenties, this world was no longer for her. She was living for Him… a model for all of us. Sister Mary Grace, pray for us!!

Announcement:

     As a sign of the generous life of Sister Mary Grace, God has brought forth a beautiful opportunity for the Mother of Good Counsel Home. Last Spring, the family of Sister Mary Grace spent four days with our Sisters. It was a beautiful time to mourn, remember, and thank God for her life. During that visit, the family informed us that funds had been allocated in honor of Sister Mary Grace and they wanted to discuss how these funds might best support what God was doing in our community and what would honor the life of Sister Mary Grace. That conversation resulted in the funding of three significant projects for the Mother of Good Counsel Home!!

     So, without further ado, let me announce the following projects:

Automatic Chapel Doors:

     Our beautiful, wooden chapel doors were always a bit awkward for wheelchairs and walkers. While preserving the original doors, we have now installed equipment that opens the doors with the touch of a paddle, allowing our residents more independence in visiting the chapel at any time of the day. So appropriate for a Home filled with holy souls!! This project is already complete!

Renovation:

     The Activity Hall is moving and is getting a new look and a new name!! One day I looked at the Activity Hall and said to the Sister with me, “Gee… do you think we can make it a bit more inviting and homey?” After considering that question for about 30 seconds, we both concluded that it would be difficult. The pillars are in the way of all gathering efforts; there is little or no natural light. New paint would help, but… there was a better option. We found that the old Physical Therapy space, which was oversized for its purpose, met all the elements we desired… large, open room, lots a natural light from 8 or 9 windows, outdoor patio, kitchenette space, storage and office space… Perfect! So far, we have completed the following: moved Physical Therapy next door to a better sized room, replaced the flooring with beautiful wood grain floors in both rooms and the hallway, painted, and purchased new tables, chairs, window treatments, and entertainment equipment. We are also working on some special artwork elements. We hope the room will be ready for a Christmas Open House!! More to come on that!

     When we open the new room, it will no longer be called the Activity Hall… it will now be called the Community Room. This is consistent with our Mission Statement, which identifies “Community” as an important aspect of life at the Mother of Good Counsel Home!

     In addition, the classroom will move to the old Activity Hall, which will provide both classroom and collaborative work space for our Mission Partners. Then the old Classroom will become a Living Room for the use of our more independent residents. Both of those rooms will also have renovations before they open.

Upgrade to the Nurse Call System:

Our Nurse Call System will have the following improvements:

• Upgraded software
• Replacement of the unit controllers, which are aging
• The addition of care giver communication devices. This will provide for direct communication between residents and care givers, and between Mission Partners. Improved communication results in better coordination of care.

     We are meeting with the nurse call vendor again this week to finalize details. We will keep you updated as this important project progresses.

     These projects directly impact the quality of life for our residents!! We are so grateful for the generosity and support of Sister Mary Grace’s two sisters and their husbands: Tom and Joan Rooney, and Deacon Henry and Carol Zmuda. They, like Sister Mary Grace, are a true reflection of God’s light and goodness!!

     One more note on projects: For those of you who contributed to our “$43k in 43 Days” Campaign this summer, our “Refresh” team is currently working on the plan of how those funds will be used. We will keep you updated on that as well!

     Praise God for all of this!! We have so much for which to be grateful!! May God Bless you and all our loved ones who have gone before us!!

In His Merciful Heart,

    Sister M. Anselma