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God works in and through the earthy, even within situations we identify as sinful, lavishes Love upon us, and in so doing wakens us to God’s eternally-giving self. Being human and needy is what enables us to receive, to stretch toward the One who bends to us. Christmas is the ultimate celebration of possibility.

Sr. Margaret O’Brien, SC

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The prophets tell us: “NOW is the moment to see with new eyes, to see beyond appearances, to see the light that lives in the darkness.” The shepherds tell us: “NOW is the moment to drop everything that holds us back, and respond wholeheartedly when God’s sign is revealed to us.” Mary tells us: “NOW is the moment to put our agendas aside and bend down to the other person, especially to one who is vulnerable, needy, helpless.” The Three Sages tell us: “NOW is the moment that changes everything, the time to change direction, to take another route to find home again.”  Simeon and Anna tell us: “NOW is the moment to recognize Christ, the One for whom we wait.” 

Sr. Regina Bechtle, SC

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Every year on the first Saturday in December we gather, sisters and associates, to recommit ourselves to live out personally and communally our call to make the charism of Charity alive in our world. Our presence to each other in commitment enables us to “stand strong together in a place of risk and promise . . .”, aware that we call each other to conversion, to transformation….And in that deep- down part of ourselves where contemplation leads us, each one of us knows that Charity can and will be ignited anew for a life-giving future only when each one is open and committed to the transformation necessary.

Sr. Eileen McGrory, SC