Christmas in Salem, Oregon

Well, Christmas celebrations are over and because I allowed myself to get exhausted, I ended up sick with a cold. The liturgical season of Christmas is not over but thank God the over-eating has subsided.

I felt good about celebrating all nine days of Posadas. It was wonderful to “rock the Baby” on the last Posada and then process into Church with all the folks carrying lighted candles and singing Silent Night.

The Blessed Mother had to have a new veil made because the other blue veil got lost. St. Joseph looked very nice and tall. Yuritzy Gonzalez and her friend played the part well. I did not stay until the congregation came up to kiss the Baby Jesus. I drove to Beaverton to be with my Sisters.

This year I did not have time to put up a Christmas tree. I am sad about that. I did decorate a bit around the house. I have several Nativity sets from different parts of the world.

I continue to discuss the topic of discernment of a vocation.

I continue to discuss the topic of discernment of a vocation. I fear some young women might not know that it takes a serious and prayerful discernment to make a commitment that will affect their entire life.
This is good prayer to pray: “Lord, let me know what it is You want me to do in life because I will be happiest only in doing Your Holy Will.” God calls us to participate in the mission of the Church and to love His people. The young person may fulfill this same mission in a variety of ways. They will best be able to serve God in the ministries of the Church by using the gifts God has given to them.
How does one know to what community God is calling her? That is a big mystery! It is not a mystery to God, however. He will direct her to a particular community. I wrote letters to different communities. I visited at least three communities. But guess what? I entered a community to which God directed me. I had never visited or written to the Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon. Yet, my love of Our Lady and the fact that I came to Oregon to work as a migrant worker…that was enough for God to point me in the right direction.
Women in religious communities live a simple and celibate lifestyle. They make public vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. These vows free her to serve God more fully. Prayer and work are part of the tradition of all communities. By joining a religious community a young woman will find the support and courage to focus on the ministries of the Church. Depending on the vision of their founders, the charism of the Congregation, and the gifts and talents of their members, each community accents them differently. Thus, some communities are primarily contemplative while others are more active.
I became a “postulant” in September many years ago. A year later I became a “novice”. I remained a novice for three years. Then I became a “junior Sister” until I made my final vows. The congregation prepared and trained me for the community’s particular apostolic work…education. The works of some communities frequently address areas of education, social work, administration, communication, healthcare, etc.
Where to start? You may start by calling the office of vocations at our local diocesan office (503-234-5334) and they will direct you to inquire and visit different communities in the area. Personal contact is one of the best ways to gain knowledge of a community and find out about its spirituality, apostolate, and life-style. Some communities offer weekend retreats or live-in experiences. Two weekends are scheduled with the Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon at 4440 S.W. 148th Ave. in Beaverton 97007. One is on March 26-28 and the other is on May 21-23. Please feel free to contact Sister Charlene Herinckx, SSMO at 503-906-1131.
Seek information, ask for advice, seek the guidance of competent people, especially religious or priests, evaluate yourself and above all, pray to the Lord for wisdom and courage to discern and do His Will. A good spiritual director may be very helpful in receiving objective advice.

Pray for Katie Nolan and Anthony her climbing partner

This message was sent from Dennis Keenan at Catholic Charities. As you may already know, one of Catholic Charities employees, Katie Nolan, is one of the climbers missing on Mt. Hood. At this time, the most important and helpful thing we can do is to pray for Katie and her family, as well as her two climbing companions, their families and the safety of those searching for Katie and Anthony.

Katie is a remarkable young lady. A few months ago when I was visiting the Housing Transitions Project office, one of Katie’s clients approached me. She said Katie had made contact with her early in the early morning when she was living outdoors. She said Katie invited her to come visit her at HTP. She did and Katie got her into an apartment, chemical dependency treatment and on her way to independence. She said Katie was her “angel.” I am sure there are many women who have Katie as an angel. May Jesus and the angels now care for Katie.

How to Make Tamales

There is a web site called "Video results for How to make tamales" on the internet. You watch a video and follow instructions on how to make tamales.

I must tell you that there is nothing like working with the “pros” and learning first hand how to make tamales. I've learned so much by watching the Hispanic people make them in our parish kitchen. To prepare for our Advent Festival this weekend they ordered 50 lbs of Masa for Tamales from Don Pancho's warehouse. They order 2 cases of red, dried "chiles guajillo" --the seeds and stems are removed, they are soaked and finally put in a blender until totally grounded up and smooth--later, the spices are added and the mix is cooked in oil.

Every year we take the left-over turkey meat from the parish Thanksgiving Dinner. We make these tamales out of turkey meat. So, that means that they are less fattening and delicious! When the turkey meat is all gone the people make tamales they call "de rajas"...this means they have a long piece of Mozzarella cheese and a few strips of jalapeño chiles. Oh, if you have never tasted these you need to do so. They are absolutely delicious. Not spicy hot at all.

Anyway, this is a traditional meal we have around Christmas but the folks in Salem are getting accustomed to seeing them often through the year. The different Hispanic church groups sell dozens of tamales. Making tamales is hard work and it usually takes all day to make them.

Many parishioners are asking if we can have a tamale-making party so that anyone who wishes to learn to make them can come and learn from the pros. What do you think?

My baptismal name; my religious name

I am glad and blessed that my baptismal name was “Teresa”. There are so many wonderful saints with that name that they all get to pray for me so that I may stay close to Jesus, grow spiritually, get my assigned work complete and keep my focus on Him who has loved me for so long.

I also have a special place in my heart for Saint Jane Frances de Chantal (from whence comes “Juanita”…little Jane).

I want to share Jane Frances’ story. The day of her feast is constantly moving. It was on December 12th, but I think it is now on August 12th.

Jane Frances was wife, mother, nun and founder of a religious community. Her mother died when Jane was 18 months old, and her father, head of parliament at Dijon, France, became the main influence on her education. She developed into a woman of beauty and refinement, lively and cheerful in temperament. At 21 she married Baron de Chantal, by whom she had six children, three of whom died in infancy. At her castle she restored the custom of daily Mass, and was seriously engaged in various charitable works.

Jane's husband was killed after seven years of marriage, and she sank into deep dejection for four months at her family home. Her father-in-law threatened to disinherit her children if she did not return to his home. He was then 75, vain, fierce and extravagant. Jane Frances managed to remain cheerful in spite of him and his insolent housekeeper.

When she was 32, she met St. Francis de Sales (October 24), who became her spiritual director, softening some of the severities imposed by her former director. She wanted to become a nun but he persuaded her to defer this decision. She took a vow to remain unmarried and to obey her director.

After three years Francis told her of his plan to found an institute of women which would be a haven for those whose health, age or other considerations barred them from entering the already established communities. There would be no cloister, and they would be free to undertake spiritual and corporal works of mercy. They were primarily intended to exemplify the virtues of Mary at the Visitation (hence their name, the Visitation nuns): humility and meekness.

The usual opposition to women in active ministry arose and Francis de Sales was obliged to make it a cloistered community following the Rule of St. Augustine. Francis wrote his famous Treatise on the Love of God for them. The congregation (three women) began when Jane Frances was 45. She underwent great sufferings: Francis de Sales died; her son was killed; a plague ravaged France; her daughter-in-law and son-in-law died. She encouraged the local authorities to make great efforts for the victims of the plague and she put all her convent’s resources at the disposal of the sick.

During a part of her religious life, she had to undergo great trials of the spirit—interior anguish, darkness and spiritual dryness. She died while on a visitation of convents of the community.

Our love and service continues to grow. Would you like to be a part of it?

Our Mission--We, the Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon, share in the mission of Jesus by proclaiming the Good News of God's love.

The Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon are committed to serving others through faith and action

We are deeply rooted in the community. For nearly 125 years, we have been committed to compassionate, joyful community service.

The Sisters are a U.S. legal corporation separate from the Archdiocese of Portland.

We offer loving, respectful service through:

Prayer
Child development, education and lifelong learning
Elder care
Sacred space for prayer, contemplation, and retreat
Off-campus outreach and ministry
We embrace the values of the past to touch and shape lives in the future. Those values include:

Living valiantly
Honoring the unique gifts of each person
Striving for excellence
Celebrating God and life

The Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon, living as women of prayer in simplicity and sisterly love, sponsor ministries that provide a lifespan of education and caring. Several Sisters serve in ministries beyond the campus. Our community center (motherhouse) shares a 43-acre campus in Beaverton with these ministries:

Valley Catholic Early Learning School
Valley Catholic Elementary School
Valley Catholic Middle School
Valley Catholic High School
Valley Catholic Music School
Maryville Nursing Home
Bethany Center

Did you know?

Story -- Our community was founded in Sublimity, Oregon in 1886 and the Sisters began teaching in the local parish almost immediately. In 1891 Archbishop William H. Gross requested that the Sisters serve at St. Mary's Orphanage in Beaverton. In 1894, the Sisters began the construction of a Motherhouse in Beaverton. In 1905, the Sisters changed their name to the Sisters of St. Mary and are known today as the Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon.Education on the campus of the Sisters began in 1903 and continues to this day. Sisters have taught in many schools in Oregon and Washington over the years. In 1930 a new brick motherhouse and school building was erected and by 1969 the dream of a separate high school building was realized.
Recognizing the growing need for elder care, Maryville Nursing Home was opened in 1963. In 1966 four Sisters were missioned to serve in the jungle of the Amazon River in Peru. In 1991 an early learning facility was opened.The SSMO religious community now consists of 73 Sisters residing at the convent on the 43-acre campus in Beaverton, in the Portland metropolitan area, and in other locations, primarily in Oregon.