Visitation Monastery of Minneapolis

The following blog post is the first in a series about VISTORY: Visitation in Service to Others through Responsive Youth.  We welcome Visitation students from around the United States to Minneapolis on Saturday, July 16, 2011.

by Sr. Suzanne Homeyer, VHM

Daily journaling has been an integral part of VISTORY. For the past several years I have been the one to introduce participants in this week- long adventure of Sisterhood, Salesian Spirituality and Service to the fine art of journaling.  As a former journalism teacher I always begin my presentation with the 5W’s of a good news story…Who, What, Where, When and Why (and sometimes How).

“As I look forward to companioning VISTORY students and helping them discover this really fine art of writing,  my own thought is that perhaps journaling, journalism , and journey come from the same root word…” – Sr. Suzanne Homeyer, VHM

These words function as a trigger for the students to begin a reflection on their day’s activities. “Who have they met or served?”  “Why did I react like that?” or maybe “What is God saying to me in this?”  Such triggers help the thought process and begin the serious look at our daily experiences…our own life’s journey.

As I look forward to companioning VISTORY students and helping them discover this really fine art of writing,  my own thought is that perhaps journaling, journalism , and journey come from the same root word…I have seen a form of that someplace in my own life’s experience…..When I was on pilgrimage in France for the 400th anniversary of our order I often saw the phrase d’Jour on lunch or dinner menus…as in “soup of the day.”  Maybe this relates to the words highlighted above? Journaling can be quite productive if it is done on a regular, if not day-to-day basis. Journalism is responsible for giving us the daily news…by means of photojournalism….broadcast journalism and the printed word. And we move through life day by day…our journey is gradual with time for experiencing, reflecting upon,  and getting to know ourselves and our God as we move on.

As twenty-six high school students who have journeyed to the Twin Cities from around the country to be part of VISTORY (Visitation in Service to Others through Responsive Youth)  move through next week they will be blogging on this website, preparing YouTubes,  and maybe even Tweeting on Twitter. You can be a part of this journey.

ps. I checked with Webster about word derivations. Bingo!  Old French and Latin root meaning daily or day.  Have a good one!

by Sr. Suzanne Homeyer

Christmas cards are always wonderful to receive — some are poignant; some poetic; some reproductions of the great masters and some home-made; some are photos of real people you know and some rough-hewn wood cut prints.  My favorite this year was a wood cut print — something one might find in a Catholic Worker newspaper. It featured a stable crowded with animals, Mary the predominant figure, the babe, of course and magi bowing low. Mary was depicted in a fairly realistic way. Her posture much more like a woman tired out from travel and childbirth yet resigned to being adored and welcoming those who have arrived with gifts for her son.  No beautiful blonde waif-like model in this stable!

What a privilege to hold one so tiny who has just stepped out of eternity to begin his earthly sojourn. – Sr. Suzanne Homeyer, vhm

My family celebrated Christmas this year on the Feast of the Holy family…at the country house of my youngest sister and her husband.  The very next day their daughter delivered a lovely son at a birthing center in Madison. The birthing center actually welcomed all (19?) of us into her room to visit her two-hour old son.  Like the magi we brought gifts — flowers, pizza (not too wise) and mylar balloons.  Julius was the first of my great-nieces or nephews I have seen and held before the age of about 6 months.  What a privilege to hold one so tiny who has just stepped out of eternity to begin his earthly sojourn.  That was my Christmas gift. And my New Year’s wish is to be able to share the learnings and loves of my own life with him and those who follow — whether they be members of my own biological family, our religious community, or the neighborhood. Lead on, o star of wonder…

by Sr. Karen Mohan, VHM

When the  Visitation Order began, our Founders chose November 21 (formerly the memorial of Our Lady’s “presentation” in the temple) as a day that the Sisters would renew their vows together in a devotional way.  In this 400^th anniversary year of our Order, I felt specially united with my Sisters across the globe on our vow renewal day, knowing that we were all pondering the call of God in our lives and voicing our response to Christ’s love through this renewal.

At the conclusion of the retreat days, each Sister writes her vow renewal in a special “Vow Book”.  The short entry states,

“I have confirmed and renewed my vows on this day of the Presentation of Our Lady, Nov. 21, ____.  Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, Amen.”

Each year as I open the book to “my page”, I marvel at God’s fidelity to me all these years!  I also think about some “marker” renewal times in my life, such as the thrill of writing my vows in the very book that St. Jane de Chantal used to write her vows in Annecy!

“To open this book is to see my life commitment inscribed, and to write those words once more …is to let my heart be reminded that it is Jesus who invites each of us into a life of deep union with him…” – Sr. Karen Mohan

In a recent visit to our Georgetown Visitation Community, I looked at the first American Visitation Vow Book honored in their chapel, a testimony to the providence of God inspiring these late 18^th century Visitation Sisters to live the Salesian charism in the “new world”.  And as I wrote  my vow renewal in our Minneapolis Vow Book, a gift from our Georgetown community when we were established here 21 years ago,  I studied the cover design that our dear friend, Brother Mickey McGrath, created for us .  To open this book is to see my life commitment inscribed, and to write those words once more –this year coinciding with the feast of Christ the King, is to let my heart be reminded that it is Jesus who invites each of us into a life of deep union with him; it is Jesus whose love renews and provides me with what I will need to become his presence in our world, and it is Jesus whose forgiving love lifts me up and brings joy to my days.  It’s no wonder that St. Francis de Sales wisely talked about all three vows being rolled up into one:

Baby Marguerite Marie embraces the Sister's cross on Vow Renewal Day

“We have no bond but the bond of love which is the bond of perfection”.

We strive to live and hand on this message of love to the next generation with trust and hope.   The presence of baby Marguerite Marie Kiemde and her parents, who joined us for Eucharist with Fr. Kevin Cullen, SJ, on our special day brought home to me that the vow of love expressed in many walks and ways of life is what directs all of us through our baptismal calling. This is a blessing to carry us all though this week of Thanksgiving!

Amen.

by Sr. Suzanne Homeyer

This time of the year is often called the ‘end time.’ And it certainly is the end of the growing season (except for the evergreens); the end of fresh cut flowers (except for the beautiful apricot tea rose stubbornly clinging to the bush in the Fremont House’s alley garden); the end of the season for some team’s hoping for a playoff game or two…and the end of the liturgical year.  This ‘end time’ in the Church Year is really not an end…it is a time of reaffirmation of our faith…it is more accurately described as KAIROS time…it is a time that is a time out of time with the chronological time of the world.

“This ‘end time’ in the Church Year is really not an end…it is a time of reaffirmation of our faith…it is more accurately described as KAIROS time…” – Sr. Suzanne

The liturgical readings are really preparing us for eternal time….when there is no beginning and no end to our faith journey. In the readings of these next few weeks we are treated to glimpses of Jesus no longer seen as only a prophet living in a fixed time and place but Jesus as Christ, the Messiah…one who always was and always will be.

It is this Christ who takes us with him through these last few weeks before the Advent of a new preparation  for the Incarnation of God in the world. This Christ is one who talks about Kingdom, describes what eternity is like and helps us to celebrate with him his feast —- the Feast of Christ the King.  We are all promised the evergreen of the pine, the inclusivity and equality of the Kingdom and the blessing of Paradise. We have only to believe in the promises and vision of Jesus and follow…

Amen.

The following information was sent by our friends at the Northside Achievement Zone, and Northpoint Health and Wellness Center regarding the community in which we pray, live, worship, serve, love, and work. We hold this information about violence in our community in prayer, and invite your positive intentions as well.

“Violence in North Minneapolis continues to be a major concern for youth and families that live and work here. NorthPoint is especially concerned with the impact persistent and pervasive violence has on the health and well-being of the community and its ability to create quality of life outcomes for families and residents. When you examine the data that identifies life expectancies by zip code, it is a chilling fact that where you live in Minnesota matters. North Minneapolis is an area with the lowest life expectancy. We must not let that health inequity continue and that means that as a community, we must address community violence as a contributing factor.”
- Deirdre Annice Golden, PhDLP
Director of Behavioral Health
NorthPoint Health and Wellness Center

For those wanting to learn more, we extend the following invitation, on behalf of NorthPoint. Click to download a PDF of Community Event below.

We invite you to join us for a Town Hall presentation of the “North Minneapolis Community Violence Report,” authored by Dr Oliver Williams, Executive Director of the Institute on Domestic Violence in the African American Community and Professor of Social Work at the University of Minnesota; Dr Esther Jenkins, Professor of Psychology at Chicago State University, Dr William Oliver, Associate Professor at Indiana University, and Marcus Pope, M.ED, Associate Director of the Institute on Domestic Violence in the African American Community. The authors will discuss prevalence, risk factors, prevention and recommendations with the Northside Community.

Town Hall Meeting at Shiloh Temple PDF