Tuesday, November 30, 2021

ADVENT/CHRISTMAS LETTER

 

What is more admirable and astounding, and a deep mystery in which the angels still get lost, than the humility which God underwent in the first instant of the Incarnation, when God lowered Himself to take on human flesh and became man.                                                               Blessed M. Celeste Crostarosa

2021 Advent and Christmas

Grace and Greetings to all our  
Family, Friends and Benefactors, 

We gather at this time of year to ponder the great mystery of Jesus’ Incarnation and in anticipation of Christ’s coming again in glory. 
We cry out, ‘Come, Lord Jesus,’ and sing with all the angelic choirs to the glory of God the Father, ‘Jesus Christ is Lord!’ 

During this year of continuing (but easing) covid restrictions, climate disasters, human and political struggle, we find refuge under God’s protecting wings.  We are never without God’s loving mercy, peace
and joy, with the Holy One lighting our way.

Our year has been quiet but full.  Last Advent, Sr. Moira gave a reflection during the novena before Christmas on the Redemptorist YouTube channel, on the Key of David.  Our Sr. Lydia died in January and is now rejoicing with the angels in heaven.  Her funeral was live-streamed and her family in Puerto Rico, and others, were able to join in the celebration of her life.  February came in with a blizzard of 18 inches of snow and Ash Wednesday soon followed.  We received ashes applied with Q-Tips – they were the most precise crosses on our foreheads ever!  In March we rejoiced when we and the Carmelites received our covid shots. Despite that, we continued to follow the Archdiocesan protocol and celebrated Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Vigil without a priest.  We missed our guests who would have joined us for the Triduum.  But on Easter morn, we were overjoyed when our local pastor, Fr. Richard Smith, celebrated Easter Mass with us. What a blessing!   After Pentecost we began to have a few masses a week but without guests. 

In June, Redemptorist Fr. Ako Walker was able to celebrate a Mass here in honor of our Mother of Perpetual Help for all your special intentions.  During the summer, Fr. Richard Smith was our honorary Redemptorist when he celebrated the feast day Masses for Holy Redeemer Sunday on the Third Sunday of July, St. Alphonsus on August 1 and Blessed M. Celeste on September 11. 

Meanwhile, we held ZOOM meetings with our Associates, received spiritual direction and attended a meeting discussing racial issues in religious congregations. We, also, measured Redemptorists for new habits via Zoom, and Skyped with family and friends.

In June we began a monthly morning of reflection for our community.  It began with a hymn, a short video, a time for sharing and ended with a prayer on such topics as: How Did You Know:  vocation stories, Being a Human Lighthouse, Are We Angels on Earth, Visions and Dreams of the Dying, and Gratitude. 

We, and our Carmelite Sisters, made our 10-day community retreats together in November.  Because neither community had a director, some of us viewed Season 2 of The Chosen, once- a-day, for eight days.  The Chosen tells the story of Jesus and His followers and, in a powerful way, lends itself to meditation and contemplation.


Our Novena before Christmas begins December 16.  We gather in Celeste Hall, our community room, around the flickering Advent candles and pray for all your intentions, saying,

“Adore, oh my soul, in the heart of Mary,
the only begotten Son of God who was made man for love of you.”

Wishing you a blessed and holy Christmas and New Year as we join the angels sweetly singing:
                                                Gloria in excelsis Deo!


Sr Paula is our Memory-Keeper Angel who helps us recall our history from Ontario to
New York.





Sr. Maria Paz is our Correspondence Angel
proclaiming throughout the year the Good News of Salvation with her letters 


             Sr. Maria Linda is our Sewing Angel tailoring habits for our Redemptorist priests and brothers.




Sr Mary Jane is our Tech Angel who keeps our
computers in tip-top shape.

 

Sr Moira is our Creative Angel keeping our website REDNUNSNY.ORG and Facebook up to date.