Sisters of the Humility of Mary
We are a group of women religious dedicated to works of peacemaking, justice and care for Earth through education, health care, social service and pastoral ministry. We currently serve in Florida, Kentucky, Nebraska, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia and Haiti.
We share in Jesus’ mission of bringing more abundant life to God’s people, especially to those who are poor, by announcing the liberating message of the gospel and by the witness of your lives.
-HM Constitutions No. 3
LCWR Resolutions to Action: In March 2013, the HM Community affirmed a Living Document in which they identified three movements into the future related to who God is calling us to become.
Those movements included:
• Being Gospel women, contemplatives in action, who live compassionate justice and speak the truth
• Collaborating with others for sake of advancing the mission
• As citizens of the universe, acknowledge our participation with all creation in the evolution and growth of the reign of God.
One group with whom we have been collaborating is the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR), whose Global Concerns Committee is focusing on efforts to “promote the national transition from fossil fuel energy sources to renewable energy sources as quickly as possible.”
Our own HM community has become deeply engaged in one aspect of the struggle to make the development of renewable energy sources a greater priority as we face the reality of hydro-fracking that surrounds our sacred land.
The recent series of LCWR’s Resolutions to Action can help to deepen our understanding of these environmental issues and better claim our responsibility as citizens of the universe. Each RTA offers background, analysis, reflection and suggestions for action.
The most recent RTA is about “Oceans in Peril: Acidification” written by Jo Ann Showalter, SP. Click on the PDF below to read.
Oceansinperil.pdf
Two earlier RTAs may also be of interest:
“Transition to Renewable Energy Sources” by Joan Brown, OSF (Fall 2014). Click on the PDF below to read.
renewableenergy.pdf
“The Costs of Hydrofracking” by Maureen Foltz, CCV and JoAnn Showalter, SP (Fall 2012). Click on the PDF below to read.
hydrofracking.pdf
Human Trafficking | Anne Victory | TEDxYoungstown
Click on the link below to watch Sr. Anne Voctory’s discussion on slavery and the many types of slavery going on today. Anne Victory, HM, currently serves as Education Coordinator for the Collaborative to End Human Trafficking
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xlweIqr2eCI
Sisters and staff supported the Go Red for Women campaign to raise awareness for women and heart disease
“Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.” - Harriet Tubman
The Villa Farm is currently taking orders for Easter flowers. Click on THE VILLA FARM page at left for complete details.
World Day for Consecrated Life
World Day for Consecrated Life is celebrated in parishes the weekend of February 7-8. Please pray for all those who have made commitments in the consecrated life, and be sure to thank them on their special day. May they continue to be inspired by Jesus Christ and respond generously to God's gift of their vocation. Click on the PDF below to view the World Day for Consecrated Life Prayer Card.
prayercardworlddayconsecratedlife.pdf
A Message from Our Pastoral Leader
When Pope Francis proclaimed 2015 a Year of Consecrated Life, he offered three purposes for this special commemoration:
To make a grateful remembrance of the recent past
To live the present with passion
To embrace the future with hope.
Having just celebrated our 150th anniversary in the United States, we have become much more aware of the blessings and challenges of our beginnings. There were many women and men who provided seeds for growth and helped build and sustain the community in those years. We give thanks for all that has brought us to where we are.
We live in this present moment with the guidance of our Living Document, the forward movements that call us into the future. We have seen the energy of the Spirit at work among us and through us as we seek to discern the needs before us today.
We don’t know what the future will bring, but we do know that we carry the same hope and trust that anchored Mother Madelaine, Mother Anna and Father Begel in those early years. It is that same spirit that allows us to go forward with joy into the future.
We invite you to celebrate this year with us.
Sister Toby Lardie
Prayer for the Year of Consecrated Life
O God, throughout the ages you have called women and men to pursue lives of perfect charity through the evangelical counsels of poverty, chastity, and obedience. During this Year of Consecrated Life, we give you thanks for these courageous witnesses of Faith and models of inspiration. Their pursuit of holy lives teaches us to make a more perfect offer ing of ourselves to you. Continue to enrich your Church by calling forth sons and daugh ters who, having found the pearl of great price, treasure the Kingdom of Heaven above all things. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Click on the link below to find out more about the Year of Consecrated Life from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
http://www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/vocations/consecrated-life/year-of-consecrated-life/
The Collaborative to End Human Trafficking was part of the news story regarding the Salvation Army's plans to develop shelter for trafficked women. Click on the link below to read the article, Salvation Army, Key Bank to Aid Trafficking Victims, appearing in the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2015/01/post_273.html
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Special Delivery: In the spirit of the true meaning of the holiday, Sisters, Associates and Staff collected toys and clothing to benefit Catholic Charities, the Emmanuel Community Care Center and Quota International in New Castle. Pictured below Sr. Barbara Herrmann (left) makes the delivery to a grateful Catholic Charities employee.
Sisters say No to Fracking: The Sisters of the Humility of Mary and other landowners around them have been steadfast in their opposition to fracking. Most recently, they are adamantly trying to prevent Hilcorp Energy from proceeding with forced pooling that would enable drilling for mineral resources from land of those who refused to lease to them. Please click on the PDF below to view the brochure that outlines the reasons why the Sisters are against fracking on this sacred land that was entrusted to them 150 years ago. See also the very insightful reflection from Margaret Swedish, Community Days presenter, (NEWS page at left) on fracking and the industrial culture threatening the Earth.
Nofrackingbrochure8.14.pdf
Reflection from Anniversary Celebration at Villa Maria: Click on the PDF below to enjoy the reflection presented by Sr. Mary Pat Cook during the Liturgy in honor of the 150th anniversary of the Sisters of the Humility of Mary in the United States.
AnniversaryReflection.pdf