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Pictured by Sr. Ana Lydia       “Yes, …I want in all earnestness, with His great grace, which so visibly calls me to humility, and with His divine assistance, which is never denied us, to die to self and to grow in the love of God.” - Mother Marie de la Roche -       https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BpZXcXhPOo4 'Song of the Sisters Divine Providence', St. Joseph Province, Korea

    TRANSFORMATION Sister Mary Francis Fletcher The song, The Grace of Transformation, by Monica Brown, led me to reflect on what we must do to cooperate with God’s grace and move toward transformation.  The song begins: We are hoping, we are praying, for the grace of transformation. O Sacred One, O Gracious One, may our hearts embrace it now. Late in 2020, I began to read Ted Dunn’s book, Graced Crossroads: Pathways to Deep Change and Transformation.  The book’s preface began with the following quote from Neale Walsch.  “Yearning for a new way will not produce it.  Only ending the old way can do that.  You cannot hold onto the old, all the while declaring that you want something new.  The old will defy the new; the old will deny the new; the old will decry the new.  There is only one way to bring in the new.  You must make room for it.” How do we make that room?  How do we open the space, to allow the new to grow in us?  Are we willing to do so?  Monica Brown’s song, begins with hoping and praying but, surely, that is not enough.  As I sought resources for myself and for us, somewhere along the way I discovered steps in the Process of Transformation from Angel Carlton.  The process he identifies includes:  realization, release, rebound, reinvention, resurrection and response.........     .... Read the Whole, see the attachment  ....  

Image: https://catholicpress.kr/m/view.php?idx=7438   WHY? Sister Kim Youngmi Maria Why was the rich man in torment in the netherworld?The man in the parable of the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31) was in torment in the netherworld after his death. According to Father Abraham in the parable, “the rich man received what was good during his lifetime while Lazarus likewise received what was bad, but after death Lazarus is comforted, whereas the rich man was tormented.” (Luke 16:25). I wonder if that is all? When I go into the parable deeper and see the rich man, it seems that there is a clearer reason why the rich man is in torment. The rich man dressed in purple garments and fine linen and dined sumptuously each day. On the contrary, Lazarus couldn’t eat his fill of  the scraps that fell from the rich man's table. The rich man must have known Lazarus by name because he cried out to Abraham, asking, “send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue.”(Luke 16:24). The rich man knew that a poor man named Lazarus was lying at the door but he was indifferent to him. Without considering the poor man’s condition, the rich man enjoyed what he had received. What if the rich man realized that he should have paid more attention to Lazarus in his lifetime? One of the worst things the rich man did was indifference. He knew Lazarus, but he didn’t pay attention to him. If he had looked at him a little bit carefully, he could have noticed that Lazarus was hungry and covered with sores.....  Read the whole, see the attachment.  

    Pre-CLB meeting with Sr. Margie was in Wakefield, July 18-19. It was  both via Zoom and in-person. so the CLT was able to make an outline of the CLB that will be in Korea in coming October.  Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/share/p/H5zuzCbiFy6KNdLx/  

  “We can establish the reign of love, of harmony and fraternity, of true humanity! We can – I say it from the deepest conviction of my soul – we can establish a community of goods and everlasting peace.”   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAAWNzqvgdc

Ketteler Day, Mother Marie Day 2024 Dear Sisters and Associates, Another Founders’ day is upon us and I find myself pondering just what it is that Bishop Ketteler and Mother Marie might want to tell us. Our Congregation, that grew from a small group of German peasant women, sent Sisters beyond the borders of Germany. In those years the Congregation grew and expanded to the United States, to Puerto Rico, to Peru and South Korea. We are now an international, intercultural, and intergenerational community of women who still are being called to live the charism of Providence in our day and time in history. When I think of all the lives we touch, the ministries we do, the hopes we embrace, it reminds me of a tapestry. The image of a tapestry speaks to me of a cloth that is created by weaving different colored threads together into one strong cloth. In the lifetime of our Congregation, we have woven threads together of joys and sorrows, triumphs and challenges, loves and losses…all of them shaping who we are as Providence women and men. Each of brings our gifts and goodness to stitch the threads together and create a beautiful design. Over these 173 years it has been a journey filled with varied experiences, both good and difficult, and yet all grace-filled. As we have rooted ourselves in the mystery of Providence and its invitations to us, we have walked the path with open and receptive hearts, trusting that the Spirit would lead us from generation to generation....   Read full letter:  https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:VA6C2:d03dd440-53b4-4436-8e24-6db9b9689823

Reflection on Our Founders   "When we think of our founders and the legacy they left us, we think of being “rooted in the past, reaching toward the future.” Our two founders, Bishop Wilhelm Emmanuel von Ketteler and Marie de la Roche, imbued us with the Providence charism and challenged us to reach toward the future, to make a difference, to be the face of Providence made visible in our world … "   Read more go to 'Reflection and prayers'    https://www.cdpgeneralate.org/reflections-and-prayers/?uid=476&mod=document&pageid=1

  The official visitation to Marie de la Roche Province was done between June 4 - 6, 2024 in Pittsburgh, PA. The theme of the Official Visitation by the Congregational Leadership Team (CLT) is 'Interculturality in the Community'. The official visit of the Marie de la Roche Province took place from June 4 to 6, 2024, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The theme of the Congregational Leadership Team (CLT)'s Visitation was "Interculturality in Community,". Therefore, the CLT worked with the sisters to share all the work by the CLT and the Commissions that are related to the theme, and listen to any comments from the sisters. The CLT is very appreciative of their time at the Marie de la Roche Province during this visitation.   more photos Go to: https://www.cdpgeneralate.org/gallery/?uid=472&mod=document&pageid=1 https://www.cdpgeneralate.org/gallery/?mod=document&pageid=1&uid=473&execute_uid=473    

Image by by Russian painter Andrei Rublev   "... We know our world is filled with fear, apprehension, anxiety, political unrest, wars, violence, poverty and discrimination in many forms. However, we can choose to live in love and seek ways to heal the wounds of our world wherever we are. Providence calls us to keep our hearts centered on God. There is a beautiful and famous icon by Rublev on the mystery of the Trinity. As I’ve gazed on it many times, I have felt drawn in by the intimate conversation that is taking place around the table. There is an open space for the viewer to sit in communion with the God head. We are welcomed into the circle. I would invite you to enter and stay within that image and with “tender seeing” find what God most wants to tell you..." from the Trinity Sunday letter by Sister Barbara McMullen, Congregational Leader

  Collaborative Leadership Hub - 2024 Leadership Conference of Women Religious was held in St. Louis.  Approximately 140 leaders of various the religious communities were together to discuss and share about their current issues and concerns of their own communities. Also all the participants have tried to figure out what might be a possible way to move forward as the religious in these days.