Do Dogs go to heaven

Someone asked me if pets to to heaven.
Our loving God made all of creation for us to enjoy. He said it is good.
Why not in heaven as well.

CHANGING OF SEASONS

Today is a beautiful day outside, some frost did hit the plants on our deck and their time has come. The season is changing and today is fall time of the year. 

I have also been asking God's help with the changing of seasons in one who I love. Some days he doesn't remember things. I pray for the gift to enjoy each encounter as he is moving closer to letting go in his life. I know at 96 this is to be expected but that is a intellectual thing and I am not there yet. His letting go is gradual and a good lesson for me.

These moments are hard lessons to learn as I sometimes get too far into the future and grieve the losses. I know I have my own letting go to embrace but somehow this seems different. 

I take time to thank God for the gift of relationship we have.  I ask for the grace to live one day at a time. 

I know life is a journey and God has been with me all the way and will be in days to come. It is just some side trails are not ones I would choose. Prayer helps me to go forward knowing God is my companion. Thank you for your prayers as well.

YEAR OF FAITH-SEEKING THE FACE OF JESUS

This coming church year we will be invited to celebrate a year of Faith. 
The LaCrosse office of evangelization has broken this into 4 themes

Oct-Jan Seeking the Face of Jesus, the Face of God. Focus on faith and content of faith

Feb-April Seeking the Face of Jesus in Prayer. How do I pray and notice for what do I pray.

May-July Seeking the Face of Jesus in the Community of the Church. What does it mean for me to be in community with others. 

Aug-November Seeing the Face of Jesus in Suffering and the Marginalized. It is evaluation how our faith leads us to care and have compassion on others.

These reflections lead us to important question? No matter what we believe we and ask ourselves Who is God? What does God want of me? Who am I? And what do I need to do to be faithful to who I am?

Remember our Jewish friends in prayer this week

 

This past Sunday at sundown the Jewish community began the practice of  Rosh HaShanah

Significant symbols of Rosh HaShanah include apples, honey and round loaves of challah. Apple slices dipped in honey represent our hope for a sweet new year and are traditionally accompanied by a short prayer before eating that goes: "May it by Thy will, O Lord, Our God, to grant us a year that is good and sweet." Challah, which is usually baked into braids, is shaped into round loaves of bread on Rosh HaShanah. The circular shape symbolizes the continuation of life.

On the second night of Rosh HaShanah it is customary to eat a fruit that is new to us for the season, saying the shehechiyanu blessing as we eat it to thank God for bringing us to this season. Pomegranates are a popular choice because Israel is often praised for its pomegranates and because, according to legend, pomegranates contain 613 seeds – one for each of the 613 mitzvot. Another reason for eating pomegranates on Rosh HaShanah has to do with the symbolic hope that our good deeds in the coming year will be as many as the seeds of the fruit.

Rosh HaSanah is also a time of self reflection a time of looking at ones life and how one has been living. It is a time of repentance, forgiveness and making decisions if one wants to change the way they have been living or acting. We all could spend a week in such manner and I believe the world would be a more peaceful kinder place to live. 

Let us remember our Jewish friends this week as they begin their New Year and observe this week.

WHO DO YOU SAY I AM IN YOUR LIFE

Today Jesus asks who am I to you  in your daily life?

James says it is not only what we believe but what we do.

Can others tell by my behavior and what I say I am a follower of Jesus way. 

Today in all we do we are the

living  Gospel of Jesus. 

Is it Good News

Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother celebration day

Today the Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother celebrate our feast day. A day in which we remember especially the sorrows the Mother of Jesus experienced and reflect on our mission to stand with those who are not served, those on the margins of society, those who are rejected

How would a mother feel at as her child enters the community of the believers to be told you will suffer many things because of this child. Simeon gave this message to Mary as she presented her child to him. 

How would you feel having to leave your homeland and run to a foreign county because the leadership was looking  for you and your child to kill him. 

How would you feel seeing your child mocked, scourged and then made to carry his death cross along the streets, to a jeering crowd only to be crucified as a common criminal.

Every day we encounter many mothers who are experiencing the same situations. We pray we as Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother, or model Mary will help us reach out to them to stand with them.

We also thank today all those who stand with us, work with us to continue to serve those in need especially the poor.

I remember you today in my prayers.

FEED THE HUNGRY

Raised $1,606.00 for Sister Corita a Sister of the Sorrowful Mother working in the 
SSM Fundacion in Dominican Republic

I am so proud of the employees volunteers and community people that visit the restaurant at Ministry Saint Clare's Hospital. Under the direction of one of the Administrative Food service staff they small change at the check out register all year long. It is amazing what small change can turn into. 

This year we were blessed with an anonymous donor who matched the funds collected. 

I called Sister Corita and informed her of the amount collected. She was ecstatic and said now I can provide them with food for a year. Each month Sister Corita takes a paper bag filled with rice, beans, and other staples to the families living in the Hoyo which is along the river bank in Santiago.

I pray for God's blessings on all those who generously gave their change to make this happen.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE

Today was a day of thanking our staff, volunteers and contract chaplains. 
This morning we had administrative team, chaplain and Sister Sharee go around and bless the hands of the employees at Saint Clare's, Ministry Medical group Weston and Rib Mountain and the staff of the Diagnostic and Treatment center.. We said we bless these hands and those you serve and we bless and appreciate you. It is touching and I always look forward to this blessing. So many hands doing so much in the name of the healing ministry of Jesus.

My little Hindu doctor got his hands blessed. In reality there are various religious beliefs among our staff but one purpose to help those in need who need what we have to offer in a way that helps them and keeps their dignity.

This afternoon we had an appreciation tea for eucharistic ministers, prayer team members, chaplains and volunteers with the No one Dies alone program. It was a time where our President could say thank you to these dedicated persons. They also go their hands blessed if they so wished.

It is great to have a day of thanks. Hopefully we will have many more

ANGELS IN HEAVEN

Tonight we had the memorial service in the chapel for parents who lost a baby at Saint Clare's Hospital. 
As part of the perinatal bereavement program parents can choose to have the hospital bury their unborn child. We honor all products of conception and invite the parents to come to the prayer service which is followed by  coffee and sharing prior to going to the cemetery. 
We are blessed to have Brainard funeral establishment who helps us by providing the urn for the remains to be buried in a respectful manner. Several families attended this prayer service tonight. 
We have this service during our mission and values week honor the unborn and to help families who wish to participate to have a respectful service for their child.
Mothers never forget their child. Today we join in prayer for parents who have lost a child. We pray they may now feel some comfort. May the angels we honored look down and smile upon us this night

CELEBRATE OUR VALUES

This week in all of our ministries we are celebrating the 

values of the Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother as lived 

out in Ministry Health Care Ministries. 

The reason for choosing this week is that during this week we also celebrate the feast of the Sorrowful Mother our patroness. 

The values that Ministry Health care choose to guide our actions are the following:

Values

The Values of our Founding Sisters guide our actions...

Presence

We treat others with dignity and respect so each 

person feels important and worthwhile. We engage 

people in decisions that affect them.

Service

We provide excellent service, care and value.

Vision

We use innovation and creativity to improve the 

health of the communities we serve and to sustain 

and grow our health care ministry.

Justice

We are a voice for the voiceless. We advocate for the 

most vulnerable and act responsibly on their behalf. 

We do all we can to make health care affordable in 

our communities.

Hopefully these values can be a guide for you in your 

relationships with others and in what you do.

VOICE FOR THE POOR

Today we remember the founder of the Saint Vincent DePaul society. He was ordinary man who has a passion for helping the poor. With a few friends he started to help those in need, others joined in helping it was the beginning of the Saint Vincent DePaul society.

He was not a priest but a dedicated lay person. It is amazing what one person can do with passion and concern for those in need. 
If you have a Vincent DePaul society in your area consider helping them with their mission. You too can be " A voice for the Poor"

Why the Voice of the Poor?
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul is concerned not only 

with alleviating need but also with identifying those 

structures, societal and legislative, that cause and 

perpetuate poverty. This mission manifests itself in the 

Society’s admonition to “End Poverty Through Systemic 

Change.”

REMEMBERING MOTHER TERESA

Today is the day we remember Mother Theresa. She did ordinary things in an extra ordinary way. 

None of us will most likely be called upon to do something big, but each day we have many little things we can do the make the life of someone else better and for them to know they are loved. 

REMEMBER EVERYONE TODAY- JOBS AND JOBLESS

Remember everyone today in your thoughts and prayers. Those who have jobs that are often forgotten, those who help us with our daily lives, those who have no job and cant find one.
At home I learned a honest days work for honest days wage. My parents both were Aides at the Northern Colony in Chippewa Falls. They took great pride in their work and the people they cared for. Worked long hours for little pay. I don't recall them ever getting recognized for their hard work. Their recognition was the satisfaction they did their best. 
             As we go about our daily lives this week, let us take a few moments to thank those we meet for the work they do. 
              Happy Labor day to you and thank you.

LOVE VERSUS RULES

In today's scripture reflection Jesus chastises the pharisees and the religious leaders for insisting all the various minute rules  be followed with no regard for compassion, hospitality or care for the poor.

They were more interested in putting burdens on people than helping relieve burdens. Be sure to wash your, kettles, and other pots before eating but do not be concerned about welcoming the guest, greeting them and taking care of their needs after walking in the dirty dusty streets.

Am I more concerned about my life rules than I am about meeting people where they are at. Do I even acknowledge I have life rules, and do I know what they are. If not listen to how many times you say should or think they should, I should do this or that. 

 In the hospital setting, some days anxious afraid family members cant follow the rules of numbers of people to visit or limit time. They just need someone to calmly talk to them answer their questions and ease the tension.

Do I judge the type and quality of relationships of others by imposing and applying my life rules.

Can I cope with the breaking away of so many people who are just tying to identify themselves and their beliefs, values and life's meaning. 

God help me let loose on some of my rules. I know you only had two rules. Love God and for me to Love my neighbor as I love myself.