Chicago’s Got Sisters – October 30, 2021

Time: 2:00-5:00pm Central Time via Zoom
Registration:  https://bit.ly/CGS_Fall2021  

The Fall 2021 “Chicago’s Got Sisters Virtual Event” will take place via Zoom on Saturday, October 30 from 2:00-5:00 PM (Central Time). The agenda will include a short talk on the theme of “Discerning with the Saints,” time for prayer & reflection, brief introductions to a diverse group of communities and charisms, and breakout room time for Q & A. This event is for single Catholic women ages 18-40. Register here: https://bit.ly/CGS_Fall2021 or contact Sr. Jess Lambert for more information at jllamb.illinois@gmail.com.
Please help us spread the word!
Visit https://www.vocationscava.org/chicagos-got-sisters/ for more information.

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National Vocation Awareness Week (NVAW)

National Vocation Awareness Week will be celebrated in our country November 7-13, 2021. Please ask Our Lord for more dedicated priests, deacons, and consecrated men and women. May they be inspired by Jesus Christ, supported by our faith community, and respond generously to God’s gift of vocation.” https://nrvc.net/274/publication/4171/article/18685-national-vocation-awareness-week-november-7-13

https://www.usccb.org/committees/clergy-consecrated-life-vocations/national-vocation-awareness-week

“To speak of a ‘culture of encounter’ means that we, as a people, should be passionate about meeting others, seeking points of contact, building bridges, planning a project that includes everyone. This becomes an aspiration and a style of life. The subject of this culture is the people.” -Fratelli Tutti,

no. 216

Creating a Culture of Encounter

Sr. Connie Bach, PHJC

“Culture of Encounter” has become a very popular phrase thanks to the practical, compassionate, and merciful example modeled by Pope Francis in his short seven plus year tenure. What he describes as a “goal for human society” is intended to encourage us to reach out to others, engage persons of all generations and backgrounds, practice deep listening, offer support and encouragement on the journey, promote open dialogue and friendship, and pay special attention to the poor and marginalized among us. This requires letting go of ego and creating bridges instead of thrones. It requires the same humility we witness in Mother Theresa, Dorothy Day and so many others.

A person holding a baby Description automatically generated with medium confidenceIn today’s “throw-away culture,” it is easy to fall into habits of judgment, comfort, ease, pointing out other’s weaknesses, assumption-making, and the rejection and degradation of others due to differences and fear. Instead, through living Gospel values, we are called to be catalysts of change. This can only happen with active involvement in relationship building, in accepting others where and as they are, sharing Christ’s message of love, showing forgiveness, being authentic, and being present and vulnerable.

In living our PHJC Core Value of dignity and respect for all (human and non-human), we acknowledge and witness to the fact that we are each made in the image and likeness of a good and loving God who only desires that we guide others in understanding  this in our otherwise broken and sullen world. We are first created and encountered by God who beckons us to go forth and encounter others with the same Love at our disposal.                                                                                         

                                                                                                               Former Volunteer, Nick J.

“To encounter another person is to realize that no matter the depths to which we may get to know each other, the well of mystery will never be exhausted…” -Thomas J. Eggleston