April 22, 2015

By Sister Ellen Donahue, SA
Episcopal Delegate for Religious

Pope Francis had one word for consecrated men and women and that word was “JOY”. 

In his own words, “I want to say one word to you and this word is joy.  Wherever consecrated people are, there is joy”.

“In the world there is often a lack of joy.  We are not called to accomplish epic feats or to proclaim high-sounding words but to give witness to the joy that arises from the certainty of knowing we are loved, from the confidence that we are saved”.                

Pope Francis, “Letter for Consecrated Life, February 2014”

Five of our youngest Sisters will share with youth their remembrance of “the joy of the moment when Jesus looked at me”.

Pope Francis asks each of us to return to this transforming moment “when Jesus looked at me” and share it with others. 

The five Sisters on the panel are gifted women who will share their joy of the Gospel calling and where it led them.

• Sister Maria Flavia D’Costa is one of the founding members of the Watertown foundation of the Sisters of the Cross  from India. 
• Sister Suanne Johnson is Sister of St. Joseph and a teacher at Augustinian Academy in Carthage. 
• Sister Mary Catherine  Pham from sunny California is a new member of the contemplative order, Adorers of the Precious Blood and lives at the  Precious Blood Monastery in Watertown
•Sister Rachel Daly, a native of Peru, is a new member of the Franciscan Sisters of the Renewal in the Bronx. 
• Sister Constance Sylver,  is a teacher at Immaculate Heart Central School in Watertown  and Formation Director for the Sisters of St. Joseph.  Sister Constance will facilitate the stories from the panel members.

We are grateful to Deacon Brian Dwyer, Director of Office of Youth Ministry for giving our diocesan religious this opportunity to share their stories within the Year of Consecrated Life during the Annual Youth Rally.

About the Youth Rally
The annual diocesan Youth Rally opens Friday at 7 p.m. St. Alexander’s Church in Morrisonville for concert and Saturday at 8:30 p.m. at Seton Academy for registration. The rally ends after  a 4 p.m. Mass at St. Peter’s Church With Bishop Terry R. LaValley presiding

Features:  Jackie Francois Angel will perform at concert and serve as keynote speaker and workshop leader for Saturday’s program. The afternoon schedule also includes a panel discussion, “Stories of journey following Jesus’ footsteps,” at Seton Academy.  A question-answer session with Bishop LaValley will follow  before the group moves to St. Peter’s for the Mass.

Photo Supplied
Four young and “joyful”  religious are preparing for their Youth Rally panel this Saturday at Seton Academy in Plattsburgh during which they will share their remembrance of  “the joy of the moment when Jesus looked at me.”  Pictured, from left, are  Sisters Maria Flavia D’Costa, a member of the Sisters of Charity of Chavanod; St. Joseph Suanne Johnson,  St. Joseph Sister Constance Sylver, panel facilitator; and Precious Blood Sister Mary Catherine Pham.  Sister Rachel Daly, a Franciscan Sister of Renewal, will also serve on the panel.