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Archives Celebrating the sisters’ feast day

October 2, 2024

By Mary Beth Bracy, consecrated virgin
Contributing writer

On Saturday, September 14 the Sisters of the Cross of Chavanod celebrated their congregational Feast of the Triumph of the Cross with a special Mass at St. James Church in Cadyville. The Mass was offered by Bishop Terry R. LaValley and concelebrated by a dozen clergy from around the diocese.

Sisters of the Cross from across the North Country participated in and hosted the event. Following the Mass, the Sisters served a special luncheon, including Indian dishes.

Sister Jackie Sellappan, SCC, superior of the local convent, shared about the significance of the feast for their congregation in her remarks before the Mass.

“This feast holds special importance for our congregation as it is our patronal feast,” she said. “We are privileged to have sisters representing us in 16 countries, including us who are currently on mission in the Ogdensburg diocese. We are privileged to be part of such a diverse and widespread congregation.” 

The importance of this feast also reminds each of us of the universal Call for Holiness, she said. 

“The fundamental spirituality of the Sisters of the Cross is centered around the Cross of Jesus Christ,” said Sister Jackie. “This is our cornerstone because it was through the Cross that the paschal mystery, which encompasses the suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus, was realized and made possible according to God’s plan. Through our baptism, we become connected to this paschal mystery, and it is something we must embody every day.”

It is also in the cross that we find our freedom and hope for new life, the local superior said.

“As Sisters of the Cross, our charism is based on the liberating power of the paschal mystery, and we are called to live it daily, as our Mother Foundress [Mother Claudine Echernier] emphasized that the Cross is our way of life,” Sister Jackie said. “Every hardship and suffering we face ultimately leads us toward resurrection, and it is through this cycle that the hope of the paschal mystery resides for each one of us. Recognizing and experiencing paschal hope during times of suffering is an art.

“The Cross is paschal hope — Ave crux, spes unica (Hail O Cross, the only hope). The theme chosen for our General Congregation for 2025 is Pilgrims and Prophets of Paschal Hope. The paschal mystery is at the heart of our faith, representing the hope and transformation brought about by Jesus’ resurrection. This transformation is evident in the stories of Mary Magdalene and the disciples on the road to Emmaus, whose lives were forever changed by encountering the paschal mystery.”

This life-changing encounter is open to us all, Sister Jackie said.

“As followers of Christ, we too can experience the liberating power of the paschal mystery, bringing new life and empowering us to change our perspectives,” she said. “The Apostles’ radical change in perspective after receiving the Holy Spirit exemplifies the transformative impact of the paschal mystery, offering hope as seen in Peter’s experience. The church tradition teaches that the penitent thief’s plea, ‘Remember me in your kingdom,’ opened the door to hope for all, giving us hope for the next world.”

“The paschal hope is found in turning back to the person and mission of Jesus,” Sister Jackie reminded attendants. “Mary Magdalene turned to Jesus, not just the idea of resurrection. Similarly, the disciples turned to Jesus’ mission on the road to Emmaus. Empowered by the Holy Spirit, they continued their mission after returning to Jerusalem. When Jesus asked Peter if he loved Him, He instructed Peter to feed His sheep, emphasizing the importance of returning to His mission. We need to ask ourselves whether the paschal mystery has given us hope and strive to be a source of hope for our families, society, and the Church.”

During the Mass, the sisters led the faithful in their “Holy Cross Anthem.” Some of the lyrics read: “Filled with the ever-growing joy of living/The love of Jesus our Crucified Savior and King/We go into the world sharing His love/His life bringing all people to serve the Risen Lord.” And, “To the will of the Father in total surrender/We vow genuine humility/The Cross is our Book and the Cross will be our Glory/In the footsteps of Christ on Calvary.”

In his homily, Bishop LaValley spoke about the importance of “self-emptying” to have “availability to the Lord and His holy people . . . . We seek to follow Christ in complete selflessness.”

“On the day you made your commitment, you said ‘I’m ready, I’m ready to proclaim the message and walk the path,’” Bishop LaValley said, addressing the sisters. “Do I make an offer to Christ? God wants from us something, only a love only you and I can give, a love renewed and renewed and renewed.”

“These times are ripe for us to be bitten by the loss of the virtue of hope,” Bishop LaValley cautioned. “This can be toxic to your identity. Such a love of the virtue of hope causes us to lose enthusiasm . . . So, we look to the Cross. Today the Church celebrates the triumph, the exaltation of the Cross . . . On this feast we should remember, putting aside any ideas of self-sufficiency, allowing Christ to take us by the hand and lead us into the mystery of love.”

We are called to “ongoing conversion, transformation, communion. There is no room for self-centered faith,” Bishop LaValley proclaimed. “The Eucharist expresses our mystery of gathering and uniting in communion. Hope and joy grow from the confidence we possess as the Body of Christ.”

“What our people expect of you and me is that when they meet us they do not encounter another agitated person but something of the peace, joy, and hope that comes from following Jesus . . . . We are mighty glad that you’ve taken that path and are here with us,” concluded Bishop LaValley. “Thank you for your witness to the Gospel. As sisters and brothers we gather around this altar . . . we can entrust ourselves to Him . . . . Lord, take me as I am, I trust . . . . We adore you a Christ and we praise you because by your holy Cross you redeemed the world.”

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