In winding up our series on community prayer practices, we share some final thoughts from Sisters Rose Mary Sanders, Barbara Paleczny, and Celeste Reinhart.
Sister Rosemary Sander: I/we try to connect consciously to God present in, with, and around us.
Sister Barbara Paleczny: I savour each day's gifts. They disappear too fast!
I find that one meaningful, relaxing and global way to enjoy peace and harmony in the webinar series Harmony for Humanity.
It offers classical music with visuals. They are an easy way to meditate (without seeming to do so) for good health!
I know and admire the source/creator, Marilyn Turkovich, global Director for the Charter for Compassion, and will listen whenever I can (and enjoy a link for later viewing when necessary, probably often).
Sister Celeste Reinhart: My participation in 8:00 a.m. Eucharist gives me the opportunity to join the “regulars in the parish” who pray for the needs of our parish ministries and the world. It is a unifying prayer.
Then I return home to my breakfast and coffee time seated with those in our SSND community who have asked for healing prayers. I conclude this time with the newspaper in one hand and pray for peace on earth.
Since I am semi-retired, I have the exquisite opportunity to spend my morning in contemplative prayer with our Trinitarian God. Then I read contemporary theology and spirituality in a kind of lectio-divina prayer.
I am an avid reader of all things Pierre de Chardin. I have completed the Spiritual Exercises in the Spirit of Chardin by Louis Savary and continue to read Savary’s books. The current one is Chardin on the Gospels.
The challenge of praying with Chardin comes in finding the language to communicate the Gospel with the First Communion and Confirmation classes, facilitating adult formation in synodal conversation circles.
But the message of Christ in Chardinian thought makes sense to my ecological practice and reconciliation with Indigenous. These ministerial challenges are framed in my morning and evening prayer from A Book of Hours according to Chardin’s thought.
One a month, three of us SSNDs get together for a weekend at Lake Marie to pray, reflect and do community sharing in light of our prayer and ministry experience. These conversations in the spirit shape my Laudato Si’ commitment.
I am grateful for all the years of prayer that have been at the center of my life.
