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Showing posts from July 17, 2011

A Case of Mistaken Identity

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Today we are cautioned to be aware of the ways our identity could be stolen or to lesser extent false charges on a credit card.  That latter happened to me but was quickly caught by the c.c. company and remedied. In the early centuries after Jesus, one of his closest disciples began to experience identity theft and misrepresentations.  Even though this disciple was also considered the Apostle to the Apostle, the confusion only multiplied over the centuries. The truth about this disciple's real identity did continue to be handed on through the faith community until today we know that she was not the woman in the story about adultery or other false ideas.  She was Saint Mary Magdalene - follower of Jesus - and the only disciple named in all four disciples as a witness to his resurrection. She is known as the Apostle to the Apostles because she is the first preacher of the Good News:  Christ is Risen! Saint Dominic, founder of the Order of Preachers, knew well of her true i

Jubilee Celebration

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What does it mean to celebrate an anniversary? In religious communities we call an anniversary a jubilee . Rooted in our understanding of Biblical tradition, it is a time to remember and to give thanks for the many blessings of life. This weekend at Sinsinawa there was a celebration of Jubilee for 21 sisters who observed their 50 th anniversary of profession.   And for those 21 sisters, more than 500 guests joined them for a memorable weekend of celebration: prayer, festive meals and lots of remembering.   Family members, friends, former Dominicans and students of these sisters had stories to tell!   As they were welcomed to the Eucharistic Celebration by our prioress, Mary Ellen Gevelinger, O.P., she reminded them that this was a celebration of 1,050 years of dedication in God’s service. Who could have imagined fifty years ago that these 21 sisters would have seen and experienced all the changes they have? The world has changed.   The church has changed.   Religious life has ch