Dear Friends,
As I reflect on Christmas this year, the image of “gift” comes to mind. Both our religious and secular celebrations give it an important, if not a central place. Yes, we are often busy and concerned about gift-giving. We may rue the commercialism of our culture. Yet, on a deeper level, Christmas is the perfect time to reflect on how amazingly God has blessed us with gifts in abundance. We might also reflect on the people who are truly gifts for us and how we are called to be gift for others.
Pope Francis’ letter, Laudato Si’, reminds us, that the earth, our common home, is a gift to cherish and protect. We stand in awe of the beauty of nature. We also appreciate how creation nourishes us, refreshes us, and brings us joy. What a gift!
The truly important things in life are the priceless gifts. We can’t purchase them. Do you remember the credit card commercial that captured that idea so perfectly? Priceless!
Christmas celebrates our marvelous God taking on human flesh and becoming one of us. Priceless! The bottom line—it is all about love, how measureless is God’s love and how God invites us to respond in love to the gift of Jesus.
Yes, God reveals God’s love for us in the mystery of Christmas. We are invited to respond to that gift with the gift of ourselves. At the conclusion of the carol, “In the Bleak Midwinter,” the poet Christina Rossetti asks the question: “What can I give him?” Her response is that she will give her heart. “The Little Drummer Boy” also focuses on gift-giving. When he plays for the newborn king, the drummer boy gives the gift of himself through the gift of music.
We have just begun a jubilee year celebrating the 150th anniversary of Felician presence in North America. It is a graced time for us to reflect on the gifts that we have received over these 150 years. But foremost among those gifts is the gift of each other. Do we have the eyes to see clearly that this is so? Do we have the faith to see that God is looking for the gift of our heart as we reach out in love to those around us and across the globe?
All is gift! Let us ponder this amazing mystery during quiet moments this Christmas!
S Judith M Kubicki
Provincial Minister
Merry Christmas Sisters. I have a relative who was onetime the Mother Superior of the Lodi House. She was also Mother Superior of the World, because she lived, in Rome. She was a close friend in life of Saint Pope John Paul II, she passed before His Holiness, I can say she would have been in Rome the day he became a Saint!!!
Dear Sisters, you have blessed and gifted us with your loving presence and ministries and, for that, we thank you. You have imbued in us the richness of the Catholic faith and education, preparing us to serve Christ in this world.
It was a joy and honor to celebrate your 150 years of ministry at your founding place in Polonia. Bishop Callahan’s presence made the day even more joy-filled. Sending love, prayers and gratitude. Christine
To All the Felician Sisters,
My Prayers & Thoughts are always with You and Your Beautiful Mission(s). For it is only through Your Prayers, Deeds, Love, and Joy, that bring Our One Lord God & Savior, Jesus Christ, into this world with Your Shining Light! Merry Christmas and a Very Merry, Happy, Healthy, Holy, Joyful, Peace-Filled, and Safe 2025 New Year! Always With Love