tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70905474647065652542024-02-06T21:29:54.278-08:00Grace-Filled DaysFollow me as I journey as a Felician Franciscan Sister. I am currently a classroom teacher and I love what I am doing. The juggle between my active life and my prayer life are slowly coming into rhythm. Hope you enjoy my little stories about my "life".Vocation Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14281359364919030563noreply@blogger.comBlogger163125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7090547464706565254.post-55663300493754242142023-10-06T12:57:00.000-07:002023-10-06T12:57:07.311-07:00Second wave of the archive move The movers hard at work!The storage section is organized by regional area. Art, books, and items that may not be kept are there.Books in boxes, ready to be gone through.Books about our foundress, Blessed Mary Angela, are kept together.Sister Grace Del Priore http://www.blogger.com/profile/15107213082948585396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7090547464706565254.post-73187982958838214202023-05-15T08:37:00.003-07:002023-05-15T08:37:37.513-07:00Photos from my time in Warsaw, Poland I just spent two weeks in Warsaw, Poland. I went for an archives meeting and stayed for the sites! This first photo is of the tomb of our foundress, Blessed Mary Angela. We're in the bedroom of our foundress. She lived here for years.The group of sisters who attended the meeting.At the Warsaw Uprising Museum.A close up of our group at the museum.Some of our sisters who were at Sister Grace Del Priore http://www.blogger.com/profile/15107213082948585396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7090547464706565254.post-88917728346303029492022-11-28T06:52:00.004-08:002022-11-28T06:52:55.707-08:00Photo album Hello! Belated Happy Thanksgiving! Here are some photos from my holiday with family: Me and GrandmaMy sister Val with GrandmaDinner time! Mom with us Sister Grace Del Priore http://www.blogger.com/profile/15107213082948585396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7090547464706565254.post-36365389002575297592022-08-21T11:38:00.000-07:002022-08-21T11:38:00.803-07:00Highlights from my vacation Hello, all! I hope your summer has been blessed. Mine has, and I'd like to share about it. I had a chance to see and spend time with friends, family, and sisters in community. Here are some highlights, though I spent time with other friends and family members, too. The sisters in NJ went for a boat ride on Lake Hopatcong and I got to join them. &Sister Grace Del Priore http://www.blogger.com/profile/15107213082948585396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7090547464706565254.post-86884534353277403782022-07-02T11:11:00.004-07:002022-07-02T11:15:10.034-07:00GIVEN Forum Two weeks ago, I attended the GIVEN Forum. It's a leadership conference for young adult women up to the age of 30. During the week, we prayed together and shared our faith. We heard talks from professional speakers and spent time getting to know each other, too. This is my small group. We met each day to discuss the talks we heard and the experiences we shared. The other Sister Grace Del Priore http://www.blogger.com/profile/15107213082948585396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7090547464706565254.post-12079865919614591772022-05-14T10:48:00.003-07:002022-05-14T10:48:27.785-07:00News from the Felician Archive (straight from the archivist!) Hello! I hope all's well for you in your part of the world. I've been pretty busy. You can probably tell, since it's been some time since I posted to this blog. My biggest task (my ministry, really) is the archive. As the archivist for the province, I'm responsible for the newly created Felician Archive in the Welcome Center for Madonna University in Livonia, Michigan. I'm not doing Sister Grace Del Priore http://www.blogger.com/profile/15107213082948585396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7090547464706565254.post-56591986877667046232022-03-27T14:18:00.002-07:002022-03-27T14:18:21.306-07:00A short autobiographyHello, all! I wrote this brief autobiography for a program I've joined (more on that later!) and wanted to share this with you. Blessings,S. GraceI was born in 1980, the oldest of three daughters. My father, a podiatrist, was in medical school when I was young. We moved several times and my sisters and I were born in three different states: New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and California. We Sister Grace Del Priore http://www.blogger.com/profile/15107213082948585396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7090547464706565254.post-40896695207601289352022-02-19T10:15:00.000-08:002022-02-19T10:15:05.099-08:00Parents and the Journey to Religious Life I was, for the most part, raised in a single
parent household, by my mom. My two sisters and I grew up with my mom, mostly
in New Jersey. I think she was generally
confused by my interest in religion. She had been raised Catholic but in a
number of ways had rejected the Church; we seldom attended Mass and she only
voiced negative opinions about the Church. Despite this, I was drawn toSister Grace Del Priore http://www.blogger.com/profile/15107213082948585396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7090547464706565254.post-12555940208370195232022-02-02T09:11:00.000-08:002022-02-02T09:11:01.290-08:00My Vocation StoryHello, all! Sorry for the delay on posting!In early February (sometimes late January), the Catholic Church celebrates the World Day of Consecrated Life. In celebration of my call to be a sister, I decided to share my vocation story. Here it is! My Vocation Story I was raised in a single parent home by my mother, who is
lapsed Catholic. My parents divorced when I was in second grade and Sister Grace Del Priore http://www.blogger.com/profile/15107213082948585396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7090547464706565254.post-61431743126740572092021-12-03T07:42:00.003-08:002021-12-03T07:42:35.835-08:00The Blessing of Vulnerability We are vulnerable
and fragile people without exceptions. We need each other.
When a community faces an emergency,
it is able to move through it and into the future together. We Felician Sisters
in North America experienced this in a powerful way during the COVID pandemic.
Within a period of two months, we Sister Grace Del Priore http://www.blogger.com/profile/15107213082948585396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7090547464706565254.post-18769611588773903152021-11-11T14:58:00.003-08:002021-11-11T14:58:53.448-08:00Being a sister when the future of religious life is uncertain Hello, all! I had an opportunity to contribute to an article in a magazine about being a sister during a time when the future of religious life is uncertain. I was one of four younger sisters who answered four questions on this topic. <!--[if !supportLists]-->1.
<!--[endif]-->Have
you personally noticed this generational difference in your own life (the
Sister Grace Del Priore http://www.blogger.com/profile/15107213082948585396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7090547464706565254.post-84693060069469207132021-10-09T11:29:00.003-07:002021-10-09T11:29:45.530-07:00God's wisdom and Blessed Mary Angela Truszkowska (Scripture taken from Sunday, October 10 Mass Readings)Happy feast
day of Blessed Mary Angela! This is a Felician
perspective on today’s Mass readings, a connection to the founding spirit of our congregation,
Blessed Mary Angela Truszkowska’s legacy of spiritual guidance, to these
Scripture readings.
In reflecting upon them, I saw the common
thread of wisdom, starting with a Sister Grace Del Priore http://www.blogger.com/profile/15107213082948585396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7090547464706565254.post-68516779143954260732021-09-26T11:14:00.002-07:002021-09-26T11:14:16.755-07:00Advent and Living the Incarnation Advent
is a time of anticipation, as we look forward to the Incarnation of God as one
of us. We’re also reminded that Christ has come into the world already, and that
we have been trying to make His kingdom come by bringing Him to others. In this
way, the season of Advent is a call to renewed awareness.
As
Franciscans, my community is called to bring Christ into the world. In our
Rule, St.Sister Grace Del Priore http://www.blogger.com/profile/15107213082948585396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7090547464706565254.post-14093227747416383292021-09-01T12:59:00.000-07:002021-09-01T12:59:21.162-07:00New Felician Sisters Heritage Center As the archivist for the province, I've been waiting eagerly for our new Heritage Center to be complete. The estimated date it would be finished by was May 2020, but various delays came up, especially in our COVID reality. Now it's almost time to move in! The new archive and exhibit will be in the Madonna Welcome Center in Livonia, Michigan, where we Felicians have a convent and university.Sister Grace Del Priore http://www.blogger.com/profile/15107213082948585396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7090547464706565254.post-89303710424122743512021-08-04T10:39:00.001-07:002021-08-04T10:39:09.496-07:00Photo Album: Celebrating Anniversaries of Religious LifeOn Monday, August 2nd, we commemorated the jubilee celebrations of three of our sisters. Two celebrated 60 years in the community and one celebrated 70. It was wonderful to gather as a community and share their joy! As a young sister, too, I'm encouraged and inspired by these occasions. The lives of our older sisters strengthens my desire to give more freely of myself to God, the community, and Sister Grace Del Priore http://www.blogger.com/profile/15107213082948585396noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7090547464706565254.post-55129755893367283612021-07-10T10:58:00.000-07:002021-07-10T10:58:10.949-07:00Summer (so far!) Photo Album While I was on vacation in New Jersey, I spent time at the convent in Spotswood. One night, I joined Sister Antonelle at the parish Bingo game. She won one of them!I went on retreat in Goshen again this year. As I walked one day, I was struck by this hobbit-like entrance to one of the properties. The parish near Goshen had this lovely shrine to Our Lady of Grace, my patron saint. Sister Grace Del Priore http://www.blogger.com/profile/15107213082948585396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7090547464706565254.post-79638320722393292402021-05-29T08:28:00.001-07:002021-05-29T08:28:04.516-07:00St. Joseph Pope
Francis started the Year of St. Joseph with an apostolic letter, titled Patris
Corde, “with a Father’s heart.” The dedication commemorates the 150th
anniversary of Saint Joseph as patron of the universal Church. Patris Corde
celebrates the multiple roles and titles of this holy man who was present for
key events in the Gospels. He Sister Grace Del Priore http://www.blogger.com/profile/15107213082948585396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7090547464706565254.post-20702482972603838062021-04-03T07:54:00.004-07:002021-04-03T09:56:34.335-07:00Holy Saturday Holy Saturday may be my favorite day of the Triduum. The Three Days Catholics spend reflecting upon Jesus' betrayal, suffering, death, and Resurrection includes powerful liturgies with meaningful symbols and inspiring words. But immediately following the drama of Holy Thursday and Good Friday, there's silence. Jesus is dead and all His promises to rise on the third day seem foolish, even toSister Grace Del Priore http://www.blogger.com/profile/15107213082948585396noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7090547464706565254.post-41217540055812958222021-03-28T13:13:00.005-07:002021-03-29T17:19:34.288-07:00Lent 2021 Usually I spend Lent with an agenda: practices, assignments,
schedules. I set these for myself so I can experience all Lent has to offer. I
take it up a notch for the Triduum. They are our High Holy Days, the heart of the
Paschal Mystery, and the reason we celebrate Easter! So each year I have a plan
and I’m all-in. I give up things and spend more time in silence and prayer; it’s
a Sister Grace Del Priore http://www.blogger.com/profile/15107213082948585396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7090547464706565254.post-63581931762755439462021-02-27T15:12:00.007-08:002021-02-27T15:12:54.765-08:00LeadershipLately, I've been reflecting on myself as a leader. I noticed that I've been taking more initiative, starting projects and groups and guiding them. Also, the ministry I do for my community is increasingly requiring leadership skills to fit my role as archivist of our new Heritage Center and consolidated archives. I feel called to find out what kind of leader I am, what skills and gifts I have andSister Grace Del Priore http://www.blogger.com/profile/15107213082948585396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7090547464706565254.post-38027364263164523432021-01-22T10:54:00.000-08:002021-01-22T10:54:03.210-08:0040's Retreat From January 15-17, sisters in their 40’s from the Giving Voice group went on a virtual retreat. I joined 29 sisters from other religious communities in reflecting on the theme Remain Connected In Me. Having recently turned 40, I graduated to a new age group. I enjoyed meeting new sisters.Giving Voice creates space for religious women under 50 to express their hopes, dreams, and challenges Sister Grace Del Priore http://www.blogger.com/profile/15107213082948585396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7090547464706565254.post-61994240546115255312020-12-28T07:59:00.001-08:002020-12-28T07:59:20.762-08:00A Christmas Like No Other"May the blessings of the Christ Child be yours this Christmas! May the peace and hope He brought be in your heart!" I wrote variations of this message in my Christmas cards this year. This year I especially needed it, myself!My community is following CDC guidelines and celebrating the holidays locally. This means we spent both Thanksgiving and Christmas where we live, with the sisters we Sister Grace Del Priore http://www.blogger.com/profile/15107213082948585396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7090547464706565254.post-16094393315461216812020-12-21T13:26:00.002-08:002020-12-21T13:26:20.454-08:00Living History (my short story) Hello! Guess who just got published?I got ahead of myself there! You see, one of my ministries is to write the second half of the history about the former Our Lady of the Angels Province. In this effort, I’ve received much help from our sisters, whose stories bring the past to life for me, as well as from the archive here in Enfield.I’ve also benefited from the perspective of a group of Sister Grace Del Priore http://www.blogger.com/profile/15107213082948585396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7090547464706565254.post-26459367450697664172020-12-02T10:58:00.005-08:002020-12-02T10:58:39.086-08:00My Christmas Letter Blessings
of the Season!
In Advent,
we both remember Jesus’ birth and anticipate this year’s celebration of
Christmas. We think about what we’ll do this Christmas and who we’ll be with.
We also don’t merely recall how Jesus came among us more than 2,000 years ago.
We think of how He is with us now, throughout our day and in new ways every
day. He not only was present among us; He is and Sister Grace Del Priore http://www.blogger.com/profile/15107213082948585396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7090547464706565254.post-23380381997574019882020-11-12T07:56:00.002-08:002020-11-12T07:56:39.201-08:00Finding Hope in Religious Life Recently I attended the National Religious
Vocation Conference 2020 Virtual Convocation. Members of the Felician formation
team were able to invite guests, and I was one of them. Guests at the NRVC
Convocation receive a grant to attend if they fulfill several requirements. One
of them is to write a brief essay about being hopeful in religious life. This
is in response to Sister Grace Del Priore http://www.blogger.com/profile/15107213082948585396noreply@blogger.com0