SACRED HEART NOVENA - 2010
The Sisters invited all to join them for the 85th novena in honor of the Sacred Heart which was held in the monastery chapel June 3rd through June 11th. Fr. Thomas Moore, Fr. David Tokarz, and Msgr. Michael Farmer shared presiding at the daily Mass.
The novena culminated with the celebration of the 400th anniversary of the foundation of the Visitation Order, with Archbishop Thomas Rodi presiding and Msgr. Peter Cunningham assisting at the altar. Fr. Tokarz preached a marvelous homily to mark the happy occasion and the evening ended with a reception in the parlor and light refreshments provided by friends of the sisters.
The community has been united with members of the Order throughout the world in observing this event. For three years leading up to the anniversary on June 6, 2010, the sisters in Mobile have had a monthly Mass offered for the needs and intentions of all Visitation sisters, and have joined in praying the universal prayer to St. Francis de Sales and St. Jane de Chantal.
They have exposed the relics of their founders for veneration, encouraged the faithful in Mobile to avail themselves of the opportunity to gain a plenary indulgence by visiting their chapel, promoted devotion to their founders through the retreats for women, and made donations to various charities in honor of these saints.
With the other monasteries in this country, they promoted a musical CD inspired by Salesian spirituality and performed by Visitandines and friends; cooperated in the publication of a book on the history of the Visitation Order, featuring an account of each of the American houses; and participated in the work of the committee of the U.S. federations to plan a joint celebration for this country in 2011. Sr. Theresa, her family and Trappist friends prepared a special commemorative calendar for the jubilee year.
In monasteries around the world, the Sacred Heart Novena provided the occasion to share with their friends their gratitude for the graces of the past 400 years and their hopes for the future of the Visitation Order.
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The chapel from the sisters' choir. |
Sacred Heart Chapel during 85th novena. |
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Sister lights candles for prayer intentions.
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Sisters praying during the Mass. |
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View of chapel from inside the sisters' choir. |
The members of the congregation began to assemble at 4:00, filling the chapel to capacity nearly every evening. |
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The members of the Cecilian Chorale, with Walter Skinner at the organ, once again accompanied the singing.
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Fr. David Tokarz offered Mass and reflected on the meaning of the devotion to the Sacred Heart five of the nine days of the novena. |
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| Msgr. Michael Farmer provided special insights into the devotion on the evenings that he offered Mass. | The faithful participants included many familiar faces as well as some who were making the novena for the first time. |
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| Archbishop Rodi addressed the congregation on the Feast of the Sacred Heart, with special reference to their 400th anniversary. | Father Tokarz, Archbishop Thomas Rodi, and Msgr. Peter Cunningham concelebrants for the Mass of the Sacred Heart Novena. |
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| Mr. & Mrs. Robert Jackson visit sisters after the Mass. | Archbishop Rodi talks with Sr. Michele Marie, Mother Rose Marie and Mother Margaret Mary in the parlor. |
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