17 April 2025 · 2025-04 newsletter
“HOPE DOES NOT DISAPPOINT”
The theme for our first Reflection Day this year was very appropriate as we are all Pilgrims of Hope celebrating this Jubilee Year. There were 54 ladies who attended so it was a busy time with sharing our thoughts on how we see Hope in our daily lives.
Being Lent in this Jubilee year added a deeper dimension, as seen in our theme for the day. The Sacrament of Reconciliation was offered as well as Holy Mass in which we prayed for our Holy Father, these being the three conditions to be able to receive a plenary Indulgence at one of the Jubilee Sites – our Schoenstatt Shrine being one of the three designated Jubilee Sites in the Parramatta Diocese.
After lunch, we discussed ways we can seize Hope in our Lenten activities:
- Get rid of the lazy addiction to evil.
- Do something that hurts
- Don’t remain indifferent
- Pray: Make our hearts like yours.
- Take part in the sacraments
- Prayers
- Fasting
- Almsgiving
- Help the poor
- Evangelize
Before our day finished, Sister provided us with some quotes for Reflection. The quote which stood out to me was from Fr. Kentenich “Prayer is a heart-to heart dialog between God and his creature. A dialog of love.”
One point which remains with me is that nothing can separate us from God’s Love and prayer can open the door to Hope. Sometimes though we may question God when things go wrong in our lives, we still have the expectation that good things will come to us from God. Hope is a wonderful gift from God. We know and understand that with Hope we shall be with God one day.
Some other echoes from the day:
‘I really enjoyed Sr. Mary Louise’s women’s reflection day about Hope. It made me think about what ‘hope’ means to me in my everyday life, and the decisions that I make.
I realized that my entire existence is driven by hope. When I hit crossroads in my life, ‘hope’ keeps me motivated despite life’s disappointments.
My key takeaway from the reflection day is knowing that ‘hope’ is certainty in God’s will, and that whatever happens in my life I must never give up, I ‘must keep going’.
“I always enjoy walking into the family hall at Mt Schoenstatt and seeing so many faces I know from our Women’s League and also a few new women. The theme for the Reflection Day was “Hope Does not Disappoint”. We talked about Hope and the painting of George Watt’s artwork, Hope. We also spoke about Lent being a journey and that nothing can separate us from God’s Love.”
“As always, the atmosphere was uplifting and joyful and through the inputs we were given food for thought to help us in our spiritual striving.”
“For many years we have had mothers and daughters who come together and this year we had a family of three generations.”
“‘The Holy Father calls on Catholics not to be satisfied with having Hope, we must radiate Hope’. In the times of quiet prayer and in the inputs, Sr. Mary Louise inspired us in new ways to prepare our Hearts to strive through this Lenten season. The day also made us more aware of this being a special jubilee year.
Our Shrine is a gift of Hope from our Lady and as women we are called in a special way to be Christ bearers, bringing hope to our families and World.
I am looking forward to our May reflection day and I know many of the other women also enjoy these special days together. In this special Jubilee year, maybe we can reach out and bring someone new to the reflection day, to visit the Shrine and also make them aware of the gift offered during this Jubilee year.”
Thank You to Sister Mary-Louise for the lovely day and for sending us all home with our hearts full of Hope.
Anne, Michelle, Ann and Sheila.
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