Happy Eucharist (That's Not A Typo)

"I got life, I got love, 

I got faith and that's enough. 

We feel sorrow, we feel pain,

But there's sunshine after rain.

So I'm alright (you'll be fine, take it one day at a time)."

- "I'm Alright," Jake Miller

      While I haven't been blogging much at all (this is only the second time this month), I hope you can each take comfort in knowing that it's a direct result of my throwing myself completely and wholly into my student teaching. Yes, my students mean everything to me. I may not have been documenting my every reflection, but by far this semester has been one of the most spiritually uplifting. I have so much to reflect on and to be grateful for. And since we are in the spirit of Thanksgiving (and I have a few days off), I figured I'd share a bit with you.

      Last Sunday at my Parish, I was so blessed to lead the first of many monthly retreats. After having postponed the first one due to many reasons, we were able to finally get together and allow the Spirit to move. I can honestly say, I was so happy and thankful to God for allowing me to use my gifts to allow thirty plus people, moms, dads, grandparents, kids and teens to retreat at my home parish. Between being able to give a thirty minute keynote speech and then sing with my dearhearted friend, Sister Catherine, I was beaming with happiness from the goodness of God. The theme of the retreat? Gratitude.

     I spoke of how happiness is correlated with gratitude. The more thankful one is, the happier. I spoke of a study that proved this and then made our retreatants write down the name of the most influential person in their lives with a list of reasons why they are influential. I told them that "having gratitude but not expressing it is like wrapping a gift but not giving it," (Ward). While we didn't share these out loud, I asked, if given the chance, would they call that person on the phone and thank them, read them the list of reasons why? Many heads shook yes. I shared my own experience of doing this and wondering who I would call and thank. I listed my parents, my friends, my college math professor, my high english teacher. Then I thought alittle more out of the box and thought of calling Peru and Jamaica. Finally, I hit the nail on the head by saying I'd call God. 

     I spoke at length about what I'd say to God if I could catch a direct line to his ear. I spoke about being thankful for all the miracles in my life and especially my students (I love them all so much!). I gave various classroom examples of my students and how much they had changed my life. I spoke about how I thank God even for the hardships in my life. But I spoke about how when I wake up, the first thing I do is thank God for letting me live another day. I get dressed and ready for the day then head to Mass. Eucharist, in our church lingo, actually, literally means "Thanksgiving." Each day, I find myself thanking God for everything under the sun at Mass. It may be a tough day, but I'm still grateful. 

     I urged the retreatants to begin by expressing gratitude for every little thing that happens in their lives. I urged them to thank God for the miracles because once they begin doing that, not only will they be happier, but they will also be able to thank God for all the hardships in their life. For truly, despite hardship and pain, God is good, all the time. Expressing gratitude is not a habit, even though sometimes I thank myself for opening the door for others and for myself, but rather a way of life. One must truly express thanksgiving from the heart each and every time in order to be happy. When people ask me my secret to happiness, I can only say that it's because I am grateful. 

     On Tuesday, it was my last official day in front of the classroom. For the next week, I will resume my wall flower position in the back of the room and watch as my teacher once again regains her students. So, in the spirit of Thanksgiving, I showed them the video I will attach at the bottom of this blog. I told them that being grateful for what they have makes them happier and then I thanked them. Honestly, I'm surprised I didn't cry. On Friday, my last day, I will most likely sob hysterically when I have to leave my students. One of my favorite students hugged me on Tuesday saying it was her official hug goodbye. I hugged her in return and told her I said I still had a week. She said, "I know. But you're the best, Miss G." I smiled. I have been blessed to the nines with them, my dear cherubs, my angels. I love them and today, I am most grateful for them.

      I am so grateful for so much, for I have so much. And I know that from those to whom much is given, much is asked. Jesus, I'm ready to give you all that you ask of me. I know that perhaps my life holds much difficulty and challenge, but I know for sure that my life holds ahead much happiness. There is so much to be grateful for today and that includes the lovely family I will be spending my Thanksgiving with and my friends who will consistently snapchat me all day about their festivities. I am grateful for the heat in my house and the very fact that I will have a Thanksgiving dinner. I am grateful for my little Sisters and my big Sisters, in black, blue and white. I am thankful for all my gifts and I am thankful for the many hugs and heart to hearts I had yesterday with my IHM Sisters at school. I am grateful for the four dollars in my wallet that paid the toll home. I am thankful for the sunshine pouring in my window as I write this. But most importantly, I am grateful for my faith, for without it, I would have nothing. 

      Today, I am happy because I am grateful. I am thankful for all that God has given me and all that He will give me. I am beaming, smiling ear to ear with happiness because today is a great day. Because each day is a great day if I choose to be grateful! And today, every day, I plan to be! Happy Eucharist, everyone. And to all my Jewish friends, especially my boyfriend, Jesus, Happy Hanukkah! 

How Nice To Be Founded?!

"It was there, amid my Sisters in their blue habits, 

that I felt at home."

- Mother Theresa Maxis

     It's been almost a month since I have last blogged, but alas, that is no inclination that the Lord has not been moving in my heart and soul. Truly, these past few weeks have been some of the most blessed weeks I have ever experienced. I have been full time teaching (all five classes of Juniors and Freshmen) and it's been amazing. But at the end of the day, I am exhausted. Occasionally, I have thought about how easy it would be to blog if all I had to do was talk about my amazing days with my students. But alas, the time and the fatigue just have not allowed me to be able to blog. Trust me, it's been driving me crazy. However, today I found a free hour and so, here goes nothing:

     Today, November 10, is Founder's Day for the IHM Community. Long story short, it's a day they celebrate being founded by Father Gillet and Mother Theresa Maxis back in 1845. Of course, we cannot forget the always lovely St. Alphonsus and St. Teresa (my girl!). For me, it begins a month of celebration because soon after Founder's day, is Charter day (the day IU's Charter was passed so we could be school) and ending with Feast Day, December 8th! Founder's day is special, for without those beautiful people of God who founded the IHM's, first the Oblates of Providence, I would not be where I am today: an IHM educated young woman! 

     I spent my Founder's Day first by going to Mass at the Motherhouse, a place I can call a home away from home after spending every day this semester there. I'm the little princess of the portress and my big sisters love to tease me all day long. I take such simple joy in praying with Sisters. Their voices sound like angels and I simply cannot resist closing my eyes and letting the feeling of Heaven overcome me. Of course, those angels are the ones who hug me at the sign of peace and then congratulate me for not tripping over the kneeler again. Then I'm caught in a fit of giggles and cannot control my laughter as Sister simply puts her serious face back on. Really though? Yeah, I'm the little princess. 

     The next adventure for the day was running back to IU for our Memorial Mass so I could sing. In the fifteen minutes before Mass I went around to every single Sister I could find in Chapel so I could hug them and wish them a Happy Founder's Day. Some Sisters wondered how I knew so I simply answered, "how could I forget?" I love Sundays if only for the reason that I get to see "my girls" at Mass. I miss seeing them every morning for Mass, but I know this is a leg of the journey, I must complete. Of course, I think these Sunday reunions yield mutual feelings. 

     After Mass, I walked back over to the Motherhouse so I could join the lovely ladies of formation for a pilgrimage of sorts to the graves of all the IHM Sisters past. Of course, no pilgrimage is complete without first a stop to the good ol' Produce Junction for flowers and the ever famous WAWA for hot cocoa and/or pumpkin spice coffee. Before long we were well on our journey to St. Agnes cemetery to pray with a few Mother Generals and over 320 IHM Sisters. We visited the graves of two postulants who died before ever making vows and the very saintly Sister Candida. It was no surprise to me that in this cemetery all the Sisters are very neatly buried next to each other while the rest of cemetery seemed scattered in the style of old cemeteries. It was rather beautiful. 

     Next on the pilgrimage was the marker of the first IHM Motherhouse in West Chester. While now the grounds are used for an apartment complex (I joked about getting one there post graduation), the motherhouse was there from 1872 to 1966. It was there that I read out loud the beautiful words of Mother Theresa Maxis' homecoming. She spoke about how wonderful it was to see all the Sisters waiting for her at the door as she pulled in the drive. She reminisced about the feeling of home being with the Sisters, not in any specific place, but with her Sisters in blue. How appropriate, I thought, for IU is a home among beautiful ladies in blue for me, too. 

     Finally, we found ourselves at home at the graves of those Sisters buried in the Camilla Hall cemetery, a place I frequent often. I told the Sisters that in every cemetery of Sisters I visit, I find the Sister who died closest to the day I was born. For the IHM's it's Sister Mary Estella Rock. As we prayed for the other Mother Generals and the Sisters, I felt ultimate peace. Of course, when Sister Martina told us that there are spots in the cemetery left empty for the three living mother generals, I said, "may they remain that way for a very long time." I hadn't meant to say it outloud, but I did and the Sisters agreed with the sentiment. It was peaceful to walk where the saints sleep.

      The day was beautiful and even now as I reflect, nothing made it more perfect that being Sister Patris' partner in crime and steady arm. This dear Sister, someone I am so grateful to have in my life, stands a few inches smaller than I do and occasionally needs a steady arm. I'm kind of her fangirl so being able to be arm in arm with her all day was so perfect. For me, she's a saint. I was so blessed to hear so many of her stories while being arm in arm. Of course, snuggling together for warmth was also a plus! That woman is truly a gem, a diamond of the rarest form and I hope she knows how much I adore her.

      While the day was full of beautiful prayer and visitation, no day with my IHM Sisters could be complete without the entertainment Sister Mary Paparazzi and Sister Mary Hot Wok. I'm so blessed to share a pew with them both almost every day and being with them even on my off days are perfect. You know, I never quite laugh as hard as I do when we are all together. It's quite beautiful if I don't say so myself. There's nothing quite like spending a day with fun-loving people like those beautiful women of God. 

      Today was a day of peace and love. I have always loved walking with the saints sleep and praying with them. I love being able to touch these pieces of history and walk in the same footsteps as our sisters past. There is something eerily beautiful about knowing one is walking in the very same place as the saints in Heaven. The other day at work with Sister Cathy, I got to help change the display cases in the front foyer of Villa Maria. In those display cases are the rosaries of Father Gillet and Mother Theresa Maxis. Touching those beautifully light beads with my fingers, knowing that they, too, prayed with them, allowed me to experience an emotion like nothing before. How wonderfully strange to touch that which the saints touched. I told this story today to the sisters with whom I pilgrimaged and could feel the same powerful emotions. As we finished our journey, we could see the rays of the sun dance from the sky to which I said, "There are our IHM sisters dancing and having a party in Heaven on this great day." Yes, today was a day for the Saints. And I must agree, how nice it is to be founded at home amid my Sisters in blue habits?!