Happy New Years!!

We decided to spend the first day of 2011 by going to mass at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. Today the Church celebrates the Solemnity of Mary the mother of God. We were especially blessed to have Theodore Cardinal McCarrick Archbishop, the Emeritus of Washington as the main celebrant & homilist. "U" has a special affinity for the Cardinal since he is the spiritual father of the religious community "U" is in. The Cardinal has made many trips up to visit the boys at the Minor Seminary

both "U" and the Cardinal looked very sporty in their hats

Also at the mass were the nuns from the Servants of the Lord and the Virgin of Matará. Wonderful sister that we have gotten to know through the girls oratory they run that Rose attends.

The sisters a great examples of womanhood for both Rose and GMAC

Our visit with Mallu Mom's cousin

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Really cool nuns

Some may think the term "Cool Nuns" seems like an oxymoron because when people think of nuns they they unfortunately think of this
The stereotypical scary old lady with a permanent scowl and lightning quick with the ruler.

Well let me introduce you to the Servants of the Lord and the Virgin of Matara

The sisters singing a song before mass

These ladies are young (or young at heart) vibrant, full of love for the Lord and seem to always be smiling!

One of the things the sisters do is run an weekly oratory for young girls. Oratory is like a day camp and Mystical Rose has been going for the past year. This past Saturday the sisters held a family day so we all went. Family Day is something we look forward to; with games, singing, food and fellowship it is always fun.

GMAC playing one of the games run by the nuns

The novitiate house is next to a farm

this is where we had mass

"U" was even able to serve at mass

Whats in a name?

For the past few months Mystical Rose has been attending a girls oratory held by the Servants of the Lord and the Virgin of Matara. This week we had the privilege to participate in a mass where 14 of the novices received their habits and new names. During the mass there were also these ceremonies

• The Perpetual Vows of Fr. Joseph LoJacono, IVE and seminarian Gerardus Hauwert, IVE
• The Investiture of cassocks of 12 novices of the Institute of the Incarnate Word
• The profession of First Vows by four Servants of the Lord and the Virgin of Matará
• The Admission to the Third Order of the Institute of the Incarnate Word for Adiela Cabrera

Cardinal McCarrick was the principal celebrant and two Bishops , to include one of our favorites, Bishop Holly concelebrated. The Vicar General of the IVE , the Provincial Superior of this province also concelebrated.

This was also the 20th Anniversary of the order coming to the US. There was a huge party afterward that we were invited to. At the party we were able to talk to many of the sisters and also met some of the impressive young men going to the new minor seminary started by the IVE.

The IVE is an amazing family of priests, nuns and lay people on fire with the Holy Spirit

Congratulations
Dear sister __ , to be concealed from the world and consecrated to God,
receive this new name by which we will call you...

Sr. Maria Blanca Azucena
Sr. Maria de Conforto
Sr. Mary Servant of the Cross
Sr. Maryja Wspomozichielka
Sr. Maria Mater Vitae
Sr. Maria Altar Purisimo
Sr. Maria Vera Luce
Sr. Maria Filotea
Sr. Maria Tonantzin
Sr. Marie Etoele de le Esperance
Sr. Maria Alma Redemptoris Mater
Sr. Marie Notre Dame de Victoire
Sr. Mary Our Lady of Divine Providence
Sr. Mary Lily of the Valley

Check out all of our photos in the post below

What's in a Name II

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A tale of two sisters

Here is a funny observation

Both Mallu Mom and I have sisters with the same first name.

But the similarities don't end there.

Both sisters

• work with young children in classrooms
  
• are very artistic
• have gotten into photography
• have turned their photography into side businesses
• Look and act younger than they are
• are very funny
• they are both very helpful
• are very loved by their Nieces and Nephews