CSVF Blog

Dear Co-Workers of Life,

We hope that this Lenten Season has been a deepening in your experience of the love and mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Sisters have been busy serving many new beautiful expectant mothers.

A Mother’s Day Request:

• Maternity Clothes

Mother’s Day is just around the corner and our closet for maternity clothes is becoming bare. We are making a special appeal for small, medium and large maternity clothes. Nice tops and some stretchy panel pants are always a real help – especially this time of year. Thank you!

• Pathmark Food Cards – other Chains would be of help also

In this present economic struggle many of the food pantries are closing. Food cards are a great way to aid us in feeding our pregnant women.

We always find that their hearts are so opened to learning more about the Lord and about the great dignity He has given to them as woman and as mothers. The following books would be a great gift and aid to our mission in serving the woman God is sending to us. The below links are from Half.com, but you can go anywhere to purchase them.

• Books

We always find that their hearts are so opened to learning more about the Lord and about the great dignity He has given to them as woman and as mothers. The following books would be a great gift and aid to our mission in serving the woman God is sending to us.

If You Really Love Me by Jason Evert – This is a great tool for us to teach the beauty and dignity of each person.

Real Love by Mary Beth Bonacci

He and I by Gabrielle Boisse

Ransomed from Darkness by Moira Noonen

• Cribs or bassinets

***Please also note our woman are also in need of new or lightly used cribs and/or bassinets.  This link is to Baby’s R US, but again you can go anywhere for them.

• Strollers and Double Strollers – there are several women having twins next month.

If you are interested in purchasing one of the above gifts for our woman for Easter please notify the Sisters. All gifts can be sent to the following address:

Sisters of life
Visitation Mission
320 East 66th Street
New York, NY 10065

We are so grateful to you for your generosity, prayers and support.

In Christ,
The Sisters of Life

4 Comments »

In the English-speaking world, today is often called “Spy Wednesday.”  An intriguing name, to say the least, it comes from the Gospel we read at today’s Mass, Matthew 26:14-25, which recounts Judas’s final betrayal of Jesus.

One of the Twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, “What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?” They paid him thirty pieces of silver, and from that time on he looked for an opportunity to hand him over.

On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the disciples approached Jesus and said, “Where do you want us to prepare for you to eat the Passover?” He said, “Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, ‘The teacher says, “My appointed time draws near; in your house I shall celebrate the Passover with my disciples.”‘” The disciples then did as Jesus had ordered, and prepared the Passover.

When it was evening, he reclined at table with the Twelve. And while they were eating, he said, “Amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” Deeply distressed at this, they began to say to him one after another, “Surely it is not I, Lord?” He said in reply, “He who has dipped his hand into the dish with me is the one who will betray me. The Son of Man indeed goes, as it is written of him, but owe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed. It would be better for that man if he had never been born.” Then Judas, his betrayer, said in reply, “Surely it is not I, Rabbi?” He answered, “You have said so.”

The Mass prayers and texts for Spy Wednesday bring to a close our final preparation for the Easter Triduum.  Tomorrow evening we begin our slow and deliberate celebration of the central events of our redemption.  On this final day of Lenten preparation, may the Holy Spirit purify our minds and hearts, so that we may celebrate the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus with a clean conscience and a renewed spirit.

Click here for more on Spy Wednesday.

Father,
in your plan of salvation
your Son Jesus Christ accepted the cross
and freed us from the power of the enemy.
May we come to share the glory of his resurrection,
for he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, forever and ever. Amen.

No Comments »

Our French-speaking friends may be interested to learn that the Dominican friars of the Province of France have been offering a Lenten retreat through the internet.  Though about to end, “Retraite dans la Ville” remains timely and accessible.  All of the meditations “preached” by the friars are archived and easy to retrieve.

Click here for “Retraite dans la Ville.”

No Comments »