‘No one can replace you in the world or in God’s heart’
CHARLOTTE — North Carolina faithful are invited to participate in a Lent mission led by three Sisters of Life from across the country: Sister Catherine Joy Marie from Denver, Sister Monica Faustina from Washington, D.C., and Sister Joseph Mary Nazareth from New York City.
The first three days of their visit will be at locations within the Diocese of Charlotte – Belmont Abbey College Feb. 15 for students, faculty, staff and their families, and St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in Charlotte Feb. 16-17, open to all adults – before they travel to Greenville Feb. 18.
“We will be speaking about the dignity and goodness of every human person, in different ways depending on the audience,” said Sister Catherine Joy Marie, who serves at the Sisters of Life evangelization center in Denver.
She noted that it can be hard to remember this truth when people are bombarded with so many other messages today.
“We want people to remember that every human person is good, valuable and irreplaceable and that God has good plans for our lives,” she said. “Often people think we must earn or prove our worth, but that’s not true. No one can replace you in the world or in God’s heart.”
Sister Joseph Mary Nazareth is part of the formation team at the Sisters of Life postulate house in the Bronx. She will talk with catechists, parents and other adults about how to help children and young people enter fully into the vocation the Lord has called them to.
Sister Catherine Joy MarieSister Monica Faustina is from North Carolina and attended the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She is currently living at St. Clare convent, the Sisters of Life Washington, D.C. location, a place of prayer and study.
“It’s beautiful for us to be together,” said Sister Catherine Joy Marie about the Lenten mission with Sisters Monica Faustina and Joseph Mary Nazareth. “We’re like a family who doesn’t always get to see each other. We look forward to sharing the good news of life and love in North Carolina.”
Founded by Cardinal John O'Connor in 1991, the Sisters of Life have convents across the United States and in Toronto. They offer prayer, retreats, crisis pregnancy help, hope and healing after abortion, college student outreach, and end-of-life ministry. Learn more at www.sistersoflife.org.
Sisters of Life Lent Mission: Feb. 15-18
Belmont Abbey College mission: 7 - 9 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 15. Belmont Abbey College, 100 Belmont-Mt. Holly Road, Belmont. Students, faculty, staff and their families are invited to join the Sisters of Life for a social and talk in the LaPointe Room, The Student Commons (HUB) second floor followed by prayer and music in the St. Joseph Adoration Chapel.
Parish Lenten Mission: 6 - 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 16 at St. Thomas Aquinas Parish, 1400 Suther Road, Charlotte. Join the Sisters of Life for a Lenten dinner and reflection.
Parish Catechist Retreat: 8:30 a.m. - 1 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 17, St. Thomas Aquinas Parish, 1400 Suther Road, Charlotte. Join the Sisters of Life for Mass, followed by refreshments in Aquinas Hall and a conference on “Sharing the Gift of Vocation” from 9:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Parish Lenten Mission: 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 18, St. Peter Parish, 2700 E 4th St., Greenville. Join the Sisters of Life for talks and music.
— Annie Ferguson
