FAITH INTO ACTION JUNE, 2021 NOTRE DAME SISTERS 3501 State Street, Omaha, NE 68112 (402) 455.2994 | NotreDameSisters.org
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BELOW ARE UPDATES ON OUR WORK.
Consider the gifts God has given you Dear friends, Happy Pentecost, everyone. May the gifts of the Spirit swell and dwell more deeply within you as we carry our Jesus’ mission each day of our lives! The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit are with us always; we only need to tap into them. Wisdom, understanding, fortitude, counsel, knowledge, piety and awe of our God. (I like saying “awe” of our God rather than “fear” of God, because God doesn’t give us cause to fear!) God never stops loving us and gifting us. We all sometime reach a place where we feel, "I don’t have anything to give to another; I have no gifts to share; I am too quiet, ignorant, uncreative, no longer young…." Every single one of us has gifts, given by our loving God, for our good and to share with others. We are beloved of God! So to start living extraordinarily, let’s go! Let’s name our gifts. When is the last time you wrote them down to look at? Do it now, and be in awe with what you list, in awe of what God has given you:
Now with that list before you, consider how you have shared those gifts with others in this past, difficult year; in this past week; in the hours and minutes of this day... (Are you considering?) What happens inside you when you acknowledge and embrace the gifts and when you recall the good that you did for another using those gifts? What feelings do you have? (Do they erase the negative feelings you have about yourself? What happens to your spirit when you use your gifts for another?) The following was written by Sr. Melannie Svoboda, SND for the Reflection for Pentecost Sunday in the Give us This Day booklet: God comes to tell us to go. God whispers: “Go give her a hand.” God nags, “Go and say you’re sorry.” God shouts, “Go and do something about that!” God shakes up our normal life, all in an effort to get us to go and love…go and give…go and do that hard thing…go and listen…go and play…go and pray…go to a deeper level of trust in me…go because I am with you. Always.” As we have been through the last 18 months together, let’s also go together to make life extraordinary each day, always. God is with us and we are with each other, always. Happy Pentecost and Happy June, Sr. Margaret Hickey, ND Provincial President, Notre Dame Sisters
PRAY WITH US! For all those suffering the effects of tornadoes, fires, floods, and other natural disasters. For our brothers and sisters, experiencing the ravages of war in their lands. For leaders & lawmakers of all Nations that they work diligently for the common good of all. For continued efforts to overcome and heal effects of racism throughout the world.
NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER: Originally signed into law in 1952, National Day of Prayer is a day when people of all faiths are asked to pray for our nation. The Notre Dame Sisters invited friends to pray with us today for our nation. See the prayer videos and read the texts selected about gratitude, wisdom, forgiveness, healing, and love. See everything at notredamesisters.org/news
Guatemalan migrants in Omaha offered vaccinations May 14, 2021, Omaha, Neb. -- An effort is underway to get COVID-19 vaccinations into the arms of the people who are underserved in Omaha. The migrant community in town who may not have information in their local language, is critical to reach out to in order for all people to be safer, sooner. 112 people we vaccinated Sunday, May 23 at Guadalupe Hall at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church and 56 people were vaccinated at St. Francis of Assisi Church the week before. “Having more of our migrant community vaccinated would mean that our entire community is safe and healthy,” said Charlie Petro, Executive Director of Ixim. “It’s great for people with easy access to get a shot and go back out to restaurants and normal life, but that’s not everyone. Vaccinating everyone means that we can all get back out in a safe and healthy way.” Ixim: Spirit of Solidarity is an archdiocesan ministry cultivating relationships of friendship, faith, and solidarity between the Archdiocese of Omaha and the Diocese of Huehuetenango, Guatemala. In partnership with OneWorld Community Health Center, Ixim offered the COVID-19 Pfizer vaccination clinics in South Omaha to help get the shot into the arms of people who may otherwise have difficulty signing up for an appointment through a government or pharmacy online portal. “Why go out of our way to reach out to migrants about the vaccination? Because many people do not have the English-language skills or the access to technology in order to learn about vaccinations and make an appointment,” said Mary Kay Meagher, a nurse and Notre Dame Sister who has volunteered with Ixim since 2003. “Everyone is as worthy of this life-saving vaccine as anyone else is.”
We are thrilled to announce our first in-person event in more than a year! Enjoy a reunion at Notre Dame Housing (previously Notre Dame Academy) Saturday, September 11, at 3:30 p.m. with Mass at 5 p.m. We will honor the following classes and anniversaries: 1931 (90th), 1936 (85th), 1941 (80th), 1946 (75th), 1951 (70th), 1956 (65th), 1961 (60th), 1966 (55th), 1971 (50th),