Alleluia! Let us rejoice and be glad!



Located at the front of the Church of the
Immaculate Conception at Saint Mary-of-
the-Woods, the crucifix was sculpted by
Harry Breen of Champaign, Ill.

Once again we sing Alleluia! We feast, for the One who died lives! Beyond the spirit of this special day, is the reality that Life has overcome death. Nothing can take our joy from us … no pain, sorrow or any other affliction. This is our faith!

Christ has not only been raised; He lives among us. He resides in us. He fills Earth in all its parts. Today we share His life and love with those around us.

Throughout the Easter season, the next 50 days, let us spread joy and nurture hope in those who struggle to be joyful and hopeful.

As our intentional Lenten practices connected us more with others in need, so let us in this Easter season be a life-giving and hope-filled presence for all with whom we live, work and relate.

Christ lives! Alleluia! Alleluia!

The season for greater prayer, fasting and almsgiving

You might ask, what does Lent have in common with human trafficking? Quite a bit!

This is the season for greater prayer, fasting and almsgiving. Almsgiving, in the broadest sense, has to do with bettering the lives of others.

Macy's is currently being petitioned to sign on to the No
Dirty Gold Campaign.

Embracing this third traditional pillar of Lent signifies our care for those in need and is an expression of our gratitude for all God has given to us.

Works of charity and the promotion of justice are integral elements of the practice of almsgiving.

This third practice offers a wide range of possibilities for those who have made a commitment to ending human trafficking. Here is one possibility. One effort underway is to end the deadly effects of gold extraction processes which can pollute the air, water and soil, affecting the nervous and digestive systems when inhaled.

For example, in the last six months, more than 400 children under the age of 5 have died as a result of environmental contamination caused by gold extraction in Nigeria.

Learn more about the innocent victims of gold extraction processes by going to care2.com to sign petitions promoting an end to what is called “dirty gold” and encouraging the “Golden Rule” for Responsible Gold. Macy’s is currently being petitioned to sign on.

Pausing for prayer

The General Officers, the leadership team for the Sisters of Providence, met last week. Each day a different council member prepared and led the prayer. The day we reflected on the gift of Earth and everyone and everything that shares life on this planet I spoke of an appreciation instilled in me in my youth by my dad.

Particularly impressionable for me was his devotion to gardening. The garden was his church, in a sense, where he worshiped God as he tilled, planted, weeded and reaped the produce.

The new greenhouse at White Violet Center for Eco-Justice at
Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Ind., a ministry of the Sisters of Providence.

Our visit to the newly-constructed White Violet Center greenhouse on Thursday afternoon gave me pause for thought, again reflecting on Earth and the gift it is for me, for us.

How often I take for granted the Woods, many times passing up opportunities to intentionally be in this place, during the change of seasons, for example.

If prayer is communion with God, then being in God’s creation is a form of prayer. Reverencing all life is prayer. Living intentionally in order to preserve Earth is prayer.

Many are the opportunities to contemplate and pray daily!

Do you have similar thoughts? I’d love to hear them in the comment box below.

View a video of the construction of the new greenhouse.