by Diane Maguire, SHF

I was born into an Irish, Catholic family in San Francisco and took on the values of that “community” as I grew up.   Entering the Sisters of the Holy Family (SHF) at 18 years of age, I grew into that culture and have since grown by assignments and the experiences of the past 49 years in the Sisters of the Holy Family.

The most valued gifts that shaped my early life were the wonderful Mom and Dad I was blessed with at birth.  They laid quite a foundation during my childhood, a time filled with work, learning, play and prayer.  What I remember most about my growing up years was the happy times we spent playing as a family, doing everything from clam digging, beach time, boating, to time at our vacation cabin.  As an adult I think my life has been most shaped by the Sisters in community, and the people I have had the privilege of working with.  It is the low income families, the various cultures that have taught me so much, and the individuals I prayed with who have suffered neglect or abuse, and my friends that have shown me the great gifts these persons are to us all.

I believe that I was/am, gifted in this life and I have the obligation and privilege to share my creativity with others.  I certainly have had “the good life,” and thank my God for it.  Now I have the privilege and responsibility to share with others.

If I could tell only one story about my life, it would be:  I am only “going around” once and what a wonderful ride it has been.

Women and Spirit: Catholic Sisters in America

Ongoing Exhibition 10:00 am – 5:30 pm daily
S. Dillon Ripley Center, International Gallery

From the time they arrived in America, nearly three hundred years ago, Catholic sisters built schools, colleges, hospitals, orphanages, homeless shelters, and many other enduring social institutions. As nurses, teachers, and social workers, they entered professional ranks decades earlier than most other women. This exhibition tells their story with photographs and rare artifacts from more than four hundred American communities.

by Barbara Sheahan, SHF

I have always listened to the Lord for direction.  If I hit a brick wall, I back off and listen some more.  The right way for me comes and I proceed in the way I believe God is leading me.

My growing up was in mining camps, very rustic, without all the niceties of “City Life,” but plenty of love from incredibly hardworking parents, and not having everything I wanted and sometimes needed, made me self reliant and a survivor with God’s help.

In the core of my being, I believe what the Holy Family Sisters taught me as a little girl and throughout my life.  I also believe what my parents taught me about honesty and hard work, love of God and family – come what may.

At 78 plus years of life, I can honestly say it’s been a fantastic wonderful life.  I’ve had more experiences in my life than anyone I know.  Every experience is a story in itself.  Some have been heartbreaking, and some have been wonderful.  My adult life has revolved around my “Call to Holy Family.”

My 15 years’ absence was part of that call, and a very enriching time that taught me so much.  Thanks to our loving God, when the time was right He led me back to Community for much more learning, experiencing, growing, loving and the privilege of being able to share all I am and have and know with others.  I still continue to learn and grow.

This date is also venerated at the United Nations and is designated in many countries as a national holiday. It is a day when women are recognized for their achievements without regard to divisions, whether national, ethnic, linguistic, cultural, economic or political.

It is an occasion for looking back on past struggles and accomplishments, and more importantly, for looking ahead to the untapped potential and opportunities that await future generations of women.

The theme for 2010 is
“Equal rights, equal opportunities: Progress for all.”

The Following is from Women Watch, information at the end of the article:

Introduction

International Women’s Day is celebrated in many countries around the world. It is a day when women are recognized for their achievements without regard to divisions, whether national, ethnic, linguistic, cultural, economic or political. It is an occasion for looking back on past struggles and accomplishments, and more importantly, for looking ahead to the untapped potential and opportunities that await future generations of women.

In 1975, during International Women’s Year, the United Nations began celebrating International Women’s Day on 8 March. Two years later, in December 1977, the General Assembly adopted a resolution proclaiming a United Nations Day for Women’s Rights and International Peace to be observed on any day of the year by Member States, in accordance with their historical and national traditions. In adopting its resolution, the General Assembly recognized the role of women in peace efforts and development and urged an end to discrimination and an increase of support for women’s full and equal participation.

History

International Women’s Day first emerged from the activities of labour movements at the turn of the twentieth century in North America and across Europe.

1909: The first National Woman’s Day was observed in the United States on 28 February. The Socialist Party of America designated this day in honour of the 1908 garment workers’ strike in New York, where women protested against working conditions.

1910: The Socialist International, meeting in Copenhagen, established a Women’s Day, international in character, to honour the movement for women’s rights and to build support for achieving universal suffrage for women. The proposal was greeted with unanimous approval by the conference of over 100 women from 17 countries, which included the first three women elected to the Finnish Parliament. No fixed date was selected for the observance.

1911: As a result of the Copenhagen initiative, International Women’s Day was marked for the first time (19 March) in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland, where more than one million women and men attended rallies. In addition to the right to vote and to hold public office, they demanded women’s rights to work, to vocational training and to an end to discrimination on the job.

1913-1914: International Women’s Day also became a mechanism for protesting World War I. As part of the peace movement, Russian women observed their first International Women’s Day on the last Sunday in February. Elsewhere in Europe, on or around 8 March of the following year, women held rallies either to protest the war or to express solidarity with other activists.

1917: Against the backdrop of the war, women in Russia again chose to protest and strike for ‘Bread and Peace’ on the last Sunday in February (which fell on 8 March on the Gregorian calendar). Four days later, the Czar abdicated and the provisional Government granted women the right to vote.

Since those early years, International Women’s Day has assumed a new global dimension for women in developed and developing countries alike. The growing international women’s movement, which has been strengthened by four global United Nations women’s conferences, has helped make the commemoration a rallying point to build support for women’s rights and participation in the political and economic arenas. Increasingly, International Women’s Day is a time to reflect on progress made, to call for change and to celebrate acts of courage and determination by ordinary women who have played an extraordinary role in the history of their countries and communities.

The United Nations and Gender Equality

The Charter of the United Nations, signed in 1945, was the first international agreement to affirm the principle of equality between women and men. Since then, the UN has helped create a historic legacy of internationally-agreed strategies, standards, programmes and goals to advance the status of women worldwide.

Over the years, the UN and its technical agencies have promoted the participation of women as equal partners with men in achieving sustainable development, peace, security, and full respect for human rights. The empowerment of women continues to be a central feature of the UN’s efforts to address social, economic and political challenges across the globe.

WomenWatch is the central gateway to information and resources on the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women throughout the United Nations system, including the United Nations Secretariat, regional commissions, funds, programmes, specialized agencies and academic and research institutions.

by M. Stephen Smario, SHF

I have been with the Sisters of the Holy Family since I was five years old.  I tagged along with my brother and cousins to catechism class every week.  One day a Christmas Party was planned and my mother said that I couldn’t go because all the children would be getting presents and that I would cry if I didn’t get one.  I promised that I would not cry and that I would be good so mom gave in to me and let me go.  I remember Sister M. Siena Arata came to me and gave me my first Raggedy Ann doll.  I was so happy and I never forgot Sister Siena.  Sister M. Edward Schwab and Sister M. Siena were the first Sisters that I met at Epiphany Parish in San Francisco.  I would never have met these wonderful Sisters had they not done home visiting.

As I grew older, I prepared to receive my First Holy Communion and heard the Sisters tell stories of Jesus and how much he loved me and how much he suffered for me and for all people.  This so impressed me that I wanted to thank Him.  It was on the occasion of my First Communion Day, when I was asked what I would like to do when I grew up, my response was that I would be a Sister.  Mom held this carefully in her heart.

Six months after my First Communion we moved to St. Michael Parish where I met many Sisters including Sister M. Lucilla Brett and Sister M. Lucy Kelly, who have touched me deeply.  As a teenager, I spent much of my time with the Sisters helping them with the children and at vacation school.  I used to see the Sisters in the neighborhood ringing doorbells and talking to parents and children.  I would get excited when they came to my home and my family felt honored.  I admired their gentleness, patience, tenderness and loving caring spirit.

As the years went by I became not only close to the Sisters but I had built a relationship with God.  My early desire to give myself to God in thanksgiving for His great love grew until I took the step at age 20 and entered the Community of the Sisters of the Holy Family.

by Marie Ann Brent, SHF

On January 5, 1953, I walked up the steps of “890” to begin a journey that, as of this date, has lasted 57 years.  Joined by four other young women, I began the Formation process leading to First Vows in 1954 in the Chapel in Mission San Jose.  I entered Holy Family with a desire to go out to our more rural Missions and my wish was granted when I was sent to San Antonio, Texas in 1960.  In spite of my struggle with the Spanish language, I spent two of the happiest years working in this Mission.  Working with the people of Good Counsel Parish and Missions prepared me to continue ministering back in California throughout the State.  In 1966 I left Parish Ministry to work for the Archdiocese of San Francisco in the Office of Religious Education.

Throughout my different experiences of ministry, one focus became evident to me: classes in Ecclesiology with Father Richard McBrien at USF helped to form a desire in me to bring about the Kingdom of God on earth, to build up the Body of Christ.  In 1970 I was asked to respond to the call to do summer ministry in Juneau, Alaska.  That six week experience has grown into a 39 year commitment to the people of Alaska, especially to those living in the most isolated villages and logging camps, and to the indigenous people of Alaska.  Becoming an Emergency Medical Technician III in 1979 provided me with one more wonderful tool with which to reach out to those who have slipped through the “cracks” of society.  Now, as the Parish Director at St. Francis Xavier parish in Valdez, Alaska, I am still committed not only to continue the mission to seek out and minister to those in need, but to hopefully instill in my people the desire to bring about God’s Kingdom on earth.

American Memory Timeline: Reformers and Crusaders (1850-1880) (Presentation) This timeline section shows how individual people have made a difference in American society. Women’s rights is a major topic in this timeline section.

American Memory Timeline: Traveling on the Overland Trails (1843-1860)(Presentation) This timeline section features stories of pioneers heading West. This timeline section features several women’s diaries.

American Memory Timeline: Women in the Union Armies (Presentation) View The Ballot and the Bullet , compiled by Carrie Chapman Catt.

American Memory Timeline: Women’s Suffrage in the Progressive Era (Presentation) This timeline section features early 20th century women’s rights documents.

Blondie Gets Married (Exhibition) Enjoy this selection of Chic Young’s original Blondiecomic strips.

Dorothea Lange’s “Migrant Mother” Photographs in the Farm Security Administration Collection: An Overview (Prints and Photographs) Information about and links to 1936 Dorothea Lange photographs documenting migrant farm worker life in Nipomo, California.

Source:  Multimedia resources are from the Library of Congress and  support instruction about women’s history. These resources include expert presentations, exhibitions, bibliographies, Webcasts, and other online materials.

Women Taking the Lead to Save our Planet

In 2009, the National Women’s History Project honors women who have taken the lead in the environmental or “green” movement. Rachel Carson, the founder of the contemporary environmental movement, serves as the iconic model of the theme, which recognizes scientists, engineers, business leaders, writers, filmmakers, conservationists, teachers, community organizers, religious or workplace leaders, or others whose lives show exceptional vision and leadership to save the planet.

This year it is: Writing Women Back into History!

San Francisco in the later 1800’s was composed of individuals and families coming out of various population moving forces: the gold rush, the silver rush, the building of the transcontinental railroad and upheavals of many kinds in the countries of Europe.  Some came for adventure, some for wages, some for peace, some for room to expand, but all came with a wealth of customs, skills, ideas, inventions and (a nice condition that still exists in San Francisco) books full of national recipes.  One of the most famous districts in the City was and is North Beach, with its lively Italian population.

The Hispanic and Italian people of North Beach were served by the Church from the parish of Our Lady of Guadalupe.  The newly formed group of the Sisters of the Holy Family had been conducting catechism, sewing and cooking classes, as well as home visiting in the area since 1881.  Their day care center – St. Francis Day Home – had been operating there from 1880 onward.

Father Franchi, the assistant at Our Lady of Guadalupe, convinced Archbishop Joseph Alemany that a parish ought to be opened up for the very large and needy Italian immigrants settling in North Beach.  The parish of Sts. Peter and Paul was therefore established in 1884.  The Sisters served along side the diocesan priests until 1897 when the Salesian Fathers arrived and they remained to attend to the religious education of all the children.

They operated summer schools which included religious classes, arts and crafts and involved the children for most of the mornings and afternoons rather than being a simple catechetical hour.  They assisted in preparing and costuming the children for the famous Columbus Day parades each October, and for musical and dramatic entertainments for families and for funds. The  Salesian Sisters arrived in 1950.  When the Salesians opened their school, Holy Family continued the catechetical instruction of the large group of public school children.

They continued to home visit and to offer the other ministries that were appropriate to the parish.   The Day Home at 1441 Powell Street remained a refuge for the children of the working poor, adding more and more Chinese children to its rosters as Italian families moved out of the area.

The very first Holy Family vocation to come from North Beach was Miss Linda Joanna Musante, who entered the community on December 8, 1918.  Sister was a trained public school teacher and excelled in catechetical work, but it was at the Day Home where she truly shone in her work with the pre-school and Kindergarten children.

In 1906 during the aftermath of the great earthquake and fire, the Sisters continued their Day Home, catechetical and sewing school work in tents erected in Washington Square, right across the street from Saints Peter and Paul’s church.  The Sisters and the children offered practical service to their neighbors who had lost everything in the April cataclysm.  The sewing schools prepared clothing for refugees of the disaster, the children prepared entertainments for the tent dwelling families of the area and helped the Sisters to put on Christmas parties at the Washington Square camp.

St. Francis Day Home, opened in 1880, burned out in 1906, and reopened in 1907, the children being cared for in the Washington Square tents during the interval.  The Day Home was phased out in 1976 because its clientele, while charming and delightful, were no longer poor.

The area of North Beach is still a lively and colorful place with a strong heritage of Italian influence and many people of Italian descent still residing and working there.  The Sisters of the Holy Family have many fond memories of their days at St. Peter and Paul’s parish and St. Francis Day Home.  They are grateful for the more than 30 Sisters of Italian descent who have contributed so generously to the works of the Community, and those associates, friends and former sisters whose Italian fire has cast them so enthusiastically into work for the Kingdom of God.

Viva Italia !

A Celebration of Mary Ruthsdotter’ s life will begin at 3:00 on Saturday, March 6, 2010 at the Finley Center 2060 West College, Santa Rosa, CA. The Finley Center is on the corner of West College and Stony Point.

The event will begin with a program of speakers (including Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey), slides and videos, some music and a sign-along or two (Mary loved to sing really loud!) Then we will adjourn to Party! Just what Mary would have wanted.

For more information, please email MartyR@sonic.net.

Evite web site has been set up to track people that can attend The Celebration of Mary’s life. Please go to this link below and indicate whether you will be coming on March 6. PLEASE also forward this link to anyone you think might like to come. http://bit.ly/dpOC5u

Our friend and The National Women’s History Project co-founder, Mary Ruthsdotter, passed away on January 8th. Mary was the ultimate women’s history convert. The work she did to ensure that women’s history would be recognized, honored, and celebrated is a great gift to all of us.

Mary Ruthsdotter was born on October 14, 1944, in Fairfield, Iowa, Iowa. Her family was “strong Midwest stock,” and Mary followed in the footsteps of her mother Ruth and grandmother Esther. Both women were smart and independent, and Mary was no different.

Mary’s father was a pilot in the U.S. Marine Corps, and the family moved to many new places. She has lived in Arizona, California, Florida, North Carolina, Texas, Virginia, and overseas in Taiwan.

Mary attended UCLA in the early 1970s and threw herself into those exciting times at the beginning of the feminist movement. Mary was determined to raise her daughter Alice to be brave and bold. Mary and husband Dave Crawford traveled with four-year-old Alice through South America for several months. She also helped Alice be fearless about math, unlike her own experience in school, when girls were “not supposed to” be good in math.

So Mary was a feminist and activist from early on. But it was when she moved to Sonoma County, California, California, in 1977 that she learned about women’s history. She went to a slideshow presented by Molly MacGregor, Bette Morgan, and Paula Hammett. As Mary later said,

“Seeing all those pictures of so many women involved in such momentous events was an awakening. Women had a long proud history which had been invisible in my schooling. Virtually all the accomplishments and contributions of people like me – women, half the world’s population! — had been blatantly ignored!”

Mary became passionate about bringing women’s history into public consciousness. She was a volunteer embroiderer for Judy Chicago’s art installation, “The Dinner Party.” And along with MacGregor, Morgan, Hammett, and Maria Cuevas, she co-founded the National Women’s History Project (NWHP) in 1980. Her enthusiastic optimism, good humor, ever-expanding knowledge, and dedicated work added immensely to bringing women’s history to wide attention.

As Projects Director, Mary gained funding for materials for students, teachers, librarians, parents, workplace organizers, and the media. She produced curriculum units, organizing guides, teacher training sessions, and videos on U.S. women’s history. She wrote thousands of press releases to promote women’s history through radio, television, magazines, and newspapers throughout the nation When the Women’s History Network was created in 1983, Mary linked historians, librarians, performers, and community organizers throughout the country. She produced the quarterly “Network News,” packed with facts, practical ideas, and program strategies. These eight-page newsletters documented the exciting expansion of women’s history in the late 20th century.

Largely because of Mary’s efforts, the NWHP became the national clearinghouse for women’s history, both in print and on the internet. Mary built a library of over 6,000 books about women in U.S. history, and filled cabinets with articles and photographs. She and her husband Dave created two award-winning websites. Mary was an expert at finding and delivering the information people wanted!

We are grateful that among Mary Ruthsdotter’s legacies are the women’s history movement she helped create and the organization she co-founded.

We extend our heart-felt condolences to Dave Crawford, Mary’s husband of 46 years, and to her mother Ruth Moyer, to her daughter Alice and son-in-law Geoff, and grandsons Marcus and Ian, as well as to the rest of her family, and to her extraordinary network of friends.
Her daughter, Alice, described Mary best when she wrote ”my dear mother was an amazing gal, kick-ass activist, friend, maker of fun, spreader of wisdom – a truly remarkable rare bird indeed.”

A memorial service and celebration of her life is being planned for a future date.

By Popular Demand:
“Votes for Women” Suffrage Pictures, 1850-1920

Dorothea Lange’s “Migrant Mother” Photographs in the Farm Security Administration Collection: An Overview

Pictorial Americana: Women’s Rights – Selected Images

Photographs of Women During the Civil War – Selected Images

Rosie Pictures: American Women Workers During World War II – Selected Images

First Ladies of the United States – Selected Images

Portraits of the Presidents and First Ladies

Amelia Earhart: An Overview of Prints & Photographs Division Holdings

Esther Bubley’s Photographs

Carol M. Highsmith Archive

Portraits by Carl Van Vechten: Dancers

Source: http://www.nwhp.org/whm_2010_copymaster.pdf

Click More for the answers!

ANSWERS:

1. President Carter
2. 1980
3. March 8th is International Women’s Day
4. 1987
5. The President issues a National Women’s History Month Proclamation every March.

What will you do to celebrate National Women’s History Month?

Keep an eye out for special articles all month on this blog!

4: (Optional memorial of Casimir.)

7: Psalter III, Lent Week 3. (Memorial of Perpetua and Felicity, martyrs.)

8: (Optional memorial of John of God, religious.)

9: (Optional memorial of Frances of Rome, religious.)

14: Psalter IV, Lent Week 4.

17: (Optional memorial of Patrick, bishop.)

18: (Optional memorial of Cyril of Jerusalem, bishop and doctor.) Vigil of the Solemnity of Joseph, husband of Mary.

19: Solemnity of Joseph, husband of Mary.

21: Psalter I, Lent Week 5.

23: (Optional memorial of Turibius de Mongrovejo, bishop.)

24: Vigil of the Solemnity of Annunciation.

25: Solemnity of Annunciation.

28: Psalter II, Holy Week. Palm Sunday.

In all of the times that I have heard this reading, I never once before registered the word “exodus” as the subject of the conversation between Jesus, Moses and Elijah. Just as every year I hear something new in the Epiphany readings, I hear something new every time I hear any of scripture proclaimed, even if I just hear it from the new perspective of my life one year later than the last time I heard it. The Exodus was the defining moment for God’s people in the Hebrew Scriptures; it was what formed them into “a people” from a disorganized and motley group of slaves in Egypt. The song “Change Our Hearts” has the line in it, “We are the people your call set apart.” God’s chosen people were set apart by the Exodus, their call to escape from slavery in Egypt. We are set apart, too, by a call: a call to escape from slavery to sin and to move into the freedom of the children of God. Jesus, our leader in this Exodus, bears our sins in a mystical way and offers forgiveness so that we might start anew.

How does Jesus’ sacrifice free you to escape from sin and live as a child of God?

Hamentashen

Purim is a two day event beginning at sundown on the fourteenth day of Adar, the twelve month of the Jewish calendar.

Every race and religion has their solemn and their festive holidays. Purim is the most festive of the Jewish Holidays. Children dress in costumes and people give gifts. Usually solemn synagogues are turned into festive arenas. Children shake noise makers called “Graggers”.

The festive holiday centers around Queen Esther, King Ahasuerus (or Achashverosh), Mordecahi and Haman. The event took place in the Persian Empire in the fifth century, B.C. It is a celebration of a major victory against oppression of the Jews at that time.

In the third year of his reign, the King of Persia, Ahashverosh (also known as Ahasuerus and Ahashuerus) decided to have a feast. It was on the seventh day of these festivities that the King summoned his queen, Vashti, to appear before him and demonstrate her beauty for the King’s officials. Vashti refused to appear. (According to the Talmud, G-d afflicted her with leprosy to cause her downfall and Esther’s rise.) Incensed, the King asked his officers for a suitable punishment. One advisor, Memuchan (some think he was was actually Haman), argued that Vashti should be killed for her disobedience. The King took his advice and Vashti was killed.

As time passed the King desired a new queen. To find a suitable wife, a contest was initiated among all the eligible girls in the kingdom. One of those was Esther, a Jewish girl. Esther had been raised by her uncle Mordechai after her parents’ death. Mordechai instructed Esther not to divulge her Jewishness when she went to meet the king. Each day Mordechai walked by the court and inquired as to her well being. Esther impressed all who met her, including the King, and she was elevated to queen.

We are also commanded to eat, drink and be merry. According to the Talmud, a person is required to drink until he cannot tell the difference between “cursed be Haman” and “blessed be Mordecai,” though opinions differ as to exactly how drunk that is. A person certainly should not become so drunk that he might violate other commandments or get seriously ill. In addition, recovering alcoholics or others who might suffer serious harm from alcohol are exempt from this obligation.

In addition, we are commanded to send out gifts of food or drink, and to make gifts to charity. The sending of gifts of food and drink is referred to as shalach manos (lit. sending out portions). Among Ashkenazic Jews, a common treat at this time of year is hamentaschen (lit. Haman’s pockets). These triangular fruit-filled cookies are supposed to represent Haman’s three-cornered hat. My recipe is included below.

It is customary to hold carnival-like celebrations on Purim, to perform plays and parodies, and to hold beauty contests. I have heard that the usual prohibitions against cross-dressing are lifted during this holiday, but I am not certain about that. Americans sometimes refer to Purim as the Jewish Mardi Gras.

Purim is not subject to the sabbath-like restrictions on work that some other holidays are; however, some sources indicate that we should not go about our ordinary business on Purim out of respect for the holiday.

Recipe for Hamentaschen

• 2/3 cup butter or margarine
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 egg
• 1/4 cup orange juice (the smooth kind, not the pulpy)
• 1 cup white flour
• 1 cup wheat flour (DO NOT substitute white flour! The wheat flour is necessary to achieve the right texture!)
• 2 tsp. baking powder
• 1 tsp. cinnamon
• Various preserves, fruit butters and/or pie fillings.

Blend butter and sugar thoroughly. Add the egg and blend thoroughly. Add OJ and blend thoroughly. Add flour, 1/2 cup at a time, alternating white and wheat, blending thoroughly between each. Add the baking powder and cinnamon with the last half cup of flour. Refrigerate batter overnight or at least a few hours. Roll as thin as you can without getting holes in the batter (roll it between two sheets of wax paper lightly dusted with flour for best results). Cut out 3 or 4 inch circles.

Put a dollop of filling in the middle of each circle. Fold up the sides to make a triangle, folding the last corner under the starting point, so that each side has corner that folds over and a corner that folds under (see picture at right). Folding in this “pinwheel” style will reduce the likelihood that the last side will fall open while cooking, spilling out the filling. It also tends to make a better triangle shape.

Bake at 350 degrees for about 15-20 minutes, until golden brown but before the filling boils over!

Traditional fillings are poppy seed and prune, but apricot is my favorite. Apple butter, pineapple preserves, and cherry pie filling all work quite well. I usually use Pathmark grocery store brand fruit preserves, and of course the traditional Simon Fischer brand prune lekvar. I have also made some with Nutella (chocolate-hazelnut spread); I find it a bit dry that way, but some people like it.

The number of cookies this recipe makes depends on the size of your cutting tool and the thickness you roll. I use a 4-1/4 inch cutting tool and roll to a medium thickness, and I get 20-24 cookies out of this recipe.

“MARCH is National Women’s History Month

The overarching theme for March 2010 is Writing Women Back into History…The history of women often seems to be written with invisible ink. Even when recognized in their own times, women are often not included in the history books.

National Women’s History Month provides an excellent venue to recognize and celebrate women’s historic achievements as well as an opportunity to honor women within our families and communities. What will you do to celebrate National Women’s History Month?”

National Women’s History Project

During Women’s History Month, we want to celebrate and honor the women in our own community. All of you, Sisters and Associates, are invited to write an autobiographical sketch (Please, no invisible ink!) and send it to Trish Carney by February 26^th. We will feature them on our website and possibly put them all into a book!

I know many of you will question, “Me? Write about me?” And, we answer, “Yes, YOU!”  God has acted in your life in unique and wondrous ways and all of us want to hear your story. If you’re not sure how to start, perhaps the following will help:

• Begin by taking a look at your life.
• Ask yourself these basic questions to help find the direction of your story. Pull out a piece of paper and answer these questions:
  • How did I get to where I am now?
  • What experiences in my life have shaped me?
  • What do I believe from the core of my being?  And why?
  • If I could tell only one story about my life, what would it be?

Adapted from WOW womenonwriting.com

Jesus challenges us, “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before all, that they may know your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” Matt. 5, 14-16.

Let your light shine before us so we may honor you and together praise God for the remarkable women who are Holy Family.

George Washington, perhaps more than any other Founder, saw the hand of God everywhere: early on in his life, in the French and Indian War, in the American Revolution, and in the establishment of the American Government under the US Constitution. And, judging by the volume of quotes he made on this subject, George Washington was not afraid to make his thoughts and feelings known.

It never fails. Write a column in defense of the religious foundations of the United States (my recent article “Paine’s Prophetic Dream”) and out of the woodwork come all manner of denunciations.

Geroge Washington,

One letter, typical of many others, told a whopper of a fib regarding George Washington. The writer sent me a quote from the Father of Our Country that was published online at an “Inspirational Quote Site” (I found the site). The publisher failed to reveal the source — he had good cause — nevertheless, he sent it out to his subscribers as the “inspirational quote of the day” and directed its recipients to circulate the quote far and wide across the Internet.

I suppose nonbelievers have no problem engaging in the same kind of missionary labors they find so appalling in Christians — And they do a good job — Their efforts reached right into this writer’s home, in mass!

According to this unidentified source, George Washington once said: “The government of the United States is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion.”

The problem is, Washington never said it; and not only are these not Washington’s words, but never was there a statement more out of character for a man than these ascribed to Washington. George Washington, perhaps more than any other Founder, saw the hand of God everywhere: early on in his life, in the French and Indian War, in the American Revolution, and in the establishment of the American Government under the US Constitution. And, judging by the volume of quotes he made on this subject, George Washington was not afraid to make his feelings known.

From Washington’s “Farewell Address,” we read:

“Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, Religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of Patriotism, who should labour to subvert these great Pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of Men & citizens. The mere Politician, equally with the pious man ought to respect & to cherish them. A volume could not trace all their connections with private & public felicity. Let it simply be asked where is the security for property, for reputation, for life, if the sense of religious obligation desert the Oaths, which are the instruments of investigation in Courts of Justice? And let us with caution indulge the supposition, that morality can be maintained without religion. Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education on minds of peculiar structure — reason & experience both forbid us to expect that National morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle.’Tis substantially true, that virtue or morality is a necessary spring of popular government. The rule indeed extends with more or less force to every species of Free Government. Who that is a sincere friend to it, can look with indifference upon attempts to shake the foundation of the fabric. “Promote then as an object of primary importance, Institutions for the general diffusion of knowledge. In proportion as the structure of a government gives force to public opinion, it is essential that public opinion should be enlightened.” ¹

This is the real George Washington. Religion, said he, is a critical factor, both in the establishment and perpetuation of our laws. The connections between private and public felicity, and morality and religion are numberless. Religion is a necessary spring from which popular government sprang; it is the foundation of the fabric.

Thus, government — in Washington’s view — should not stand neutral as regards religion, nor embrace a secular approach (as did the French; his comment was directed against the French), nor a communist approach (which would abolish religion in private affairs as well); no, rather, he felt a proper understanding of the nature of self-government requires that government ought to “promote,” religious and moral principle as “an object of primary importance,” especially in institutions of learning, that public opinion in future generations might continue to be enlightened.

Yes, “the Enlightenment” that Washington was firmly attached to was not the European secularist model — And note this: promoting religion was not about force, not about creating a national church, but about protecting free religious expression in the schools for the sake of securing an enlightened electorate. Without this security, free government would fall under the weight of its own folly.

This was typical Washington.

Besides, the magnificent Farewell Address, at every turn, Washington fearlessly spoke his mind about God’s hand in securing our liberties and the need to humble ourselves before him.

In a letter dated, September 28, 1789, he wrote:

“The man must be bad indeed who can look upon the events of the American Revolution without feeling the warmest gratitude towards the great Author of the Universe whose divine interposition was so frequently manifested in our behalf. And it is my earnest prayer that we may so conduct ourselves as to merit a continuance of those blessings with which we have hitherto been favored.” ²

Again he wrote:

“The hand of Providence has been so conspicuous in all this, that he must be worse than an infidel that lacks faith, and more than wicked, that has not gratitude enough to acknowledge his obligations.” ³

That God’s protecting hand was on the side of the American soldier, was no doubt in part, because their leader was ever encouraging his soldiers to act like Christians.

In a general order dated, July 9, 1776, General Washington writes:

“The blessing and protection of Heaven are at all times necessary but especially so in times of public distress and danger — The General hopes and trusts, that every officer and man, will endeavour so to live, and act, as becomes a Christian Soldier defending the dearest Rights and Liberties of his country.”

To help encourage such faith and fidelity to Christianity among the troops, General Washington procured Chaplains “of good character and exemplary lives” over every regiment.

It was in the same order that he referred to “his Country” as being “under God.” ⁴

On a number of occasions, Washington requested that the troops refrain from gambling and profanity. His reasons for these requests are noteworthy:

On, February 26, 1776, he writes:

“All Officers, non-commissioned Officers and Soldiers are positively forbidden playing at Cards, and other Games of Chance. At this time of public distress, men may find enough to do in the service of their God, and their Country, without abandoning themselves to vice and immorality.” ⁵

And again on August 03, 1776 we read:

“The General is sorry to be informed that the foolish and wicked practice of profane cursing and swearing, a vice heretofore little known in an American army, is growing into fashion. He hopes the officers will, by example as well as influence, endeavor to check it, and that both they and the men will reflect that we can have little hope of the blessings of Heaven on our arms if we insult it by our impiety and folly; added to this, it is a vice so mean and low, without any temptation, that every man of sense, and character, detests and despises it.” ⁶

Washington understood that men must meet God half way; that prayer was not enough, that actions proved faith, that righteousness exalts a nation.

After the war was over and Independence won, Washington reflected on June 11, 1783, in a letter to John Hancock that America seemed “peculiarly designated by Providence” for “a display of human greatness and success” and “a fairer opportunity for political happiness than any other nation has ever been favored with.”

He then listed the blessings of Heaven that combined in a manner never seen since the world was:

“The Foundation of our Empire was not laid in the gloomy age of Ignorance and Superstition, but at an Epocha when the rights of Mankind were better understood and more clearly defined, than at any former period, the researches of the human mind after social happiness have been carried to a great extent, the Treasures of knowledge, acquired by the labours of Philosophers, Sages, and Legislators, through a long succession [of] years, are laid open for our use, and their collected wisdom may be happily applied in the Establishment of our Forms of Government, the free cultivation of Letters, the unbounded extension of Commerce, the progressive refinement of Manners, the growing liberality of sentiment, and above all, the pure and benign light of Revelation, have had a meliorating influence on Mankind and increased the blessings of Society; At this auspicious period, the United States came into existence as a Nation, and if their Citizens should not be completely Free and Happy, the fa[u]lt will be entirely their own.” [my emphasis]

There are many things which can be said about George Washington. To claim that he saw no connection between the establishment of our free government and the Christian religion is not one of them. These few examples, among so many others, establish the point.

Endnotes

1. Washington, George. “Farewell Address.”
2. Fitzpatrick, John C., editor. “The Writings of George Washington from the
   Original Manuscript Sources, 1745-1799,” New York, Sept. 28, 1789.
3. Fitzpatrick, ed., Writings of George Washington, 12:343.
4. Fitzpatrick, “The Writing of George Washington from the Original Manuscript
   Sources, 1745-1799,” Headquarters, July 9, 1776.
5. Ibid. Headquarters, Cambridge, February 26, 1776.
6. Washington’s Order on Profanity 3 August 1776.
7. The Papers of George Washington, Washington to John Hancock, 11 June
   1783.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Steve Farrell, “God and Washington.” The Washington Dispatch, 7 July, 2003.

THE AUTHOR

Steve Farrell writes for Washington Dispatch and is the author of Dark Rose, an inspirational novel critics are calling “a modern classic.”

Well, of course Jesus was hungry after forty days without food. So of course, the devil’s first temptation is with food. But is it food, really, to turn stones into bread? Or is the temptation to use his power to meet his own needs rather than follow the plan of the Father? Jesus is wise to this approach and doesn’t fall. So if Jesus’ goal is more cosmic than just filling his belly, the devil has another idea: power and glory! And all Jesus has to do is worship the devil — instead of God. Once again, Jesus is wise to his tricks and doesn’t fall. Okay, then, so how about something flashy that will get the attention of the people so they will listen to Jesus? But Jesus is wise to this too: the mission isn’t about Jesus, it’s about the Kingdom of God, and Jesus won’t be turned aside. So the devil quits — for a time. Temptations come in many forms, and most of them are attractive. That’s what makes them difficult to withstand.

What tempts you away from the path God has called you to? What helps you to reject the devil’s empty promises?

Well you may ask,   “Do Sisters really retire?:   I thought the Vows said “forever”! I must answer Yes, but with a difference. There are some things from which Sisters never retire… the promises of Baptism, for instance – keeping the light of faith strongly bright; keeping a special relationship with God through loving prayer; giving faithful witness as a daughter of the Church; living the Gospel as religious consecrated by vows of poverty, chastity, obedience living faithfully the Charism and Constitutions of the Sisters of the Holy Family; taking part in community life generously, wholeheartedly, gratefully; serving the mission and ministries of the congregation according to one’s gifts.

But, you see, I have retired from the ministry I have enjoyed for over thirty years as the librarian of our own Holy Family College, Mission San Jose, then later as one of the librarians at St. Patrick’s Seminary, Menlo Park. Although the salaried position ended, I found I could not retire from caring about how things were going there, and learned that my services would be appreciated on a volunteer basis. I have been giving one day a week doing what I know so well, and enjoying the companionship of the staff members.

Tune now has become my friend! I never have really been the clock and calendar person that community schedules and ministry assignments required, so that change pleases me. Tune is now more available than regular working hours allowed to consider joining some of the congregational projects that are coming up.     I can also be more attentive and active in addressing local community and house affairs. There are even more ways to get to know the people we are living with  Offering to be responsible for meals and the kitchen is something I particularly like doing, but I thought it would be a help to the other members of my house. It probably would not take anyone else as much time as I give it, but some of that is for my personal pleasure, and actually one of the reasons I looked forward to retirement!    The parish I chose is giving me the opportunity to take part hi activities as a parishioner rather than an employee. A committee called the Care Connection holds a possibility for me to bring our Holy Family charism to the local church by meeting personal needs for caring concern by home visits – so Holy Family! Simply now to be able to drive down to the Motherhouse to visit with the Sisters is good. I save Christmastime to be with my sister Stephanie in Spokane; phone calls oftener. Time is now more available for self! Time for addressing some issues that take tune; and for deeper reading; for prayer… ;in considering one’s preparation for end of life.

What a privilege it is to have unscheduled time to use as mind and body and present circumstances suggest or require. Again referring to the things from which a Sister never retires, is the obligation to see God’s loving concern hi the present moment, and the only appropriate response to be an agent of that love when, where, and who you are.

Within Christian churches today, the custom continues in the application of blessed ashes to the foreheads of congregants in the sign of the cross — when an intonation “remember that you art dust and unto dust you shalt return” is given by the officiant.

The following is from the Website: Women for Faith and Family

Ash Wednesday – Collects and Readings
Collect:
Lord,
protect us in our struggle against evil.
As we begin the discipline of Lent,
make this day holy by our self-denial.
Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son,
who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit,
one God, forever and ever. +Amen

or

Father in heaven,
the light of Your truth bestows sight
to the darkness of sinful eyes
May this season of repentance
bring us the blessing of Your forgiveness
and the gift of your light. +Amen.

First Reading: Joel 2:12-18
“Yet even now”, says the Lord, “return to Me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your hearts and not your garments”. Return to the Lord, your God, for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and repents of evil. Who knows whether He will not turn and repent, and leave a blessing behind Him, a cereal offering and a drink offering for the Lord, your God?

Blow the trumpet in Zion; sanctify a fast; call a solemn assembly; gather the people. Sanctify the congregation; assemble the elders; gather the children, even nursing infants. Let the bridegroom leave his room, and the bride her chamber.

Between the vestibule and the altar let the priests, the ministers of the Lord weep and say, “Spare thy people, O Lord, and make not thy heritage a reproach, a byword among the nations. Why should they say among the peoples, ‘Where is their God?”

Then the Lord became jealous for His land, and had pity on His people. The Lord answered and said to His people, “Behold, I am sending to you grain, wine, and oil, and you will be satisfied; and I will no more make you a reproach among the nations.

Second Reading: II Corinthians 5:20 – 6:2
So we are ambassadors for Christ, God making His appeal through us. We beseech you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake He made Him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.

Working together with Him, then, we entreat you not to accept the grace of God in vain. For He says, “At the acceptable time I have listened to you, and helped you on the day of salvation.” Behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation

Gospel: Matthew 6:1-6;16-18
“Beware of practicing your piety before men in order to be seen by them; for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.

“Thus, when you give alms, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by men. Truly, I say to you, they have their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

“And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by men. Truly, I say to you, they have their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

“And when you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by men. Truly, I say to you, they have their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by men but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you”.

Ash Wednesday and the Lenten Fast
with suggestions for family observance of the season

(From Family Sourcebook for Lent and Easter)

“The main current of Lent must flow through the interior man, through hearts and consciences. The essential effort of repentance consists in this. In this effort the human determination to be converted to God is invested with the predisposing grace of conversion and, at the same time, of forgiveness and of spiritual liberation”.

This reflection by Pope John Paul II in Lent of 1979, recorded in a collection of his meditations, The Light of Christ, indicates the attitude with which we should approach our observance of this penitential season — a season that begins with a sign of repentance so ancient as to be almost lost in antiquity, and continues with penitential action equally ageless.

Putting ashes on our heads as a form of penitence is a practice inherited from Jewish tradition. In Old Testament times, fast days expressed sorrow for sins and the desire to make atonement to the Father. Ashes, for Jews and Christians alike, are a sign of repentance, sorrow, and mourning. The King of Nineveh believed the prophecy of Jonah and fasted forty days wearing sackcloth and sitting in ashes to save the city, and ordered the people to do so, too [Jonah 3:4-10]. Jeremiah calls Israel to “wallow in ashes” of repentance [Jeremiah 6:26]. Abraham speaks of being unworthy to speak with God because he is “but dust and ashes” [Gen 2:7] — being man, he is created from dust. Jesus also refers to this symbol in Matthew 11:21, “Alas for you, Chorazin! Alas for you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.”

The ashes imposed on our foreheads on Ash Wednesday are a reminder of our unworthiness and sinfulness sinfulness that corrupts and stains us and leads to death (we return to the dust from whence we came.) Ashes remind us of our original sin and our need of redemption  our need to be cleansed of sin and made worthy of Salvation. This is why the priest says, as he imposes ashes on our foreheads, “Remember, man, that you are dust and to dust you will return” [Genesis 3:19] or Turn away from sin and be faithful to the gospel. [Mark 1:15]

We cannot appreciate God’s infinite mercy if we do not realize we need mercy. We cannot understand salvation apart from our recognition of our need to be saved, rescued, from something  namely our sin, which otherwise separates us forever from God. Ashes remind us of this need. When we wear the ashes on our heads, we also acknowledge the sacrifice of Christ, who forever substituted His own death for the “burnt offerings” made by Old Testament priests to atone for the sins of the people.

On Jewish fast days, or days of atonement, the penitent customarily wore sackcloth (burlap), placed ashes on his head, and went barefoot. These traditions associated with penance continued to be observed by the early Christians, although Jesus warned against ostentatious public displays of penance [see Matthew 6:16-18]. In the New Testament, fasting had similar significance, but fast times were also a time of intensified prayer and willingness to abide by the will of Christ and the Father who sent Him.

We also fast because of 1) our sorrow at the loss of the Lord: “The days will come when the bridegroom shall be taken away, and then shall they fast” [Luke 5:33-35]; 2) our intention of giving our Christian life more depth and more seriousness of purpose. Pope Leo the Great says in his forty-second sermon: “While men are distracted by the many cares of life, their religious hearts are necessarily defiled by the dust of the world”; and 3) the need to prepare ourselves spiritually for the celebration of Easter: for the renewal of our baptismal vows, and for Easter Communion.

According the Didache, a second-century document that is an important record of early Christian beliefs and practices, Christians were to fast on Wednesdays and Fridays throughout the year. Emphasis on seasonal fasting became more pronounced in the second and third centuries when a more strict fast was observed from Good Friday until Easter. Eventually this shorter fast developed into the forty-day fast.

In 1099, Pope Urban II called the first day of Lent Feria quarta cinerum or Ash Wednesday. During the early centuries of the Church only persons who had committed grave sins received ashes and were asked to do public penance which usually lasted until Holy Thursday when they were reconciled to the Church through confession and the reception of Holy Communion. The custom, as early as the fourth century, was to “quarantine” (from the word for “forty”) or separate the penitents from the rest of the community during the forty days of Lent. Ashes were a sign of this separation. The penitential quarantine applied to poor and rich alike.

Fasting and Penance Today

In the same 1979 Lenten message quoted above, Pope John Paul II said,

“Penance is not just an effort, a weight, but it is also a joy. Sometimes it is a great joy of the human spirit, a delight that other sources cannot bring forth. Contemporary man seems to have lost, to some extent, the flavor of this joy. He has also lost the deep sense of that spiritual effort which makes it possible to find oneself again in the whole truth of one’s interior being. Our civilization especially in the West closely connected as it is with the development of science and technology, catches a glimpse of the need for intellectual and physical effort. But he has lost the sense of the effort of the spirit, the fruit of which is man seen in his inner self. The whole period of Lent   since it is a preparation for Easter  is a systematic call to this joy that comes from the effort of patiently finding oneself again. Let no one be afraid to undertake this effort.”

The Code of Canon Law states that Fridays throughout the year and in the time of Lent are penitential days for the entire Church. Although fasting usually refers to any practice of restricting food, there is a distinction, in the Church, between fast (limiting food to one full meal a day, with two smaller meals allowed) and abstinence (abstaining from eating meat.) Abstinence from meat on Fridays as the universal form of penance on all Fridays is no longer mandatory. We may choose another way of observing the Church’s requirement for acts of penance on Fridays, but we are not to neglect it, either.

Since the change in the abstinence rules, some people have become confused about the requirement to observe penitential days. As a result, the discipline of fasting (or abstaining from meat) or any form of regular penance has all but disappeared. Confession, or the Sacrament of Penance (or Reconciliation) has sharply declined, as well.

Both fast and abstinence are required on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. For the record, rules of the Church in the United States about fasting and abstinence in effect since 1966 state that:

“Catholics in the United States are obliged to abstain from the eating of meat on Ash Wednesday and on all Fridays during the season of Lent. They are also obliged to fast on Ash Wednesday and on Good Friday. Self-imposed observance of fasting on all weekdays of Lent is strongly recommended. Abstinence from flesh meat on all Fridays of the year [excluding solemnities like Christmas which may fall on Friday] is especially recommended to individuals and to the Catholic community as a whole.” (ref. Canons 1249-1253, Code of Canon Law)
(See also Fast and Abstinence page for more information on the practice.)

Fasting and abstinence, which foster self-discipline and self-denial and other beneficial spiritual exercises, are strongly encouraged as voluntary practices at any time of the year. But it will be the responsibility of families, as the “domestic Church”, to foster this spiritually energizing practice, not only during the required Lenten days, but at other times as well. To fast willingly, in reparation for our own sins and for others, can transform not only our own lives, but the life and vitality of the larger community.

As Pope Leo I stressed in the 5th century, the purpose of fasting is to foster pure, holy, and spiritual activity. It is an act of solidarity that joins us to Christ  an act of self-donation in imitation of His total self-sacrifice. Fasting can heighten our understanding of Christ’s Mystical Body, the Church, and of our total dependence on His love and mercy.

Farewell to Alleluia and Gloria
During the penitential seasons of the Church, the Gloria and the Alleluia are not said or sung. The Gloria is sung only at the Mass on Holy Thursday, usually with great ceremony, organ and sometimes trumpets, and often with the ringing of bells. After the singing of the Gloria, musical instruments are to be silent until the Alleluia at the Easter Vigil. (Catholic families might imitate this solemn silence by not playing instrumental music in their homes at this time.)

In the Middle Ages and throughout the 16th century, the “burying” of the Alleluia was a solemn ritual on Septuagesima Sunday. A procession of children carrying a wooden plaque bearing the word “Alleluia” laid it at the feet of the statue of the Blessed Virgin, covering it with a purple cloth. It remained there until Easter at the Gospel procession, when the plaque was carried as the priest intoned the three Alleluias before the Easter Gospel. In Paris, a straw figure inscribed with the word was carried out of the choir at the end of the service and burned in the church yard.

Although the practice of literally removing the Alleluia from the Church may have disappeared, even today in some parish celebrations of the Easter Vigil an Alleluia card is carried in procession and placed in front of the altar during the singing of the first Alleluias before the Gospel for Easter.

The hymn Alleluia, Song of Gladness and the one that follows date from the early 9th and 10th centuries; both refer to the farewell to the Alleluia in the liturgy.

From the Mozaribic Liturgy of Spain
Stay with us today, Alleluia,
When the morning rises,
thou shalt go thy way.
Alleluia, alleluia.

May the Lord be thy custodian, Alleluia.
And the angel of God accompany thee.
May the Lord keep thee alive
And protect thee from every evil.
Alleluia, alleluia.

The mountains and hills shall rejoice, Alleluia,
While they await thy glory.
Thou goest, Alleluia; may the way be blessed,
Until thou shalt return with joy.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

Suggestions for Families

Lent is a time for each of us to increase our knowledge of the “faith that is in us” in order that we can fulfill our vocation as Christians to extend this rich blessing of faith to others. We accomplish personal renewal and revitalization of our faith through penance, prayer and instruction.

Fasting
The value of self-denial must be learned early in a person’s life. Lent provides an excellent opportunity to teach our children the necessity of self-denial in our permissive society.

The whole family will observe the Lenten fast according to the Church. Fasting means restricting the food we eat, and also the size and number of meals. Abstinence means abstaining from eating meat.

Catholics abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday as well as on all Fridays during Lent. The strict fast for Ash Wednesday and Good Friday means that we will eat only one main meal on that day, with the other two being very light (and no snacking).

A spirit of fasting can include restriction of luxuries such as television watching, shopping and going out with friends. The entire family could choose main “give-ups” that all will observe (for example, desserts, television, or a favorite show). Each child can select additional things to “fast” from during Lent  maybe a video, or candy. (No fair giving up homework or not hitting your sister!)

We can give away clothing or possessions to those in need or we can give time to the Lord by volunteering our services. It would be good to involve children in this special kind of giving.

There are special foods for Lent. Hot cross buns are traditinally eaten on Good Friday, for example. (An interesting recipe book is A Continual Feast, by Evelyn Birge Vitz, published by Ignatius Press.)

A food that symbolizes prayer and fasting is the pretzel (from the Latin word, bracellæ, “arms”.) It is a traditional Lenten bread of very ancient origin. Early Christians made the bread from flour, salt and water only, shaping it to represent the folded arms in prayer, just as they are made to this day. The German tribes who invaded Rome called the bracellæ “brezel’” or “prezel”. Pretzels are traditionally eaten throughout Lent, and in some places are especially associated with Saint Joseph’s Day [March 19] which usually falls within Lent. A recipe for soft pretzels follows:

Pretzels
The pretzel represents the shape of the penitent’s crossed arms, and was a traditional Lenten food in central European towns.This recipe is for a chewy soft pretzel, like those hot pretzel vendors sell.

Combine in a mixing bowl:
1 cup warm water
1 package (1 1/2 T) active dry yeast
1 tsp sugar

Add and beat at least 3 minutes:
1 1/2 cups sifted all purpose flour
2 Tbsp soft butter
1/2 tsp salt
1 Tbsp sugar

Stir in 1 1/4 cups sifted all purpose flour and knead until the dough loses its stickiness.

Let the dough rise in a covered greased bowl until it is doubled in bulk (this is called “proofing” the dough). Punch down and divide it into 12 pieces. Roll each piece into a long rope and form it into a pretzel shape. Place the pretzels on a greased baking sheet and let them rise until almost doubled in bulk. Preheat oven to 475°F.

In a large non aluminum kettle, prepare a boiling solution of
4 cups water
5 tsp baking soda

With a slotted spoon, carefully lower the pretzels into the water and boil about 1 minute or until they float to the top. Return them to the greased sheet. Sprinkle them with coarse salt. (Sea salt or Kosher salt.) Bake the pretzels until they are nicely browned, about 10-12 minutes. Pretzels are best when eaten while still warm, but they may be stored in an air tight container for up to a week, or frozen. (Makes twelve 6-inch pretzels)

Special prayers and devotions

Lent is an appropriate time to begin to establish some family prayer traditions — beginning with our attending Church on Ash Wednesday, to receive the cross of ashes on our foreheads.

The family can say the following prayer for Ash Wednesday:
Heavenly Father, Let us enter the season of Lent in the spirit of joy giving ourselves to spiritual strife, cleansing our soul and body, controlling our passions, as we limit our food, living on the virtues of the Holy Spirit;

Let us persevere in our longing for Christ so as to be worthy to behold His most solemn Passion and the most holy Passover, rejoicing the while with spiritual joy. Amen

Whenever possible we can go to daily Mass during Lent, and pray more often — alone or with family members.

Make a point of taking school-age (and older) children to Eucharistic Adoration. (If your parish does not have Eucharist Adoration, consider asking your pastor about the possiblity of starting it — and volunteer to help organize it.)

The Alleluia is not recited or sung during Lent. On Ash Wednesday, children could make an Alleluia card or banner to be “buried” during Lent and displayed prominently during the Easter season. This could be made of gold paper and decorated with ribbons or flowers, as elaborately as they like. The Alleluia would reappear on Easter morning with their Easter baskets.

Initiate a practice of saying the Angelus at family meals. You can print copies of the Angelus from this web site, or order enough “holy cards” copies from WFF for your whole family (with our compliments — just tell us how many you need. Call 314-863-8385 or e-mail us.)

An ancient prayer that reminds us of the multifaceted nature of penance is the following, said by the Eastern Church during the Lenten fast. Your family might say this together after the evening meal, or before bedtime:

O Lord and Ruler of Life,
take from me the spirit of idleness, despair, cupidity, and empty talking.
Yea, O Lord grant that I may see my own sins and not judge my brother.
For thou art blessed forever and ever. Amen.

[Note: If you use this prayer with children, you might have to explain that "cupidity" is greed for wealth or power, not some little winged being from a Valentine!]

Read passages in Scripture that help to explain the meaning of fasting and of penance in our lives. Here are two suggested readings:

Joel 2:12-14a
Therefore, saith the Lord, turn ye to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping and with mourning: And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God: for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth Him of the evil. Who knoweth if He will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind Him.

Matthew 6:16-21
When you fast, be not as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, they have received their reward. But thou, when thou fasteth, anoint thine head and wash thy face; that thou appear not unto men to fast, but to thy Father, in secret; and thy Father who seeth in secret, will reward thee openly. Lay not up to yourselves treasures on earth: where the moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal. But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven: where neither the moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

For study and reflection
“For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”

Lent is a particularly appropriate time for families (as well as individuals!) to develop a Lenten reading program (reading can replace some of the television shows we’ve given up for Lent.) Also, reading aloud from the Bible, the Catechism of the Catholic Church or from a Catholic classic every evening for half an hour can be a way of fostering family conversation about the Catholic faith. This can bear so much good fruit that it is worth the effort to organize it. (We suggest picking one evening a week for this — say Wednesdays.)

Maria von Trapp suggests that “every year we should divide our reading into three parts: something for the mind, something for the heart, something for the soul” [p. 104]. (We cannot regard mind, heart and soul as really separate, of course.)

The Holy Scripture fills all these categories. For example, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and the Book of Wisdom and the Old Testament books of Law and History might be “for the mind”; Psalms, Job, and Song of Songs, “for the heart”; and Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel other Old Testament prophets and the entire New Testament “for the soul”. Following are a few other suggestions for each category, and other suggestions are in the bibliography section at the end of the Family Sourcebook for Lent and Easter:

Something for the mind

- Spend time with the Catechism of the Catholic Church (link on Vatican web site). It would be a very good thing if every family member who has been confirmed hadtheir own personal copy. But sections can be printed out for study.

- Read a Catholic classic such as G. K. Chesterton’s Orthodoxy, Francois Mauriac’s Holy Thursday, Pascal’s Pensees, Hans Urs von Balthasar’s Prayer, Henri de Lubac’s Motherhood of the Church, or a work of Edith Stein, Paul Claudel, Cardinal Newman.

- Study Pope John Paul II’s apostolic letter, Familiaris Consortio on the Christian family; or any of his writings, especially Original Unity of Man and Woman, Blessed are the Pure in Heart, or Reflections on Humanæ Vitæ.

Something for the heart

- Learn more about a courageous Christian of the past — there are many good new biographies, for exampe, Saint Isaac Jogues, Saint Joan of Arc, Maximilian Kolbe, Saint Teresa of Avila, or the patron saints of family members. Many pages on the Liturgical Calendaron this site can be useful for readings of the day, background, and suggestions for family observance.

- Listen to music and study art works that are part of our rich Catholic heritage (see the suggested list of music available on recordings in the bibliography section of Family Sourcebook for Lent and Easter.)

Something for the soul

- Recite the Divine Office (Liturgy of the Hours), or memorize a devotion or classic Catholic prayer, perhaps one of those found in thePrayers and Devotions section of this web site.

- Read works of great spiritual writers of the past such as Saint Ignatius of Loyola, The Confessions of Saint Augustine, Imitation of Christ by Thomas á Kempis, The Way of Perfection, by Saint Teresa of Avila.

- Study contemporary spiritual writings, such as Pope John Paul II’s meditation, The Light of Christ, quoted above, Sign of Contradiction, or The Way of Christ.

- Say the Rosary - If possible, together as a family at least once a week. If there are young children, Lent is a good time to begin to teach them to say the “Hail Mary” as part of their bedtime prayers, along with the “Our Father”.

How is your spiritual life? Who are you, deep down in your heart of hearts? What gives you deep joy? What refreshes you? What helps you through the frenzy of modern life? If your answers to any of these questions tend to involve drugs (even chocolate or caffeine!), shopping, loud music, mindless comedies or horror flicks, or any object outside of yourself, then Lent is probably the time for you! Paul’s letter to the Corinthians today is written to you: “Brothers and sisters: We are ambassadors for Christ, as if God were appealing through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God…We appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. For he says: In an acceptable time I heard you, and on the day of salvation I helped you. Behold, now is a very acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” Now is the time to build up that spiritual side of you, to find the beauty and strength within you so that you can be strong in time of trial and at peace in time of disorder. Prayer, fasting and almsgiving are the methods to do this; finding a good spiritual “trainer” is a good way to keep on the journey.

Are Paul’s words written to you? Who could you ask to be your guide on a spiritual journey?

Happy New Year! ~Year of the Tiger~ 2010

Happy New Year to all, and especially to our Asian American friends, for this, the Year of the Tiger!

Sisters of the Holy Family have a long and treasured history of working with Asian Americans in the Bay area and beyond. The following is just a bit of our history with this, very amazing community of  friends!

• St. Francis Day Home in San Francisco the Sisters of the Holy Family ministered to the Chinese Community and the Japanese Community from 1881 to 1970.
• Sisters of the Holy Family began ministering in Fresno in 1927 at the invitation of Bishop John B. MacGinley, their mission, to bring the Word of God to the vast numbers of children inhabiting the fertile growing region of California’s Big Valley. St. Genevieve’s in Fresno is where many of the Sisters of the Holy Family ministered to the Chinese Community.  The Sisters have been in Fresno over 80 years.
• Sister Michaela O’Connor is ministering with the Kmhmu Community. New this year for the first time 17 adults and 10 young adults are preparing for the Sacrament of Confirmation.  The adult classes are on Sunday or Friday evenings for two hour sessions and the young adult classes are on Wednesday for a two hour session.  They are studying the readings of Sunday and following the RCIA process.
• Sister Michaela may be traveling to Santa Ana this year to train adults in the Kmhmu Community to be teachers of Catechetics for children.  Sister is projecting a week in the springtime, a week in the fall and a week in the winter to begin this training.
• Sister Joan Litch also works with Kmhmu’ Catholic community as a diocesan liaison in Fresno.