In these first days of Lent each of us has probably given some thought to the graces we hope to receive during these holy days of fasting, abstinence and almsgiving.  Maybe we reflected on how we would best enter into the great mystery of Christ's passion, death and resurrection.

St. Angela had a strong devotion to the passion of Jesus.  All we have to do is flip through the pages of her writings and count the number of times she refers to the passion or the blood of Christ.  

I am asking myself, what is it that God asks most of me during these days?  How does God want me to be?  How open will I be to accept the call to conversion of heart, to repentance and to new life?  

The Prayer of St. Angela, in her Rule and the Chapter on Prayer, gives at least forty days worth of reflection and prayer opportunities.  She invites us to enter into the depths of our very souls and take a long, hard look at how we not only mirror the image of God, but how we allow the very essence of who we are in God's love to be shared with others.

Angela's words "lay all at the feet of Thy divine Majesty" are where Lent calls us to be.  Let us meet one another at the cross, embrace our sufferings as one, give support to one another and convert them into the very love, hope and life Jesus offers us through redemption and his resurrection to new life on Easter.

Catholic Sisters Week is March 8 – 14, 2025, a time to honor all Catholic Sisters who are called to a life of service, advocacy and faith. Catholic Sisters have devoted their lives to teaching, serving the poor, fighting injustices, sharing spirituality, empowering women, caring for our earth, promoting peace, offering hope, and so much more.  

Since their courageous beginnings 170 years ago, when the Toledo Ursulines first opened their school doors to 200 children of all ages and grade levels, they have made a profound impact on our community through their many ministries.  Today, they continue to inspire and influence through their ministry of prayer and presence.

To celebrate Catholic Sisters Week locally, women religious communities in the Toledo Diocese will host the fifth annual “Stuff the Truck,” a food drive to support the Toledo SeaGate Food Bank on Friday, March 14, from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Walt Churchill’s Market, 3320 Briarfield Blvd. in Maumee. 

“It is always so heartening to interact with all those who come by to donate. The joy of giving radiates from their faces even on the coldest of days,” says Ursuline Sister Sandy Sherman.  

Sister Sally Bohnett of the Sisters of Notre Dame shares, “We hope to not only serve persons in need, but also bring much needed awareness to the current increase in food insecurity and the underlying causes, such as poverty, unemployment/under-employment, and inconsistent access to healthy food.”

Participating women religious communities include the Ursuline Sisters, Sisters of Notre Dame, Sisters of Mercy of Alma, Sylvania Franciscan Sisters, Tiffin Franciscan Sisters, Mercedarian Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, and the Sisters of the Visitation.

Thank you, Sisters, for the impact you’ve had in and around our community and for how you live out your mission in today’s world!