We've Gone Public!

[Spem in alium]

I was doing some study and heard my 75-year-old sister say outside my window (not in English): "Wait until 5pm, I'll bring ham". It took me a while to work out to whom she was speaking until I realised she was talking to the lizards on our verandah.

[Spem in alium]

I asked for prayers a while ago because I was having thesis trouble. Over the last few days, my supervisor has sent me three of my six thesis chapters which I'm ploughing through (thank you for your prayers!). I now feel well on track to submit my thesis in 10 days (not my final submission, but the beginning of a three-month process). I'm very tired but feeling confident, and my supervisors seem to be happy also. Honestly couldn't do it without prayer or the support of my sisters & family.

[Spem in alium]

All Souls' Day. After a little chat this evening, my formator asked me if I could go outside with her for about ten minutes. She took me to the memorial garden behind our chapel and we prayed for the people remembered there, and for our own families. It was beautiful.

[Spem in alium]

This week was super disappointing with thesis stuff. Basically, people promised things and didn't deliver, which I find upsetting generally but especially this close to my deadline (5 days to go). Some might say that I should have been prepared for that, given the track record of the people I'm dealing with, but I guess I just wanted to give them the benefit of the doubt. At any rate, it's looking less likely I'll submit my thesis on time, which of course has consequences for my graduation and my novitiate. Please keep up the prayers, pham.

[Feankie]

I will step up the prayers, Spem.  And, if I've never said so before....I do so appreciate your sharing of your ongoing formation story,  Even though I'll probably never meet you this side of heaven, I feel as if I know you.  Thanks for being so open and sharing .

[Pax17]

Sorry to learn of this...prayers continue...

 

[Spem in alium]

On Saturday, November 05, 2016 at 9:21 AM, Francis Clare said:

I will step up the prayers, Spem.  And, if I've never said so before....I do so appreciate your sharing of your ongoing formation story,  Even though I'll probably never meet you this side of heaven, I feel as if I know you.  Thanks for being so open and sharing .

FC, thank you for your kind and warm words. I honestly think it's important to share even the little ordinary things of life, because they show us what is true  It is nice to know that what I share has meant something. God bless you always!

Thank you everyone for your prayers. I almost can't believe it myself, but things look good for me to submit on Thursday. My supervisors have been reading a lot and keeping in contact, so I feel much more reassured -- and excited! 

I also found out today that my current formation director will be my novice mistress as well, if I apply and am accepted to the novitiate. We often joke about how tired we are of each other (she has been guiding me for almost two years) but I'm honestly overjoyed. I truly couldn't ask for a better person to guide me. God has bestowed upon me much grace through her.

[Guest]

Good news! Deo Gratius!

[Spem in alium]

Such a nice moment today. I was booking my psychological test, which I need to take as part of my application to the novitiate, and when I introduced myself as "Sr X" the psychologist asked me if I was wanting to take the test because I'm entering the novitiate. Turns out she's done tests for seminarians and other novices along the way. It was a great surprise!  

The first part of my test is booked for December 2. Please pray for me.

[Feankie]

Prayers, of course!  I was wondering about your application as you sounded a bit iffy in one of your previous posts.  I'm glad you've made your decision and have found a psychologist familiar with exams for religious.  Full steam ahead :))

[Jennifer]

I so glad everything is working out well for you  organising a capable psychologist and also your well known Novice Mistress.  You are in my prayers as you continue your journey. 

[Spem in alium]

4 hours ago, Francis Clare said:

Prayers, of course!  I was wondering about your application as you sounded a bit iffy in one of your previous posts.  I'm glad you've made your decision and have found a psychologist familiar with exams for religious.  Full steam ahead :))

Thank you so much! I haven't officially applied yet (will do that in December). I'm trying to stay as open as I can -- even though I feel soooo much a part of this congregation, and even though by all accounts my sisters want me here and see me as suitable for the novitiate, things could change. Maybe something could happen and I won't apply, or the leadership team will want me to stay longer in the postulancy, or refuse me admission to the novitiate. Even my formator, who is really planning very much for me to be in the novitiate, made a comment along the lines of that - that sometimes things can change very quickly. Some of these things seem very unlikely to happen, but I'm still seeing them as possibilities and so trying to not get ahead of myself and think that it's already a done deal. It's hard though, because my sisters are already asking me when I'll begin novitiate! Pesky sisters (but I also love them, haha)!

3 hours ago, Jennifer said:

I so glad everything is working out well for you  organising a capable psychologist and also your well known Novice Mistress.  You are in my prayers as you continue your journey. 

Thank you! It took ages to organise this psychologist. The first one I called was on annual leave but told me we could organise something for November when she returned to the office. Then when I spoke to her again, she said the earliest availability was December 19! As it takes a couple of weeks to grade the results, that was too late for us, as the leadership team will make their decision about me in January. It was a bit of a scramble to find another psychologist who would be able to fit me in earlier than that. God is good, all the time!

[Spem in alium]

If all goes well and there's no last-minute bungle, tomorrow I will be submitting my thesis for its first review. Honestly can't believe I'm at this point. I can truly say it's only through God's mercy and through the generosity of many, many people, some of whom I will never be able to thank properly.

 

[Spem in alium]

Day has been made. One of my dream thesis examiners will examine my thesis. Even more amazing, I submitted it about five minutes ago for its first review!

My thesis is an art historical study of St Joseph. He's definitely helped me so much.

[Spem in alium]

Yesterday I was reading one of my favourite books ever, by one of my heroes (He Leadeth Me, by Fr Walter J. Ciszek, S.J.). In this book, Fr Walter says some beautiful things about the Lord's Prayer, about how it contains everything ever know about the human relationship with God, and how even if we took and examined every line on its own, we wouldn't be able to understand the prayer in all its richness. I decided to do some meditation and so spent yesterday and this morning meditating on the two words, "Our Father".

This morning as I was going to Mass I decided to read from a book of daily meditations I keep on my bedside table. I'm very lazy with reading them but for some reason opened the book today. When I got to today's date I saw that the meditation was on a line from the Lord's Prayer, and that every day of the next week or so is taking its own line to reflect upon. I was really very moved to see it - almost like God was saying, 'Hi! Keep going!'

[Spem in alium]

The first decision re. my thesis will be made on Thursday at a research committee meeting. I'm actually a member of the committee (I'm student rep) so I have to be at the meeting (but will not be there when they discuss my work, of course). It was seriously unreal to see my name as an item on the agenda!

I also found out today that my second thesis examiner will be a priest whose research is the foundation of my own. I now have two powerhouses in St Joseph research examining my work. It seriously doesn't seem real!

 

 

[Feankie]

I'm in the process of writing a chapter on miracles for a reflection/information/spiritual guide booklet the Order of Malta is producing for our trip to Lourdes. Although you thesis doesn't quite fit into my 2 categories of miracles, it is a miracle none the less.  God is indeed gracious and knows what's best for us in His own timing and for His purposes. As the expression goes (kind of)  your ducks are lining themselves up....and I have no doubt they will waddle and quack their way to a very happy ending for your thesis and on to the novitiate and beyond.  For all the naysayers....prayers ARE granted!  Deo Gratias

[Spem in alium]

11 hours ago, Francis Clare said:

I'm in the process of writing a chapter on miracles for a reflection/information/spiritual guide booklet the Order of Malta is producing for our trip to Lourdes. Although you thesis doesn't quite fit into my 2 categories of miracles, it is a miracle none the less.  God is indeed gracious and knows what's best for us in His own timing and for His purposes. As the expression goes (kind of)  your ducks are lining themselves up....and I have no doubt they will waddle and quack their way to a very happy ending for your thesis and on to the novitiate and beyond.  For all the naysayers....prayers ARE granted!  Deo Gratias

It is a miracle for sure, FC! Thank you for your words. The reflection guide you're writing sounds wonderful. Wishing it every success, as well as your trip to Lourdes. When I was involved with the Order more actively (now my involvement is prayer) I always wished to go to Lourdes. Who knows what is in store though!

My formator and I very spontaneously booked a retreat for me this weekend. Pretty much every weekend between now and Christmas is filled with things for me, and we weren't sure they'd have a place left. It's at a place I've never been to but which is apparently very beautiful, and the retreat topic just happens to be one close to my heart: the Holy Name of Jesus/the Name of God.

[Spem in alium]

A while ago I wrote about a man I visit in aged care who has an advanced dementia and who has been described to me as "non-communicative". Today I went to see him, said hello and used his name. He had his hands resting on his blanket and I put my hand on top of his hand. He immediately started moving his hand so I let go, and he quickly put his hand on top of my hand. He let me hold his hand today too. At one moment I put my hand on his knee and he looked right at me. When I was leaving him he held my hand tighter. I don't really talk to him at all, which is actually challenging for me. He's teaching me a lot about silence and communication through touch. People might say he's too sick to connect,  but today I really felt more than ever that he knew me and knew I was there.

[Antigonos]

One of the very first things we learned in nursing school was the great importance of non-verbal communication.  I'm sure the connection, however tenuous or brief, was of value to him.