Summer Apostolate 2009:
Popular Missions, Summer Camps, Vocations Retreat, and International Students

Popular Missions
From June 10-21, 2009, sisters from the Juniorate and Novitiate Houses of Formation joined seminarians and apostolic sisters for Popular Missions in Avondale, PA; Phoenix, AZ; and Toronto, ON. The Popular Missions are periods of intensive parish evangelization according to the method of St. Alphonsus Liguori. The sisters and seminarians, along with lay missionaries, visit the homes in the neighborhood and lead activities for children, youth, and adults with a special call to conversion, spiritual renewal and the sacramental life.

The Feast of Corpus Christi occurred during the Popular Missions this year, so each of the three missions held a Eucharist Procession on Sunday, June 14 in honor of Our Lord truly present in the Blessed Sacrament.

Avondale, PA
More than 70 sisters and seminarians took part in a Popular Mission throughout six agricultural towns in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia: Avondale, Oxford, Kennett Square, Toughkenamon, Cedar Woods, and West Grove. Hundreds of children attended the daily oratories in these towns. In the evenings, adults gathered at a central parish for the mission talk. Unique to this Popular Mission, the sisters and seminarians not only visited homes, but were also invited to visit employees in many of the area's numerous mushroom farms.

Phoenix, AZ
Seven sisters and five seminarians went to direct the mission in Phoenix at the IVE parishes of the Immaculate Heart of Mary and St. Anthony of Padua. In addition to the usual mission activities, more than 60 children under the age of 7 were baptized. Many young people also received their First Holy Communion and more than 30 others entered the Church through the three sacraments of Christian initiation: Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Communion.

Toronto, ON
Six sisters from the Juniorate participated in the mission at St. Augustine of Canterbury Church. The main focus of this mission was an After School Program for children grades 3-8. After listening to a short talk, the children made crafts and played sports and games. Each day ended with a Rosary Procession followed by a presentation for the parents of the day’s events.

In preparation for the Feast of Corpus Christi, parishioners spent nearly a week building a monument for the Eucharistic Procession on an 18-wheel flatbed truck. The monument included a canopy for the Blessed Sacrament, statues, flowers, an audio system and an area prepared for the children who received their First Holy Communion this year and the newly instituted Eucharistic Ministers.

On Saturday, June 20, more than 130 teens and young adults participated in a Youth Festival. Many generous volunteers and Third Order members helped set up tables, erect tents, and cook meals. Bishop Nicola De Angelis of Peterborough was the main celebrant for Holy Mass in honor of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Throughout the day, the youth attended talks on issues such as chastity, addictions, physical and spiritual maturity, lay mission opportunities, vocations and the four pillars of Catholic doctrine. Nearly constant rain did not dampen anyone’s spirits! God provided the only hour of dry weather during the scheduled sports time, so the youth were able to play volleyball, soccer, and Frisbee in the afternoon. The festival closed after a Holy Hour with the Rosary and opportunities for Confession.

Summer Camps
IVE Girls’ Summer Camp 2009
From June 11-14, a dozen sisters and several lay volunteers led the Annual Girls’ Summer Camp at St. Patrick’s Retreat Center in Upstate New York. This year, 87 inner-city girls ages 7-17 participated with great enthusiasm in the daily activities which included: Holy Mass, Rosary, team competitions of various sports and games. They also had a Corpus Christi Procession and a trip to the Howe Caverns.

May God continue to guide and protect all the children and youth who have been a part of our many summer apostolates.

Totus Tuus South Dakota
The Office of Vocations for the Diocese of Rapid City, South Dakota invited sisters from six different religious communities to help run a Vocations Camp from June 21-26. More than 70 middle school and high school girls participated. Each day's full schedule included Holy Mass, Adoration, Liturgy of the Hours, talks led by the sisters, hiking, camp fires, and many other games and activities. Please pray for the girls who attended the camp, that many of them will be generous in following God’s will. 

California Summer Oratory 2009
From July 6-24, Our Lady of Peace in Santa Clara, CA, hosted the 7th Annual Summer Oratory for more than 400 children and youth. Novices, postulants, and professed sisters came from Maryland to California to help with the oratory.

The children, divided into six teams and separated by age, competed for points by playing sports, answering catechetical questions, and working together. The daily schedule included: talks, games, Holy Mass, silent Bible reading (based on the talk in the morning), Rosary procession around the Shrine, songs. The purpose of these activities is to teach the children to practice the virtues of patience, fortitude, and joy while drawing ever closer to Our Lord and His Blessed Mother.

We thank God for the success of the Summer Oratory, and ask Our Lady to continue to lead her little ones to the Heart of her Son.

Vocations Retreat
Diocese of Harrisburg 2009 “Fiat Days” at Mount St. Mary’s
From June 19- 21 two of our sisters from the Juniorate House attended the Fiat Days held on the campus of Mount St. Mary’s College in Maryland. Sponsored and run by the Diocese of Harrisburg, PA this vocations retreat brought together 27 high school and college girls from Pennsylvania and Maryland and 22 religious sisters from various congregations.

The Fiat Days were centered on the call to imitate the generous response of Mary at the Annunciation, particularly in following the vocation to religious or consecrated life. In one of the talks, Sr. Joy of Martyrs explained how the vocation of a woman religious is to become truly a Spouse of Christ, drawing from Fr. Buela's homily “Spouse of Christ.”

May God inspire many generous young women to give themselves entirely to Him for the glory of God and the salvation of many souls.

International Students
IVE Youth from Iceland and Holland
Missionary priests and sisters of our Religious Family have been working in Iceland and in Holland since 2004. This year they joined forces to plan a summer youth trip to the United States and Canada.

The itinerary for the combined group of 43 teenagers and young adults included sight-seeing, cultural events, and daily Mass and Rosary. For many of these young Catholics from highly secularized countries the fellowship and example of so many young religious and lay faithful in the United States was very encouraging. May God strengthen our missionaries and all the young visitors to be His faithful witnesses in the contemporary culture of Northern Europe.

English Language Exchange Students from Argentina
For the sixth year in a row, students from Isabel la Catolica High School in San Rafael, Argentina came to California on an English language exchange program. Our sisters in Argentina staff and administer this all-girls high school as well as a co-ed elementary and middle school.

After the three week intensive English course in Santa Clara, CA, seven students came to the East Coast to visit New York, Philadelphia and Washington, DC. Here we have been able to host them and share our culture — as well as practice speaking in English! May God bless them as they return to their studies in Argentina.