Paschal Joy Shared, Paschal Joy Multiplied

We learned in grade school that if you have three apples and you give one to your friend, you are left with two apples – your possession of created goods has decreased.  Yet, with spiritual goods, this is not true!  In fact, with God, the more you share, the more you have and if you try to keep spiritual goods for yourself, what little you have slips through your fingers.

We are doubly blessed, then, by our friends and family, with visits and generosity especially joyous.  Recently, one of our Dominican friars, Father Lukasz Misko, O.P., brought a group of students from the St. Catherine of Siena Newman Center at University of Utah by for a visit as part of a pilgrimage tour they were taking over spring break.  We had a wonderful visit, sharing stories and laughs, and learning more about each other.  We were inspired by their zeal and love for Jesus and the Catholic faith. 

Then last week, our joy multiplied once more when a group of Dominican sisters from the Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist came to visit one of our novitiate sisters; they all knew each other before she discerned her vocation to cloistered life.  The rest of the novitiate stopped by to say hello; one of the Ann Arbor sisters in the group, Sister Maria Silva, O.P., contributed to a new book by the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist entitled, “And Mary’s Yes Continues”.  This is a beautiful book about religious vocations today and includes many vocation stories of SMME sisters.  If you or someone you know is interested in learning more about consecrated life, don’t miss this book.

What a beautiful life, Dominican life, with our large and diverse Dominican family!  Yet we remain united in the Spirit, by our love of God and our zeal for the salvation of souls, under Mary and our Holy Father Dominic.

Alleluia!  He is risen!