What’s in my Hope Chest?

by Scranton IHM Sisters and IHM Associates

In this Jubilee Year of Hope, my “Hope Chest” is for God’s continued guidance for the future vision of our Congregation, based on the strength of graces of our 180-year history.
Sister M. Celesta Sinisi

I hope that through synodal listening we will follow the lead of the Holy Spirit in knowing the will of God for our Congregation’s share in bringing about the Kingdom of God.
Sister Mary Schoberg

That all in the community take seriously our IHM statement that, “We use imagination and fresh thinking to bring about God’s dream for our beautiful yet wounded world.” 
Sister M. Alphonsa Concilio

I hope that we will be able to open Our Lady of Peace to receive Sisters of other communities, family members, or other interested persons.
Sister Ancilla Maloney

I would hope that I/we may move ahead determined, with confidence and deep trust that God will care for us on this journey into the (now foggy) future.
Sister Beth Pearson

When I reflect on the shared charism of the IHM Sisters and Associates I feel the excitement of possibility… the possibility of walking together in support of peace and justice issues in our broken world; the possibility of demonstrating our shared belief in the love of Jesus by growing in spirituality with each other; the possibility of expressing the IHM Core Values within my own family, my relationships and my local community; and the possibility of the congregation and the laity working as a community to be impactful in respecting all things in nature as God’s gifts to us. Together, with the blessings of Mary, the possibilities are endless as we journey to expand the good news of the Gospels!
Ann Rink, IHM Associate

I hope that we can find ways for the membership of all the congregations to get to know one another. Possibly having shared retreats and vacations.
Sister Eleace King

A HOPE CHEST – What is the legacy of meaningful, timeless and beloved treasures that I wish to share with future generations? Honestly, as I began to reflect on this sacred moment I realized that I will need a HUGE HOPE CHEST for all the beloved items I desire to share with those who come after us. For me, all of these speak to who we are and how we embraced and lived our charism of God’s unconditional love for all. 

Books
– Mother Theresa’s Prayer Book
– Pilgrim: Let Your Heart be Bold by Margaret Gannon
– Paths of Daring Deeds of Hope by Margaret Gannon
– All the books by Sister Michel Keenan
– I Desire to be Everywhere, the biography of Louis Florent Gillet
– Writings by Chris Koellhoffer
– Books on our sponsored ministries
– A Photo-Guided Journal by Jan Marie Kaylan
– Writings of our sisters for reflection books – Copies of Journey
– Cor Immaculatum’s books of her art
– A collection filled with the pictures of the artwork from all of our artists

Artifacts
– Icons by Sister Nancy Smith (M) of Mother Theresa, Louis Florent Gillet and Saint Alphonsus
– Small statue of Theresa at Home by Sister Cor Immaculatum Heffernan
– IHM CD With One Voice
– Charism and Direction Statements
– DVD of the historical display at the IHM Center
– All music, art, and poetry published by our IHM Sisters over the years
Sister Ruth Harkins

In my hope chest is the desire to amplify our shared charism in responding to the many families in our area who are migrants from the outlying Andean communities. They are unaware of the church`s requirement that they be confirmed before celebrating matrimony. RCIA has become part of our regular parish routine and sometimes “make up classes” run a couple of times a day for those who have marriage plans in a few months. I often comment that we live on a different planet here in Sicuani, but rising to the occasion is part of our charism to share God`s unconditional love with those who need it most.  Our parish priest is the bishop’s delegate for celebrating confirmation several times a year in the parish.
Sister Eileen Egan

My hope chest is filled with the desire and prayer that the world can become a better place for all humankind, for all of creation, and for our environment. No prayer goes unanswered, right?
Sister Lenore Thomas

My hope is for a peaceful world where we all work together for the Common Good.
Sister Jane Connolly

IHM sisters and Associates bursting with our charism and core values.
Sister Nancy Elder

From Psalm 130, my hope chest contains just one thing: “Let Israel (and me, us, all the world) hope in the Lord, for with the Lord is mercy, with him is plenteous redemption.”
Sister Rachel Terry

My hope is that we continue to celebrate special days in the life of our Mother Theresa Maxis, for instance, September 19^th when Theresa arrived in Monroe.
Sister Carol Loughney

In today’s world, I often feel as though we are surrounded by a swirl of complex and diverse issues.  At times, I feel like living through all four seasons at once. Each day brings a mix of joy, pleasure, delight, uncertainty and unknown. In the midst of it all, I intentionally place my hope, trust, love, care, and cherished memories in my “Hope Chest Box,” holding onto the belief that humanity and our enduring spirit of hope will lead us toward inner peace and strengthen us to embrace an uncertain future.
Sister Angela Kim