On Friday August 22, the Sisters of the Presentation of Mary gathered at their Infirmary Care Home to celebrate the feast of the Queenship of Mary, our Mother and a true disciple of Jesus. The opening song, ‘Gather Your people O Lord’ by Bob Hurd set the tone for the Eucharistic Meal:
‘We are parts of the body of Christ, needing each other, each of the gifts the Spirit provides.’
The Sisters joyfully welcomed Father Jim Kaptein to preside the Eucharistic celebration. He was most grateful to be able to celebrate with them this solemnity of Mary. In his homily he reflected on the queenship of Mary, giving a beautiful description Mary as Queen, contrasting the characteristics of an earthly queen with Mary’s queenship: Mary Queen of Heaven and Earth is not a distant monarch seated on a throne of gold, but a mother who reigns with humility, mercy and love. This feast was instituted in 1954, to affirm a long-held belief of the faithful, that the Mother of God shares in the kingship of her Son, Jesus Christ. As Queen, Mary rules by intercession, offering herself as a channel of grace whose crown is woven “of faith, obedience, purity, and above all, love.”
Fr. Jim also remarked that “Mary’s queenship is especially meaningful for those who have consecrated their lives to Christ.” As the first consecrated woman to give her whole self to God, she pondered all things in her heart, in a life of service, silence and contemplation.
Fr. Jim affirmed that as consecrated women, “you Sisters mirror Mary’s Queenship, reigning with her, not in palaces, but in convents and chapels, in classrooms and hospitals, wherever love is poured out quietly and faithfully. Your daily Fiat echoes Mary’s “yes”; thus you share in her royal dignity in conformity with Christ. ”Be it done according to your word’.
Father Jim provided plenty of food for thought, as we proceeded to share fellowship during a festive meal.
The Sisters then continued the day’s journey on the theme, ‘Build a Synodal Community’, to be Mosaics of Hope and be with and like Mary, women of Magnificat. We continue to build Synodal communities where we help each other, as we sing words of the song Emmaus: ‘Come journey and walk with me as we share with Jesus, our God. . . .Come and journey with me.’
On this journey the Sisters live out Pope Francis’ statement, “Synodality means, walking on the same road, walking together as a faith community.”
Psalms for Encouragement and Hope for the Future during the prayerful liturgy were a fitting conclusion to our reflections.
In the afternoon, Sr. Mary Woodward, Provincial Superior, presided the Ritual Act of Commissioning. Each one received a card as a reminder to be like disciples of Emmaus ready to go out to evangelize announcing that the Lord is alive and He walks with each person.
As we journey with Jesus in this new year 2025-2026, may many blessings be upon us; great hope to strengthen us, and enough love to share with others. May the Holy Spirit inspire us and give us courage to try new adventures with joy and success.
During this Jubilee Year, let us be,’Seekers and Pilgrims of Hope and also pilgrims of love striving restore all things in Christ.’
Let us also walk in the footsteps of Saint Marie Rivier bearing witness to others and to the world:
‘Let us hold fast to Jesus Christ. Let us have a constant recourse to him, with all the humility and trust of a child towards his father’.
Go forth and have a great year! Peace be with all!
