From the desk of Sr. Elyse Marie

In one of my favorites books, Gratefulness the Heart of Prayer, Br. D. Steindl-Rast, O.S.B.  maintains that, "Thanksgiving is the gesture of a whole heart or it is nothing."  I speak from my whole heart as I say, "Thanks" to each of you who have been so committed to the vocation awareness ministry.  For the last few weeks I have had the pleasure of going through our collection of pictures from many of our CAVA events from this last year.  As I did, it occurred to me just how much we have been able to offer the local church by way of vocation awareness these last nine months.  Then this morning as I heard today's gospel at mass, "It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you..."  Jn 15, I saw the faces of each of you, our 2010-2011 CAVA members (whether or not you were in one of our prized photos!).   At that moment my heart uttered a prayer for each of you to hear these words again for the first time.  For that key moment in each of our lives, when we knew it was God doing the choosing, is what led us to the fullness of life we know today.  The fullness of life that convinces us of the value of authentically responding to the call each of us receives.  And it is to this fullness of life we invite others to consider when we extend the invitation to consider a consecrated life vocation.   To those who are moving on to new assignments and ministries, we will miss you.  To those who will be returning we are looking forward to working together in a new year eager to "stir up in the hearts of believers the desire to give themselves totally to the Lord in the priestly or consecrated life." Pope John Paul II

Road Trip!!  Calling all CAVA Members! - SAVE THE DATE!!

On Thursday, September 15, and Saturday, September 24, CAVA is organizing two trips to the Women & Spirit: Catholic Sisters in America traveling exhibit in South Bend, IN http://womenandspirit.org/ .  Mark your calendar to join us.  We are inviting young adult Catholic women to join us.  The exhibit, celebrating the story of women religious in the United States, is coming to South Bend, IN, September 2- December 31, 2011.  It is a remarkable story of grace, profound faith, indomitable hope and generative love, evidenced over and over again through congregation after congregation of sisters.   Have you seen it yet?  Would you like to?  Are you like many who want to see it "again"?  If you know of any young women you may want to invite please do.  More details about the trips will come in August.  Do save the date/s today.  Write it in ink!  If you want a seat saved register here.   Or call/e-mail at 312-534-5240 or CAVA@ArchChicago.org - Subject: Road Trip!

Keeping Up with What's Out There

To find out what our young people see online about vocations to religious life just start Googleing!  Some words and phrases young people at CAVA events say they google -  "women religious, You Tube nuns, religious men, Catholic sisters, You Tube vocations".   Be sure to look through the first two sites that come up with the eyes of a young woman or man who is looking for a way to connect or find out more about our lives.  When I asked the young adults at the last two CAVA Called Series discernment evenings how they found out about us, most of them said "on the web".  When I asked whose website - they did not know.  "I just found it and it looked good!"   Taking the time to Google and You Tube will help you get an idea of what young people are hearing about our lives.  In fact, check this out.  It is quite interesting. (You Tubes often begin with an advertisement.)  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=81mphwFbg2c&NR=1&feature=fvwp

2011 Annual Archdiocesan Celebration of Consecrated Life - Huge Success! 2012 DATE Announced

Mark your calendars today for the 2012 Annual Archdiocesan Celebration of Consecrated Life being planned at St. Eugene Parish on Saturday, February 25, 2012.  Thanks to all of you who participated in the 2011 event held this year at Christ the King Parish. Over and over again participants commented on the inspiring spirit of the gathering and the opportunity for camaraderie with consecrated persons from across the spectrum of the Church.   Addressing the day's theme of Consecrated Life as a Reconciling Presence in the World, Fr. Robert Schreiter, C.P.P.S., Vatican II Theology professor at CTU, shared from his global experience the genuine urgency for consecrated life to be this witness today.  Fr. Schreiter challenged  us to not only create new social spaces of safety and welcome but to become these spaces as a way of ushering in God's own reconciling grace.   Indeed for many the day itself became an experience of such a "new social space".   For fun photos from the day's events click here http://www.archchicago.org/DPS/OfficeReligious/Events.aspx .  For a copy of Fr. Bob's talk click here http://www.archchicago.org/DPS/OfficeReligious/Resources.aspx .

Our hope is that all those who came this year and many more will join us at next year's celebration on Saturday, February 25, 2012.  Mark your calendars today! 

Prayer of Praise, Worship & Listening for Young Adults