A new Leader's Guide for the National Study Guide is now available. This new resource provides relevant, useful and practical information to assist the Study Guide Leader. It contains helpful information regarding what to do before, during and after the study as well as several teaching aids, a checklist for completing the study and application process, and various forms of the Order. Get your copy today! You may either download from our website or order from the National Office. 

     But wait there's more! For a limited time, a great resource will accompany the Leader's Guide. The "Pray Your Way into Their Story" booklet will help prospective members see how Service and Evangelism are normal consequences of Prayer. The phrase, "Prayer-Care-Share" summarizes how prayer, service, and evangelizism can flow into each other as a continuous circle. Get copies for your prospective members while supplies last! 

     But wait there's even more! The National Study Guide and National Transition Study Guide have been extensively updated! Be sure to use these latest versions the next time you have prospective members. Order them from the National Office or download from our website.  

     Also make sure you have your copy of the 2012 edition of the National Handbook, all other versions contain outdated information. 

     Last but not least, a new LARGE PRINT edition of the 2012 National Handbook is now available for our visually impaired sisters. So to review, we have the 2012 National Handbook available in the standard size (5.5 x 8.5), the larger size (8.5 x 11) and in Large Print (8.5 x 11).

 

Annemarie Delgado

     With hugs, kisses, and translated introductions, I was welcomed into and embraced by the community of Daughters in Brazil. Over the next few days, we worshipped together, explored the theme of spirituality, broke bread, checked off items on a business agenda, and enjoyed expressing our spirituality in song.
     In one of our workshops, Bishop Umberto (Diocese of the South, Brazil) challenged us on how we were living into our vows as Daughters. After learning about and then walking the labyrinth (recently introduced in Brazil), we met in small groups to discuss our assigned questions. Paraphrased, our question was: How are we serving our parish and the greater Church as we live out our vows? When discussions concluded, we gathered again in the large group, heard various readings from John's Gospel, then walked the labyrinth again. Breaking into the same small groups, we reflected on how our answers changed after meditating on the Bible readings. This is a good exercise for all of us to do - individually or in our chapters.
     Included in our study of the spirituality of music was the singing of "Lift High the Cross." As we lifted our voices and hands singing the refrain (in Portuguese, of course), I felt connected to all the Assemblies and Triennials throughout the years in the States and to the community of Daughters around the world.
     Following our Triennial in Indianapolis last year, my address book was filled with the addresses and emails of Daughters I met during that event. This Triennial was no different; I left with emails of new friends, reminders to stay in touch, and promises to exchange photos. I also learned a new word to express my emotion at departing our gathering: Saudade.

 

Susan O'Brien

National Secretary/Cross+Links Editor

     During my teaching career, I taught at schools in upstate New York where Native American students attended classes. I read many books on how Native Americans were treated by the Europeans taking over their lands. I have been especially moved that Native Americans have served this country with great pride when we are at war, like the Lakota who were instrumental in breaking the Japanese codes during World War II.
    This summer I had an opportunity to go with a mission team from St. Michael the Archangel, Colorado Springs, to the Lakota Reservation in South Dakota. Carolyn Moulton, a Daughter, had applied for a Self-Denial grant and a former Priest-In-Charge served at her church after being at my parish. South Dakota was also one of five states I had not travelled to. Do you see the "nigglings" that God was sending me for many years? It was a wonderful experience painting a church and fence, building a huge cross for the church cemetery, and worshiping at St. Julia's Episcopal Church on the Reservation. We sang the Doxology in the Lakota language for the Sunday service: An awesome sound to give praise to God for our experience. A give-away of fresh produce after the Sunday community dinner was a moving tribute to the congregation. We fostered great friendships, served lots of meat and cheese sandwiches, and gave our love to all we worked with. This is true mission work.
     How can you do the work Christ is calling you to do? Donate funds to the DOK Self-Denial Fund so we can send people to do God's work, go on a mission trip yourself, or find mission work in your community. As Daughters, we take a vow to serve to spread the word of God to others and I pray that you will heed God's call to you.