By Sister Clare Boehmer, ASC

As I checked my Facebook newsfeed recently, I came across a string of comments reacting to Sen. Mitch McConnell’s position on voter reforms. I don’t know how many people had responded. I stopped counting at 21, not yet near the end of the string.

Some comments were moderate, but the majority expressed anger, outrage, and frustration with McConnell’s attitude and stance, which seemed arrogant and inflammatory and contributed to the already chaotic and divisive atmosphere of politics.

As citizens, we are right to be angry at the divisive words and actions of many of our elected officials and at the corruption that has put them into office.

By Sister Mary Catherine Clark, ASC

Courtney, my neighbor, had spread salt along her sidewalk as a wintry mix of ice and snow fell from the sky in St. Louis. Then, she came over to our home and kindly spread salt on our front porch, steps and sidewalk.

What a quiet, unassuming random act of kindness that I just happened to see by accident as I went to my front window to assess how long it would take me to de-ice my car this wintry morning. I was so touched by her care of “the dear neighbor” for us.

By Sister Maria Hughes, ASC

Tomorrow, on March 4, Adorers of the Blood of Christ will mark the 185th anniversary of our founding by a young woman who later would become a saint. As an Adorer, I find myself pondering, what is it we celebrate? The day marks the time a young woman chose a way of life, a vocation.

When the young Maria De Mattias founded the congregation in 1834, it was in response to a need. She was an ordinary young Italian woman, inviting others into the heart of mission and she set into motion a worldwide web of compassion,

By Sister Clare Boehmer, ASC

I was thinking and praying that something good would come of Pope Francis’ Feb. 21-24 summit on clergy sexual abuse.

Then I read an opinion piece that said the “Wrath of God” will be visited upon perpetrators. Not exactly the compassionate, healing response I had hoped for.

I wanted to hear that summit participants had put in place a process for reconciliation to heal perpetrators, victims, and the Church as a whole. I was hoping we could move beyond retribution to reconciliation.

Retribution is a legitimate and appropriate response to the sex abuse scandal,

By Sister Janet McCann, ASC

“My baby brother is a real heartbreaker!”

Beau, a 4-year old buddy of mine, told me this, referring to his newborn brother who had been crying for a while. When I asked him what he meant, Beau sighed and said, “Whenever my baby brother cries, it breaks my heart.”

I doubt that I conveyed that level of compassion when I was Beau’s age, but as an Adorer, I join with my sisters of the U.S. Region in trying to intentionally live our statement to “be a compassionate presence wherever need touches our hearts.”

Heartbreak is rampant these days,

By Sister Janet McCann, ASC

 A number of years ago, several Vietnamese women who had learned about Precious Blood spirituality from the Missionaries of the Precious Blood in Vietnam expressed interest in becoming Adorers of the Blood of Christ. The decision was made that they would receive their formation in the Asia Continental area, which led to them entering the community with the Adorers in South Korea. Now, after 10 years, the first two Vietnamese women have returned to Vietnam to begin an Adorer Mission.

The start of a new year often inspires hope for fresh possibilities.