Adorers of the Blood of Christ

19Feb

Adorers Consider Legal Options

The Adorers of the Blood of Christ, U.S. Region, are profoundly disappointed that the United States Supreme Court decided not to grant the Adorers’ petition for certiorari. The Adorers asked the High Court to review a decision of the Third Circuit Court of Appeals, which held that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and Transcontinental Gas Pipeline Company, a private for-profit gas company, could violate in perpetuity the Adorers’ deeply held religious beliefs. At issue was FERC’s decision to authorize the private gas pipeline company to use the Adorers’ own private property, over their strong objections, to construct a high-volume gas pipeline in violation of the Adorers’ deeply held religious beliefs and practices.

14Feb

Broken Hearts, Compassion and Hope

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,

04Feb

Our Vocations: Serving in Small Meaningful Ways

By Sister Vicki Bergkamp, ASC

This weekend marked the feast of the Presentation and the World Day for Consecrated Life, a time to celebrate our vocations.

We are blessed to continue our celebration through today as we celebrate our founder Maria De Mattias’ birthday (February 4). The gift of life to Maria was certainly a gift of life to each of us and the vocation we have received with her charism.

In her presidential address to the Leadership Conference of Women Religious last summer, Incarnate Word Sister Teresa Maya said:

31Jan

Sister Helen Panci, ASC Remembered for Her Love of Teaching and Pastoral Care

Sister Helen (Herman Jospeh) Panci, ASC, died on Monday, January 14, 2019 at St. Helene’s Retirement Community in Columbia, Pennsylvania. She was 94 years old and had been a professed member of the Adorers of the Blood of Christ for 78 years.

Sister Helen was born on September 11, 1924 in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. She was the youngest of six children of the late Joseph Panci and Anna Kubis Panci and the youngest child in a foster family of nine. Sister Helen made her first vows on August 12, 1941 and her final vows on August 12,

25Jan

Government Shutdown Meltdown

By Sister Michelle Woodruff, ASC

We who serve the native people of Northwestern New Mexico welcomed the news of a break in the protracted and painful partial government shutdown.

I am not only an Adorer, but a full-time community health nurse employed by the federal Indian Health Service in Crownpoint, New Mexico, in the remote Four Corners region of the U.S., where Colorado, Utah, Arizona and New Mexico meet.

I serve the many health needs of the Navajo people who come for care to the Crownpoint Healthcare Facility, run by IHS.

23Jan

Vietnam Mission

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.

14Jan

Nurse, Therapist and Courageous ‘Sis Ann’ Dies at 91

Sister Ann (Elizabeth Frances) Connolly, ASC, died on Saturday, January 12, 2019 at the Ruma Center, Ruma, Illinois. She was 91 years old and had been a professed member of the Adorers of the Blood of Christ for 72 years.

Sister Ann was born on May 15, 1927 in Assumption, near Pana, Illinois. She was the only child of the late Ernest and Catherine (Shannon) Connolly. Sister Ann made her first vows on July 1, 1946 and her final vows on July 1, 1951.

She earned her R.N. from St. John’s Hospital School of Nursing in Springfield,

10Jan

Sister Mary Matthew Janciar, ASC: ‘Beloved Mother’ to Families She Served Dies

Sister Mary Matthew Janciar, ASC, a teacher and parish minister, died on the Feast of the Epiphany, January 6, 2019 at St. Anne’s Retirement Community in Columbia, Pennsylvania. She was 93.

Bridgit Janciar, the older of two daughters of Slovakian immigrants, Emil and Theresa Janciar, was born November 3, 1925, in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. When her mother became a widow and remarried, Bridgit gained four step-siblings.

She entered the Adorers of the Blood of Christ on August 29, 1939 as a high school student in Columbia, Pennsylvania, and was received into the Community two years later and given the name Sister Mary Matthew.

10Jan

Sister Mary John Goles, ASC Teacher and Lover of Birds Dies

Sister Mary John Goles, ASC died on the Feast of the Epiphany, January 6, 2019. She was 94 years old and had been a professed member of the Adorers of the Blood of Christ for 75 years.

She was born Mary Valeria on February 19, 1924, in Steelton, Pennsylvania to John Goles and Catherine (Sestric Vergot) Goles. She was the youngest child in a family of eight children.

Mary Valeria attended St. Joseph Academy in Columbia, Pennsylvania, then asked to enter the Adorers Community.

Under her religious name, Sister Mary John professed first vows on August 12,

07Jan

Advent Practice Continues in New Year

By Sister Regina Siegfried, ASC

All the usual Advent themes I’ve pondered for years — waiting, preparing, longing, coming, expecting, light and dark —just weren’t speaking to me during the first week of the past Advent.

Perhaps I was over-thinking and over-praying these formerly cherished refrains. The richness in blogs and online reflections eluded me.

Believing that God is always present, is everywhere, and already in the waiting, preparing, and longing, I developed a new practice.

God holds all people and all countries with infinite love and tenderness,

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