St. Joseph's Corner: Morning Meditation

Morning Meditation: "Come, you who are blessed by My Father.  Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.  For I was hungry and you gave Me food, I was thirsty and you gave Me drink, a stranger and you welcomed Me, naked and you clothed Me, ill and you cared for Me, in prison and you visited Me." (Matthew 25: 34-36) "The blessing of those in extremity came upon me." (Job 29: 13)

St. Joseph's Corner: Morning Meditation

Morning Meditation: "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and decay destroy, and thieves break in and steal.  But store up treasures in Heaven, where neither moth decay not destroys, nor thieves break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be." (Matthew 6:19-21) "He who has compassion on the poor lends to the Lord, and He will repay Him for his good deed." (Proverbs 19:17)

St. Joseph's Corner: Morning Meditation

Morning Meditation: "Notice how the flowers grow.  They do not toil or spin.  But I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of them.  If God so clothes the grass in the field that grows today and is thrown into the oven tomorrow, will He not much more provide for you, O you of little faith? (Luke 12: 27-28) God is faithful and will not let you be tried beyond your strength." (1 Corinthians 10:13)

St. Joseph's Corner: Morning Meditation

Morning Meditation: "With a column of cloud You led Your people by day, and by night with a column of fire.  To light the way of their journey, the way in which they must travel.  On Mount Sinai You came down, You spoke with them from Heaven; You gave them just ordinances, firm laws, good statues, and commandments." (Nehemiah 9: 12-13) "Come, follow Me!" (Mk 10:21) 

News and Events: Awards

Congratulations to John Barkett and Bonnie Washburn. They were recognized today by LeadingAge, KY for their dedication to caring for the Elderly.

 Bonnie began working at Taylor Manor while still in high school.  She began as a nurse aid but quickly discovered that her God given talent was for dietary.  She worked her way up through her hard work and dedication and was promoted her to Dietary Manager.  Bonnie is the first one to come to work, often arriving at 3:00 a.m. Fresh from the oven cookies, milk shakes to order, breakfast at midnight, or ice cream for supper, all the hallmarks of resident centered culture change has been a part of the caring concern of Bonnie Washburn for many, many years.  Before culture change became popular, Bonnie knew that to care for a person meant more than merely providing meals.  It means making  memories.

Bonnie hard ar work in the kitchen.

 Service and caring for others is the hallmark of the life of John Barkett.  As a young man, he joined the army and served his country.  His career in the Army took him around the world and into many dangerous situations.  He served his country with distinction retiring with the rank of Colonel. 

After retiring he still felt called to serve and to care for others, so he began to volunteer at Taylor Manor in Versailles Ky. beginning in 1999.  Since that time he has spent hours and hours helping the Taylor Manor family.  There is no job too small or too big for John.   From getting a sweater for someone who is cold to negotiating the purchase of a new generator, John shows his concern for others on a daily basis.  John spends hours working in the business office often putting in more than the normal 40 hours a week that a paid employee would work.

John Barkett and Doris in the office.

 

News and Events: Sister Mary Thecla

I would like to introduce you to another of the sisters who joined Mother Ellen in founding the Sisters of St. Joseph the Worker.  Sister Mary Thecla was the second of ten children and she was born in Oklahoma.  When she was a year old, the family moved to Kentucky.

Life as one of the oldest daughter in a family of ten children had it's challenges.  She and her sister Ruth had to help their mother with the new babies in the family.  They took turns staying home helping out with the family.  When she decided to enter religious life, she was required to provide her baptism record.  She found out that the church she was baptised in was burned down and all the records were lost.  Fortunately her God parents were still living and were able to provide proof of the Sacrament.

She entered religious life in 1932 and after completing her novitiate she was assigned to cook in various convents of the community.  She joined Mother Ellen in founding the Sisters of St. Joseph the Worker in 1973 and moved to Northern Kentucky.  Soon afterwards Sr. M. Thecla became seriously ill. When she could, she helped in the kitchen. Her first major surgery was February 1974. Then, in June 1977, she was operated on again. In 1978, she was given two years to live. by the grace of God she survived another 9 years. In 1982, after working several years in Walton, she was missioned to Taylor Manor to help care for the retired Sisters. Unfortunately, her illness gradually grew worse and she died on August 30, 1987 at the age of 76.

After her death, this prayer was found in her room written in her own handwriting: My Jesus it is good for me to suffer from time to time. At such times I find myself realizing how weak I am, and how little I can depend on the people and things on which I relied. In such trials teach me to lean on You, to look to Your plan for me, and to consider the beauty of all earthly satisfactions. You deserve my loyalty, because of what you have done for me. Let me often consider that the night is quickly forgotten when morning comes. With my eyes on You, My risen King of Glory, let me go through the darkness of earth as one looks beyond it."
 

St. Joseph's Corner: Blessed Antonio Rosmini's Meditation

Blessed Antonio Rosmini

1797- 1855

Priest, Founder of the Institute of Charity

The study of perfection consists in always keeping our thoughts and affections on what is eternal; if we fix them on transitory things, our resolutions can have no stability.

"While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen" (2 Corinthians 4: 18). 

St. Joseph's Corner: Blessed Antonio Rosmini's Meditation

Blessed Antonio Rosmini

1797 - 1855

Priest, Founder of the Institute of Charity

At any cost let us do our duty; at any cost be faithful to God; let all else perish provided we advance in perfection and in the imitation of Jesus Christ, Who entered into glory by means of suffering.

"Be thou faithful unto death; and I will give thee the crown of life"

(Revelation 2: 10).

St. Joseph's Corner: Blessed Antonio Rosmini's Meditation

Blessed Antonio Rosmini

1797 - 1855

Priest, Founder of the Institute of Charity

Jesus Christ has no need of us: His call is pure mercy.  A man may lose his soul through one day's delay in corresponding to divine grace.

"Today if you shall hear His voice, harden not your heart" 

(Hebrew 3: 15).

St. Joseph's Corner: Blessed Antonio Rosmini's Meditation

Blessed Antonio Rosmini

1797 - 1855

Priest, Founder of Institute of Charity

Pray always, not merely at stated times, and have a stock of ejaculatory prayers to be said often during the day.  These should be adapted to the end you have in view, and to the various circumstances in which you are placed.  "We ought always to pray, and not to faint" (Luke 18: 1).

St. Joseph's Corner: Blessed Antonio Rosmini's Meditation

Blessed Antonio Rosmini

1797 - 1855

Priest, Founder of Institute of Charity

A man who bears in mind that God is everywhere present, beholding His every action, will hardly ever sin, conscious as he will be of having at every moment a Companion of infinite dignity, authority, justice, and holiness.

"Blessed are all they that fear the Lord, that walk in His ways" (Psalm 128: 1).

News and Events: Alzheimers

A couple weeks ago, the staff and family members of Taylor Manor participated in a walk to raise money for Alzheimer's research.  Alzheimer is a tough disease for both the family and the person who suffers from it. For the person who has been diagnosed with it, they have to face the fact that they will have to give up many things bit by bit.

 The families also have to come to grips with the fact the life will change.  And any change is difficult.  But suffering is a part of our lives, from the beginning to the end.  Everyone suffers in some way or another at various times in their lives.  Our natural tendency is to avoid suffering.  We try to change things to remove whatever is hurting us.  We take pain medications, we go to doctors and all that is good.  We should take care of our health and follow our doctor's advice.

But suffering can be a great teacher too.  Suffering can teach us to patience both with those who are ill but also with ourselves.  It can teach us charity as we try to take care of our loved one who is sick. It isn't easy to wake up in the middle of the night to take care of your elderly parent.  But then again, how many times did your parent wake up in the middle of the night to change your diaper and feed you when you were a baby?

Suffering can also teach us humility.  It isn't easy to ask for help and most of us like to think that we are totally independent.  But in reality we all rely on God for our very being.  Our next breath can only happen through the will of God.  So asking for others to help us when we are sick when we would rather be able to do it ourselves will help us to grow spiritually because we will grow in humility.

So pray for the sick and suffering.  Pray also for those who are taking care of the sick.  But also pray that when you are sick you accept it as a grace from God and learn from it.

A Day in the Life: Thinking of Friends

Thinking of Friends...

Thinking of friends is a wonderful way to teach children about compassion and the Corporal Works of Mercy.  The students and families understand about thinking of friends when they are unable to attend school due to a serious illness.  In January 2016, Brooklyn Smith was diagnosed with DIPG.  Brooklyn is in Kindergarten and loves to learn.  When she is unable to attend school, her classmates enjoy making videos for Brooklyn.

A Day in the Life: Meet Sister Margaret Mary

Hello Everyone,

My name is Sister Margaret Mary.  As the saying goes: "A picture speaks a thousand words."  This is how I serve the Lord.  Leave a comment if you know the answer.

News and Events: Eucharistic Congress and golfing

Happy Labor Day!  I hope you are able to spend this day giving thanks to all those who work hard to provide for their families. I know that we associate it with the last weekend for summer fun but I hope you have a chance to say a pray for all who are working or who are trying to find work.  I'm reminded of St. Paul's letter to the Colossians 3:17 "And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, giving thanks to God the Father through him."

This week is the Golf Outing for Saint Joseph Academy. It will be held at the Twin Oaks Golf Club.  There will golfing, of course, but also a Silent Auction and dinner.  Sister Mary Faustina has been practising her golf swing!  Come and join in the fun and support Catholic Education. Registration begins at 10:00 and 10:30 the fun begins with a Gun Shot start.  If you are not a golfer, you are most welcome to join us for dinner and the silent auction. 

I will be joining Sister Patricia Jean at the Eucharistic Congress in Charlotte, N.C. this weekend.  The community will have a table there where we can hand out vocational material and talk to people about religious life.  If you are in the area, we would love to meet you.  Eucharistic Congresses are a wonderful way to enrich your faith.  It is so uplifting to see so many people publically professing their faith.  There is so much to pray for in our world.  During this Year of Mercy, it is even more special to participate in a spiritual work of mercy by praying for others.    

As Saint Mother Theresa said. "It is not how much we do but how much love we put in the doing."