The Cleveland diocese insightfully touched upon a wonderfully enlightening approach to the Catholic faith by opening the doors of various consecrated communities throughout the Cleveland area for a day of visitation. It is invigorating to explore the many faces of the men and women making up the body of the Church, to touch the lives of those giving their lives to the Church. Carol opted to babysit her grandson, so hastily I threw together a ragtag bunch of four to join me on the excursion after a Jubilee mass at St Paul’s celebrating sixty years of service for one of their Poor Clares. The first community, the Evangelizing Sisters of Mary, easily won our hearts with their joy of hosting visitors, imploring the ingestion of food and juices. We watched a video with one of the sisters narrating. The video showed young women entering the order in Uganda. The entering sister’s parents escorted them to the alter before the many gathered. The parents presented their daughter to the Church. The small simple community was supported by a large group of local women excited to assist. The loving sisterly bond easily evident. Men and children of the neighborhood were also present. The three sisters arriving only in 2014 are obviously making a strong impression upon the inner-city neighborhood they have been stationed to minster and evangelize within. A superb way to start the pilgrimage. The next stop, my third visit in three days, resided with the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament. The congregation publishes a scholarly and artistically striking magazine ‘Emmanuel’. A view into their world of superior publishing proved impressive. The graphics studio was an elegant, organized, and minimalist in clutter working space. Sparsely yet finely decorated a captivating painting by one of the Fathers decorated the back wall. The painting depicts St Jean Baptiste, a community church in downtown Manhattan. There was also a finely framed and matted display of many photos of St Peter Julian Eymard positioned horizontally. Black and white reality images of a saint from previous times. The highlight of the tour of the impressive, tastefully, decorated dwelling, a former seminary, was an invitation into their quaint museum of ancient monstrances, chalices, tapestries, and vestments. The final stop was another community of Poor Clares. Time running short, their display of historical photographs was not granted proper attention. Two of the cloistered sisters spoke with us through boundary gates. Their joy to speak with visitors was infectious. They truly were honored and pleased to entertain guest. Both appearing prayerful and contented. The pilgrimage ended appropriately with prayer in the Poor Clares chapel before the exposed Eucharist.
Evangelizing Sisters of Mary
19th century gold gilded vestments crafted in Belgium.
Bust, replica, of St Eymard done by his friend the famous sculptor Rodin, a man he encouraged to pursue his gift of creativity after the artist lost hope in his work.
Poor Clares of Colettine
