Closing the Year of Elisabetta

At the close of the Year of Elisabetta, a year in which we have celebrated the life and legacy of our Foundress, Blessed Elisabetta Renzi, we give thanks to God for His enduring love and care for this religious family of the Sisters of Our Lady of Sorrows. In return for that love, we offer to God our very lives and all that we do. We come from the four corners of the world with the desire to become one and to bring others to Christ.

We celebrated the closing Mass at the Cathedral of St. John Berchmans in Shreveport Louisiana. Bishop Michael Duca celebrated the Mass in honor of Bl. Elisabetta Renzi. The Bishop was very grateful for the service that the Sisters of Our Lady of Sorrows offer to the Church especially in the diocese of Shreveport. The Sisters brought gifts to the altar, gifts that represent the richness of diversity that enjoy in our religious family.

We brought to the altar gifts which are symbols of our lands and of our heritage:

• From Bangladesh - the gift of incense, which symbolizes the offering of our lives to the Lord through our religious consecration. May our days be spent for the Lord, and may our love reach all of God’s children.

• From Italy – the gift of the life of our Foundress Elisabetta Renzi. The icon, made by one of our sisters, captures Elisabetta’s two loves: the crucified Jesus, and her passion for teaching Gospel values to young women. In poor rural Italy, Mother Elisabetta responded to God’s invitation to dispel ignorance by educating the young and teaching them Christian values. May our lives be dedicated to the same two loves.

• From the United States – In faith and with courage, the charism of Elisabetta took root in Louisiana thanks to the vision and fortitude of thirteen women who left their homeland and came to this country to teach minority children. The history book of the Louisiana mission is a testament to all the sisters who have preceded us, to those who are now our wisdom people, as well as to all who have joined our religious family here in Louisiana. May we never waiver from following the Lord who has called us.

• From Zimbabwe – We bring to the altar a drum, as a symbol of song and praise, of rhythm and dance. We celebrate the creativity and the joyfulness of a people who, through the beautiful gift of music, express praise and thanksgiving, worship and awe for God’s beautiful creation. May our lives be a song of joy and thanksgiving to a God whose love is boundless.

• From the Philippines – This tropical flower symbolizes the beauty and colorfulness of the people of the Philippine islands, their faith, their resilience, and their courage. May we continue to bring about peace and justice by the way we live gospel values, and may we never tire of witnessing to the preferential love of Jesus for the poor and needy, even in the midst of difficulties.

The Charism of Mother Elisabetta has taken root in several parts of the world where the Sisters of Our Lady of Sorrows have been called to minister. We bring this small plant to the altar as a symbol of our religious family. This young plant will need nurturing and care so that it may grow into a strong, well rooted plant. It is our turn now to see to its growth, and to ensure that those who follow us will receive the gift of the charism in its fullness.

With the gifts of bread and wine, we offer to God our life as a Congregation, the grace filled past of this religious family and its future full of hopes and challenges. May our faithfulness to God be our thanksgiving.