Irene - Goodnight

Several weeks ago, I said “God always calls our Sisters home in threes”.  WRONG – the God of Surprises came to call again – Sr. Irene Connelly, at 2:20 pm on Easter Sunday. Immediately came to mind the old song “Irene Goodnight Irene…Irene Goodnight”.  Better to sing “Irene come home Irene, Irene come home”.  Alleluia.

Irene liked to call her own shots – even as death approached, Irene let her family and Sisters know that she was ready for the journey and looked to celebrating Easter with her Risen Lord.  Our Chaplain commented during his homily that “If Irene had come to the empty tomb and seen the clothes scattered about, she would have asked “Who left this mess?” and she would go about folding the clothes.”

May 1^st is the Feast of St. Joseph the Worker, surely one of Irene’s favourite patrons. As a true Sister of St. Joseph, Irene took to heart the word “service”, she reached out in many ways, from direct service to her Sisters and Family to ushering at the theatre in Windsor and Detroit, singing in a choir and playing the harmonica. Like St. Joseph, she laboured with love. On Easter Sunday, I’m sure St. Joseph was in the welcoming party!

“Welcome home Irene, welcome home!  Would you play us a little tune?”  The celebration began and continues for eternity. Sr. Irene - pray for us!

Sr. Barbara Vaughan

The Easter Challenge

You believe because you can see. "Happy are those who have not seen and yet believe." (John 20:29)

Every year it happens: earth shakes her sleepy head, still a bit wintered and dull, and feels new life stirring.

Every year cocoons give up their treasures, fresh shoots push through brown leaves, seemingly dead branches shine with green, and singing birds find their way home.

Every year we hear the stories: empty tomb, surprised grievers, runners with news and revelation, unexpected encounters, conversations on the road, tales of nets filling with fish, and breakfast on a seashore.

And every year the dull and dead in us meets our Easter challenge:

• To be open to the unexpected,
• To believe beyond our security,
• To welcome God in every form,

And trust in our own greening.

Joyce Rupp

From Out of the Ordinary, Copyright 2000 by Joyce Rupp. Used by permission of Ave Maria Press. All rights reserved.