Сестра Джейн Мэри Брэдеш делится мыслями о включении в литургии, поиске надежды и необходимости обновлять свою духовную жизнь

Sr. Jane Marie Bradish Jane Marie Bradish is a member of the School Sisters of St. Francis, an international congregation based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She grew up in a religiously mixed family, something she believes is a great blessing and helps her navigate our diverse world. Her ministry is in secondary education. Having taught mathematics, computer programming and theology, she is currently the academic programmer for a large, urban, multicultural high school. In 2016 she received the Project ADAM Karen Smith Award from Children's Hospital of Wisconsin for implementing comprehensive CPR-AED (cardiopulmonary resuscitation and automated external defibrillator) programs for the school community. By this Author When liturgy welcomes us — and when it doesn't Sr. Jane Marie Bradish was invited to address a local parish group. The topic? Inclusion and exclusion as experienced in liturgy. "Don't jump to conclusions," she writes. "This was not liturgical bashing." Learning to find God in the both/and "I'm called to pay attention to when I want to be close and when I'd prefer God stand back a bit," writes Sr. Jane Marie Bradish. Finding signs of resurrection all around us, Easter or not With a lot happening in the world that can easily pull us into a gloom-and-doom mentality, I decided to make a conscious effort to look for resurrection before Easter. Big things, small things, whatever I could find. Boom. Down I went. Sr. Jane Marie Bradish fell and broke her wrist. "As days moved into weeks and now months, I've gotten more comfortable with reaching out and asking for things," she writes. Do we wait in joyful hope — really? "Less news, toddlers in snow, and bulbs sprouting (even without flowers) started me on my path to living in joyful hope," writes Sr. Jane Marie Bradish. "How to keep the momentum became the next focus." 800 years later, St. Francis' 'Canticle of Creation' still speaks to us Francis' canticle was groundbreaking in its embrace of all creation as equal to humanity. Today, it reads as a call to embrace our fragile universe and earth and all its inhabitants. Transfiguration calls us to action "I realize I can no longer simply exist in my little bubble of the world, unconcerned about what is happening around me," Sr. Jane Marie Bradish writes. Have you met Luce? "Everything about Luce carries symbolism. Her raincoat is the color of the Vatican flag, her shoes are covered in the mud of pilgrimage, she carries a walking stick and wears a World Mission-style rosary." How my kittens teach me to 'paws' and reflect It's been nearly two years since kittens Snowdrop and Stardust joined the household, and what an adventure it has been. The lessons they are teaching me are multiple. Do you hear what I hear? The world in which I live is fast-paced and loud. Connections with some meaning are rare. Seeing, hearing, knowing and listening often don't factor into the day-to-day reality. All saints, all souls and all 'everybody else'? Saints, check. Souls, check. But there's a third group I'm not really sure what to do with. I knew I needed to explore how I remember those who I didn't like or didn't get along with or those who hurt me (directly or not). Sometimes life needs an upgrade "Like it or not, everything needs to be upgraded from time to time," writes Sr. Jane Marie Bradish. She shares ways she has tried to upgrade her daily personal prayer life. Transfiguration is a call to radical change We all need the reassurance offered in the story of Jesus' transfiguration, that "you are my beloved." If we hear that message, do we believe it? And how do we act because of it? When competition is no longer fun, try collaboration Must everything be a competition? "What has happened to collaboration?" writes Sr. Jane Marie Bradish. "Or, maybe even more rare, simple sharing?" 3 cheers for Ordinary Time "Ordinary Time, with its routines and generally less expectations, can be a great gift." writes Sr. Jane Marie Bradish. "I find we can often encounter God in new, unusual, unexpected and much-needed ways." 'The needs of the times are the will of God' It's 150 years later, and the School Sisters of St. Francis are still here. We are still meeting the needs of the times, what we refer to as the will of God. A lot has changed, but the heart of who we are remains the same. Learn to say no Many find saying no a struggle. "No" isn't easy. I started with small things. And I keep practicing. Does anyone know where the love of God goes? There are times when our world seems to be falling apart at the seams. All the good being done seems to do nothing. And so, the haunting song question becomes my question, too. I have no answer. What heals your heart? Hearts need healing, not just after physical cardiac events. We've all been there, feeling not quite right on an emotional, psychological, mental, physical or spiritual level. My 'left field' prayer experiences I've had colleagues, friends and even GSR editors tell me something along the lines of "You take a left field approach." I take that as a compliment. It serves me well when traditional prayer isn't working for me.