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August 13, 2019
(Haledon, NJ) August brought much joy to the Salesian Sisters as 15 women either made or renewed their religious vows. Additionally, four women entered the interprovincial novitiate in Newton, NJ, entrusting themselves to the guidance of novice directress, Sr. Karen Dunn.
The eastern United States and Canadian Province of the Salesian Sisters has experienced a great growth in vocations, attributed to the efforts of the vocation office and the prayers and sacrifices of the Sisters. Following the visit of their Mother General in 2017, Mother Yvonne Reungoat, Sr. Joanne Holloman, provincial, shared with the wider province the reflection Mother Yvonne gave to the Sisters in North Haledon, NJ. Mother Yvonne shared the story of a young Salesian sister who was healed at Lourdes. The Sister experienced an immobilizing spinal problem and entrusted her hope for healing to the intercession of Our Lady and prayers of her sisters. When her superior took her to Lourdes, she admonished the community to practice “perfect charity” in order to add to the strength of their prayers, assuring item that if they kept charity, the Sister would be healed.
Inspired by this story, Mother Yvonne encouraged the North Haledon community to practice perfect charity during the monthly novena to Mary Help of Christians that takes place every 15 th-23th of the month. Sr. Joanne took this further and offered the entire province a monthly, “Charity Challenge”, assuring the Sisters that if they all strive to grow in charity, God would reward their efforts with an increase in vocations.
The many professions, renewals, novices, postulants and aspirants that the province currently boasts are the fruit of the “Charity Challenge” and prayerful sacrifices of the Sisters. There are currently 15 temporary professed Sisters, five novices, five postulants-to-be, and another group of aspirants is anticipated to enter in September.
A video of the full profession ceremony (1 hour) is available to view here.