{"id":18753,"date":"2023-11-13T09:47:04","date_gmt":"2023-11-13T15:47:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.diocesealex.org\/old\/?p=18753"},"modified":"2023-11-16T11:18:16","modified_gmt":"2023-11-16T17:18:16","slug":"teresians","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.diocesealex.org\/old\/latest-news\/teresians\/","title":{"rendered":"Diocese welcomes Sisters from South America"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\t

(Por la traducci\u00f3n en Espa\u00f1ol, v\u00e9ase abajo.)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n

 <\/p>\n\t

In 2021, Catholic Extension announced they were accepting grant applications to fund a U.S.-Latin American Sisters Exchange Program. The program description from Catholic Extension states the grant “funds religious sisters from Latin American congregations who will come to minister among Latino immigrant populations in a “mission diocese” in the United States and be provided opportunities to develop as leaders and increase their impact and visibility as ministers to marginalized populations.”<\/p>\n

A “mission diocese” may be defined as one which (typically) operates in a rural area with very limited resources. Limited resources may include the number of available clergy to serve in church parishes, the demographics of the area the diocese geographical boundaries, and the reliance on grant funding and other creative ways to pay for diocesan and\/or parish ministries.<\/p>\n

The goal of this initiative is to have ten participating Catholic Extension dioceses that will each host a group of three or four sisters from a particular Latin American congregation that the local bishop has vetted and approved. The sisters will live together as a community and focus their ministry on providing human development services to those that are most in need.<\/p>\n

After consultation with the priests who work with our Hispanic community, Bishop Marshall gave me the green light to submit an application to Catholic Extension for consideration. Thankfully, we have a very good working relationship with Catholic Extension. Each year they support many of our programs with grant funding, so they are aware of our work and commitment to providing the best ministry available to our community. We were optimistic, but knew there are other dioceses who would equally benefit from this opportunity.<\/p>\n

On August 19, 2022, we received notification that our diocese was selected as one of the final ten and approved for grant funding of $500,000 for the 5-year program.<\/p>\n

Our representatives at Catholic Extension paired us with a religious order they researched and believed would be a good fit for both the order and our diocese. We “interviewed” via a Zoom call with Sr. Giselle Gomez, the Provincial of the Teresian Province of Our Lady of Peace and Sr. Maritza Hernandez (where is Sr. Hernandez based?). The call went well and Sr. Giselle and Sr. Maritza scheduled a trip to Alexandria for a face-to-face visit and tour of the parishes we were proposing for the sisters’ ministry.<\/p>\n

Sister Giselle and Sr. Maritza arrived to our diocese on December 17, 2022 for the preliminary meeting. We made sure to give them a nice “Louisiana Welcome”. They toured our diocese and met with Bishop Marshall and others to discuss our needs and how much of an impact a small group of sisters could have in our parish communities. Though we felt good about our meeting, Sister Giselle informed us she was visiting another diocese for a similar meeting\/tour and would make a final decision soon.<\/p>\n

On Christmas Eve 2022, Santa Claus delivered a very special email to me. The email was from Sister Giselle informing me: “after praying, discerning, and consulting with my sisters, we feel that the Spirit is moving us to go to Alexandria…” We were all excited about the news, but the excitement quickly turned to anxiety as we now had to find a place for the sisters to live, a vehicle to drive, and a plan for their ministry.<\/p>\n

It has been my experience when working on projects for the Church, things always work out for the good. Preparing for the sisters’ arrival was no exception. Successfully getting the sisters to Alexandria and equipped for ministry has taken a team of people. A special “Thank You” is extended to Fr. Rusty Rabalais, Julie Bayone, the staff, and parishioners of Our Lady of Prompt Succor in Alexandria for going over-and-beyond all expectations with the offer to renovate the convent on their church grounds and offer it to the diocese to rent for the sisters. Their team spent months cleaning and repairing the building to bring it back to a place worthy to be called a convent. The Diocesan Facilities’ Director assisted with purchasing and assembling new beds and furniture and coordinated delivery of appliances for the convent. The space is now perfect for them and includes a beautiful chapel for prayer and Mass.<\/p>\n

A special thanks also goes to our Immigration attorney who assisted the sisters and diocese with immigration visas, passports and other documents and forms which were required and this process took quite a lot of time to complete.<\/p>\n

On October 23, 2023, Bishop Marshall, and a few others met the sisters at the Alexandria International Airport and were finally able to welcome three Sisters (along with Sr. Giselle, Sr. Maritza and Sr. Beatiz who stayed temporarily to assist the sisters in getting settled) from the Society of St. Teresa of Jesus religious order to the Diocese of Alexandria. Sr. Daira, Sr. Carolina, and Sr. Modesta left their homelands of Nicaragua and Columbia and now live in Alexandria, Louisiana. Their new mission is to minister to our Hispanic communities throughout the diocese for the next five years. This is a tremendous blessing for us, and we are certain they will have a great impact on our communities as they assist our clergy and lay leaders in preparing individuals for receiving the sacraments, offering faith formation programs, and developing lay leaders to evangelize and minister to their community.<\/p>\n

It was a special moment to see the excitement when the sisters saw their new “home” for the first time.<\/p>\n

From volunteers to parish staff members, migration attorney to diocesan staff (including Bishop Marshall), this program highlights the great work we can do when we work together for a common good!<\/p>\nA little about the Society of St. Teresa of Jesus:<\/strong>
\nTheir website (www.stjteresianas.org) states they were founded on June 23, 1876 by Enrique de Oss\u00f3, a Catholic priest, who discovered in Teresa of Jes\u00fas the strength of her spirituality and the capacity of women to evangelize and transform society. Teresa of Jesus, teacher of life and prayer, is the great gift that guides their spirituality and charism. Their mission: “to know and love Jesus and make him known and loved by everyone.”\n

They are present in 22 countries in Africa, America and Europe, where they live their educational evangelizing mission in a many forms. The Church endorses the charisma of the order and recognizes it as an apostolic religious institute of a pontifical right.<\/p>\n

I look forward to periodically reporting on the great work the sisters accomplish. Please keep them in your prayers as they commit the next five years to the Diocese of Alexandria.<\/p>\n\t

La Di\u00f3cesis de Alexandria acoge nuestras Hermanas de Am\u00e9rica Latina.<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\n

En 2021, Catholic Extension anunci\u00f3 que estaba aceptando solicitudes para aplicar al Programa de Intercambio de Hermanas entre Estados Unidos y Am\u00e9rica Latina.\u00a0 En la descripci\u00f3n del programa de Catholic Extension afirma que “financia a hermanas religiosas de congregaciones latinoamericanas que vienen a ejercer su ministerio entre las poblaciones de inmigrantes latinos en una “di\u00f3cesis de misi\u00f3n” en los Estados Unidos y se les proporciona oportunidades para desarrollarse como l\u00edderes y aumentar su impacto y visibilidad como ministras de las poblaciones marginadas”.<\/p>\n

Una “di\u00f3cesis de misi\u00f3n” puede definirse como aquella que (normalmente) opera en una zona rural con recursos muy limitados. Los recursos limitados pueden incluir el n\u00famero de cl\u00e9rigos disponibles para servir en las parroquias de la iglesia, la demograf\u00eda de la zona de los l\u00edmites geogr\u00e1ficos de la di\u00f3cesis, y depender de subvenci\u00f3n econ\u00f3mica u otras formas para pagar los ministerios diocesanos y \/ o parroquiales.<\/p>\n

El objetivo de esta iniciativa es contar con la participaci\u00f3n de diez di\u00f3cesis cat\u00f3licas que acojan a un grupo de tres o cuatro hermanas de una determinada congregaci\u00f3n latinoamericana que el obispo local haya examinado y aprobado.\u00a0 Las hermanas vivir\u00e1n juntas como una comunidad y centrar\u00e1n su ministerio en proporcionar servicios de desarrollo humano a los m\u00e1s necesitados.<\/p>\n

Despu\u00e9s de consultar con los sacerdotes que trabajan con nuestra comunidad hispana, el Obispo Marshall me dio luz verde para presentar una solicitud a Catholic Extension.\u00a0 Afortunadamente, tenemos una muy buena relaci\u00f3n de trabajo con Catholic Extension.\u00a0 Cada a\u00f1o apoyan muchos de nuestros programas con subvenciones, por lo que son conscientes de nuestro trabajo y compromiso para ofrecer el mejor ministerio disponible a nuestra comunidad.\u00a0 \u00c9ramos optimistas, pero sab\u00edamos que hay otras di\u00f3cesis que tambi\u00e9n tendr\u00edan la oportunidad de beneficiarse de este programa.<\/p>\n

El 19 de agosto de 2022, recibimos la notificaci\u00f3n de que nuestra di\u00f3cesis hab\u00eda sido seleccionada como una de las diez finalistas y aprobada para recibir una subvenci\u00f3n de 500.000 d\u00f3lares para el programa de 5 a\u00f1os. Nuestros representantes en Catholic Extension nos asociaron con una congregaci\u00f3n religiosa que creyeron que ser\u00eda una buena opci\u00f3n tanto para ellas como para nuestra di\u00f3cesis.\u00a0 Nos “entrevistamos” a trav\u00e9s de una llamada por Zoom con la provincial, hna. Giselle G\u00f3mez y la hna. Maritza Cisneros de la Provincia Teresiana de Nuestra Se\u00f1ora de la Paz. La llamada fue bien y ambas hermanas programaron un viaje a Alexandria para visitar las parroquias que les propusimos para el ministerio de las hermanas.<\/p>\n

Las hnas. Giselle y Maritza llegaron a nuestra di\u00f3cesis el 17 de diciembre de 2022 para la reuni\u00f3n preliminar. Nos aseguramos de darles una agradable bienvenida a Louisiana.\u00a0 Recorrieron nuestra di\u00f3cesis, se reunieron con el Obispo Marshall y otras personas para discutir nuestras necesidades y el impacto que el peque\u00f1o grupo de hermanas podr\u00eda tener en nuestras comunidades parroquiales.\u00a0 Aunque nos sentimos bien con nuestra reuni\u00f3n, la hna. Giselle nos inform\u00f3 que estaba visitando otras di\u00f3cesis y despu\u00e9s se tomar\u00eda una decisi\u00f3n final.<\/p>\n

En la Nochebuena de 2022, Pap\u00e1 Noel me envi\u00f3 un correo electr\u00f3nico muy especial.\u00a0 El email era de la hna. Giselle inform\u00e1ndome: “despu\u00e9s de orar, discernir y consultar con mis hermanas, sentimos que el Esp\u00edritu nos mueve a ir a Alexandria…”.\u00a0 Todos est\u00e1bamos entusiasmados con la noticia, pero la emoci\u00f3n se convirti\u00f3 r\u00e1pidamente en ansiedad, ya que ahora ten\u00edamos que encontrar un lugar para que las hermanas vivieran, un veh\u00edculo para conducir y un plan para su ministerio.<\/p>\n

Seg\u00fan mi experiencia, cuando trabajo en proyectos para la Iglesia, las cosas siempre salen bien.\u00a0 La preparaci\u00f3n de la llegada de las hermanas no ha sido una excepci\u00f3n. Llevar con \u00e9xito a las hermanas a Alexandria y equiparlas para el ministerio ha requerido un equipo de personas.\u00a0 Un agradecimiento especial al P. Rusty Rabalais, a Julie Bayone, al personal y a los feligreses de Nuestra Se\u00f1ora del Prompt Succor de Alexandria por haber superado todas las expectativas con la oferta de renovar el convento de su iglesia y ofrec\u00e9rselo a la di\u00f3cesis para que lo alquilara a las hermanas. \u00a0Su equipo pas\u00f3 meses limpiando y reparando el edificio para que volviera a ser un lugar digno de llamarse convento. El Director de Instalaciones de la di\u00f3cesis ayud\u00f3 a comprar y montar camas y muebles nuevos y coordin\u00f3 la entrega de electrodom\u00e9sticos para el convento.\u00a0 El espacio ahora es perfecto para ellas e incluye una hermosa capilla para la oraci\u00f3n y la misa.<\/p>\n

Un agradecimiento especial tambi\u00e9n a nuestro abogado de Inmigraci\u00f3n que ayud\u00f3 a las hermanas y a la di\u00f3cesis con los visados de inmigraci\u00f3n, pasaportes, otros documentos y formularios que fueron necesarios, este proceso llev\u00f3 bastante tiempo en completarse.<\/p>\n

El 23 de octubre de 2023, el Obispo Marshall y algunas otras personas se reunieron con las hermanas en el Aeropuerto Internacional de Alexandria para dar la bienvenida a la Di\u00f3cesis de Alexandria a tres hermanas (junto con la Hna. Giselle, la Hna. Maritza y la Hna. Beatriz que se quedaron temporalmente para ayudar a las hermanas a instalarse) de la Congregaci\u00f3n religiosa de la Compa\u00f1\u00eda de Santa Teresa de Jes\u00fas.\u00a0 Las hnas. Daira, Carolina y Modesta dejaron sus tierras natales de Colombia y Nicaragua y ahora viven en Alexandria, Louisiana.\u00a0 Su nueva misi\u00f3n es servir a nuestras comunidades hispanas en toda la di\u00f3cesis durante los pr\u00f3ximos cinco a\u00f1os.\u00a0 Esta es una gran bendici\u00f3n para nosotros, y estamos seguros de que tendr\u00e1 un gran impacto en nuestras comunidades, ya que ayudan a nuestro clero y l\u00edderes laicos en la preparaci\u00f3n de las personas para recibir los sacramentos, ofreciendo programas de formaci\u00f3n en la fe, el desarrollo de l\u00edderes laicos y ministerios para evangelizaci\u00f3n.<\/p>\n

Fue un momento especial ver la emoci\u00f3n cuando las hermanas vieron su nuevo “hogar” por primera vez.<\/p>\n

Desde los voluntarios hasta los miembros del personal de la parroquia, desde el abogado de migraciones hasta el personal diocesano (incluido el obispo Marshall), resaltan que este programa es un gran trabajo que podemos hacer juntos por un bien com\u00fan.<\/p>\n

Un poco sobre la Compa\u00f1\u00eda de Santa Teresa de Jes\u00fas:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Su p\u00e1gina web (www.stjteresianas.org) se\u00f1ala que fueron fundadas el 23 de junio de 1876 por san Enrique de Oss\u00f3, sacerdote cat\u00f3lico, que descubri\u00f3 en Teresa de Jes\u00fas la fuerza de su espiritualidad y la capacidad de la mujer para evangelizar y transformar la sociedad. Teresa de Jes\u00fas, maestra de vida y oraci\u00f3n, es el gran don que gu\u00eda su espiritualidad y carisma.\u00a0 Su misi\u00f3n: “conocer y amar a Jes\u00fas y hacerlo conocer y amar por todos”.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Est\u00e1n presentes en 22 pa\u00edses de \u00c1frica, Am\u00e9rica y Europa, donde viven su misi\u00f3n educativa evangelizadora de m\u00faltiples formas.\u00a0 La Iglesia avala el carisma de la congregaci\u00f3n y la reconoce como instituto religioso apost\u00f3lico de derecho pontificio.<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

(Por la traducci\u00f3n en Espa\u00f1ol, v\u00e9ase abajo.)   In 2021, Catholic Extension announced they were accepting grant applications to fund a U.S.-Latin American Sisters Exchange Program. The program description from…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":18622,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_price":"","_stock":"","_tribe_ticket_header":"","_tribe_default_ticket_provider":"","_tribe_ticket_capacity":"0","_ticket_start_date":"","_ticket_end_date":"","_tribe_ticket_show_description":"","_tribe_ticket_show_not_going":false,"_tribe_ticket_use_global_stock":"","_tribe_ticket_global_stock_level":"","_global_stock_mode":"","_global_stock_cap":"","_tribe_rsvp_for_event":"","_tribe_ticket_going_count":"","_tribe_ticket_not_going_count":"","_tribe_tickets_list":"[]","_tribe_ticket_has_attendee_info_fields":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-18753","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-latest-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.diocesealex.org\/old\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18753"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.diocesealex.org\/old\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.diocesealex.org\/old\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.diocesealex.org\/old\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.diocesealex.org\/old\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=18753"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.diocesealex.org\/old\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18753\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.diocesealex.org\/old\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/18622"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.diocesealex.org\/old\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18753"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.diocesealex.org\/old\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=18753"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.diocesealex.org\/old\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=18753"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}