Apostolic Expedition to Florida!

This June, Sister Marie Therese, Sister Mary Faustina and Sister Rose Marie journeyed once again to Southern Florida! They went to spend a couple weeks with FOCUS missionaries and staff during their summer training at Ave Maria University. FOCUS invites many priests and religious to be present at training, to accompany and help guide the missionaries during these weeks. The summer training provides extensive formation on the spiritual, theological and human levels.

One continual theme in conversations this year, was the missionaries’ surprise at the ways Christ used them to reach others. It wasn’t when they were perfectly prepared and had everything together that students responded most. It was when the missionaries led by example, striving to grow and learn, to live the faith when it’s hard, and to find answers when they have questions. Perhaps that’s one of the most impactful parts of these missionaries’ work, to live as a witness to the joy that is born of the struggle to grow in virtue, in prayer, in living the Christian life.

During training, the Sisters joined the missionaries for classes, small-group discussions, meals, frisbee, prayer, one-on-one meetings, and fun activities like gator watching. It was a joy to be able to teach a little bit about what life as a Religious Sister is like, and to build relationships that we hope will last for years!

On the Feast of Pentecost, the Sisters organized for a group to chant Morning Prayer together, and then head out for a canoe trip. The group was able to canoe on a river that flows into the Gulf, and Manatees had even been seen there that day. It was a great time to build the friendships that are so important for encouraging each other in the spiritual life and apostolic work!

Throughout the year, we hope to continue to support the missionaries by hosting young adult retreats here at Casa Maria, and by collaborating with them on campus. May God continue to bless their work!