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Join us January 23 to January 30, 2022 at the many planned events to celebrate the life and legacy of Mary Ward, her inspiration and continued presence within the Loretto Community. To register for individual events, download the Events PDF (below)

Join us via Zoom on Thursday January 27, 2022 for Beyond Spiritual Ecumenism: An Ecumenical Spirituality our annual Teresa Dease Lecture presented by Dr. Susan K. Wood, SCL (Regis College) To register: https://bit.ly/3fgeLM1

An Awareness Examen Prayer

May the gift of joy fill your days this Christmas season and all through the New Year. Merry Christmas from the Loretto Sisters

Child Labour refers to the exploitation of children through any form of work that deprives children of their childhood, interferes with their ability to attend regular school, and is mentally, physically, socially, and morally harmful. It includes child abuse, exploitation, bodily harm, child marriage, and use of child soldiers. Watch how Loreto schools in India raise awareness to end Child Labour: Video 1 and Video 2. A prayer to end child labour

Adventus With expectant waiting we anticipate your coming. Come close to us, Lord, come very close. Come, Alpha and Omega, who is from before the ages. Come, Son of Joseph and Son of Mary, who went down to Nazareth to be obedient to them. Come, Morning Star, who named the stars. Come, carpenter from Nazareth, who knows the smell of planed wood. Come, Beloved Son of God, who knows the heart of God. Come, Son of Man, who knows the hearts of God’s people. Come, Lord of Life and Prince of Peace. Come, Dayspring and Rising Sun. Come, Wonderful Counsellor. Come Emmanuel, God with us; God very close to us. Amen. Ged Johnson/CAFOD Artwork by Susan Daily, ibvm

Harnessing the potential of human mobility On December 18th, 2021, the world will observe the United Nations' International Migrants Day. This event celebrates the courageous spirit of the 272 million migrants across the world who have overcome adversity to seek out a better life for themselves and their families. As the world grows increasingly interconnected it is vital to recognize the importance of collaboration and cooperation between nations, and to engage in the open dialogue that makes this process possible. Who are migrants? The United Nations classifies migrants as persons who move away from their place of usual residence, whether within a country or across an international border, temporarily or permanently, and for a variety of reasons. This definition can include persons who have moved for work, international students, and those who must move out of necessity rather than choice, among others. Learn more The Migrant Rights Network is taking action across the country to build a people’s movement for full immigration status for all. Prayer of Migrant Workers Dear Lord, source of hope and our salvation, guide me as I travel, lead me on the right path, and never let me depart from You. Grant me a safe journey from the home I leave behind to my destination. May I find true friends as well as a decent and rewarding job. May I enjoy the beauty of the place and may I appreciate the grandeur of Your creation. Watch over me and leave me safely back to home. Keep me away from harm and danger. Spare me from embarrassment and humiliation. Deliver me from scandal and shame. Watch over those whom I leave behind. Protect my family and loved ones while I am away. Keep us always safe in the palm of Your hands. Watch over all of us though we live far apart. With Your grace and blessing, may we see each other in the future: to enjoy once again each other’s company; to listen to our own life stories; and to accompany one another on the road that leads to You. In Jesus’ name. AMEN.

The Mary Ward Centre team warmly invites you to participate in our upcoming Advent reflection series, Walking the Path of Truth and Reconciliation. This virtual event is a collaboration between the Mary Ward Centre, the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Loretto Sisters), Loretto Maryholme, and the Sisters of Our Lady of the Missions (RNDM). Please join us on Saturday evenings during Advent (Nov. 20/27, Dec. 4/11/18) at 6:30pm CST / 7:30pm EST on Zoom as we journey together through the Advent resource developed by the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops based on the phases of the Sacrament of Reconciliation - Examination, Confession, Repentance, Reparation, Reconciliation - paralleled with Truth and Reconciliation themes. Register for the journey

Expectant God The heavens can no longer hold your abundant love, So you pour out the gift of your embodied self Relinquishing the beauty of your majesty, To adorn the pale colours of our humanity. Choosing to enter into this world in a place of scarcity and need. Reveal to us this hidden world of poverty, of refugees, of suffering. As you choose this as the place of your birth Let us choose this to be the place of our rebirth. Rebuild us, Transform us, Make us anew. We ask this through Christ our Lord, Amen. Kieran O'Brien/CAFOD Artwork by Susan Daily, ibvm

God of mercy, help us to listen to your voice, a voice that speaks of peace to all people. Let the sound resonate within us, until a whisper becomes a shout which cannot be ignored. Move us with your love, so that our actions echo your peace, and we may bring tidings of comfort and joy to those touched by conflict. Fill us with your hope, O Lord, and quiet the fear and hatred which divides us, as we seek to build a future together, of true and lasting peace. We ask this through Christ our Lord, Prince of Peace, Amen. Catherine Gorman/CAFOD Artwork by Susan Daily, ibvm

Wake us up Lord! God of Salvation, Wake us up Lord! The night is nearly over. Let us begin our Advent journey. Move us from our lives Of greed and selfishness, From our globalized world Of inequality and exploitation, To your kingdom Of righteousness and mercy. To a transformed world, Where peace is built on understanding not weapons, The poor are empowered to live their lives to the full, Businesses are built on need not greed And your Creation is nurtured not abused. Wake us up Lord! Let us live as people of the light. Amen. Sue Cooper/CAFOD Artwork by Susan Daily, ibvm

Celebrate Advent each day through prayer, reflection or active participation. Download the calendar: