Our last Sunday Brunch of 2019 was a joyful way to end the year on a good note. Past and present volunteers of Ursuline Sisters of Youngstown ministries joined together at Angela’s Villa Dec. 29. We ate delicious waffles with various toppings, Sister Norma Raupple’s famous “Egg Bake,” had warm coffee and leftover Christmas cookies. In addition to enjoying the brunch food, we spent time talking and laughing about our favorite memories at Angela’s Villa and time spent volunteering with the ministries.
We were fortunate to have several of our past volunteers, including Melissa, Justin, Emily and Jenna, who were visiting home for the holidays. Along with them, current volunteers and friends Sydney, Marta, and Melissa joined the group. It was a great opportunity to update each other on our past semesters and reconnect with community.
Sister Norma lead us in a small discussion from a prayer called, “Follow the Star.” The prayer was a reflection of the gift of light from God, our Father:
“Come, follow the star. Let it show you things that perhaps you would have missed had it not been for the Light...Let it quiet your mind and heal your soul. Let it open you to the joy of being starlight...Take your gift of love and decorate all of life with it...You, Lord, are our light. Your promise blazes through all time...Come, be my light of everlasting love.”
It was a joyful prayer, calling us to the present moment and encouraging us to use the gifts the Father has given to each of us, gifts which bring the light into areas of darkness. It reminds us of our own unique ways to freely emulate light in times of doubt, worry and brokenness. The Ursuline Sisters community is a beaming source of this light, and we are blessed to have our volunteers witness and share to this light in their daily lives.
We continue to pray that the Father reveals more of His light to us, to lighten the path to His path, and to opens our eyes to the ways we can become beacons of light to all of those we encounter this next year. Lord, let your light shine within us!