My sister, Sue, recently gifted Sister Mary Alyce Koval and I to a vacation to Loreto, a small Mexican town on the Sea of Cortez near Baja, Calif.
A full week of sunny days in the 70s is just what we needed.
Unscheduled days spent outdoors while being immersed in the culture of the people renewed and refreshed us. In addition to the hospitality Sue provided, she was also an excellent tour guide.
We visited the world of the 1697 Jesuit Mission, where there was a 300 to 400-year-old olive tree (see the picture below!). On the calm water of Magdalene Bay, we were so excited to see mother Grey Whales with their babies. Another day on the water, our boat took us to the world of sea lions.
Thank you, Sue, for opening this magical world to us!
As I reflect on my life, I realize all the ways my family and my Ursuline Sisters of Youngstown Community have shaped my life.
Nearly 500 years ago, St. Angela Merici invited women in northern Italy to form community in order to support each other in contemplation and action. The women did not move into convents, but rather, lived their Christian values in their homes. Ursuline Sisters today usually live together in community, but they also stay connected to their families. So I am part of my Raupple
family as well as my Ursuline family.
Family and Community offer incredible blessings as well as many challenges on life's journey. My
week in Loreto with Sue and Mary Alyce provided time to be full of gratitude for all life.