By Sister Rebecca Sullivan, CSFN
The sisters in Holy Family Province were asked to submit their name if they were interested in attending the opening celebration for our 150th anniversary of our founding in Rome, the first Sunday of Advent, which was on December 1, 2024.
“What are the odds of my going?” I thought as I submitted my name. “It was worth a try.” A few weeks later after a Sunday dinner in Des Plaines, a box was brought in containing the names of 18 sisters. Of those, three names would be drawn. We were all eager to hear who would be making this trip to Rome.
“What are the odds of my going?” I thought as I submitted my name. “It was worth a try.” A few weeks later after a Sunday dinner in Des Plaines, a box was brought in containing the names of 18 sisters. Of those, three names would be drawn. We were all eager to hear who would be making this trip to Rome. As the names were pulled, my name was called along with the names of Sisters Clare Marie Butt and Daniela Bronka. I sat stunned; I was going to Rome on this wonderful trip for our jubilee celebration. This awesome adventure started the day before Thanksgiving. I flew from Chicago to Philadelphia and met up with Sisters Clare Marie and Daniela. From there, we all traveled together to Rome. We had a chance to rest before the noon meal. When we walked into the dining room, the U.S. delegation — which also included Sisters Janice Fulmer, Janice Marie Blados, and Thea Krause, who had not yet arrived — was treated to a Thanksgiving meal Roman style. It was a very thoughtful gesture on the sisters’ part and we enjoyed the meal very much. 
Friday morning, there was a knock on my door. Sister Janice Marie asked if I would like to go shopping with her and Sister Janice Fulmer. As we rode into Rome, we passed many stores that had signs in their window that said, “Black Friday Sales,” or, “Black Friday Week Sales.” I was shocked. I said, “Wait, I’m in Rome, not in the U.S. They have Black Friday Sales, and they don’t even celebrate Thanksgiving.” Goes to show we live in a global world. We had a fun day exploring the many shops in the shadows of Vatican City. After our two days of resting and getting used to the time difference, the real reason for our trip began Saturday morning. Those of us (the other sisters representing our other provinces or countries where we ministered) who wished took part in a shortened version of “Walking in the Footsteps of Mother Foundress.” We visited several churches she would pray at and reflect on her newly established Congregation. We had Mass at Santa Maria Maggiore with Father Jordan Turano, OP in English. This was the church where Mother Foundress asked for graces needed for our American roots to be blessed and fruitful. We met at Machiavelli (our Motherhouse) with the sisters living there, then met the sisters not on the walking tour for a pizza lunch. There were many pizzas to choose from; who would have thought mashed potatoes on pizza could taste so good? Later as I reflected on the day, it amazed me as I walked through the city — not for the first time — that a city could be that old and have seen so much history and survived it all, and to know our Mother Foundress walked these same streets just boggles my mind.
The chapel was full, and the singing was touching; the choir consisted of sisters from around the world. In all, it was a very prayerful experience, a day I will cherish for a long time.
The big day came to celebrate the opening of our jubilee year! Sunday, December 1, 2024, started out on the cool side and sunny. Mass started by the opening of our own “Holy Doors,” the doors that open directly from the chapel to the outdoors. Cardinal Grzegorz Rys celebrated the Mass in Italian. For those of us who didn’t know Italian, it was translated into English and Polish simultaneously with the help of technology and two very talented sisters. The chapel was full, and the singing was touching; the choir consisted of sisters from around the world. In all, it was a very prayerful experience, a day I will cherish for a long time. After, we were invited for a festive lunch. The food was delicious and the conversations were lively. We ended the day in the evening with Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament with praise and worship music.
On Monday, we boarded a bus and went to Loreto. This trip almost didn’t happen for me. The schedule for the day said we would leave promptly at 6:00 a.m. Well, the night before I set my alarm for 5:00 a.m. The next morning, I woke up and the clock said 5:52 a.m. Why didn’t the alarm go off? I dressed and grabbed my coat, shoes, and the bag containing my breakfast and ran. As I ran out the door dropping my shoes, the image of Maria Van Trapp running through the abbey because she was late for prayers popped into my head. Both the front and back doors of the bus were open, and I slipped into the back door. The clock on the bus said 6:08 a.m. and a second headcount was conducted — all were accounted for and off we went. After I put my shoes on and caught my breath, I pulled out my phone. The alarm said 5:00 p.m., not a.m. Thank you, guardian angel, for waking me up. The trip going and coming was mostly in the dark, but once the sun rose, the scenery was awe inspiring; the Alps were covered in snow. Loreto was an important place for Mother Foundress to pray as she sorted out what the image of the community would be. I wasn’t sure what to expect when I walked into the Holy House; it was much smaller than I thought it would be. Nonetheless, to stand in a holy place that is centuries old and touching its walls was an awesome experience. Again, the thought of our Blessed Foundress in this very spot was mind boggling. Yet in a way, I felt a closer connection with her.
Yet another busy day awaited on Tuesday, December 3. For those of us who wanted to go, there was a private guided tour of St. Peter’s Basilica with Father Waldemar Turek. The tour was about an hour-and-a-half long and was interesting. Sister Karolina was again our translator, but most of the time it was hard to hear because of so many people in the Basilica. Such a rich history within those walls is amazing; if only the walls could talk. After, we took public transportation to St. Bartholomew Church.
In 1999, then-Pope John Paul II dedicated this church to honor all the modern martyrs of the Church. He wanted the people to know ordinary people can become saints. We toured the museum and looked at all the displays of second class relics of the martyrs. A second-class relic is something used and/or created by a person who was declared a martyr. It was touching to see all the personal items and stories behind them. Later, there was a solemn prayer service to enshrine the relic representing Blessed Stella and Her Ten Companions. The relic was a tabernacle curtain made by one of the sisters. This was another honor for our sisters who died doing a courageous act.
After a late night, we had an early departure on public transportation at 5:50 a.m. This was to be the last of our great adventures that week. We were on our way to Vatican City for a private audience with Pope Francis. Once we arrived at the appointed gate, we waited longer than planned because the Pope had a meeting with a diplomat from another country. We didn’t mind; we were just excited to be there. We waited yet again in the Paul VI Audience Hall. Here, we found ourselves on the platform where the Pope sits during his indoor audience. The hall looked much different from this angle. Finally, we were ushered into a private room big enough for our large group.
He went on to say, “I pray, then, that your celebrations will help the members of your Congregation, and all who assist in its various apostolates, to grow in contemplative trust in the Incarnate Son of God, especially in the Blessed Sacrament and in the people you serve.”
When Pope Francis finally entered, we were very excited to be in the same room as him. He spoke to us in Italian, but we had his words printed in English at our place. He congratulated us on beginning our Congregation’s 150th anniversary celebration at the start of a new liturgical year. He went on to say, “I pray, then, that your celebrations will help the members of your Congregation, and all who assist in its various apostolates, to grow in contemplative trust in the Incarnate Son of God, especially in the Blessed Sacrament and in the people you serve.” Toward the end of his address, he said, “May your communities always be ‘thresholds’ in and through which those families that are the focus of your charism can find refuge, hope, and peace in Christ our Savior.” After he finished speaking to us, we were allowed to come forward and personally greet him. My mind was blank as I took my turn to greet him. I was so nervous when it was my turn; I mumbled it was an honor to meet him, and I walked away. As I walked away, I thought, “I’m never going to wash my hand again,” but then I said to myself that could be yucky, so I better wash my hand.
I left Rome filled with new hope that our Congregation is still on the right path after 150 years. The spirit of Mother Foundress lives in each of us, her spiritual daughters. Yes, she might do things differently if she were still among us yet. But in a way, I guess that’s what goes through a parent’s mind. Did I get my message across? Are they hearing what I’m saying or am I talking to a brick wall? Is there something else I should have done? I think she would be happy to see all we have done in the last 150 years, that we are still working to make the world a better place to be by spreading the Kingdom of God wherever we go and support families the best we can. May God continue to bless us for another 150 years.
If you enjoyed reading about this special opportunity for Sisters to nourish their hearts through time gathered as an International community in prayer and celebration, and you would like to help other Sisters experience this opportunity, please consider donating here. May we bring the spirit of Nazareth into every heart and home!
