While living in community at St. Cabrini Residence, Sr. Grace serves as a spiritual animator for the senior Missionary Sisters, providing a monthly reflection day and an annual five day retreat for the Sisters for which she is the co-director. She also holds monthly meetings with the Senior Sisters in order to keep them up to date with province or local news and information.

She is an active participant in the administrative aspects of St. Cabrini Residence through her service on the LSS Committee which addresses the liturgical, spiritual and social life of the MSC community in Philadelphia. She enjoys interacting with the dedicated staff at St. Cabrini Residence as they all work to create a pleasant and prayerful environment for our senior sisters.

Linking her two primary ministries, Sr. Grace coordinates a Prayer Partner program between the senior MSC Sisters in Philadelphia and the retreat groups who spend time at the Cabrini Retreat Center (CRC) in Des Plaines. When in Des Plaines, Sr. Grace, along with the Retreat Center staff, extends hospitality on behalf of the Missionary Sisters to all visitors and guests. The CRC staff and Sr. Grace fulfill the ministry of gentle and loving presence. Each year, Sr. Grace serves as the co-director for the annual preached retreat of senior sisters from various religious congregations. During her days at Cabrini Retreat Center she is available to provide on-going guidance to those who come seeking a deeper relationship with God.

Sr. Grace is an active member of the Organization of Spiritual Directors, and the Spiritual Directors Supervision Group, both of which meet on a regular basis. Additionally, she takes part in the Inter-congregational Collaboration for Retirement Group which meets quarterly.

Given her many activities, it is hard to fathom how she fits any more into her days and yet, she also enjoys her role as a member of the Cabrini Mission Corps Advisory Board. Making visits to homebound neighbors and those confined to nursing homes whenever possible is an important priority for her as well.

Sr. Grace says, ““the Senior MSCs give me life.” In her ministry, she holds fast to a quote by Robert Wicks… “there is nothing as strong as gentleness and there is nothing so gentle as real strength.” She learns much in this regard from the Senior Sisters who demonstrate aging with joy and dignity. Sr. Grace adds that she also learns a great deal about compassion from the laity who staff our organizations; “they teach me about the mission!,” comments Sr. Grace as she smiles.

Sr. Grace continues, “Sometimes it is a challenge to maintain an optimistic outlook, however, where ever I go, I receive life. In my retreat work, it is beautiful to watch people grow over the course of their multi-day retreats.” Fittingly, another of Robert Wicks’ quotations sums up Sr. Grace’s take on the world… “life is not about me. I am about life.”

Yes, Sr. Grace, you are indeed.

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