Newsletter #21 - November Wishes
Dear friends of M.A.R.Y.,
Autumn is turning to Winter, Ordinary Time is turning to Advent. Here in the El Dorado forest, we nuns think of all of you with gratitude. The proceeds from the Auxiliary Luncheon on September 28th were generous and abundant! Thank you for so kindly supporting the efforts of all the Auxiliary Board members and all the volunteer workers who produced the luncheon. May your reward from the Lord be everlasting!
We have a new outdoor stairway leading from our driveway down to the Villa, thanks to all of you. Discussions will be starting for other possible developments like an outdoor Rosary Walk. Meanwhile, you’re like Santa’s helpers, assisting us with repairs to our commercial generator, our roof, and our well/water system.
It is a grace for us to have you in our lives, and we profoundly thank you for your attention to us. We have a new postulant, and several aspirants, and all of our new members and “hopefuls” are grateful to you too. During these colder shorter days, we are affected like many of you are by the power outages “gifted” to us by PG&E. It’s good to remember that although PG&E can turn off the electricity, they cannot affect the power of the One Who will come to us in the weakness of an Infant. Let us look forward confidently to the coming of the Son of God, with unswerving allegiance to Him and all the truths that He has revealed to us.
Happy Advent! Viva Cristo Rey!
Mother Mary Bethany and Sisters
Auxiliary News
Artist Marykate MacEgan with her 2019 painting for the Auction, with the buyers Mr. and Mrs. Vito Amurao.
With Thanksgiving only two days away, let us take a moment to count our blessings. First, I am grateful for all of you! Your support of our fundraiser luncheon is overwhelming. Because of everyone’s hard work and generosity, we were able to raise $19,000.00 for the Sisters this year!!! I wish to thank everyone who worked on the luncheon, starting with Michael Ochoa and his team of Knights of Columbus from St. Mel’s Parish. The food was delicious! I would also like to thank our chairpersons: Toni Collins and Connie and Bella Torres for the Auction; Henry Luckie for the Raffle; Ben and Carla Pelka and Gary and Brenda McCollum for the finances and MC and helping in so many ways; Eileen Fox and Pat Boynton for managing the Quilt drawing; Dave Fox and Torres for selling tickets; Robin and Mark Van Hook for Publicity and manning our Auxiliary Table, and Pat Rocha for making the very popular rosary bracelets; Barbara Sloan for making the Holy Face Kits; and Marykate MacEgan for the flowers and Table Decorations. I also wish to thank Dave Leatherby and Leatherby’s Ice Cream Parlor for providing the nice sherbet treat for our dessert!
And I wouldn’t have gotten very far without the continuous support and help from my sweet husband Jim: Thank you!!!
As Mother said in her letter above, we would like to move forward on the next project, the Rosary Walk. This project was a favorite dream of our dear Mother Christine, who passed away several years ago. The Walk would be constructed in the forest below the St. John Villa, and be accessible for all visitors since it would not be inside the cloister. If you would like to be on the planning team for this, please contact me!
The Sisters go on retreat during Advent, so you can expect that they will be praying for you! But please think of them as you make your Christmas lists. As Mother mentioned, they have ongoing maintenance expenses, such as propane costs, roof repairs, driveway repairs, pump house repairs, and on and on. Please send them a Christmas contribution! Our annual luncheon seems like a drop in the bucket when I consider the cost of driveway repair or roof repair, but every little bit helps. I know many people ask for our contributions at this time of year; but if I don’t ask you on behalf of the Sisters, who will speak for them? Please be generous.
Happy Thanksgiving and Blessed Advent to you and your families!
In Christ,
Patty MacEgan
President, OLMCA