Tucson Partners in Mission Commitment Ceremony
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April 13, 2023Seventeen members of the Our Lady of the Desert Church (OLDC) Circle of Redemptorist Associates in Tucson committed to continue living as Redemptorist Associates for the new quadrennium on March 16.
This was not a light decision for many of us, because the pandemic and its after-effects temporarily ended or permanently changed our personal ministries. We took some time to reconsider our contributions to the Redemptorist mission to the most abandoned, using the discernment process that our formators, Fr. Paul Coury and Lee Morrison, provided for our original enrollment. Each of us wrote and signed a commitment letter describing our personal ministries for the coming four years.
A committee consisting of Marge Beymer, Chris and Bob Francis, Jan and Bob Keogh, Frances Schlack, Lidia Allen, and John and Diana Davenport created a beautiful prayer service based upon one supplied by Fr. Greg May and Anne Walsh. We included the following Thanksgiving Reflection by OLDC Associate Colleen O’Leary because it was a wonderful expression of what we were all feeling:
"As I walk on the sacred ground given by Him at RRC, I feel both the Peace and Power of Plentiful Redemption.The Peace that He walks with me and through me, I am His Vessel.The Peace of Mother Mary wrapping me in the comfort of her loving arms with guidance, and advice.
The peace of the Redemptorists’ Charism, that He has gifted me, through the Holy Spirit, His loving grace and forgiveness.The Peace of the Redemptorists, lay and professed, as they both support and propel my personal mission.The Power instilled in me to go out to all His people to love and be loved, to give and to receive, to shareHis message of Plentiful Redemption.The Power of Mary to be strong, step forward and serve all, especially those who are afraid and abandoned,The power of the Redemptorist Charism, through the Holy Spirit, that enables me to be a channel to put forthGod’s love and redeeming joy in this world.The Power of all Partners in Mission, that, singly and/or together, we may heal and transform this world in His name.I am home."
We were blessed to have Fr. Greg May, Anne Walsh, Fr. Brian Johnson (our professed leader), Fr. Tom Fransiscus (who has come to nearly all of our meetings), Fr. Steve Rehrauer, director of the Redemptorist Renewal Center (RRC), and Fr. Jim Shea, pastoral associate, at our celebration. It was so good to be together in person again for the celebration, and for a lovely dinner in the RRC Dining Hall afterwards!