“And so you carried

life for the world, Mary,

as you fled,

to protect that very life

from threats of death.

Joining the world's mass of displaced people

you became

Refugee,

Alien,

Immigrant,

Homeless,

and settled in a foreign land--

the only place

to safely nurture

your fragile dream.

Like so many other women

who flee violence,

clutching their babies,

you crossed the border defining you

a stranger,

dependent on foreign aid, welfare

and hand-outs--

the charity of others--

to feed the Son of God.”

― Edwina Gateley, Soul Sisters: Women in Scripture Speak to Women Today

Together, we will build a world where the accomplishments of our daughters will be celebrated, rather than diminished.

This is the classy and uplifting response of Dr. Jill Biden to a sexist, misogynistic opinion piece written by Joseph Epstein in the Wall Street Journal which attempted to diminish Dr. Biden's stature as a Ph. D. scholar. It obviously didn't work. Go high Dr. Biden!

POEM:

“Your eyes tell your story, sister,

and I must listen—

locked in your honest gaze.

For you have captured me,

and your deep-welled goodness

softens and reminds me of,

my essential self—

before I sold my soul

to Security and Comfort

and Compromise.

I think I love you.

And I tremble

in that truth—

for I looked into your eyes

and I cannot, ever,

be the same.

You have given more,

Jesus said,

than all the rest…

You have given more

than I…

For I have never been

that poor,

I have never been

that rich.”

― Edwina Gateley, Soul Sisters: Women in Scripture Speak to Women Today

SONGS

Asia Monet - Mary, Did You Know?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3fLhw9XiQqs

Rascal Flatts - My Wish

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhrCc8VCHns

“Sister Oh Sister" Performed by Rosanne Cash

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u8psZPRxaLM

ANNOUNCEMENT FOR TONIGHT

Date: Thursday, December 17

Time: 5:00 - 6:00PM TONIGHT

We will begin promptly and end the service after a half hour. We will then continue the meeting time for another 25-30 minutes for conversation among those who can stay.

Description: Anthony Capone, FCM Prayer Ministry Coordinator of the Northeast Region will lead us in a Marian reflection sourced in the Magnificat. As usual, participants will have an opportunity to express their concerns, fears and other requests for prayers via the Chat process in Zoom. These requests go to the FCM Prayer Ministry for their prayerful focus. [Move cursor to task bar at bottom of Zoom screen. Find speech balloon in center of bar. Click it. See open Chat screen. Set “Everyone” as your addressee. Write in your prayer request. Press Enter on your keyboard. You may move the chat screen to the side by holding a click on the chat screen banner and moving it.] As you come into the conference, quickly set your audio to mute.

Preparation: We suggest:

Have at hand an image, picture or icon of Mary, Jesus’ mother.

Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82356414294?pwd=NFM2WVhGZzZNYlpxRkQ3YkFETFNDZz09 Meeting ID: 823 5641 4294 Passcode: 403619 One tap mobile +13017158592,,82356414294#,,,,,,0#,,403619# US (Washington D.C)