Sending Ceremony and Goodbyes

It has been an emotionally intense week as we concluded our orientation program. Monday was a wet day and I wouldn't be surprised if we went through an entire box of Kleenex as we started goodbyes to our fellow missioners. It started with a retreat lead by Sister Janet and then our own evening meal. Sister Janet had put together a slide show with photo highlights taken over the last 13 weeks. Thanks to Mary's face recognition program and computer skills we were able to view a slide shows of each individual that evening as the group laughed and told stories remembering the times shared. Minh prepared another of her excellent Vietnamese meals. We are sure going to miss her cooking magic.

Tuesday was a final ritual with the Mission Sending Team as we dismantled the weaving our of Life Lines that started this whole experience together in September.

Thursday was the day the seven lay missioners pledged their commitment during the Mass. We have planned our own weekly Masses all along, but this one was especially important as we confirmed our assignments in mission.

Family members started arriving Thursday evening for the Sending Ceremony. John and Nan joined us and we had a great time giving them a quick tour of New York City on Friday. Here we are on the coldest day yet at the top of the Empire State Building.

That night was the Christmas Concert. The choir was made up of priests, brothers, sisters, lay missioners, Maryknoll friends and employees. It was a beautiful concert. Along with four part harmony, we had a harp, organ, guitars, violin, cello and percussion instruments. The chapel was full and filled with a joyous celebration.

The highlight of the week was our Sending Ceremony. As part of the ceremony we brought gifts to the altar representing the counties where we would soon be giving. A Sister that had worked in each country "called us forth" to our new homes and welcomed us in the language we will soon be learning. We were presented with our mission crosses and received a blessing.As a final send off, bells and noise makers serenaded us as we left the church. The chorus of the recessional song We are Called sums up the orientation program:
We are called to act with justice,
we are called to love tenderly,
we are called to serve one another,
to walk humbly with God.

If you'd like to see some pictures of the Sending Ceremony click here.

If you'd like to watch some highlights of our sending ceremony click here.