July 2021 Regent Letter
Hello Dear CDA Sisters!
Here we are in the middle month of summertime! The temps here in Dallas lately have been relatively mild and for that I am grateful.
Since my last letter, much has happened; we have said our final farewells to two sisters, Margaret Ramos and Estelle Smith, the church is coming out of pandemic mode–opening more and more, visits between members have been increasing and the monthly meetings have been well-attended.
My visit back to my home states of New York and New Jersey brought something that was on a sort-of bucket list for me—walking across the George Washington Bridge, my favorite bridge in the world! I have crossed this bridge hundreds of times to visit my Puerto Rican grandparents in both Manhattan and in the Bronx, and to go to work at New York’s Presbyterian Hospital in Washington Heights. I had a nurse’s apartment on the hospital grounds with a beautiful view of my bridge when I first began work in 1982.
The concept of bridges has been rolling around in my head lately and I think of how the word bridge has become popular in many sayings; “bridging the gap”, “burning bridges”, “cross each bridge as it comes”, “let us build bridges, rather than tearing them down”. You get the idea.
- Dictionary.com defines a bridge as: a structure spanning and providing passage over a river, chasm, road, or the like.
- Nautical: a raised transverse platform from which a power vessel is navigated: often includes a pilot house and a chart house.
- Also, a game of cards that might be played on game days!
Many bridges connect land masses or traverse otherwise impassable canyons or other roadways. But I am thinking of the most important bridge of all—The Cross!
Imagine the most vast canyon, desert wilderness, deepest ocean, or some other impossible-to-pass area to get to our Heavenly Father. There is no way to get to Him as the terrain of sin has interrupted that once perfect path to His love and fellowship. This is where our Savior, obedient to the Father, uses His cross to bring us back to the Father. John 3:16:
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whomsoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.”
Jesus’ cross is that bridge that connects our sinful world to the Heavenly world that God has for us. We must be willing to walk across that bridge and accept the saving work our Savior did for us on the cross. It is difficult at times, and it can be a hard walk. There are crosswinds, distractions, other paths that seem to lead to the other side, but instead lead to the treacherous canyons below. Do not be fooled; there is only one true bridge between us and God the Father, the bridge of the Cross.
God Bless you all,
Isabel Campbell ~Regent~
“Give your hands to serve and your hearts to Love.’ ~Mother Theresa~
May 2021 Regent Letter
Hello my dear CDA Sisters!
What a wonderful talk we had from Deacon Peter last week! How many have a new favorite saint?? It was so good to see those members who were unable to come in the past attend last Thursday.
I will compile the convention workshop information and send that out soon.
If you did not attend 11am Mass this past Sunday, watch it on YouTube and see our Chaplain, Fr. Mark, give a heartfelt Homily on vocations. An inspiring Homily for sure.
John and I hosted Cesar Garcia this week for dinner and I gave him the cards that were brought to the meeting. He asked me to express to everyone how much he appreciates our prayers and support for his formation. We will stay connected and look forward to his Diaconate Ordination next spring along with our Seminarian Eugene. I invited Cesar to our next Holy Hour on May 7th and he plans to attend!
Please pray for our sisters who are ill, home-bound, and dealing with various stresses. I will be out of town from May 4-18, 2021 and I look forward to seeing my family. All of us will be in NJ at one time for a few days! You may reach out to your officers for any needs and prayers!
Know of my love and prayers for you all!!
Isabel Campbell ~Regent~
“Give your hands to Serve and your hearts to Love.” ~Mother Theresa
March 2021 Regent Letter
Hello Ladies of Court St. Faustina!
The time change is my favorite time of the year! I love the longer daylight hours in the evening. In a couple of months, the sunlight in those later hours will shine in the table area of my kitchen and make the room brightly glow! After the dark winter months, the light is a welcome sight for me.
We continue our Lenten journey and this past Sunday, we celebrated Laetare Sunday, which is the fourth Sunday in Lent. I found this partial description on the Simply Catholic website:
Laetare Sunday
“The day’s theme comes from the entrance antiphon reflecting on Isaiah 66:10-11: “Rejoice, Jerusalem, and all who love her. Be joyful, all who were in mourning; exalt and be satisfied at her consoling breast.”
Laetare is the first word — meaning “rejoice” — in the Latin text. On Laetare Sunday (as similarly with the Third Sunday of Advent’s Gaudete Sunday) the Church expresses hope and joy in the midst of our Lenten fasts and penances. Call it pink — or, more fittingly, rose — this change in color indicates a glimpse of the joy that awaits us at Easter, just before we enter into the somber days of Passiontide…….
Laetare Sunday is the Church’s way of giving us a “shot in the arm” as we approach the darkness and horror of the days through Good Friday and Holy Saturday. It’s an opportunity to savor and keep in the back of our minds what awaits us on Easter Sunday — the reality that Jesus Christ is risen from the dead, and that our hearts will always be filled with joy!”
It seems there is no coincidence that the time change occurred on Laetare Sunday—the longer days point to the brightness of the empty tomb after the darkness of Holy Week. I have found myself in a dry time lately after initially feeling remarkably close to God at the beginning of Lent. But that initial closeness sustains me through the dry times.
Also, what is sustaining me is prayer and the Eucharist. Talking to our Lord and receiving Him is a refreshing balm to my somewhat dry walk these days. I would encourage all of us to come to Jesus with our concerns, joys, and thanksgiving. Communication is necessary to having a relationship with Him! Just think if you did not interact with your loved ones, friends, and coworkers, it would be an awkward and lonely existence. The pandemic restrictions are already straining us in these areas—let’s not spiritually distance ourselves from our loving Savior! Now, during these restrictive times and during Lent, we need Him more than ever! He is always waiting for us to have a relationship with Him. As we make more effort to engage with our family and friends through these times, let us make that much more of an effort to come closer to Jesus.
God the Father wanted to have a relationship with His people so much that He sent His Son to bridge the gap that was between us. The gap is the Cross on Good Friday followed by the Resurrection on Easter.
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16
Sisters, as we continue our Lenten observances let us continue to pray and receive the Sacraments to bring us closer to the One sacrificed all, Jesus our Savior!
Isabel Campbell ~Regent~
“Give your hands to Serve and your hearts to Love.” Mother Theresa
Regent’s Letter February 15, 2021
HELLO TO MY CDA SISTERS!
This is the month for love according to Hallmark, but did you know that love happened since the beginning of time?
God loved us and He created this whole world from nothing so we could live in it and love Him. BUT the first humans did not love Him enough to trust in His instructions and, we know what happened…… BUT: For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16. Our Heavenly Father sent us His only Son to repair what our first parents ruined so long ago. This is a mind-blowing spiritual definition of love!
I looked up the definition of love and I found: affection, admiration, marital closeness, loyalty, and even a tennis score. Nowhere did it say that God left Heaven to become man, end up being tortured and die a horrible death on the cross. Yet Our Heavenly Father loved us so much that He allowed Jesus to save us from original sin to restore our original relationship He created at the beginning of time. A relationship that was severed and is now bridged by the cross of Jesus. How many of us could offer up our children or a beloved family member for this same purpose? I would venture to say: NONE! God loves us so much “that when He spoke your name, you happened!” A powerful line of a Homily I heard last week. The power of words and love at the same time.
We will be entering Lent this week. A baby born at Christmas fulfills His Father’s will as He walks towards Calvary. Many of us are mothers and some of us have watched as our precious children returned to their Heavenly Father. Imagine our Blessed Mother as she watched her Son return to His Father. Not in a hospital setting, or at home surrounded by loved ones; but mocked, tortured, and dying a very public criminal’s death. Jesus’ love for the Father and for us enabled Him to go through the humiliation of crucifixion. Now, which one of us who has lost a child or a loved one would willingly give up that loved one for the salvation of others? That is a tough question. Jesus said in John 15:13 “greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” Jesus not only laid down His life for His friends but also enemies. Millions turn their backs on Jesus’ saving sacrifice. How many of us would offer up our loved one to save the evilest person we can think of? I imagine not too many.
This is a supernatural and indescribable love God has for us. To repair a broken relationship, he sacrificed his only Son. The love Mary had for God to say yes to becoming the mother of Jesus and then giving Him up to a death we deserve is again indescribable.
We are called to love God with all our hearts, minds, and soul. Let us remember this as we journey through Lent. Let us walk with Mary to Calvary to the Salvation of the Cross. Mary’s love is saying yes, Jesus’ love is obedience and God’s love is the sacrifice of His only Son.
Isabel Campbell ~ Regent
Regent’s Letter January 11, 2021
HELLO TO MY CDA SISTERS!
Happy and Healthy New Year! These days this cannot be said enough! I pray the Christmas and Epiphany Seasons were Blessed and Joyous for all of you!
This month, I am not going to write my letter, but I will let two priests write the letter instead. I have asked our Chaplain, Fr. Mark Garrett, and our former seminarian, Fr. Ryan Hiaeshutter some questions about their first 6 months in ministry and they will tell you how it has been going! I truly appreciate their willingness to be “interviewed’!
Questions for our newly Ordained Priests
Fr. Mark Garrett
What is your favorite Liturgical Season?
My favorite season is Advent because of all the little events and traditions associated with the lead up to Christmas.
What is your favorite Sacrament to Celebrate?
My favorite Sacrament to celebrate is the Mass, it’s not even close.
What has been a surprise to you in your ministry so far?
The biggest surprise, and this might seem odd, is probably the ease in which people trust you as a priest. The just rely on you without you having to earn it, you can definitely lose this trust, but it begins as a given.
What has been a joy to you?
Celebrating masses for people that I know are struggling. Hearing from people about something that happened, something that is happening, their struggles and pains and being able to celebrate the mass for them is very rewarding.
Have there been any disappointments?
Yes, but not in regards to priesthood.
Have you felt welcomed and supported by your parish?
I have certainly felt welcomed and supported by my parish, but it is odd that most of the parish still hasn’t been on campus due to CoVid-19 concerns.
Pandemic aside; is your work what you expected?
Yes, and no. I expected to gain a lot more responsibility and I honestly looked forward to that reality, but it is different because you don’t really know understand the weight and feel of this new responsibility until you walk around with it for a while.
What are some of the things you have learned in your work that Seminary didn’t or couldn’t teach you?
Seminary formation isn’t really about teaching you the nuts and bolts of parish work, so in that way seminary doesn’t cover a lot of parish life.
What are some of the blessings of Parish work?
Being with the people and getting to know them on an everyday basis.
Do you visit parish members for social visits in addition to administering Sacraments?
I tend to do very little social visits at this time. I know how much of a scandal it could be if it was known I was visiting families all the time for dinners and gatherings.
Do you have a funny story about your work?
Nothing in particular…
What is a typical weekday like for you?
Hmm, where to begin.
- The normal every day is mass in the morning. Outside of that very little is consistent about the parish schedule.
- On Mondays and Fridays, we are in confessions at 10, 2, and 4 for 30 minutes. These are usually well attended.
- Monday is also RCIA night and I teach frequently enough that I usually prepare most of Monday for them.
- Thursday is a big meeting day with a Leadership meeting in the morning and Staff in the afternoons.
- I have very regular calls away for anointings.
- Also, at St. Monica I inherited the work of my predecessor and so I have taken point on a lot of the Marriage and Baptism meetings, classes, and overall formation which really helped me get to know the parish and the staff quickly.
What parish work falls uniquely to you based on your position as Parochial Vicar?
My work with Marriage and Baptism prep has been mainly mine. I also have a more vocal role in the direction and design of RCIA and in teaching RCIA.
Do you cook for yourself? Yes.
What do you do on your day off?
I try and relax and run errands.
Who are your closest friends—no names—Priests or lay people? How do these friends support you?
I have close friends that are both a part of the clergy and the laity. We just talk and spend time together. Nothing overly complicated or dramatic.
Do you get “tired” of saying multiple Masses on Sunday?
No. I might want some more coffee before I start the next one, but I always want more coffee, so that isn’t all that groundbreaking.
What is something we may not know about you?
That I tend to have a lot of building project ideas in my head at all times.
How can we pray for you?
Please pray that St. Joseph continues to teach me how to be a loving father, and that Mary teaches me how to love her Son more.
Questions for our newly Ordained Priests
Fr. Ryan Hiaeshutter
What is your favorite Liturgical Season?
- Advent – I love the idea of ‘silence & prayer’ during this season as we meditate upon the coming our Lord and what it means for the world.
What is your favorite Sacrament to Celebrate?
- Sacrament of Reconciliation – I have seen people enter the confessional absolutely terrified, and then they leave with the forgiveness and peace of the Holy Spirit
What has been a surprise to you in your ministry so far?
- The staff size here at CTK is very minimal. The parish assignments that I’ve had in the past as a seminarian, all the parish staffs have been rather large.
What has been a joy to you?
- Administering the Anointing of the Sick. It has brought great consolation and peace to families and those I’ve anointed.
Have there been any disappointments?
- As of right now, I do not believe that I have any.
Have you felt welcomed and supported by your parish?
- Absolutely!
Pandemic aside; is your work what you expected?
- I would have to say ‘yes’
What are some of the things you have learned in your work that Seminary didn’t or couldn’t teach you?
- How to respond to people that proclaim, “There is no pandemic!” or “Fr…there’s simply not enough being done to protect the community from COVID.”
- The stones seem to come from both sides…and the priest has to work with them all
What are some of the blessings of Parish work?
- There are many, but just to name a few:
- When someone comes into the office for confession and they leave with the peace of God resting upon them.
- I anointed one little boy who was about 2 or 3 years old, and immediately after anointing his hands, he looked at me and said, “Thank you!”
- Most priests might not like this, but the way the rectory is set up, the parish offices are on the ground level of the building and the priests’ living quarters are on the 2nd floor. I love being able to walk right into the church from the rectory. One thing I have asked, this I shall seek—to dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.
Do you visit parish members for social visits in addition to administering Sacraments?
- It’s been limited this year (in light of Covid), but I have been able to share a meal with some parishioners this year.
Do you have a funny story about your work?
- During the final blessing after mass, I once forgot to mention “…and the Son”
- “May Almighty God bless you, the Father….and the Holy Spir….wait…what?? Oh! May Almighty God bless you, the Father, AND THE SON, and the Holy Spirit.”
- I just started laughing…and so did the people.
What is a typical weekday like for you?
- Mass in the morning, check emails, homily prep, and various interactions with office staff and parishioners, lock up the church at 5:30.
- Every day can vary really.
What parish work falls uniquely to you based on your position as Parochial Vicar?
- Putting together the monthly presider/celebrant schedule
Do you cook for yourself?
- Occasionally. I’m not a huge fan of cooking.
What do you do on your day off?
- I sleep in a little later, ha! I will normally head over to my godparents’ house and spend the day with them.
Do you wear street clothes on your day off? Why or why not?
- Yes…because it’s my day off. The clothes do not make the priest; God makes the priest.
Who are your closest friends—no names—Priests or lay people? How do these friends support you?
- Both priests and lay people.
- I feel supported by my brother priests because we share the same experiences
- I feel supported by my close relationship with lay people because they genuinely pray for me and want me to succeed.
Do you get “tired” of saying multiple Masses on Sunday?
- I don’t get tired of saying multiple masses, with respect to the mass itself; I do, however, simply get tired/fatigued from being on my feet so long.
What is something we may not know about you?
- I really like antique shopping.
How can we pray for you?
- Please pray that I continue to grow in my priesthood and that I truly have the heart of Jesus Christ when ministering to those around me.
I hope you all enjoyed getting to know Fr. Mark and Fr. Ryan better. Let us continue to pray for them and lift up their specific prayer requests.
Isabel Campbell ~ Regent
“Give your hands to Serve and your hearts to Love.” ~Mother Theresa
COURT ST. FAUSTINA REGENT’S LETTER NOVEMBER 2020
“Your forgiveness Is like sweet, sweet honey On my lips
Like the sound of a symphony To my ears
Like holy water on my skin”
From Holy Water by We The Kingdom
As we look towards Advent which is the season of preparation for the birth of our Savior I am reminded of the forgiveness that Christ gives us. The birth of a baby boy in a stable on a dark night in Bethlehem was the beginning of Christ’s journey to the Cross for OUR forgiveness.
I remember not too long ago, I was hungry for something…something satisfying…was it a food? A feeling? Something I could purchase? It was none of these things; it was a deeper relationship with my Savior and His forgiveness. Like the song lyrics above, Jesus’s forgiveness tastes sweet, more than any earthly food can taste. His forgiveness sounds like a magnificent symphony. Think of the most beautiful music you can remember hearing; now think of the Priest’s words of Absolution during Reconciliation and how much more beautiful and healing these words are. The Holy Water fonts are dry due to the pandemic, but remember how the water feels when you dip your fingers in the font to bless yourself when you enter and leave the church. We remember our Baptism when we approach the font; the Holy Water that washed away our original sin.
I am probably preaching to the choir, but it would be a good idea to experience Jesus’s forgiveness in the sacrament of Reconciliation before Advent begins. We have three holy and caring priests who will guide you to wholeness with Jesus. But what if we are always confessing the same sins—I had a priest tell me once that as a parent, God does not turn us away even when we sin in the same way again and again. Think of your child, husband or family member who may have offended you more than once; do you turn your back on them? Or do you forgive them even they make the same mistakes? How much more compassionate is our Heavenly Father? A Million times more! He is always waiting where we walked away from Him—He is a patient and forgiving Father.
Are we contrite in our confession? Do we keep sinning because we are not sorry? For me it is like a terrible bad habit, one that needs Jesus’ hand of Mercy to be broken. If we keep sinning in the same way, we need to continue to ask for forgiveness, again and again. We need to seek Jesus before we fall into that same sinful pattern.
“Your forgiveness is like sweet, sweet honey on my lips. Like the sound of a symphony to my ears. Like holy water on my skin.” “ Oh, God, I need you”
Sisters, may we taste, hear and feel Jesus’ forgiveness during these coming days! If you would like to see the music video of this song, here is the link:
With much love,
Isabel Campbell ~Regent~
“Give your hands to Serve and your hearts to Love.” ~ Mother Theresa
COURT ST. FAUSTINA REGENT’S LETTER SEPTEMBER 2020
DEAR CDA SISTERS,
We are finally enjoying some cooler weather after another long and hot summer. I pray that you are all well and have been drawing closer to our Lord during this continued time at home.
Some of us have had loss of loved ones and have dealt with illnesses. I would like to thank you all for your prayers and well wishes for my daughter’s health during her hospitalization. John and I were comforted by your prayers! Julia is now at home and the doctors think the seizure was due to a medication she was taking. We are all glad she is much better. We will continue to pray for our CDA sisters who are ill and homebound.
Prayers are an integral part of who we are as Catholic Daughters and as God’s daughters. It is our way of communicating with our Heavenly Father and Blessed Mother. There are many ways to pray; Rosaries, Chaplets, Novenas, the beloved Catholic prayers, the Mass, the Liturgy of the Hours, and the simple prayers of our hearts. But what do we do when we just can’t pray anymore? When the words, the familiar prayers are not in our hearts? Are we disconnected from God during these times?
The answer is NO! I was facing this a little while ago when my family in New Jersey had to make some decisions regarding our mother’s care. Her mind was not as it was and she needed more help to care for herself and be safe in her surroundings. I could not pray anymore as I was very upset and angry that this virus had robbed her of some cognitive abilities and I could not travel to see her. I wrote to Fr. Ryan during this time and he shared with me Scripture that was recently read at Sunday Mass and some encouraging words:
“Brothers and sisters:
The Spirit comes to the aid of our weakness;
for we do not know how to pray as we ought,
but the Spirit himself intercedes with inexpressible groanings.
And the one who searches hearts
knows what is the intention of the Spirit,
because he intercedes for the holy ones
according to God’s will. (Romans 8:26)
When I read this verse, what always surprises me is that St Paul knows that, as frail human beings, we do not always know what to do or how to pray. But the Holy Spirit is always interceding for us on our behalf according to the will of God. The Holy Spirit knows our deepest longings as well as our frustrations. And He makes intercession for us.”
Sisters, we can know that we are always covered in prayer with the Holy Spirit. Jesus sent the Spirit to us for such times as these. Our Triune God is so caring and loving! Let us continue to lift up each other in prayer, and when the words do not come, we can trust the Holy Spirit to bring our heart’s intentions to our Heavenly Father!
God Bless you all!
Isabel Campbell ~Regent~
“Give your hands to Serve and your hearts to Love.” ~Mother Theresa
Regent Letter from July 2020
DEAR SISTERS IN CHRIST:
In the Gospel of Sunday, July 12th, the disciples ask Jesus why he uses parables when speaking to the crowds. Jesus tells them that he speaks to the crowds this way because they “look but do not see, they hear but do not listen or understand.” Jesus said to His disciples “But, blessed are your eyes, because they see, and your ears, because they hear. The disciples KNEW who Jesus was —they saw Him as the Messiah. They heard and understood what he was saying.
In December of 2019, I suddenly lost my hearing in one ear. I woke up one day and I thought I had a stuffy ear and it would go away. But it didn’t. It got worse. I didn’t know where sounds were coming from if they were behind me. I often turned in the wrong direction. I had to have steroids injected into the back of my eardrum. Three sets of injections three weeks apart. The tinnitus started almost immediately, then the feedback of my own voice, very loud in my ear. Feedback from all noises was very loud. I was “hearing” sounds and words, but they were much distorted—I did not understand what the sounds and words were. Maybe like the crowds of the Gospel account.
During these last few months, we have been living under a world-wide pandemic. We have been forced to slow down, and in many cases, for a time, to shut out the outside world to avoid the spread of the virus. The Bible verse from Psalms 46:10 comes to mind: Be still and know that I am God. In this stillness, do we hear God’s voice? In this stillness do we know who He is? How has He shown Himself to you during this time of being still? Have you heard what He is trying to tell you? Have you seen His goodness?
I have heard and seen Him through our Catholic Daughters members in many ways. I hear Him in the voices on the phone of those delighted to receive a phone call. I hear Him in the members who are stepping up to call other members and share their lives with them; making connections through phone calls to encourage and pray for each other. I see Him in the encouraging emails that are sent out, the virtual Rosaries and Chaplets online with those who are able to join in. I see Him in my fellow Officers who are working to plan the next year in this unpredictable future. I see Him in our faithful Pastor who continues to serve St. Monica with love and concern for the Parish. I see him in our priests who are obedient to change and new assignments. Many of us saw God’s love when we went to celebrate with our Father Ryan at his first Mass in Coppell. I heard and saw God’s love when we were able to gather around our new priest and with each other for a short while.
Did it have to take such a drastic situation to get us to stop our hectic lives so we could Hear and See our God? How are you Hearing and Seeing Him during this time?
Isabel Campbell ~Regent
“Give your hands to Serve and your heart to Love.” ~ St. Mother Theresa
