communion

I am taking a quick study break, just to share something that has been on my heart very much so the past few days, especially this morning.

Today is a glorious day. The sun is shining, the sky is clear blue, and as I drove up to ND to head to the library for a day of studying, I couldn't help but think about the letter I received yesterday from one of my dearest friends who is in her first year of formation with the Religious Sisters of Mercy.

Two of my closest friends are religious sisters, and this has no doubt been one of the most significant aspects of my life the past few years. (The other friend is with the community of the Disciples of the Lord Jesus.) The longing and the ache of missing these dear friends (and so many others I am often far from) is so real to me. So many times I long to hear their sweet voices, to talk with them, to be in each others' presence, to share our lives, to learn, to grow, to cry, to laugh together...

But... as my sweet friend reminded me in her letter that arrived yesterday, the reality of the spiritual communion that we share in the Body of Christ is stronger than any bond we ever could have otherwise.

The truth is that these two sisters are teaching me that the longing I feel is for something eternal. The reality of feeling closer to them now than ever before (despite not being able to see or speak with them) is such a mystery to me. I enter humbly more deeply into the mystery and the reality of the Body of Christ through the living example of these two women. And when I am at my best I'm able to see through the ache of missing them a light that points towards eternity.

As one of these two friends described so well (and I wanted to share with you today) our 'meeting place' now is in the heart of Christ as we meet at the table and see each other in the Eucharist. I'll let you hear it in her own words. And, of course, the song...





God bless you and I'll
see you in His heart,
nicole

"Yours"

The song on my heart these days...



"My life is Yours. My heart is Yours. My hands and my feet ~ Every song that I sing ~ It's all Yours ~ All is Yours ~ All belongs to You. Our gifts are Yours, God. All our dreams are Yours, God. All our plans are Yours, God. The whole earth is Yours, God..."

for your consideration

“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”

-Edmund Burke

I would like to take a moment to make all who read this blog aware of the April 9th deadline to submit comments to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) regarding the impending removal of conscience protections for healthcare providers.

In December 2008 the Department of Health and Human services finalized a rule that "forbids discrimination against healthcare professionals who exercise their conscientious rights related to participation in certain controversial medical procedures--most notably, but not limited to, abortion and sterilization." (freedom2care.org)

This rule is about to be overturned.

Bottom line is healthcare providers will lose the right to refuse to participate in acts violating their consciences and face consequences that would follow if they do so.

Please consider writing now to ask the Administration to retain the regulation protecting conscience rights. Comments will be accepted until April 9th, 2009 at http://www.freedom2care.org/.

It takes just moments to register a comment, and comments are welcome from all citizens concerned about this threat to conscience.

A copy of the document from HHS outlining the conscience protection rights that will be overturned is available at the Freedom2Care.org website under the tab "Learn." There are 5 current conscience provisions that will be rescinded. You can read all five at the above mentioned website, and I am listing three of them here:

1) The first conscience provision provides that “[t]he receipt of any grant, contract, loan, or loan guarantee under [certain statutes implemented by the Department of Health and Human Services] . . . by any individual or entity does not authorize any court or any public official or other public authority to require”: (1) the individual to perform or assist in a sterilization procedure or an abortion, if it would be contrary to his/her religious beliefs or moral convictions; (2) the entity to make its facilities available for sterilization procedures or abortions, if the performance of sterilization pro cedures or abortions in the facilities is prohibited by the entity on the basis of religious beliefs or moral convictions; or (3) the entity to provide personnel for the performance of sterilization procedures or abortions, if it would be contrary to the religious beliefs or moral convictions of such personnel.

2) The third conscience provision prohibits discrimination against any physician or other health care personnel in employment, promotion, termination of employment, or extension of staff or other privileges “because he performed or assisted in the performance of any lawful health service or research activity, or because he refused to perform or assist in the performance of any such service or activity on the grounds that his performance of such service or activity would be contrary to his religious beliefs or moral conv ictions, or because of his religious beliefs or moral convictions respecting any such service or activity.”

3) The fifth conscience provision prohibits any entity that receives a grant, contract, loan, or loan guarantee under certain Departmentally implemented statutes from denying admission to, or otherwise discriminating against, “any applicant (including for internships and residencies) for training or study because of the applicant’s reluctance, or willingness, to counsel, suggest, recommend, assist, or in any way participate in the performance of abortions or sterilizations contrary to or consistent with the applicant’s religious beliefs or moral convictions.”

Thank you for reading this, and for considering the urgent need to act on this matter. For more information, please visit http://www.usccb.org/conscienceprotection/index.shtml

where i've been...

hello everyone!

i just wanted to write a little note to let you all know where i've been lately... my medical board exam is coming up on april 28th, so i've been spending most of my time the past month preparing for it.

i'm now back in south bend for my last month of studying... so far so good here. it is nice to be back.

you all are in my thoughts and prayers!

love,
nicole

"Nobody has ever measured, not even poets, how much the heart can hold."
-zelda fitzgerald

stand by me

From the award-winning documentary, "Playing For Change: Peace Through Music," comes the first of many "songs around the world." Featured is a cover of the Ben E. King classic by musicians around the world adding their part to the song as it traveled the globe. Film soundtrack and DVD in stores on 4.28.09.

Check out Playing for Change: Peace Through Music for more info, more songs, more videos....