May 13, 2022

Posted on by Evelyn Rivera
My reflection:
“Determine your own worth by yourself, and do not be dependent on another’s judgment of you. (Debbi Oehman)
Look into your heart, search your dreams, and be honest about what you really want; then do whatever it takes to get it. Live like you mean it. Believe you can… and you will! (Barbara Cage)
Do something totally out of character once in a while – you might discover something new about yourself.
It matters what you think. Speak up. Voice your opinions. Share your ideas.
Life is an adventure, dare it. (Mother Teresa)”
God gives us the gifts each day to live our lives to the fullest.?

May 12, 2022

Posted on by Evelyn Rivera
My reflection:
“This life is yours
Take the power
to choose what you want to do
and do it well
Take the power
to love what you want in life
and love it honestly
Take the power
to walk in the forest
and be a part of nature
Take the power
to control your own life
No one else can do it for you
Take the power
to make your life
healthy
exciting
worthwhile
and very happy” Susan Polis Schutz

May 11, 2022

Posted on by Evelyn Rivera
My reflection:
“You’ve got your life… If you’re not happy, satisfied, encouraged, and hopeful, you’re cheating yourself. You can talk and talk to yourself about what you need to do to honor your life, but if you don’t turn those thoughts into actions, you’re playing games and giving up to whatever comes to mind.
You’ve got the power to make choices… Your life is the manifestation of the choices you make each moment and each day when you use this awesome gift to your best advantage, there is nothing you can’t do.” Donna Fargo
God gave us free well so we can make choices every day. ?

May 9, 2022

Posted on by Evelyn Rivera
My reflection:
“When you have something particularly challenging to deal with, try to remind yourself…
You’ve got this moment…You can choose to be happy or unhappy. You can choose what you think, what you say, and how you feel. You can choose to be hopeful or hopeless, to respond angrily or cheerfully, to be bored or interested.
You’ve got this day… no matter what the weather is like-it’s just weather. You can choose what kind of day it will be- beautiful or awful or somewhere in between. You can choose what you will do and what you want – to give up or give in or go on. You have a choice to do something or nothing, to start now or later. You can choose your attitude about what you’re facing.” Donna Fargo
God has given us the ability to choose how we want to live our life.?

May 8, 2022

Posted on by Evelyn Rivera
My reflection:
God are creator, we pray:
For new mothers, coming to terms with new responsibility;
For expectant mothers, wondering and waiting;
For those who are tired, stressed or depressed;
For those who struggle to balance the tasks of work and family;
For those who are unable to feed their children due to poverty;
For those whose children have physical, mental or emotional disabilities;
For those who have children they do not want;
For those who raise children on their own;
For those who have lost a child;
For those who care for the children of others;
For those whose children have left home;
And for those whose desire to be a mother has not been fulfilled.
Bless all mothers, that their love may be deep and tender, and that they may lead their children to know and do what is good, living not for themselves alone, but for God and for others. Amen
Happy Mother’s Day to all mothers! A very special happy Mother’s Day to my mom in heaven.?

May 7, 2022

Posted on by Evelyn Rivera

M

y reflection:
Thank you to the Mercy High students and faculty for the wonderful play about the Sisters of Mercy arriving in Middletown.
In 1871 the Sisters in Ennis Ireland received a letter from Reverend Thomas Walsh who was the pastor of Saint Rose Church. 30 sisters volunteered 11 were chosen. Seven went to Middletown and four came to Meriden.
It took them 11 days, three days were so stormy they thought that the steamer would be lost.
The following article appeared in the Meriden daily Republican on Wednesday, May 8, 1872.
With Malice Toward None With Charity For All
The Sisters of Mercy from Ireland who are to have charge of the Roman Catholic Convent in this city arrived Tuesday evening. They were met at the depot on the arrival of the 6:23 PM train from which place they were conveyed in a hack to their future residence. Preceded by the Meriden Coronet Band, which discoursed some of its best music, they rode down colony Street to Main, from Main to Pratt, up Pratt to Center, Center to Liberty and down Liberty to the house formally occupied by F. H. Williams which has been fitted up for their reception.
Thank you to those brave women who traveled across the sea to come to Meriden. Today let us keep them in our prayers.❤️

May 6, 2022

Posted on by Evelyn Rivera
My reflection:
Today I am excited to go to Mercy High School. The students will be honoring the Sisters of Mercy who arrived in Middletown 150 years ago. Tomorrow, I will be sharing how the sisters arrived in Meriden from Ennis, Ireland.
“To connect the rich to the poor
The healthy to the sick
The educated and skilled to the uninstructed
The influential to those of no consequence
The powerful to the week
To do the work of God on earth.”
Tender Courage by Sr. Joanna Regan

May5, 2022

Posted on by Evelyn Rivera
My reflection:
“Sometimes it is out of our greatest fears that come our most beneficial experiences.
Don’t let your fears prevent you from pursuing your dreams.
You must do the thing you think you cannot do.( Eleanor Roosevelt)
Fear less, hope more; eat less, chew more; whine less, breathe more; talk less, say more; hate less, love more; and all good things are yours. (Swedish proverb)
Worry never solves anything

May 3, 2022

Posted on by Evelyn Rivera
My reflection:
“‘Remember: Easter is a whole season!’ That’s the refrain of a priest in my community who works with welcoming new Catholics into the church. My friend is a stickler for celebrating the entire Easter season, which doesn’t end on Easter Sunday-but begins there and extends until Pentecost.
Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene immediately after his resurrection, and she was than missioned to proclaim the Good News to the rest of the disciples.
But in the days and weeks leading up to his Ascension the risen Christ revealed himself in different ways to the disciples-by appearing suddenly in a locked room, while cooking a simple breakfast by the Sea of Galilee, and over a dinner at an inn. Each of these events, once the disciples recognized Jesus, was a cause for joy- for alleluias.
As we move through the Easter season, perhaps we can meditate on the different ways God is present in our lives. Can you remember how the Risen One has been revealed to you – in some time surprising ways.
And what would your own ‘alleluia’ sound like?
Remember: Easter is a whole season!” Fr. James Martin

May 2, 2022

Posted on by Evelyn Rivera
My reflection:
When things get too much and it seems like there are no alternatives or solutions, believe you can overcome the adversities facing you and know that things will eventually improve.
Life carries doubts and uncertainties. There are no guarantees and certainly no crystal balls. Yet there is always hope. There is kindness and caring from others. There is the assurance of love, which will always be a safeguard and security. Believe in the power of positive energy in your life.
Believe in the power of You.” Debbie Burton-Peddle
God always gives us that power to believe in ourselves.?