COVID 19: The initiatives of the SUO Province

Texas (United States) The Coronavirus pandemic has given rise to creative ways and initiatives for evangelization, education, and formation in all the communities of the United States Province of Mary Immaculate (SUO).

Teachers and catechists took up the challenge of becoming familiar with the various digital platforms and thus bringing daily online lessons and “Good mornings”, physical education exercises, and art workshops to students’ homes. Thanks to the video-conferences between teachers and parents and the interaction between students and teachers, the learning objectives will still be achieved on schedule.

During Holy Week, families were surprised by the prayer initiatives, in particular by the celebration of Holy Thursday, with the washing of the feet lived in the family. The image of a girl washing her grandmother’s feet went viral on social networks.

At the Meals Table of the community of O. L. of Prompt Succor School, in the poorest area of Louisiana, breakfast and lunch are prepared every day to be distributed to 460 children who have difficulty having daily food due the loss of their parents’ job.

In the Provincial House of San Antonio (Texas), the FMA pack protective masks to give to families, accompanied by boxes of chocolate eggs, so that they can rejoice during this Easter time.

The visits to the communities by the SUO Provincial, Sister Rosann Ruiz, continue with talks via Face Time application, conferences with Zoom, and even interactive recreations. The Zoom platform also made possible the Holy Week Retreat for 26 sisters in four different communities.

In the same way, the FMA of temporary vows also proceed with their monthly formation. In April, the theme studied was chastity. The Temporary Professed reflected on the meaning of fidelity and fruitfulness in order to be, according to the mandate of the 24^th  General Chapter, “communities that generate life in the heart of contemporaneity.” At the end, the Sisters shared some words, which become a commitment to live the ‘here and now’ well in the midst of this global crisis.

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