Hello Readers,
It was Dec. 12, 2025, when I left Springfield, Ill., to give a retreat to the students preparing for confirmation at Mission San Xavier Del Bac on the Tohono O'odham Nation, San Xavier Indian Reservation in Tucson, Ariz., Following my time there, I flew to Columbus, Ohio, to participate in SEEK 2026, a five-day experience where thousands of Catholics come together to encounter and grow in a relationship with Christ.
A highlight from my travels included being present for the naming of a new bishop for the Diocese of Tucson, Ariz. Bishop James Misko came from Austin, Texas, to the desert for one day to meet, greet, and celebrate Mass with staff, ministerial teams, local religious, and the greater Tucson community. It was a delight to to celebrate the day at St. Augustine Cathedral with a group of Dominican Sisters from the Adrian, Oakford, and Peace congregations serving in Tucson.
Sister Denise Glazik, Minister of Vocation Accompaniment for our congregation, arrived in Columbus to participate with me in the SEEK experience. Together, from Jan. 1-5, we encountered a smattering of family and friends of the sisters including Bishop Louis Tylka, Diocese of Peoria, and Fr. Zach Samples, Diocese of Springfield. An added grace was closing SEEK 2026 with Mass celebrated by our very own Bishop Thomas John Paprocki, Diocese of Springfield in Illinois.
Over the course of these ‘get up and go’ travels, I felt a lot like St. Joseph who, on two occasions, having received a message from the angel in a dream, got up and went to where he was called to keep the Christ child and his mother, Mary, safe. Pray that I, like St. Joseph, will receive every grace to respond in trust to the Spirit’s promptings to ‘get up and go’ where I, too, am called for the life of the Church and world.
May God’s peace and deep down-joy be yours, in all things, no matter what. Be assured of my prayers as I entrust myself to yours.
Keep the faith! God’s Love travels!
Sister Mary Jo
