Called to Be...

As our journey through Lent continues, we're pleased to share with you this discussion we've called "Putting On the Mind of Christ Jesus".  This rich exchange between Sisters Fran Cavey, Joan Guertin, and Rita Theresa Goulet weaves together scripture passages, theology, personal experiences, and the current state of our nation and world in a way that will leave you much to reflect on and ponder. ...

If you've heard of "The Chosen" TV show, but never watched it, this episode is for you!  Sr. Maryellen Ryan and "Called to Be..."'s producer, Ken Gustin, are joined by Fr. Edward Correia to share their thoughts about this extraordinarily popular TV series based on the Gospel and the life and ministry of Jesus.  We're so grateful to Fr. Correia, a well known priest in the Fall River and New Bedford...

As our podcast begins its third year, we're pleased to share with you this discussion, focused on Holy Union's 50th year in Tanzania!  Sr. Nancy Stiles moderates as as Sisters MaryLou Simcoe (US), Annette Farrell (in Tanzania), Jesca Wachanga (Tanzania) and Maria Luvinga (Tanzania) share the history and ministries which have been undertaken since our first Sister arrived there in 1973.  The work w...

Christmas unites us all!  So this month we explore the Christmas traditions from the cultures of Haiti (Magella Justin - a friend of Holy Union), Italy (Deb Griffin - Holy Union's Office Manager), and The Philippeans (Elma Barranda - a Holy Union Associate), with our moderator Sr. Maryellen Ryan.  May the peace and love of Christmas lighten our hearts as we gather with family and friends to celebr...

Sisters Alice Michael and Nancy Stiles reached out to ten Sisters and Associates and asked them what their favorite scripture passage is and why it is meaningful to them. This discussion is a sharing of how those Sisters and Associates responded.  The richness and direct applicability of scripture to our lives in 2023 is amazing.  This discussion makes it clear that God's word is timeless and very...

We hope you enjoy this first installment of a new series within "Called to Be', which we are calling My Story.  We hope to bring you these episodes periodically wherein one of our Sisters shares her journey to and through religious life.  Sr. Pat Heath was kind enough to share her story with a group of Holy Union Associates at their meeting in St. Jude's parish hall in Taunton, MA in September, 20...

Sr. Nancy Stiles moderates a discussion about a much-discussed topic in the church today, evangelization.   Sisters Barbara Walsh, Loraine Sirois, and Rita Theresa Goulet discuss how we are called "to preach the Gospel always, and when necessary, use words", as St. Frances of Assisi is rumored to have said.   Helping people to draw themselves closer to God can be as simple as a kind word or gestur...

Our Sisters are taking a well-deserved summer break this month, but wanted to share with you a talk given by Sr. Rita Beaudoin, one of our beloved Sisters who died on January 18 th of this year.   In 2003 Sr. Rita delivered this talk to a group of Holy Union Associates about her pilgrimage to Douai, France where the order was founded.   Its purpose was to educate them on our congregation's history...

In 2003 a tragic accident in Cameroon triggered an international call for assistance from our Generalate in Rome.  In this episode, Sr. Fran Cavey moderates a discussion with Sr. Caroline Njah of Cameroon and Sisters Joan Guertin and MaryEllen Ryan of the US who all played a role in this critical period as our Cameroonian Sisters faced what could have been a crisis for the future of Holy Union in...

Once again, Sisters Laurette DeChamplain, Pat Mulryan, and Barbara Kirkman sit down to share their experiences and insights as they discuss the celebrations of life.  Sitting in for Sr. MaryEllen Ryan this month is our podcast's producer, Ken Gustin.  The Sisters discuss life's celebrations of events and experiences large and small, and how grateful they are for the richness of their lives, and th...

Sr. Nancy Stiles moderates this discussion with Sisters Barbara Walsh, Ann Kernan, and Fran Cavey about their continued work in Appalachia.  This is our second episode on the works done in this unique part of our country.  The Sisters served multiple populations including hispanic immigrants, the uneducated, rural women, a self perpetuating corps of youth volunteers, and more.  Sr. Ann summed up h...

As we prepare to welcome new Catholics into our Church at the. Easter Vigil, Sister Alice Arsenault leads a discussion with Sisters MaryEllen Ryan and Alice Michael about their experiences adapting RCIA to the specific community in which it was being offered.  While the experience is based on scripture and Church teachings, the way it is implemented is adjusted to best reach those going through it...

With Easter approaching, we are taking some time to help people (Catholic and non-Catholic) to understand the process of becoming a Catholic through RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults).  This episode is moderated by Sr. Nancy Stiles and features Sisters Alice Arsenault, Fran Cavey and MaryEllen Ryan.  This discussion may be especially interesting to "cradle Catholics", who often have ha...

This wonderful discussion is moderated by Sr. MaryEllen Ryan, as she speaks with Sisters Pat Mulryan, Barbara Kirkman, and Laurette DeChamplain about the experiences and lessons of living a full life.  Sister Laurette celebrated her one hundredth birthday last year, and all share their experiences as women religious from years gone by as well as those which are still giving them opportunities to g...

The Virgin Mary has been an important part of our Catholic faith since the early days of the church.  This discussion, between Sisters Rita Theresa Goulet, Barbara Kirkman, and Holy Union Associate, Judy Corliss, is led by Sister Fran Cavey, and explores Mary's role in the church and in our faith.  As a woman, and the mother of Jesus, Mary's perspective is unique.  The discussion fleshes out how t...

Our special Christmas Episode, Christmas Across Cultures, is dedicated to the loving Memory of Sr. Ann Boland.  Sr. Nancy Stiles moderates a discussion among Holy Union Associate, Margaret Agbese from Nigeria, Holy Union's former Office Manager, Alina Pieprzycki from Poland, and long-time friend of Holy Union, Teresa Aiello from Honduras.  They discuss Christmas traditions and customs in their hom...

We are dedicating December's episodes in loving memory of Sr. Ann Boland, who envisioned them and planned to moderate them both.  Her intent was to discuss how to more fully embrace the joy of the season through simple reminders of what we are really celebrating.  The Church calls this "Living Liturgically".  Sr. Barbara Walsh now moderates this discussion with Sr. Alice Michael and Holy Union Ass...

Sr. Alice Arsenault moderates a discussion among Sr. Rita Beaudoin, Sr. Marilyn Bearne and Sr. Ann Kernan about the establishment of a Holy Union House of Formation in Brockton, MA in the 1980's which was meant to support both the Fall River and the Groton Provinces.  The number of ministries and works which grew out of this project were numerous, eventually leading to uniting the two provinces in...

Sr. Fran Cavey Moderates a discussion with Sr. Peg McCabe, who has spent over three decades ministering to those men and women who are incarcerated on Rikers Island in New York.  Sr. Peg shares some surprising stories and insights from her ministry helping those who have found themselves on the wrong sie of the law, and the importance of the message that God loves you.

Sr. MaryEllen Ryan hosts this discussion with Sr. Ann Boland and Holy Union Associates Pat Healey and Kathleen Jeffra about their experiences ministering to those with special needs.  This moving discussion recounts several occassions where they were inspired by those who had been given a cross to bear, and who carried it with such grace and dignity as to turn it into a blessing for themselves and...

Sr. Fran Cavey moderates a second discussion on Holy Union in Cameroon with Sr. Jane Newcomb and Sr. Marilyn Gignac.  Their conversation covers overcoming the challenges of establishing a house of formation, setting up a new ministry in the remote village of Moloundou, and the amazing "rabbit project"!

Sr. Nancy Stiles speaks with Sr. Lorraine Sirois and Sr. Barbara Walsh about the early work of the Holy Union Sisters with the good people in Appalachia.  Sr. Lorraine and Sr. Barbara spent decades in this unique and often poor part of our country, reflecting with joy on those they met and worked with. Producer's Note: At two points in this episode Mr. Mike Morrissey is accidently referred to as "...

This episode is an extended discussion of Prayer.  Moderated by Sr. Alice Arsenault, it features Sr. Rita Theresa Goulet, Sr. Kathy Corrigan and Holy Union Associate, Nelda Jardin.  It touches on what prayer is, various kinds of prayer, why we pray, God's answers to our prayers and more.  

This episode of Called to Be... features Sisters Fran Cavey, Roberta Desjardins, Terri Theroux, and Marilyn Gignac.  They discuss their early work in Cameroon as our first Sisters journeyed to this beautiful country in Africa many years ago.  Through their efforts, and others, orphanages, clinics, schools and houses of religious formation were built and over the decades thousands were shown God's...

Sr. MaryEllen Ryan moderates a discussion with Holy Union Associates, Margaret Admirand, April Lewis, and Myrna Badillo about what it means to live the Holy Union Charism as an Associate.  All three of these women are New York Associates and each shares her experiences as a part of the Holy Union Associate community, and discusses why they became Associates, and the works they have been involved i...