Mission and Heritage Week

“Walking Together” implies we are never alone but accompanied by the light and guidance of our divine companion. Jean Nexsen, former Mission Leader, and presently Chair of the Mission Integration Committee of Felician Center seriously reflected on the 2022 Mission and Heritage Week Theme. As an elder of Williamsburg Presbyterian Church, Jean’s leadership role for many years has taught her about COMMUNION. She understands we all have a role to play in discerning and living out God’s call to God’s people. She translated her knowledge into PARTICIPATION because all the faithful are qualified and called to serve one another through the gifts they have each received from the holy Spirit at baptism. And finally, Jean understands MISSION to mean to witness to the love of God in the midst of the whole human family.

On the feast of St. Francis, Jean told the story of St. Francis and Blessed Angela to the children in the Learning Center. She dressed two of the children in the robe and habit for a visual experience and passed around numerous statues and pictures of both St. Francis and Blessed Angela for the children to view. To celebrate the feast days and birthdays into heaven of both figures, mission integration committee members, Rosa Cherry and Salley Jenkinson, baked cupcakes. Of course, a rendition of “happy birthday” was sung before blowing out the candles.

On October 5^th, Sharon Galloway organized a bus tour for the Ladies Guild and Columbiettes from Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church from North Myrtle Beach, SC. The group travelled approximately 100 miles to celebrate Eucharist at the feast of Our Lady of Joyful Hope diocesan shrine presided by Fr. Stanley Smolenski. Afterwards, the women came to the Felician Center for lunch and a tour of the property. Jean Nexsen and her committee members Mary Lisa McGill, Kelly Atkinson, Rosa Cherry ND Roberta Duck, office manager, welcomed the group, hosted them, and prayed the Prayer of St. Francis together. Jean Nexsen gave a reflection on the 2022 Mission and Heritage Theme:  WALKING TOGETHER and acknowledged their active support of the Felician Center even at a distance. The group collected winter coats and jackets for the Clothing Closet and presented Sister Susanne with a check for $1,000. Each guests received a coffee mug with the Prayer of St. Francis on it and a sterling silver medal of St. Felix. Closing remarks were led by Sister Susanne. Sister Johnna and Sister Carol shared some remarks, too.

African AME, Presbyterian, Methodist, Catholic, children and adults, were challenged to follow a path provided by God, His angels, and saints and by the Mission Integration committee and Felician Sisters in Kingstree, SC. We walk together.