It was a simple invitation to an event called “Sharing Ramadan” at the Dar Ul Salam Masjid Mosque near St. Louis, and something urged me to accept. As a result, three of us Ursulines had a wonderful opportunity to share an evening of welcome, encounter and learning. Ramadan, the month-long fast observed by Muslims around the world (in celebration of the gift of the Koran to Muhammad), is scheduled according to the lunar Islamic calendar, so this year’s fast will end tomorrow. The fast is from dawn to sunset, and for people in this part of the world, that means close to 16 hours of no food, no water.
We were given a tour of the mosque, school and other facilities. We heard the call to prayer–Listen here-–and the beautiful chant that proclaims: “God is great. . . I bear witness that there is no God except the one God.” Encouraged to ask questions about the practices and beliefs of Islam, we learned much while always receiving respect for our 
own religious beliefs. As the meal together to break the day’s fast would not happen until well after 8:00 p.m., we were treated to having our names written in Islamic calligraphy, receiving a henna tattoo, or learning more about Muslim dress. At every moment, there were friendly conversations with brothers and sisters, so different and yet so much the same.
I was impressed by the effort made by our Muslim community for this lovely evening, and the crowd that attended clearly showed a desire to build inter-religious harmony. Yes, truly our God is great, and we are all 
one!
On one of my final days in Rome last week, I woke up to quite a surprise when the city was blanketed in snow. Many took on the delight of children again, making snow “people,” running and laughing with joy. Everything else seemed to come to a stop. It became for me a good day to pack and prepare to return home.
State University in Joplin, Missouri, we have 27 open and committed university students participating in the Busy Student Retreat. Together, we listen to the Spirit of God, who leads us ever deeper into prayer, faith, and the life journey with Jesus. What could be better?
so many countries and cultures. We make great effort to listen well, to be sure we understand what others are sharing, often in unfamiliar languages, and to have hearts open to God’s Spirit and the wisdom of the group.
We St. Louis Vocation Directors thought we were pretty clever when we called our recent Nun Run a Convent Camino. We did it with great intention, because the invitation to Come and See where we live, to share prayer, meals and conversation about religious life, is more than a tourist run, it’s a pilgrimage, an opportunity to get at the heart of what makes Sisters tick.
Congregations joined young women discerners in lively conversation, prayer, meals and fun. There were no dull moments, as topics of community, prayer, ministry, vows, and “Women of Laudato Si” invited honest sharing and questions.
A couple of Saturdays ago, four of us Ursulines visited a local vineyard for their autumn festival. It was a rustic place with picnic tables set among many trees. There was good food, wine tasting, and great camaraderie. Having lived in Italy, I’m always delighted to see grapevines loaded with fruit at harvest. They remind me of Jesus’ passion for his mission, “I am the vine, you are the branches,” . . . “You have not chosen me; I have chosen you.” The vines also stand as vivid symbols of how we are connected, one to another, in a relationship never diminished but only strengthened by struggle, suffering and a share in the Cross.