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A Message from Sr. Mary Joseph, Provincial Superior J.M.J.T. Dear Readers, HAPPY and BLESSED NEW YEAR! We go to bed as we always do, we wake up in the morning as usual, but the calendar turns a page and suddenly we have a New Year 2012. And everything seems fresh and original. This year will be different. This year we will keep our resolutions. This year we will lose weight. This year I will be that kind and sympathetic person I know I really am. This year . . . But in reality, isn't January 1 just another day like the day before? What gives us this sense of expectation, of new hope, of new possibilities? The New Year! All things are possible with a fresh start. Things don*t have to be as there were before, because we have started a New Year! Wouldn't that be a marvelous attitude to have with our spiritual life? We want to pray more, but when the time isn't there or we're filled with distractions, we begin to get discouraged. We feel like a failure and then we don't pray at all. But we can have our "new year" whenever we are ready to begin again. It may be as simple as going to Confession. When we hear the words of the priest, acting in the person of Christ, say to us, "Go in peace. Your sins are forgiven," we are given a fresh start, a new beginning. We tell our Heavenly Father, "I firmly resolve with the help of Your grace, to sin no more." And we mean it. The Cur of Ars reminds us that our Heavenly Father, hearing our words, in His great mercy, takes us at our word and forgives us . . . . even though He knows we will be back again, telling Him we are sorry and asking Him to forgive us and once again saying, "I won't do it anymore!" How pleasing it is to Him that we don't give up, that we try again, that we make that fresh start. May this New Year truly be a fresh start for all of us. Every day may our Home be filled with the same love found in the holy home of Nazareth with Jesus, Mary and Joseph.
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St. Agnes Agnes was martyred during the reign of Diocletian around 304 at the age of thirteen to God. Many young noblemen, attracted by her beauty and riches, sough her hand in marriage. But she told them that "Christ is my Spouse." They accused her of being Christian, and brought her before a judge who threatened her with death by torture and fire unless she renounced her loyalty to Christ. Undaunted by his threats, the judge sent her to a prostitution house. She retained her purity and when brought again to the judge, he ordered her beheaded. St. Agnes is a virgin martyr of the early Church. Her name means "lamb". She is commemorated in the Canon of the Mass, and her feast day is January 21st.
CONGRATULATION TO SHELIA RASURE DAUGHTER OF LOIS McENANEY WINNER OF THE ST. AGNES HOME RAFFLE HAND-CRAFTED FLY ROD
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| Administrator Dianne Strutynski
I would like to express my gratitude to our families for helping us to have one of the best Christmases' in memory during this time of economic crises. We had a wonderful party on December 14th with lots of prizes, turkeys and hams. (A special thanks to Mary Kikas for the wonderful prizes.) And we were able to provide envelopes to all our staff to help make their Christmas merrier. Our two grand prizes were a Samsonite 360 degree rolling weekender bag and a Keurig Mr. Coffee. The luggage was won by Gwen Holmes of the night shift nursing and the coffee maker was won by Lorena Meyer of dietary. Happy New Year to All. |
Activities Director Yvonne Walker Activities had a very busy December. We decorated most of the trees on each floor and put up other decorations around the home. Tammy was also very helpful. Our volunteer Jane came in to helped do the dolls. On December 9th we went to a special Christmas Party in House Springs. The residents and Sisters had their picture taken with Mr.and Mrs. Claus. We then ventured over to the big room where we had hot chocolate and cookies. After this treat we enjoyed watching a firework display. Everyone had a great time. Linda the lady that host the party sent each one a framed picture as a momento. On December 29th we took a bus trip to Our Lady of the Snows. We left at 4:00 p.m. and had our supper at Steak n Shake then traveled to the Shrine in Belleville. On our return home we stopped at Judy and Julie Colabianchi's home to see their decorations and we had a snack of delicious cookies and eggnog. See you next year. Nursing Notes Johanna Echols Hypercholesterolemia, otherwise known as high cholesterol, is the presence of too much cholesterol in the blood. Cholesterol is a waxy fat-like substance produced by the liver and is essential for proper cell and hormone function but excess can spell trouble. Cholesterol while produced by the body, specifically the liver, also comes from outside sources such as food high in saturated and trans fat. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that nearly 20% of all strokes and 50% of all heart attacks can be linked to high cholesterol. There are two types of cholesterol that are looked at when assessing risk. LDL is also called "bad cholesterol" think L for lousy. LDL is responsible for the hardening (atherosclerosis) and blocking of the arteries thus increasing risk of heart attack and stroke. Most people should aim for a LDL of 100mg/dL or less, a person with heart disease may need to aim even lower. HDL or "good cholesterol"-think H for healthy. HDL cholesterol actually attaches to the LDL and filters it out of the body. A level of HDL of 60 mg/dL or higher is desirable. Treatment of high cholesterol is a multi-pronged approach from lifestyle modifications to medications. Reducing fats and eating a balanced, nutritious diet coupled with physical activity can often reduce LDL while raising HDL. Medications used in conjunction with lifestyle changes are often quite effective in maintaining a healthy ratio especially in those with a genetic tendency towards high cholesterol and heart disease. Managing cholesterol is essential to a healthy long life, it is important to have your cholesterol checked regularly. If over the age of 20, levels should be checked at least every 5 years, and far more often if you are over the age of 45, have a family history, or are currently being treated for high cholesterol. Have a wonderful New Year..may 2012 bring much inspiration, happiness, and of course, health!! |
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| Development Office Pat Dolan, Development Director Happy New Year! The Magi were the first to offer their gifts to Jesus. It would be a great New Year's resolution for all of us to offer our gifts with the same love, honor and sacrifice that we witness in the long journey the Magi made to bring their gifts to Jesus. Does your list of New Year's resolutions include better ways to give back to God and thank Him for His many blessings to you and your family? The New Year is a great time to consider one of the greatest acts of stewardship -- establishing an estate plan comprised of either a will or a trust. A will is a legal document that allows one to control how assets are distributed after one's lifetime. Without a will, the probate court decides who acquires the assets upon death. Typically, the court will divide assets between surviving family members. The court will not provide for any charitable intentions. A trust allows control of how assets are distributed both during and after one's lifetime. Establishing a trust requires that there is a transfer of ownership or title of one's assets to the name of the trust. Since the trust owns the assets, there is nothing for the courts to control upon death. This is beneficial since, unlike a will, all the costs, delays and publicity of the probate process are avoided. However, depending on its complexity, a trust can be more expensive to create than a will. Most importantly, an estate plan allows one to determine how and to whom the gifts God has bestowed on us will be distributed when we can no longer serve as our own steward. For detailed questions on wills or trusts, contact an estate planning attorney. If you are planning on giving to a charity, please consider the Carmelite Sisters and St. Agnes Home as part of your estate plan. For further information on additional gift giving opportunities to benefit the Carmelite Sisters and St. Agnes Home please contact me at 314.965.7616 or stop by my office anytime. Thank you to everyone who supported the Carmelite Sisters of the Divine Heart of Jesus and St. Agnes Home in 2011. I hope you will continue to offer your prayerful and financial support in 2012 and in the years to come. If you haven't already you will receive a written acknowledgement of your charitable gifts made in 2011 by January 31, 2012. May you have a blessed 2012 and that, like the Magi, may you bring your gifts before God, trusting that when you give to Our Lord first, He will provide you with all that you need. Gratefully,
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St. Agnes Home Recognition Program Customer Service Award Winners (For December we did a more modest award prize pull in light of all the party prizes) Grab Bag Winners Orbey Jones, Housekeeping Leonidas Hernandez, Dietary Rabija Patkovic, Dietary
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Liturgical Schedule Perpetual Help Devotions -- Tuesdays at 6:30 PM Mass Times |
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By Msgr. Calkins The Holy Name of Jesus On the 3rd of January in this New Year of Our Lord we will celebrate the memorial of the Holy Name of Jesus, beautiful liturgical commemoration that was restored to the Roman Calendar by Blessed John Paul II. There is power in the name of Jesus. St. Paul tells us that every knee should bend at the name of Jesus (cf. Phil. 2:10) and St. Peter boldly proclaims that there is no other name under heaven by which we may be saved (cf. Acts. 4:12). Not only is the name of Jesus, when invoked with faith, powerful against the enemy, it is a source of great consolation as tells us. Here is a marvelous hymn that St. Bernard wrote about the Holy Name of Jesus in English translation: Jesu, the very thought of thee Nor voice can sing, nor heart can frame, O hope of every contrite heart! But what to those who find? Ah this Jesu, our only joy be Thou, O Jesu, King most wonderful When once Thou visitest the heart, O Jesu, light of all below! Jesu, may all confess The Name, Thee may our tongues forever bless; O Jesu, Thou the beauty art Celestial Sweetness unalloyed! O my sweet Jesu! Hear the sighs Stay with us, Lord, and with Thy light O Jesu, spotless Virgin flower, Thee will I seek, at home, abroad, With Mary to thy tomb, I'll haste, Beside thy grave will make my moan, Nor from my tears and sighs refrain,
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Mass Intentions -- January 2012 If you would like to have Mass offered for a special intention, please, notify the front desk. St. Agnes Home Chapel
Fr. John Hallemann
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Podiatrist -- Please see your charge nurse. |
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| St. Agnes Home 10341 Manchester Rd., Kirkwood, MO 63122, (314) 965-7616, (314) 822-3154 FAX |
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