Sr. Rita Clare invites you to find God in the storms of your life. Using Matthew 14:22-33, the passage when the disciples experience a storm and see Jesus walking on the water, she says you should 1) expect storms, 2) call out to Jesus in the storms, 3) test Jesus and ask Him to speak to you in the storm, and 4) do whatever it takes to be close to Him. She gave this talk in October 2020 to students at Florida State University's Catholic Student Union retreat.

 Sr. Rita Clare Yoches, T.O.R. - Total Dependence on God

During the 2019-2020 academic year we gave 9 parish missions.  The missions focused on ongoing conversion through the life of St. Francis of Assisi.  The Church in his time had many of the same challenges we face today and so there is a lot we can learn from him!

1st Night - Meeting Christ Crucified was the beginning and end of St. Francis' journey of conversion.  Sr. Agnes Thérèse shares significant events in St. Francis' life and illustrates how he was attached to the things of this world.  St. Francis' encounter with Christ transformed his desires to become Godly focused and he shows us how to do the same. 

 Sr. Agnes Thérèse Davis, T.O.R. - St. Francis Encountering Christ Crucified

2nd Night - Who are the lepers in your life?  St. Francis was horrified of lepers.  Yet, in overcoming his fear and embracing the leper, St. Francis embraced Christ.  Sr. Sophia Grace shows how St. Francis' encounter allowed him to see Christ in the suffering and despised and how embracing the lepers in our lives transforms our hearts to love more like Christ.  

 Sr. Sophia Grace Huschka, T.O.R. - St. Francis and the Leper: Living in Conformity with Christ

3rd Night - Probably most of us have had some struggles in our relationship with the Church.  Sr. Agnes Thérèse explains that St. Francis, as a reformer, calls us to join him in the constant work of rebuilding the Church - a task that we undertake in hope and desire.  “We rejoice in the hope of the glory of God...And hope does not disappoint us.” (Romans 5: 2,5)

Sr. Agnes Thérèse Davis, T.O.R. - St. Francis and the Bishop: Thirsting After Hope

Sr. Agnes Thérèse invites us, during the season of Advent, to consider our understanding of Jesus, and if the image we have of him leads us to wait for him with joy or with dread. She follows her talk with a 30 minute guided meditation, focusing on John 15.

 Sr. Agnes Thérèse Davis, T.O.R. - Whom Are We Waiting For?

Using the examples of a free solo mountain climber and an actress-turned-nun, Sr. Mary Gemma talks about how we can take a risk and live fully when we have the strength of knowing we are loved. Be inspired by these real-life stories and find the courage to be the unique saint God is calling you to be!

 Sr. Mary Gemma Harris, T.O.R. - Free Soloing: Having the Courage to be yourself in an Instagram World

Discovering your vocation doesn't come from completing a check list or finding a bright neon sign with the answer.  No, the deepest desires of our heart are brought forth through a relationship with Christ.  Sr. Sophia Grace explores how spending time in prayer allows Christ to make us radiant and "bring out in us our very best".

This video of Meagan Duhamel & Eric Radford was shown towards the beginning of the talk.

 Sr. Sophia Grace Huschka, T.O.R. - Journey into Your Vocation

Sr. Thérèse Marie shares from her heart her very real struggle of accepting a chronic debilitating illness and how in the midst of the powerlessness, anger, and loneliness that comes with sickness, she discovered the Lord's profound jealous love for her. She shares how the Lord broke through her hopelessness and taught her how to let Him suffer in her and how to place her hope in Him.

 Sr. Thérèse Marie Iglesias, T.O.R. - The Hope of Christ Suffering in Me

We live in a fatherless world where the absence of a father figure is not an uncommon experience.  That is why it is so important to know God, our Father, especially his love and providence.  It is because God is Father that we know our identity as his children.  Sr. Agnes Therese Davis, T.O.R. breaks open the parable of the Prodigal Son to show us how to live as children of our Heavenly Father.  She also brings in the example of St. Thérèse of Lisieux who said, “To call God my Father and to know myself his child, is heaven to me.”

 Sr. Agnes Thérèse Davis, T.O.R. - The Father's Love

Sr. Anna Rose and Sr. Agnes Therese share about the joys and challenges of training for the Cleveland Marathon and what the experience taught them about the spiritual life.

 Sr. Anna Rose Ciarrone, T.O.R. and Sr. Agnes Thérèse Davis, T.O.R. - Marathon Training and the Spiritual Life

As Christians we are called to live as new creations in Christ.  Do our lives reflect the truth that Jesus is alive?  How can we live this truth fully?  Sr. Anna Rose shares about how we already have all we need to respond to this call, through our baptism.  We respond as Christ's faithful by living as children of the Father, in the likeness of Jesus, as priest, prophet, and king.  As each of us live out our call to live our priestly, prophetic, and kingly vocation as His lay faithful, we will transform the world, one small act of love at a time. 

 Sr. Anna Rose Ciarrone, T.O.R. - Following the Risen Christ: Living in Relationship with the Risen Jesus

Sr. Jean Daugherty, T.O.R. shares that as women we were made especially for communion, to receive love and to give love.  Throughout the talk she brings in the special love St. Francis had for Jesus as shown in three ways: in his devotion to the Crib, to the Cross and to the Eucharist. 

 Sr. Jean Daugherty, T.O.R. - Love is our Vocation

Sr. Agnes Thérèse Davis, T.O.R.  follows up on Sr. Jeans's talk about the Crib, Cross, and Eucharist.  She breaks open the questions, "How can we become the Love that we receive?  What are the qualities of Jesus' love in his Incarnation, Death, and Eucharistic life? How can I imitate that life and be blessed, broken, and shared?"

 Sr. Agnes Thérèse Davis, T.O.R. - How to Love Like Christ

This presentation is a commentary on one of the four pillars of priestly formation outlined in St. John Paul II's Pastores Dabo Vobis, namely Spiritual Formation.  Sr. Catherine Lynn uses the central image from the mother house chapel of the Franciscan Sisters, TOR of Penance of the Sorrowful Mother, showing Mary at the foot of the Cross, to exhort the men who are discerning the priesthood to be open to an intimate and unceasing union with Jesus.

 Sr. Catherine Lynn Forsythe, T.O.R. - "I Thirst": Prayer, Formation, and Continuous Conversion"

Sr. Agnes Thérèse Davis, T.O.R. asks the question, "How is God looking at you right now?"  We have all probably experienced looking into another eyes and being surprised by the depth of love that was there.  It’s really vulnerable.  How can you return or meet God’s gaze?

 Sr. Agnes Thérèse Davis, T.O.R. - Meeting God's Merciful Gaze

Sr. Agnes Thérèse Davis, T.O.R. shares how St. Thérèse is a friend and spouse of Christ and how she let God and Our Lady gaze on her.  It was in her littleness and weakness that she shows us how to let God be close to us in ours. 

 Sr. Agnes Thérèse Davis, T.O.R. - St. Therese: An Example of Receiving God's Gaze

In this talk given during Advent, Sr. Elizabeth Beussink, T.O.R. speaks to women about Jesus coming to us and loving us in our mess and battling the lies that say, "we aren't good enough".

 Sr. Elizabeth Beussink, T.O.R. - Advent by Candlelight

We all love great stories filled with heroes, adventures, dramatic battles and good triumphing over evil.  But why do they stay with us and touch our hearts?  Listen as Sr. Sophia Grace shares about how the Creed is THE story and how it can be seen in all great stories.  

Sr. Sophia Grace Huschka, T.O.R. - The Creed: An Epic Tale

Sr. Agnes Thérèse Davis, T.O.R. works through 1 Peter, a book addressed to Christians who find themselves antagonized by the culture in which they live.  Does that sound familiar?!?

 Sr. Agnes Thérèse, T.O.R. - Bible Study Part One

 Sr. Agnes Thérèse, T.O.R. - Bible Study Part Three

Sr. Agnes Thérèse, T.O.R. - Bible Study Part Five

Sr. Agnes Thérèse, T.O.R. - Bible Study Part Six

Sr. Elizabeth Beussink, T.O.R. at the 2016 Catholic Women for Christ Conference held in St. Louis, MO shares her testimony while highlighting the universal identity and vocation for every woman to be a receptive bride and mother!

 Sr. Elizabeth Beussink, T.O.R. - Bride and Mother

Sr. Sophia Grace Huschka, T.O.R. challenges us to enter deeply into Eucharistic Adoration. This talk was originally given to St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Wichita, Kansas. She shares how in the world, we are bombarded with noise, business, instant gratification, and constant stimulation. Yet in these distractions God is still calling out to us, “Where are you?  I desire to spend time with you!”  How does Eucharistic Adoration counter the chaos around us allow us to hear God’s voice and enter into a deep, personal, and intimate relationship with Him? Listen to find out!

 Sr. Sophia Grace Huschka, T.O.R. - Adoration: Come Let Us Adore Him

Sr. Thérèse Marie Iglesias, T.O.R in this four-part series speaks to women about intimacy in prayer from a feminine perspective.  This series was originally given to Franciscan University students but it is a blessing for all ages. She shares vulnerably about how God has worked intimately in her own life and focuses on four qualities of the heart that she has found make this intimacy happen.  They are desire, presence, nakedness (vulnerability), and sacrifice.  The Lord has already given Himself completely in all four of these areas.  What is our response? How much have we given to Him?

Sr. Thérèse Marie Iglesias, T.O.R. - Intimacy with Christ Part 1, Desire

Sr. Thérèse Marie Iglesias, T.O.R. - Intimacy with Christ Part 2, Presence  

Sr. Thérèse Marie Iglesias, T.O.R. - Intimacy with Christ Part 3, Nakedness

Sr. Thérèse Marie Iglesias, T.O.R. - Intimacy with Christ Part 4, Sacrifice

Sr. Eliana Day, T.O.R. speaks to over 500 women at Franciscan University at an event for women students entitled “BeLoved”.  She shares five practical steps on how to be untangled by truth (or replace lies with truth)- Realize, Reject, Renounce, Replace, and Rejoice.

Sr. Eliana Day, T.O.R. - Untangled by Truth

Saturday: March 30, 2019
“A Conversion of Heart” – Reverend Thomas A. Sparacino, MDiv
“All He desires from us, is for us to love Him in return. That’s how we need to live our life. If we can order our life, in that moment that we may be first experiencing God, first experiencing Christ, first experiencing His mercy, and live towards salvation, then I think we have a shot at holiness.” (14 minutes)

Fr. Tom Sparacino, Homily

Saturday: March 30, 2019
“Personal Reflections on Discerning Vocation” – Sr. June Benedicta Bell
This talk offers some reflections on finding your vocation or the particular call that God has placed on your life. Vocations vary from person to person but the purpose is one and the same- to draw us into deeper intimacy with our Creator- the One who made us, the One who loves us, and the One who knows the deepest desires of our hearts. (36 minutes)

Sr. June Benedicta, Talk

Saturday: March 30, 2019
“Living a Discerned Personal Vocation” – Sr. Anna Rose Ciarrone
Sr. Anna Rose shares a short testimony about coming to discern her personal vocation and how she has learned to live it out in her daily life. (10 minutes)

Sr. Anna Rose, Talk

Saturday: March 30, 2019
“Personal Vocation & Feelings of Helplessness” – Sr. Catherine Lynn Forsythe
“In terms of personal vocation, it is difficult for me to say whether my experiences of helplessness in life are a means to, or a manifestation of at least one aspect of my personal vocation. Feeling helpless in the face of life’s circumstances is inevitable, and is an experience we all share. As I reflect on my life experiences with you, I pray that the Lord leads you to do the same, allowing you to both find and live your personal vocation more fully.” (37 minutes)

Sr. Catherine Lynn, Talk

LENTEN RETREAT 2018

Saturday: March 10, 2018
“Being Contemplatives in the World” – Sr. Mary Markita Kratochvil, T.O.R.
Being a contemplative in the world is all about relationship. While we cannot make ourselves be contemplatives, there are some things we can do that will dispose us to let God accomplish it in our lives.  The one thing we can and must do is to spend time with Him in prayer.  Beyond that, it is not so much what we do, but how we do it.  Being a contemplative in the world can be helped or hindered by our relationship with God, ourselves, others, and technology.  Being a contemplative in the world is possible for all of us!  (25 minutes)

Sr. Mary Markita Kratochvil, T.O.R., Talk

LENTEN RETREAT 2017

Saturday: March 25, 2017
“From the Empty Room to the Upper Room: Intimacy with the Holy Spirit” – Sr. Sophia Grace Huschka, T.O.R.
Sr. Sophia Grace reflects on the Holy Spirit overshadowing Mary, and invites us to a personal relationship with the Holy Spirit. By building silence into our lives and cultivating an awareness of the Holy Spirit; studying and praying with Scripture; being vulnerable to the Lord; and by obeying the inspirations of the Spirit, we can enter into a deeper intimacy with the Holy Spirit. (40 minutes)

Sr. Sophia Grace Huschka, T.O.R., Talk

Saturday: March 25, 2017
“Witness” – Sr. Grace Anne Wills, T.O.R.
“I WILL PROVIDE FOR ALL YOUR NEEDS.”  Does that include blue jeans? Sr. Grace Anne’s witness has the answer. (10 minutes)

 Sr. Grace Anne Wills, T.O.R., Witness

Saturday: March 25, 2017
“Homily” – Fr. Brian Welding, J.C.D., S.T.L.
Fr. Brian Welding builds upon the readings about the scribe, the Samaritan woman, Ahaz, and the word of God made flesh in Mary which reveal Jesus as the ultimate sacrifice: His whole being for our salvation, to do the will of the Father. In imitation of the littleness and humility of Mary, her complete trust which allows the Spirit to rush upon her, so we are called to sacrifice ourselves as an offering to the Father so that He can fill us up. (20 minutes)

Very Rev. Brian Welding, J.C.D., S.T.L., Homily

Saturday: March 25, 2017
“From Nazareth to the Upper Room: The Powerless Security of Discipleship” – Sr. Agnes Thérèse Davis, T.O.R.
Sr. Agnes Thérèse shares her thoughts on dependence and our need for security. We see by the example of Mary’s and the disciples’ emptiness how the Holy Spirit can work in us. By allowing the Holy Spirit to transform us into Jesus for the world, we, like Jesus, can find our rest and security in our crosses through the perfect will of the Father. (45 minutes)

Sr. Agnes Thérèse Davis, T.O.R., Talk

Saturday: March 25, 2017
“Witness” – Sr. Sarah Rose Dent, T.O.R.
Sr. Sarah Rose shares how in the midst of her dad’s recovery from triple bypass surgery, her mother still viewed him with eyes of love. Beyond our areas of weakness, poverty, sin and nothingness, God still wants to gaze upon us as His beloved sons and daughters. (10 minutes)

Sr. Sarah Rose Dent, T.O.R., Witness

LENTEN RETREAT 2016

Saturday: March 19, 2016
“Empowered by the Father’s Mercy” – Mother Mary Ann Kessler, T.O.R.
Mother Mary Ann reflects on how St. Joseph was empowered by God, the Father’s mercy to live out three particular attributes—humility, obedience, and virginity; and how each of us are also called and empowered by the Father’s mercy to live these virtues in our own lives.

Mother Mary Ann Kessler, T.O.R., Empowered by the Father's Mercy

Saturday: March 19, 2016
“Spiritual Fatherhood” – Reverend Thomas A. Sparacino, MDiv 
Father Tom shares his experience of several kinds of fatherhood during a recent youth event in Pittsburgh: how we all “have the best job” and a responsibility to do that job well by living God’s merciful love.

Reverend Thomas A. Sparacino, MDiv, Spiritual Fatherhood

Saturday: March 19, 2016
“The Transformative Power of Receiving the Mercy of God” – Sister Miriam O’Callaghan, T.O.R. 
Sr. Miriam talks about the real life struggles that the Saints had, especially in the areas of food, anger and gossip and how they, like us, needed to receive the mercy of God. She also shares some personal stories about her own areas of struggle and about the last days of her Dad’s illness last year. She encourages us to let the mercy of God flow into even the very darkest, grimiest areas of struggle that we have and not to be afraid to be transformed by Mercy as a result.

Sister Miriam O'Callaghan, T.O.R., The Transformative Power of Receiving the Mercy of God

LENTEN RETREAT 2015

Saturday: March 21, 2015
“Joyful Surrender” – Sister Sophia Grace Huschka, T.O.R.
Surrendering to God can be difficult, but can it be joyful?  Through encountering Christ, and through Him the Father, we come to know that God wants the best for us. As we grow in relationship with Him, we grow in trust as well.  Then we more readily hand over our “dime store pearls” and take a “leap of faith”.

Sister Sophia Grace Huschka, T.O.R., Joyful Surrender

Saturday: March 21, 2015
“Testimony” – Sister Mary Gemma Harris, T.O.R.
Sr. Mary Gemma shares about a personal test of faith in her own life that led her to greater surrender to the Lord. She learned that the cross is not something to fear, but a gift.

Sister Mary Gemma Harris, T.O.R., Sisters

Saturday: March 21, 2015
“Testimony” – Sister Grace Anne Wills, T.O.R.
Sr. Grace Anne gives her testimony of a life spent in three vocations: marriage, widowhood and religious life. She shares the joy of surrendering to the Lord’s will in all circumstances and of knowing that the Resurrection always follows the cross. 

Sister Grace Anne Wills, T.O.R., Testimony (There is a short silent delay at the beginning of this track)

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PAST TALKS

Super Lent
Sunday: March 9, 2014
“The Holy Spirit: Our Coach for Lent”
An inspiring talk by Danny Abramowicz, a former NFL player, and our very own Sr. Rita Clare.  Sharing Scripture and personal stories, Danny challenged us to be open to the Holy Spirit.   With great passion he shared his own story of how the Holy Spirit has changed his own life. He encouraged us to let the Holy Spirit be our coach during Lent and to go deeper in our relationship with Christ. Sr. Rita Clare shared her vocation testimony and how following the Lord is a journey far more exalted than being on a professional winning team. We are on the winning team and it is a much more spectacular victory than any football game!

Danny Abramowitcz, Super Lent Sunday

Sr. Rita Clare Yoches, TOR Vocation Testimony, Super Lent Sunday

Annual Day of Recollection: October 20, 2012
Freedom in Christ
Fr. Joe Freedy, Vocations Director Diocese of Pittsburgh
What prevents us from being fully alive in Christ? Sin―and its root, fear. In a society gripped by fear and worry, we forget who we truly are and the goodness of our existence. We must surrender our lives into the Father’s hands to discover again the freedom of the children of God.

This talk was life changing for many who attended. May it also transform your own life and allow you to claim as your own your identity as a beloved child of God.

Father Joe Freedy, Freedom in Christ

Fr. Dan Heusel, a priest of the Diocese of Steubenville, celebrated Mass here on All Souls Day. He preached a homily about why we should love Purgatory: because of the mercy of God. It is not only a place for a soul's purification before entering into heaven, but it is also a great mercy for those of us who regret our lack of love after our family and friends have passed. We can now love them by offering Mass, indulgences, and the sufferings of our daily duties to help them.

Fr. Dan Heusel - November 2nd, 2020

Fr. John Riccardo preached a beautiful homily at Sr. Rita Clare’s first profession of vows on August 6th, 2012. He is a a priest of the Archdiocese of Detroit and was instrumental in Sr. Rita Clare’s conversion during her later college years. He gives a moving homily on love; “Love does stuff like that”.

Father John Riccardo - Sr. Rita Clare's First Profession

Bishop R. Daniel Conlon is the former Bishop of the Diocese of Steubenville (2002-2011).  He presided at the Dedication of our new chapel, Father of Mercy, on August 1, 2010 and preached a beautiful homily that captured the spirituality of the chapel.  He was recently moved to the Diocese of Joliet, Illinois. We were very blessed by his presence  to us and are happy to share with you the Word he preached at such a historic event for our community.

Bishop R. Daniel Conlon - Father of Mercy Chapel Dedication

Bishop David Zubik is the 12th and current Bishop of the Diocese of Pittsburgh.  We were privileged to have him celebrate Mass for us on October 22nd, 2011 at the dedication of our Divine Mercy image in Father of Mercy Chapel.  This also happened to be the first feast day of Blessed John Paul II.  Below is a wonderful homily on Divine Mercy and Blessed John Paul II.

Bishop David Zubik - Divine Mercy

Father Boniface Hicks, O.S.B. is a Benedictine monk of St. Vincent’s Archabbey and is a programming manager and host for We Are One Body (WAOB) Catholic radio in Latrobe, Pennsylvania. We have been blessed to have him here celebrating Mass for us each month on our  Day of Renewal (a day of prayer and renewal for the Sisters).  Because his homilies have blessed us so much we began recording them in the hope that many more shall be blessed by His wisdom and depth. Enjoy!

Father Boniface Hicks, O.S.B. - Unceasing Prayer and Penance

Father Boniface Hicks, O.S.B. - Penance and the Incarnation

Father Boniface Hicks, O.S.B. - Penance and the Eucharist

Father Boniface Hicks, O.S.B. - The Prideful Presumption of Self Sufficiency

Father Boniface Hicks, O.S.B. - Tuesday of the Second Week of Lent