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Thank you from the SOLT Sisters!

Dear Parents and Friends,

How can we thank you for your kindness and support in providing for us in so many ways through the giving tree this Christmas?  From toiletries and groceries to winter fleeces, books and goodies, we were so touched by your generosity.  May the Lord reward you and your families 100-fold!

As a house of formation with young women who are just taking their first steps in religious life, it was such a joy to see their astonishment at how cared for we are by all of you.  Please know that you are in our prayers daily, and that we feel very blessed to live and serve here at St. Alphonsus.  May your 2019 be filled with every grace and blessing!

Sincerely,

The SOLT Sisters

 

Meet Sisters New to St. Als

Arriving at St. Alphonsus in mid-August, Sr. Mary Elizabeth Albers had previously been assigned to the SOLT headquarters in Corpus Christi, Texas. She is very excited to be back in Seattle, where she served as a Novice in 2007-08, mostly in the Pre-K classroom at the school.Originally from Kansas, Sr. Elizabeth graduated from Benedictine College with degrees in English and Mass Communications, and played point guard for the women’s basketball team. Following graduation, she taught for two years at the SOLT mission in Belize, Central America, where she first heard the Lord’s invitation to religious life. As a SOLT Sister, Sr. Elizabeth has been assigned in New Mexico, North Dakota and Texas, and she professed her perpetual vows with five other Sisters in 2014. This year she will continue her work as Vocation Servant for the SOLT Sisters, along with being the aspirant formator and convent superior. Within the parish, she is delighted to be working with the youth group, helping out in the school office, and growing in relationship with the whole St. Alphonsus family.

 

Sr. Mary Peter came to St. Alphonsus in February of this year. She is originally from the Portland area and studied Spanish and Latin American Studies at Oregon State University while also competing on the OSU crew team. She discovered her vocation to religious life through a conversion experience while serving at the SOLT mission in North Dakota at the end of her time at Oregon State. She entered the Sisters of the Society of Our Lady shortly after college and made her first profession of vows in 2005. At that time she was sent to serve in a home for girls in Queretaro, Mexico for 3 years. After that she served in the sisters’ novitiate house in New Mexico for 8 years. Finally, prior to coming to Seattle, she served in Belize City, Belize for almost 2 years. Her ministry here will mostly be serving the Sisters’ community, but she will be overseeing the CCD class for the children preparing for First Holy Communion, serving as a Lector, and involved in other parish activities. She is grateful to be at St. Alphonsus, and happy to be at home again in the beauty of the Pacific Northwest!

Sisters 2018

The SOLT Sisters at St. Alphonsus

Although every religious community incorporates the same essential elements of liturgical prayer, common life and apostolic service, each community is also a unique expression of the gift of Christ within the Church, with its own charism, mission and spiritualty. The Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity (SOLT) is an international missionary community, based out of Corpus Christi, Texas, composed of priests, consecrated sisters and brothers, and lay members serving together on ecclesial teams in areas of deep need throughout the Church.  Founded in New Mexico in 1958 by Fr. James Flanagan, SOLT’s vision and charism anticipated many of the movements of Vatican II, including the role of the laity in the mission of evangelization, the significance of Our Lady’s relationship with each Person of the Trinity, and “communion” as the foundation of all renewal within the Church.

The SOLT Sisters first arrived at St. Alphonsus in 2004, and the convent has been a house of formation from the beginning, serving as a place where young women who are taking their first steps toward a religious vocation begin their formation.  Since 2004, more than 30 Sisters and SOLT aspirants, postulants and novices have become a part of the St. Alphonsus family.  The various stages of formation include Aspirancy—an initial four-month time of discernment, Postulancy—a year of more intense formation geared toward the development of the whole person and greater understanding of consecrated life, and Novitiate—the official entrance into a religious community when the habit and white veil are received and the Novice begins a two-year period of preparation to make first vows.

Striving to achieve a balance of prayer, work, service, study, community life and recreation, the convent could be described as both prayerful and invariably busy!  Each day the Sisters participate in Mass, a Eucharistic holy hour and the five hours of the Divine Office.  They also pray the Rosary and meditate on Scripture together daily, and hold formation class five days a week.  They serve at the school and in the parish in a variety of ways, from assisting in the classrooms, lunch duty, recess, extended care and the school office, to helping out with CCD, Youth Group, RCIA and some cleaning around the facilities.  The SOLT Sisters are exceptionally blessed to have a home at St. Alphonsus, and they look forward to all the wonders the Lord will continue to work!

Sister Elizabeth Albers

Be on the lookout in the next few weeks as we introduce the newest members of the community…