MERIDEN, CT (08-06-2017) – Sister Grace Marie Horan, FSE professed perpetual vows on the feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord, August 6, in the Chapel of St. John at a Mass celebrated by the Most Reverend Leonard P. Blair, Archbishop of Hartford. Sister Grace Marie was accompanied in the entrance procession by her parents, John and Ever Horan of Fort Worth, Texas, who presented her to the Franciscan Community through the person of Mother Miriam Seiferman, Mother General, who received her and thanked Mr. and Mrs. Horan for the gift of Sister Grace Marie’s life.
The vow ceremony took place after the Gospel. Mother Miriam received Sister’s vows in the presence of the official witnesses, Sister Maria Sena, FSE and Sister Mary Elizabeth Endee, FSE, and the congregation of 200 people. In making this final profession, Sister Grace Marie vows to God to live out her life in chastity, poverty and obedience in the Community of the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist. To symbolize this life commitment, Sister received a ring blessed and presented by the Archbishop who represents Christ as Bridegroom of the Church. Sister received blessings from Mother Miriam, Mother Barbara Johnson, Vicar General, and Mother Shaun Vergauwen, Mother Co-foundress. The professed Sisters renewed their vows and then sang the Blessing of St. Francis for the newly professed Sister.
In his homily, Archbishop Blair related the feast of the Transfiguration to the vocation to religious life in making the “invisible visible.” Christ shone in glorious light as he was transfigured in the presence of three of his apostles. Consecrated religious, too, are called to show forth to the world the light of Christ and illumine the darkness, making the Invisible God visible to the world through a real, here-and-now earthly presence of a life of love. The Archbishop called upon all present to live their vocations to the fullest and make Christ present to others through their Christian example.
Nine of Sister Grace Marie’s siblings, their spouses and children attended the ceremony from Texas, Massachusetts, Virginia, Maryland and Alabama. A luncheon reception for all followed the Mass.
