Missionary Sisters of the Precious Blood - North American Province

09/15/2026

In contemplating the Sorrowful Mother, may we too open our hearts to a faith that becomes compassion.
~ Pope Francis

Pray for us, Mother dear.

09/14/2026

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you, because by your holy Cross you have redeemed the world.

09/12/2026

Today we celebrate the lovely feast of the Holy Name of Mary. Let us pray for all who bear the beautiful name of 'Mary'. God bless all the 'Marys' and may Mary, their patroness, always keep them safe.

Art: Hail Mary, Full of Grace
by Jen Norton

09/12/2026

Gracious God,

All good gifts come from your hand:
into our clumsy grasp
you entrust the precious realities
of life, justice and peace.

We remember this day
how fragile is the gift of peace
and how vulnerable are we
in each other’s hands.

We remember those who died
and those who mourn their loss...

We remember those whose courage
gave us a new model for bravery...

We remember those who gave their lives
in their selfless efforts to save others...

We remember that day, that sunny morning
when the borders of our nation
were broken through
to the depths of our hearts...

We remember and we pray
for the healing and peace
that only you can give,
that you call us to share...

Bring us to the day, O God,
when war is but a memory
and peace our way of life...

Bring us to the day, O God,
when the harvest of justice
will nourish the people of all nations...

Hasten the advent of that day, O God
and let our pride not stand in its way...

Give us peace, O God,
the peace for which we pray,
the peace for which we plead,
the peace that's only yours to give...

Amen.

~ Fr. Austin Fleming

09/10/2026

On September 11, 2001, at 9:30 AM, the United States Federal Aviation Administration shut down all U.S. airspace. No flights in. No flights out. The sky went dark.

But 500 flights were already in the air. They were flying toward the United States. They were headed to New York, Boston, Washington, and cities across America. They had no place to land. They had fuel for a few hours. Then what?

Canadian Transport Minister David Collenette made a decision. He shut down Canadian airspace too—but with one exception. Aircraft already past the "point of no return" across the Atlantic, the ones that had no choice but to land in North America, would be allowed to land in Canada.

Canada opened its doors.

Transport Canada activated Operation Yellow Ribbon at 9:21 AM EDT, 18 minutes after the second tower fell. Nav Canada, the country's air navigation agency, began directing aircraft to Canadian airports. One to two planes entering Canadian airspace every minute. The process took five minutes to decide. Then the landings began.

Between 225 and 240 aircraft diverted to 17 Canadian airports. Gander International Airport in Newfoundland, the easternmost point in North America, took 38 flights carrying 6,122 passengers and 473 crew members. Gander, population 10,000, suddenly had 6,000 visitors. Vancouver International Airport took 34 flights carrying 8,500 people. Halifax, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Yellowknife, and other Canadian cities opened their doors.

The passengers and crew landed on Canadian soil without knowing if their families were alive. They did not know if more attacks were coming. They landed in a foreign country without luggage, without money, without information.

Canadian citizens met them at the airports. They opened their homes. They fed the stranded passengers. They housed them for days. They gave them phones to call their families. They gave them comfort when comfort seemed impossible.

No aircraft proved to be a threat. None of the 225 flights were anything other than commercial aviation doing what commercial aviation does: transporting people across oceans.

But on September 11, 2001, when the United States shut its doors, Canada opened theirs. When America's sky fell, Canada caught it. When strangers landed on Canadian soil frightened and uncertain, Canadian citizens said: "You are safe. Stay with us."

USA can change any name. But Canada will always be the country that opened its doors when America's airspace fell. ✈️ 💙

09/10/2026

09/07/2026

On this Feast of the Nativity of the blessed Virgin Mary, we are celebrating the 75th Jubilee of our presence in Cananda.

The eight Sisters, who were assigned to start a mission in Canada, set out from our Motherhouse in the Netherlands on 19 January 1951. Their journey via a steamer from Rotterdam to New York took 15 days. There, the Sisters were warmly welcomed by the Superior of the American District. The travellers spent a week with the Sisters and then went on to Toronto by train. Due to heavy snowfalls, they arrived in the late evening of 10 February.

The first years in Canada were very challenging for these valiant women. However, with the generous assistance of a variety of people, they were eventually able to buy the property where St. Bernard's Convalescent Hospital was established and officilally opened In August 1954. Soon after, the first Canadian candidate was welcomed.

Now, 75 years later, we remember and honour our valiant pioneers. With gratitude and admiration, we look back at what these brave, enterprising women accomplished.

09/07/2026

The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary

The Feast of the Birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary is celebrated exactly nine months after the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, just as Christmas is celebrated nine months after the Church remembers the Incarnation of the Son of God on the Solemnity of the Annunciation. The birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary is one of three liturgical feasts in which we celebrate a birth: Christmas, the Birth of Saint John the Baptist, and the Birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Only the three most consequential figures in the Bible receive the honor of a liturgical celebration to commemorate their births.

Nothing is known for certain about the birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary or of her upbringing, since the Bible only introduces the Mother of God to us for the first time during the Annunciation. However, an early second-century apocryphal text called the Protoevangelium of James (The Gospel of James), paints a detailed picture of her conception, birth, early years, and betrothal to Saint Joseph. Though the account is not part of the canon of Scripture, it has been a source of reflection throughout the centuries and is the source of the traditional names of the Blessed Mother’s parents, Joachim and Anne.

(Excerpt from: MyCatholicLife!)

09/07/2026

Wish our Canadian and American friends a happy, relaxed day.

09/07/2026

Sometimes, Lord...

Sometimes I find I worry
- for nothing -
for nothing is all that worry can do...
And sometimes I find that yesterday's fears
- were tamed -
while I slept through the night...

And sometimes I find I've somehow
- survived -
last week's unsolvable problem...

Far too often I fail to trust
- you are with me -
through all of my sorrows and joys...

So, help me, Lord, to always remember
- that all shall be well -
that all manner of things
in your good time shall be well,
shall be well, shall be well...
Amen.

~ Fr. Austin Fleming