Madeline Crocenzi
Editor-in-Chief
Sister Amanda Marie kneels before Sister Lorraine McGrew, IHM, General Superior of the IHM Congregation (seated) to receive the IHM rule. Sister Mary Glackin, IHM, Directress of Postulants, stands as a witness.
On August 11th, Messiah alumna Amanda Marie Russell entered into the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (IHM) religious congregation as a novice.
Russell is a 2013 Messiah graduate with a degree in German Education and minors in Mathematics and Youth Ministry. She joined the congregation in a ceremony at the Villa Maria House of Studies in Immaculata, PA. Her admission into the novitiate, or probationary period, at the congregation symbolizes her formal introduction to religious life.
At the private ceremony, Russell receieved a copy of the constitutions of the congregation. She also pronounced her religious name, Sister Amanda Marie.
Sister Lorraine McGrew, IHM, General Superior of the IHM Congregation, stands with the newly received IHM novice, Sister Amanda Marie and Sister Mary Glackin, IHM, Directress of Postulants. (From left: Sister Mary Glackin, Sister Amanda Marie, Sister Lorraine McGrew.)
This ceremony is the mark of a long journey for Russell. She first entered the IHM Congregation as a postulant in September 2014. During that time, she learned about religious life and actively participated in the community life through private and communal prayers. She also participated in the mission of the IHM Sisters to evangelize, to catechize, and to teach.
According to a press release by Sister Marianne Therese Lallone, “The postulate year afforded Sister Amanda the opportunity to discern and follow her call by God to enter religious life.”
Russell will now take classes related to prayer and theology as a part of her first year as a canonical novice. She will learn more and actively participate in the mission of the IHM Congregation her second year.
Sister Mary Glackin, IHM, Directress of Postulants (center) poses with the newly received IHM novice, Sister Amanda Marie.
For information about the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary visit www.ihmimmaculata.org.
This information is from a press release received from Sister Marianne Therese Lallone, I.H.M.