Author archive

Mary Swain SL

Mary Swain SL has been a consultant to the National Religious Retirement Office and has served on the board for the National Association for Treasurers of Religious Institutes. Along with her math background and service to the Loretto Community in the financial area, she has experience as a church organist and plans and prepares materials for Loretto liturgies at Loretto Motherhouse and for special occasions. Mary resides at Loretto Motherhouse, the grounds of which receive her careful tending and loving touch.

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Reflection on the Feast of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe

By Mary Swain SL / November 26, 2023 /

statue of jesus christ on mount in evening

Ezekiel 34:11-12, 15-17; I Corinthians 15:20-26, 28; Matthew 25:31-46 Here we are, on the last Sunday of the liturgical year, celebrating Christ as king. For some of us, “king” may…

Reflection on the 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time

By Mary Swain SL / October 29, 2023 /

Exodus 22:20-26, Matthew 22:34-40 It is as though the reading from Exodus was written for our times. “Don’t oppress. Don’t extort. Be compassionate.” Oppression, greed and lack of consideration of…

Reflection on the 12th Sunday in Ordinary Time

By Mary Swain SL / June 25, 2023 /

House Sparrows (Passer domesticus), Northdale

Jeremiah 20:10-13, Matthew 10:26-33 “Fear no one,” we just heard read at the beginning of today’s Gospel. Jesus said to the Twelve, “Fear no one.” To back up this command,…

Reflection on Corpus Christi (the Feast of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ)

By Mary Swain SL / June 11, 2023 /

John 6:51-58 The words from John that we have just heard speak strongly to those of us who stand within the Christian tradition. The words resonate with anyone who walks…

Reflection on the Fifth Sunday of Easter

By Mary Swain SL / May 7, 2023 /

These Easter days are so full of energy and life. The disciples are off and running to tell the various communities about Jesus and about “The Way.” The reading from…

Reflection on the Fifth Sunday of Lent

By Mary Swain SL / March 26, 2023 /

John 11:1-45 We just heard a tender story about Martha, Mary, Lazarus and Jesus. The evangelist, John, has Jesus saying that he, Jesus, is the resurrection and the life. John…

Reflection on the Second Sunday of Lent

By Mary Swain SL / March 5, 2023 /

Last Sunday we followed Jesus into the desert. Jesus was at the beginning of this work he sensed himself called to do. We were reading from the fourth chapter of Matthew’s Gospel,…

Reflection on the 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time

By Mary Swain SL / October 16, 2022 /

Exodus, 2 Timothy, Luke 18 Pray always, we hear today. Be patient and constant, don’t get weary, keep at it, don’t give up, don’t lose heart. These commands or urgings…

Reflection on the 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time

By Mary Swain SL / July 31, 2022 /

Sunlight shines through the window in the Motherhouse Church

Ecclesiastes 1:2, 2:21-21; Colossians 3:1-5, 9-11; Luke 12:13:21 Vanities of vanities! All things are vanity! I remember Carroll Stuhlmueller saying that line. It was when we were in the novitiate…

Reflection on the 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time

By Mary Swain SL / July 3, 2022 /

A road passes between two pillars built of stones and goes off to the horizon.

Last Sunday and now this Sunday we have been reading from chapters 9 and 10 of Luke’s Gospel. Jesus is aware that his days are numbered. He is heading toward…

Reflection on the Feast of the Ascension of the Lord

By Mary Swain SL / May 26, 2022 /

Acts 1:1-11, Eph. 1:17-23, Luke 24:46-53 The Gospel passage from Luke that we just heard begins starkly and abruptly — an instruction from Jesus for his disciples. It is helpful,…

Reflection on Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord

By Mary Swain SL / April 11, 2022 /

In today’s Gospel reading Jesus sends two of his disciples off to get a colt in the nearby village. He and his disciples were heading to Jerusalem. Many people were…

The Loretto Community consists of the congregation of the Sisters of Loretto and Loretto Co-members. The congregation of the Sisters of Loretto at the Foot of the Cross was founded in rural Kentucky in 1812. Today, our Sisters and Co-members continue to live out the Loretto Community’s mission to “work for justice and act for peace because the Gospel urges us.” In the United States and throughout the world, Loretto Community members serve in many fields, including education, healthcare, elder care, environmental stewardship and advocacy.