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 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time

By Mary Swain SL / August 18, 2024 /

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 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time

By Mary Swain SL / July 21, 2024 /

Mark 6:30-34 Earlier in this chapter of Mark’s Gospel Jesus sends out the twelve, two-by-two as we heard from Mary Ann McGivern last Sunday, giving them authority over unclean spirits.…

The Ascension of the Lord

By Mary Swain SL / May 9, 2024 /

Acts 1:1-11, Eph. 1:17-23, Mark 16:15-20 Editor’s note: The Solemnity of the Ascension will be observed Sunday, May 12, in the Louisville Archdiocese. The feast was transferred to that date…

Reflection on the Second Sunday of Easter

By Mary Swain SL / April 7, 2024 /

Acts 4:32-35, 1 John 5:1-6, John 20:19-31 Several years ago, during the Easter Vigil Elaine Prevallet quoted a phrase from a poem of Wendell Berry’s. He used the expression, “Practice resurrection.” …

Reflection on the Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

By Mary Swain SL / January 28, 2024 /

Deuteronomy 18:15-20, Mark 1:21-28 Jesus is in Capernaum. It is early in his public life. Things go well. In Mark’s Gospel before the section we just heard, Jesus had met…

Reflection on the Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God

By Mary Swain SL / January 1, 2024 /

A woman in a white tunic places her hands in blessing on the head of a woman wearing a headscarf and embroidered tunic.

Numbers 6:22-27, Galatians 4:4-7, Luke 2:16-21 We just heard in the first reading about God telling Moses to instruct Aaron and his children just how to bless the people. A wonderful…

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…

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.