The Sisters of Divine Love and Mercy received a simple wooden cross, beautifully inscribed with short verses and phrases from Sacred Scripture. Though modest in appearance, it became a powerful sign of God’s love and invitation during their annual retreat.
This took place at the beginning of the Sisters of Divine Love and Mercy Annual Retreat at the Formation Centre in Tamale–Sagnerigu on August 3, 2026. It was a sacred time set aside to be still, to listen attentively to God’s voice, and to allow Him to renew them for their mission.
The wooden cross was a gift from Miss Paula, a lady who belongs to the Neocatechumenal Way, a Christian initiation that forms people in the Catholic faith through catechesis and community life. Although Paula had never met the sisters personally, God used her thoughtful gift to remind them of their vocation and mission as consecrated religious women.
At the opening of the retreat, the cross was placed on the altar in the chapel. In an atmosphere of silence and prayer, the Superior invited each sister to look closely at the cross, choose one of the Scripture verses written on it, and keep that Word throughout the retreat. They were encouraged to pray with it, meditate on it, and ask God for the grace to live it in their daily lives.
For the Sisters, every gift received has a purpose, especially at the beginning of an annual retreat. As they reflected on the retreat theme, “Walk in the Mercy of Jesus Christ: Rediscover the Christian Life,” the wooden cross became a powerful symbol of God’s presence and His loving invitation to deeper conversion.
The cross reminded the sisters that God’s love, mercy, and Word always reach them wherever they may be. It reminded them that, on their own, they are weak, but in the Cross of Christ, they find true strength. Jesus carries their burdens and invites them to walk with Him, sharing in His Cross with faith, hope, and trust.Whenever they become discouraged, they are called to look to the Cross, for in the Cross, they discover mercy, hope, joy, healing, and new life.
The Cross is an essential part of every Christian’s journey. Each sister carries her own cross, and each Scripture verse speaks personally to her according to her unique relationship with God. Through this simple wooden cross, God continues to speak, strengthen, encourage, and renew His daughters, preparing them to carry out their mission faithfully in the Church and in the world. Though simple but powerful.
By Sr. Celestina Theresa Maris, SDLM (Catholic Sister Communicators Network, Ghana -CASCON-GH)
