Ministries

Sisters in Jesus the Lord is dedicated to being an integral part of the parish, and evangelizing through all types of work, among them prayer and contemplation, sacred music, campus ministry, pro-life work of all kinds, teaching, medical work, care of orphans and elderly, offering retreats, and use of the media especially for evangelization, helping pregnant mothers, and women struggling with post-abortion healing. All our activities are devoted to building strong and vibrant parishes dedicated to making Christ known and loved by devising ways, together with the faithful, of living out faith's essential work of proclaiming the Good News to all, through all types of service.

Those women called to a life devoted to contemplation as their main work, will help the work of evangelization through their life of prayer and penance. By also keeping a prayerful presence of adoration of the Blessed Sacrament in the parish church they will teach without words the essential importance of the Blessed Sacrament.

As our community grows, so will its ministries.

Current Ministries

The Sisters in Jesus the Lord, with the help of lay volunteers, are doing the following works:

• Liturgy and Music: In Russia, we are working with our brother community to develop melodies to complement the text of the Divine Office in Russian, we lead and sing in the parish choir and often play the organ, flute, and cantor at Masses for the parish. In Raytown, we plan the music for one of weekend Masses, lead one of the parish choirs, and cantor at Masses for the parish.
• Pro-life Work: The members of Sisters of Jesus the Lord are unequivocally pro-life, embracing the Church's teaching against contraception and promoting the dignity of all human life from natural conception to natural death. We pray every day for the closing of local abortion clinics. We pray monthly outside the nearest abortion clinic. We work with various pro-life groups, including Rachel's Vineyard retreats for post-abortion healing, and encourage laypeople to participate in the political process to change legislation that supports the culture of death. We are also aware of the prevalence of euthanasia in our country. We frequently give talks at local parishes on end of life issues (see AVE Media section below for more information).
• Catechesis and Evangelization: Currently we are helping team-teach RCIA at our parish in Raytown, and all the sisters assist with catechetical and religious life vocational programs for children, teens, and adults. We promote Lighthouse Catholic Media CD's at our local parish as a means of ongoing evangelization. In Russia, the sisters head up a youth group; work with young children using the Montessori Method; plan and lead monthly catechetical days for the children at a satellite parish and two yearly conferences for youth and young adults; visit, assist, often play the harp and sing songs for the residents at the home for the elderly poor, and hold parish weekend retreats for adults. Beginning steps are being taken to get to know more of the students at the nearby University so as to introduce them to the Faith and build a strong foundation for the Church.
• Ministry to the Sick and Homebound: We, along with other parishioners, regularly bring the Eucharist to members of our parish who cannot come to the Sunday Mass.

• AVE Media: AVE Media (Announcing Victory Eternal) is our non-profit 501(c)3 activity that produces Catholic CDs and DVDs. Our latest production is a set of 4 CDs covering on end of life issues. The titles of the CDs are: 1) Understanding Euthanasia: How to Recognize When Someone Is Being Euthanized, 2) Determining Death and Concerns about Organ Donation, 3) Avoiding Dangerous Living Wills and Medical Directives, and 4) Suggestions for Caring for the Sick and Dying and its Privilege. These are available for purchase. These materials are produced with special care to be dedicated to being faithful to the Magisterium of the Church. Future plans include further use of the internet, radio, and print media.
• Promoting Stewardship of the Land: In raising in our own garden or purchasing food, we give support to organic farmers. These farmers, through their sacrifices and hard work, produce food without using chemicals, pesticides, or preservatives, so as to help preserve God's creation and the health of the consumer.

"In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a city of Judah, and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and she exclaimed with a loud cry, 'Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!' "

Luke 1:39-42