In October 2024, the American Province launched Graced Moments, where every month, a Holy Child Sister shares a “grace-filled” experience that has influenced her life. The project flows from the Society’s mission “to help others to believe that God lives and acts in them and in our world.”
We thank Michele Puma, a Sister of the Holy Child Jesus for 66 years, for offering her “graced moment.”
Feel free to leave a comment for Sister Michele at the bottom of this page. Thank you.
Click the audio player to listen to Sister Michele read her
reflection or see the text below. Enjoy!
I learned to be obedient in the Society, and even in life, with kindness. I learned this when I questioned authority or decisions of my superiors. How my superiors responded made a lasting impression on me.
When I was a novice, the provincial, Reverend Mother Mary Pauline, met with me to give me my first missioning assignment – it was to Waukegan, Ill.
I’m from New York City. I knew very little about that small community.
After the meeting with Reverend Mother Mary Pauline, Mother Columba, the novice mistress at that time, sensed my distress. She told me to go to the chapel for a while. I was in the chapel, and the door opened, and in walked Mary Alice Minogue and Peg Scholle – two of my set! Mother Columba had sent them to the chapel to see me. Mary Alice and Peg, who were Midwesterners, said, “Let’s go for a walk down the back road, and we’ll tell you about the Midwest, our part of the country.” Mother Columba did that for me and obedience came easier.
I learned early in the Society that having an open relationship and dialogue with our superiors makes obedience easier. I think this comes from Cornelia being a mother and her belief to treat children (or Sisters, people, etc.) as if they are your own.
“It is not presumption to have hope and joy
and confidence in God’s grace.”
-Venerable Cornelia Connelly
What in Sister Michele’s graced moment resonated with you? Please share below.
I resonate with being sent on mission without dialogue. I also had one on one conversations with my novice mistress. They were helpful. This ‘graced moment’ has come when I just heard the news of her passing. May Sr. Philly Power rest in peace.
Michele, thank you for reminding me, us, that conversation is so important in living obedience.
I loved your story! So real. Thanks for sharing your insight (Graced Moment).
Michelle, thank you for your graced moment. The importance of dialogue,
understanding and sharing with others gives us the grace to accept what we are experiencing in our lives.
Thank you Sr. Michele for sharing your graced moment. I was blessed to have you as my Secondary School principal in Ogoja, Nigeria. Many of us struggle with practicing the virtue of obedience, so learning from your experience “that having an open relationship and dialogue with our superiors makes obedience easier” is very helpful.
I was amazed to see a young postulant in 2025! The way of obedience can seem to be the way of the cross and so it often is! But it can bring moments of joy and contentment! THank you for sharing! How did life go in Waukegan? Did you stay there long?
!
Thank you Sr Michele Puma for being part of our upbringing and shaping us during your missionary work at Holy Child Secondary School, Mt Carmel, Ogoja in Cross River State, Nigeria. Yes you instilled in us most of the virtues we carry today in our lives. You were not only a Consecrated Sr. but a mother to us. We love and cherish you and May God Almighty continue to bless you exceedingly in his vinyard. What Eugenia Ukpo said about you i totally agree with her. Stay strong our admirable and beloved sychedelic mother. 💖💖💖🙏🏼🙏🏼💅
Thank you so much, Sr. Michele for sharing your graced moment with us. I feel edified listening to you. I resonate with the aspect of being asked to go to the chapel and pray about the acceptance of a particular mission that I felt not ready for, and that made a lot of difference in my disposition towards the mission. Thank you once again. God bless.
God bless u sr. Michele. Thanks for offering your Graced Moment which has made me know where you are currently. I was your junior colleague at Holy Child Secondary school , Mount Carmel, Ogoja, Cross River State, Nigeria. You are an embodiment of your Society’s Mission. I learnt a lot from my association with you which has formed part of my life. May the Lord continue to sustain you with more graces & good health.
Auntie Michi, as some of us call you in Africa, thank you so much for this shared grace moment.
Grace indeed abounds when we are calm, aware of our feelings and ready to listen to God, and others.
You did that and you found obedience easy. Mother Columbus and your set mates were instrumental too.
I pray for that grace for myself and all those in dare need of same grace. To be aware, listen and be present to others when they need us.
I missed you.
Obedience is.better than sacrifice
I never heard that story about Waukegan, the chapel and Mary Alice and Peg, Michele! You were blessed to have Mother Columba ,who understood a sister-NewYorker so well! I’m sure God put you both in the same place at the same time to reassure you of His loving presence in your life! Thanks for sharing that graced moment.
Michele’s openness impressed me.
Her honesty is a gift that has graced others for many years.
Thanks for your sharing which made me smile at Sr. Columba’s effort to ease your fear. It reiterated for me that grace is found in little things if we are alert to discover them. Thank you!
Sister Michelle thank you for sharing this wonderful and important experience in your life. I’m so grateful to know you for so long and have always enjoyed your shared experiences and wisdom
❤️🙏