Month: December 2013

The Handmaid US Province welcomed Catherine Kirwan-Avila into their novitiate on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, December 8, 2013. This initial step is the first of several phases that Catherine will experience before becoming a fully professed sister. Following her postulancy and novitiate training, which is a two-year process, Catherine will take temporary vows twice, for a total of six yers.  In the first part of this process, Catherine will move into the juniorate phase, and later, become a Sister of Vows. The final phase of her vocation training will be her tertianship or third probation, where she will complete…

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In spite of a snowstorm, a group of undaunted neighbors chose to take part in  the Haverford Township Historical Society’s tour of local residences. For the first time ever, Saint Raphaela Center was on this year’s list of six homes to visit. On December 8, 2013, the Handmaids were ready to show the first floor conference room, enclosed sun porch, St. Raphaela Heritage Room, the dining room, Saint Raphaela Mary Chapel, the heart of the center, and second floor bedrooms. The history of the property dates back to 1903, when the thirty room mansion was built for the William Scull…

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