The Arms of God: Sisters of Saint Mary of Namur Western Province

The Arms of God is a love story in which the author weaves together the life stories of the Sisters of St. Mary of Namur from their first call to religious life to teaching and mission work to a deeper sense of community during the challenging times that followed Vatican II. As beautifully expressed by Sister Gabriella Falling in love with God determines if I will get up in the morning; it is the WHY I am moved to do all these things am I called to do . . . it is necessary to continue to remember and cherish our call to listen again to the language of love of the first love of what or Who . . . drew you . . . What gift do I give in return? The Sisters journey carries them from the early days of Catholic education in Texas to Africa and the terrible years of the Rawandan genocide and to carrying Gods message today in Fort Worth Texas. Their intimate stories draw the reader into the Sisters lives sharing laughter in one moment and tears in the next. Join these remarkable teachers nurses and missionaries as they accomplish the seemingly impossible while following the path God has placed before them. Sister Patricia shares when you move from believing something to doing something uncomfortable . . . having once done that then theres a freedom . . . a different way of feeling a different way of understanding what might need to be done. This is a timely story of love faith and freedom that challenges readers to listen for the call of God in their own lives. Dr. Reynolds has captured beautifully the charism of these sisters the simplicity hospitality and joy shine through sometimes in situations more challenging than most of us could imagine. The author astutely captures the post-Vatican II turmoil and the Sisters inspirational courage in looking both within themselves and at the world outside to deal with the reality of the now and the hope for the future. Any woman (or man for that matter) who needs some inspirational reading about what really matters in a life will engage with every chapter of this book. In short I loved this book. It is at once a scholarly very readable capturing an incredible journey with a group of women with a long history of counting on being in the arms of God. --Ann Louise Smith Oblate SSMN In their foyer the Sisters have a picture of an open door. The caption reads: Our doors are always open and our hearts wider still. Sherrie Reynolds lets us peek into these womens hearts. Where we catch glimpses of tender love and prophetic courage. Of passionate longing for God and compassionate service to people. Of heroes to emulate and guides to cherish. --Charlie Calabrese Texas Christian University Roman Catholic Campus Minister Sherrie Reynolds is Professor of Education at Texas Christian University in Fort Worth Texas and a student at Brite Divinity School. She is the author of Learning is a Verb (2005) and Higher Education Reconceived (2009).