Welcome to our newest Visitation Companions: The Soucherays!

posted by Melissa Borgmann-Kiemde, Visitation Companion

Welcome Phil and Deb Soucheray, Vis Companions

On Monday, May 9, 2011, we concluded this year’s Salesian Spirituality evenings – focusing on Spiritual Friendship – with a presentation and celebration centering on this charism of our co-founders, Sts. Jane de Chantal and Francis de Sales.  Visitation Companion Jody Johnson and Sr. Karen Mohan co-presented on the presence of Mary in our lives and Our Lady’s role as a spiritual friend. We concluded our evening formally welcoming Deb and Phil Soucheray to the Visitation Companions.

What follows are the Soucherays, in their own words, reflecting on the questions, “Why Salesian Spirituality?” and “Why Visitation Companions?”

Join us in welcoming them to this burgeoning community of lay men and women!
Live +Jesus!

In her own words, Visitation Companion, Deb Soucheray:

Blessings!

How did I get involved with the “nuns in the hood,” St. Francis de Sales and St. Jane de Chantal?  It all began around 2004 when Vicki Bailey, the mother of a friend of my son, Philip, invited me to begin helping with the four parties a year that she throws for the children of the [Visitation Sisters’ northside] neighborhood – Back to Summer, Back to School, Halloween and Valentines Day.  I have been helping with them ever since.  Along the way, I saw Salesian spirituality in play.  I wanted to know more.

Two years ago I attended my first Salesian Conference at Visitation. That lit a fire to learn more about St. Frances and St. Jane that continues to burn. And since then, I have been reading, studying, praying and evangelizing.  I have enjoyed introducing Salesian Spirituality to others. I gave the book, “Set Your Heart Free” to my cousin, Mary, for Christmas.  She loves the prayers and has given the book to about 10 of her friends.  And I’ve also given it to many other friends and relatives.

What I like most about Salesian Spirituality:

1.    I’m allowed to be human – not to worry about imperfections – repent and move on.

A Visitation embrace

2.    Salesian Spirituality, through the themes presented by St. Francis and St. Jane, gives me a roadmap for living life.  One theme, Number 6, is particularly meaningful for me. It is “We cannot always offer God great things, but at each instant we can offer him little things with great love.” When I first started coming to North Minneapolis to help with the children’s parties, I looked at the Nuns’ mission as so overwhelming. How can they possibly help all these people? Then I read Theme #6.  And I began to see it in action here – most recently just this past Saturday.  The doorbell rang. A young homeless man, Jonathan, with a tiny dog he called Tony, stood there. He was invited in, and given lunch. Tony got some water and food, too!  It was “a little thing” done with great love.  As for us, we were oohing and aahing over the adorable little dog! It certainly is not a one-way street.

3. Theme #3 is “Let us belong to God … in the midst of so much busyness.” St. Francis teaches that “the practice of devotion has to be adapted to the strength, life situation and duties of each individual.”  In other words, I try to be mindful of God as much as my life allows.

I want to become a Vis Companion because I have a strong desire to continue learning about St. Francis, St. Jane and Salesian Spirituality.  I also like hanging out with the Nuns and seeing all you warm, wonderful people at the Monday and Sunday meetings.

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In his own words, Visitation Companion, Phil Soucheray:

Sr. Mary Virginia welcomes Phil

I think I’ve been a Vis Companion for as long as I can remember. I just didn’t know it. My mother, Susan, a Vis graduate, introduced all of her children to Salesian spirituality as we were growing up. But it was cloaked heavily in the standard rules of the Catholic Church, and so it wasn’t until I was an adult that I came to understand the particular nuances and value of the wisdom behind Francis and Jane’s form of spiritual journeying. Today, I enjoy a strong faith and I identify innately with what Francis and Jane teach. And I know it was my mother’s gift to me.

So becoming a companion is in a major way simply a formality for me. The thing that makes this form of commitment so special for me is that I am doing it with Deb, my wife of 32 years. I feel safe in saying that faith has always played a central role in our relationship. We might not always have been on the same leg of our respective journeys. And I’m sure we won’t always be going forward.

But I also am firmly convinced that we are more closely linked together than we have ever been before and that becoming Vis Companions strengthens that bond.

Live Jesus.

To see more photos from this evenings’ celebration, check out our album on Facebook. Click here.