Sister Marie Bernard, Author at Sisters MICM

Morning Star in East Texas!

Feb 8, 2023 | Camps

January 2023 brought more than just the New Year to the Sisters, it brought a new venue for Morning Star Camp! Five Sisters traveled to Tyler, Texas, from January 27–February 4 for a 5-day Morning Star Day Camp! Usually our “Mini Camps” begin relatively small – but everything is bigger in Texas! The Tyler Camp started with no less than 100 happy campers!

Unfortunately cold, icy weather came to visit Texas that same week, making outdoor activities difficult. But Morning Star is more about the program than the place, so campers easily adapted to the close quarters provided by the Veritatis Splendor Lodge – and still had a blast! On the first day, we had a special visit from Bishop Strickland of the Tyler Diocese, who made the trek to see the camp and give the Sisters and campers his blessing! What an incredible way to begin!

The week was a variety of MSC activities ranging from Catechism, Art, Music, games and so much more. Now there are 100 more campers singing the theme song and joining the ranks of young ladies across the country who love Morning Star! We can’t wait to see them all again next year!

Morning Star Camp took place in Tyler, Texas in January 2023.

Support the Camp!

The Sisters would like to especially thank Melissa K. and all the moms who pitched in to make this possible and our host family Jose and Alicia E., for their gracious hospitality. May God reward you all!

Arriving at the Camp.

The lodge.

Meeting Campers

Sister Mary Clair teaches an embroidery art class.

Embroidery Class

Making shrines with Sister Maria Faustina.

Make a Shrine!

Art class

Learning from Sister.

Bracelet makers at work.

Paper Mosaic Makers.

Daily Mass

Sisters MICM with Bishop Joseph Strickland of the Tyler, Texas Diocese.

Sisters MICM with Bishop Strickland.

Bishop Strickland blesses one of the camp classes.

Bishop Strickland gives his blessing.

Texas Morning Star 2023

Dancing in the Pavilion.

Not raining in the pavilion!

Everyone loves beads!

Presentation by Sister.

Ribbon Dancing is fun!

The little ribbon dancers of MSC.

Braving the cold for some races!

Campfire songs!

Everyone loves campfire time!

Enjoying the Sunshine!

Hiking with Sister.

Morning Star

Welcoming Parents.

Performing for parents.

See you next year!

School Expansion Goal

Jan 17, 2023 | School

The 2022–2023 Academic Year is well underway here at Immaculate Heart of Mary School. But not a day goes by without a prayer that the IHM School Expansion Project will quickly come to completion! We are desperately in need of space!

With the new year, the Sisters were happy to take a tour of the construction site, given by the project manager, Brother Anthony Marie, MICM. The amount of work accomplished by the Brothers MICM on this project already is incredible – but there is SO much more to do! The goal now is to have classrooms ready for the opening of the new year in September 2023 – so that the revamp of the old building can begin. We rely on your generosity to help us reach this much-needed goal!

With your help, we can offer a Traditional Catholic Education to many more students in grades 1–8! God will bless you for whatever you can give!

Visit IHM School Site!

Donate Now!

Sisters tour the IHM Expansion construction.

The Story Behind the Ring

Sep 22, 2022 | Gift Shop

A short history and explanation of our sterling silver True Devotion Ring for souls consecrated “To Jesus through Mary” given by Sister Mary Jacinta, MICM.

The ring was designed by the Sisters, Slaves of the Immaculate Heart of Mary of Saint Benedict Center in Harvard, MA, and is sold exclusively by our monastery. Join the ranks of the consecrated, and shop for your True Devotion Ring at: www.TrueDevotionals.com

Shop for Rings Now!

Morning Star Camps 2022

Aug 1, 2022 | Camps, Video

A priest friend once told us that in religious life there is no vacation – only a change of occupation! How true it is! Come June, the school doors close and the doors of our Morning Star Summer Camps open! Once again, we had a full schedule of four weeks, with a turnover of about 100 campers each week.

The Morning Star Camps opened with our Leadership program for teenage girls 14-18. The weather was cooler than “summer camp” expectations, but along with a great group of campers, the activities, leadership presentations, guest speakers, and various events, all added in to make a truly memorable week! The most challenging part of the week was transporting our 21 out-of-state campers to and from the airport! Thankfully, our IHM marching band bus answered the call.

The second week of camps was the regular Morning Star program hosting 100 girls ages 10-14 in the bright pink camp t-shirts of the year! It was a colorful week with a fun and fun-loving group that enjoyed the 41-year-old program that never grows old! A highlight of the week was the day every fisher in our little fishing boat caught a good size fish! There were plenty of bass for Sister to filet that evening!

After a week’s reprieve back at the monastery while the Montfort Boys’ Camp took place, we were ready to start our second session! Morning Star Teen Week was a full house once again, and an enjoyable experience for all! It is the perfect bridge program between our regular camp programs and our leadership program. There were so many talented young ladies! Campfires were spirited, to say the least – those living on the other side of the lake attested to that!

The final week was another week of regular Morning Star with more girls trekking into the camp from all over the country! Six short days of Mass, prayer, religious instruction, music, arts & crafts, sailing, swimming, etc., left everyone wanting more! Soon it was time to pack up and leave the little cabin homes until next year! But there were plenty of memories made to hold everyone over until MSC 2023!

The first week of Morning Star Camp for Catholic Girls 2022.

The second week of Morning Star Camp for Catholic Girls 2022.

Special thanks to all who helped and supported our Morning Star Camps this year! Thanks to you, and the help of our 45 counselors – MSC was shining once again! May Our Lady bless and guide you all! Follow Mary, the Morning Star!

Idaho Camp(s) 2022

Jun 24, 2022 | Camps

Day Camp

A week after school recessed for the summer, three Sisters traveled to Post Falls, Idaho, to direct two separate sessions of Morning Star Camp. They were hosted for the 4th consecutive year by the Fraternity of Saint Peter at their Saint Joan of Arc Parish.

The camps started with a two-day day camp on the parish grounds. The sixty girls, ages 5 through 12, enjoyed a wide variety of activities including catechism, art, music, games, and prayer.

Sisters MICM arrive in Idaho for Morning Star Camp.

Arts and Crafts at Morning Star Day Camp

Sister helps young crafters at Morning Star Day Camp.

Morning Star Day Camp Counselors in Idaho

Dancing and music fun at Morning Star Idaho

Morning Star Day Camp at Saint Joan of Arc, Idaho

Scroll through the Day Camp gallery or click to enlarge and view!

Overnight Camp

The overnight camp was attended by nearly 70 girls – ages 9 through 17, at a lovely facility near the parish. The growing Morning Star Camp spirit was evident among all who attended for the four days. Once again, the same activities helped to provide a fun, yet faith-centered experience for these young girls.

Many thanks to the pastor, Father Dennis Gordon, FSSP, for having the Sisters visit Idaho, and for providing the daily Latin Mass for the camp! He is remembered in our prayers. What a wonderful parish!