Beyond Rome
Beyond Rome is a podcast that seeks to reconnect Catholics with their Hebraic and Christian roots in the Near East. Hosted by Simone Rizkallah, she and her guests explore a variety of topics related to religion and culture in the West and why the Near East matters for a healthy Church and world. Beyond Rome looks beyond the West to understand what makes the Catholic Church truly universal.
Beyond Rome
35. A Hidden Legacy: Cardinal O’Connor, the Sisters of Life, and Jewish-Catholic Friendship
In this episode, I sit down with Sr. Maris Stella of the Sisters of Life to discuss the remarkable life and witness of Cardinal John O’Connor — a champion of life, a bridge-builder with the Jewish people, and a spiritual father who left a lasting mark on the Church in America. Spoiler: after his death, it was discovered that his mother was Jewish and his grandfather a rabbi!
While serving as a Naval Officer, Sister Maris Stella had a profound experience of God’s love in the Eucharist that opened her heart to religious life. She encountered the Sisters of Life and knew she was being called to lay down her life so that others might live and have eternal life. Sister Maris Stella has served in various missions including the formation of postulants, the Visitation Mission to women who are pregnant and vulnerable to abortion, the Hope and Healing Mission work of retreats and accompaniment for those suffering after abortion, and the Denver Mission of Evangelization. Sister Maris Stella is originally from Massachusetts and is the 2nd of 4 children. Upon graduation from the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis MD, she served in the Navy for 5 years. She entered the Sisters of Life in 2006 and professed her final vows in 2014. She holds a Master's degree in Theology from the Augustine Institute and has done extensive research and writing on the life of her congregation's founder, John Cardinal O’Connor. Sister Maris Stella currently serves as the Vicar General of the Sisters of Life.
Resources:
https://philosproject.org/catholic/nostraaetate60/