Sacred Heart Model School students pose as the Magi with Sister Jane Stuckenborg to celebrate our Gifting issue of The DOME. Sacred Heart Model School Students L to R: Will H., Barret U. and Tristan J.

By Sister Janet Marie Peterworth

“The magi, as you know, were wise men—wonderfully wise men—who brought gifts to the Babe in the manger. They invented the art of giving Christmas presents. Being wise, their gifts were no doubt wise ones, possibly bearing the privilege of exchange in case of duplication.”

So begins the last paragraph of O. Henry’s famous story, “The Gift of the Magi.” It is a beautiful story of gift giving. One, I think, that should be read every Christmas before one does gift giving. It is about planning and love and sacrifice.

It is no accident that our editorial team chose to depict the Magi with an Ursuline Sister for the cover of our 2017 winter issue of our Dome magazine, because that issue is dedicated to the benefactors of the Ursuline Sisters and our ministries. It is dedicated to all of you who support us with gifts that reflect planning, love and sacrifice, and who support us with time, talent and treasure. Like the Magi, you are wonderfully wise people—people who bring gifts to the ministry of the Ursuline Sisters so that we in turn can bring the gift of the Gospel to others through our prayers, works and suffering. What a wonderful way for all of us to be connected.

And speaking of being connected, I read recently that Archbishop Desmond Tutu once said, “Do your little bit of good where you are; it’s those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world.”

And so, on this eve of our Savior’s birth, let us each in our own way do our little bit of good no matter if it be time, talent or treasure; or prayer, works or suffering so that together we can overwhelm the world.

Thanks for being our friends and benefactors. God be with you in every way this Christmas season. You are our gift.