On Saturday, November 15, the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ (PHJC) welcomed over 400 guests to the stunning Ancilla Domini Chapel for a performance of George Frideric Handel’s 1741 oratorio Messiah. The event featured conductor Andrew Jennings, Director of Liturgy and Music for PHJC, leading the Ancilla Domini Community Choir and Orchestra in a breathtaking interpretation of this timeless masterpiece.

The Messiah Concert, a free-to-attend bi-annual tradition, continues to be a cherished event for residents across Northern Indiana.

“It’s become a tradition for people to bring their families and friends,” Jennings shared. “It offers people the chance to step away from the busyness of life and experience something that might change how they view classical music. Even if they don’t speak to the person next to them, everyone is there for the same purpose. That shared experience helps form community, and I find that beautiful.”

The evening began with a VIP dinner featuring roast pork, roast chicken, pasta, vegetables, and cheesecake for dessert. The VIP guests were then ushered to their preferred seats in the chapel to await the concert. After Jennings’ opening remarks, the choir and orchestra performed 27 of Messiah’s 53 movements.

The performance showcased the talents of soprano Jessica McCormack, countertenor Joshua Boggs, tenor JR Fralick, and baritone Stephen Lancaster.

Jennings expressed gratitude to the event’s patron sponsors, including Nancy and Scot McKinnis, Taylor and Boody Organ Builders, Marian University, Rink Printing Company, Beacon Credit Union, and Split Road Media.

“I would like to thank, not only the Poor Handmaids, but also the sponsors who helped make this event possible,” Jennings said. “It’s very important to us to offer these concerts for free. We would never want a financial barrier to prevent someone from experiencing something like the Messiah Concert.”

The evening concluded with a warm reception in the Cenacle Dining Room, leaving attendees with a sense of joy, community, and appreciation for the beauty of sacred music.

Congratulations to the newly installed U.S. Province Leadership team!  

Installed today, this new team will guide the spiritual and ministry life of the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ community. 

We joyfully celebrate the new team: 

• Sister Shirley Bell, PHJC, Province Leader
• Sister Deborah Davis, PHJC, Vicaress   
• Sister Marybeth Martin, PHJC, Councilor 
• Sister Connie Bach PHJC, Councilor 
• Sister Margaret Ann Henss, PHJC, Councilor 
   

Please join us in celebrating them and holding them in your prayers as they begin this sacred journey of leadership. 

We join with our brothers and sisters in celebrating Dia de los Muertos with our altars as we memorialize the lives of those who have passed “to the other side.”

Sister Edith Schneider, a member of the U.S. Province who helped found the mission in Mexico in 1988, Sister Silveria Rodriguez Felix, a member of the PHJC Mexico Region, and Andrew Jennings, the Director of Liturgy and Music, have joined together to celebrate the rich tradition of this sacred day with our special Altars.

In both the Ancilla Domini Chapel and the Catherine Kasper Convent, they assembled ofrendas, traditional displays that feature the pictures and names of PHJC Sisters, family members, and friends who have gone before us.

The ofrenda has its origins in indigenous tradition and was later adopted by Christians. They usually feature water, fruit, and other foods favored by the dearly departed, as a way of communing with them.

May the souls of the departed find eternal rest.

Nos unimos a nuestros hermanos y hermanas en la celebración del Día de los Muertos con nuestros altares, recordando la vida de quienes han partido “al otro lado.”

La Hermana Edith Schneider, miembro de la Provincia de Estados Unidos y cofundadora de la misión en México en 1988; la Hermana Silveria Rodríguez Félix, miembro de la Región México de las Hermanas Siervas Pobres de Jesucristo (SPJc); y Andrew Jennings, director de Liturgia y Música, se han unido para celebrar la rica tradición de este día sagrado con nuestros altares especiales.

Tanto en la Capilla Ancilla Domini como en el Convento Catherine Kasper, prepararon ofrendas: ofrendas tradicionales que incluyen fotografías y nombres de las Hermanas de las SPJc, familiares y amistades que nos han precedido.

La ofrenda tiene su origen en la tradición indígena y fue adoptada posteriormente por los cristianos. Generalmente incluye agua, frutas y otros alimentos que gustaban a los difuntos, como una forma de conectar con ellos.

Que las almas de los difuntos encuentren el descanso eterno.