A lasting St. Therese tradition
Over the 18.5 years of St. Therese Institute of Faith and Mission, many traditions have developed within these walls. Some have spanned a few seasons, while others remained for years before retiring. But one of my favorite traditions has spanned our entire history: the arrival of the Three Kings bearing “Epiphany Gifts” for our community.
While I am always excited to receive my gift from the Kings, over the last ten years my favorite part of this tradition has been its popularity with our broader community. This past week, alumni have reached out, one after another from all the program year cohorts, with the same question: “Will you draw an Epiphany Gift for me this year?”
What is an Epiphany Gift?
The roots of this tradition stretch back to the Madonna House community and its foundress, Catherine Doherty. Catherine taught that just as the Magi brought treasures of gold, frankincense, and myrrh to the Christ Child, the Lord in His infinite generosity has a specific “spiritual treasure” intended for each of us to carry throughout the new year. Catherine shares details of this practice in her book, “Donkey Bells”.
In our St. Therese adaptation, someone dresses as one of the Three Kings and carries a treasure chest through the gathering. Inside are small slips of paper, each inscribed with a different virtue or word. With a prayer to the Holy Spirit, each person draws a slip. We trust that the chosen word is a “spiritual assignment”—a whisper from the Holy Spirit suggesting a pathway of grace to ponder in the months to come.
Some years I’ll tell others what my word is. Some years I’ll keep it for pondering in private. The slip might say Patience, Love, or Tenderness. Or, it might say Suffering, Poverty, or Purification. Sometimes there is an immediate, meaningful connection; other times, I’m left wondering how on earth that grace will play out. While some words may feel daunting at first glance, God has always helped me see them as a little “star” to follow and a reminder to trust in His all-knowing, all-seeing guidance and providence.
This year, my word is Hope. I’m looking forward to it as a personal extension of the Church’s “Year of Hope” which was coming to a close just as I drew my word.
Witnesses to the Word
I reached out to several alumni to see what these gifts have meant to them over the years (and I always love opportunities to reconnect with our alums). Their stories are a beautiful witness to how God works through a simple slip of paper.
- Sarah-Jane Bend (2014-2015): “The joy of receiving an Epiphany gift is always so tender and full of meaning—a quiet invitation from the Lord to notice where He is gently leading next. My very first word was Beatitudes. That was the year I entered the Church, and my classmate [Monica Matuszewska, now Sr. Gaudia Maria Magdalena] entered the Sisters of Life. In a beautiful mystery, we both married Jesus our Bridegroom—she through her vocation, and I through the Eucharist. Last year, my word was Charity, and it unfolded in ways I could never have planned: volunteering at Camp Attach and serving those in hospice care. This year, my word is Love; I look forward to watching that grace take flesh throughout 2026.”
- Dominique Skuban (2016-2019): “Usually I keep my word close, but last year I totally forgot about it! When I finally went back to look, the word was Presence. I realized that although I had forgotten, the Lord hadn’t. That word summed up my year perfectly; many times I found myself forgoing tasks I felt ‘needed’ to be done to instead spend time with those I love. It was a true grace.”
- André Fillion (2020-2023): “I received the word Experience. I thought it meant that after years of ministry and study, I would finally go home and ‘use’ my experience. Jim Anderson [Director of Formation] thought differently—that maybe this would be a year where I came to know Jesus personally and experientially. He was right. Through a year of much suffering, I truly came to know and love Jesus as a person who loves me.”
- Will Riley (2024-2025; my son, who has been around STIFM since he was a baby) “I was 11, I had been often arguing with my mom. We had had a big argument that Epiphany afternoon, and I was frustrated and she was ‘exhausted and grumpy’ as we left for the Epiphany party. After picking my gift, I went to her (‘looking sheepish,’ according to her) and said, ‘I said a prayer before I picked it. I got Obedience.’ I apologized to her for not listening to her as I should. But the real kicker was when she showed me her gift: Exhortation. God really knew what each of us needed!”
- Shayna Engleking (2015-2016): “This year, the word Love was pulled for me. It is something I really needed after one of the hardest years of my life, navigating the loss of my grandpa and mum. Also, I am moving back to Canada soon after living 23 months in New Zealand, leaving a community that I love and feels like home. So with lots of changes along with navigating grief, I feel Love is very fitting and a good reminder for the year ahead.”
- Gabriella Debusschere (2014-2015, 2018-2019): “My word last year was Love. While the love between my fiancé and I has grown, I believe the love God was gifting me was even deeper. For most of my life, I believed the lie that I was unlovable. By God’s grace, that wound has been healing. My fiancé’s reassurance reminds me that if a fallen human being can love me this much, then the perfect God, who sees the depths of my being, loves me so much more.”
- Janelle Ryan (2018-2020): “I received my epiphany gift last year while lying on the couch, exhausted and fighting a cold, a sinus infection, and a weary heart. Rest. I laughed out loud as soon as I saw it. It came at a time where multiple friends and family were telling me to slow down, to lessen my load, and to, well, rest. I knew they were right, and I wanted to do so, but I soon realized it was about more than slowing down the pace of my life externally. This last year, the Lord has invited me to rest in His presence. To discover what it means to truly dwell with him, in the quiet places of my spirit, and to have peace there, no matter what is going on externally. To be moved not by the world, but by His word. It has been a very fruitful gift, and one that I am, in many ways, still unwrapping.”
- Ilianna Airey (2021-2024) “The Epiphany word I received in my second year at St. Therese was ‘suffering.’ The Lord took me on a beautiful and challenging journey of learning to understand what it means to truly take up our cross and follow Him. He taught me so much, and I am so grateful. I still draw on the graces I received during that year!”
- Katie Yamniuk (2009-2010, Staff 2010-2013): “I’ve found that I really only notice the gift at the end of the year. It’s exciting to wonder about it in January, but even better to look back in December and say, ‘Oh! That is what God meant!’ His plan is always better than what my logical brain tries to come up with.”
Would You Like a “Star,” too?
Although we are past Epiphany, we’re still in Epiphanytide! We’d love to include you in this tradition. Like the majority of our alumni, you don’t have to be in Bruno to receive your word for the year! We trust that the Lord wants to speak grace into your life—and the Epiphany Gift word can be that “star” to lead you closer to His heart in the months ahead.
If you would like us to draw an Epiphany Gift for you or your family, drop us an email at epiphany[remove-this]gifts@sttherese.ca by January 31, 2026. Include the names of everyone you’d like gifts drawn for. We will draw a word from the treasure chest and reply with your gift. (please remove the obvious part from the email address than needs to go — it’s there to try reduce spam)
Once you receive your word, jot it down, tuck it into your Bible, or place it in your prayer corner. Like Katie mentioned above, you might be surprised by the “Oh! That’s what He meant!” moment waiting for you at the end of the year.
We can’t wait to hear how the Holy Spirit works in your life!
James Riley has been on the St.Therese Institute mission staff since before anyone else here can remember, and he has done a little of everything in his time! He currently serves as the Deputy of Operations.
