It is my privilege, on behalf of the jubilarians and the women religious of our diocese to share with you my reflection on the life of active women religious in our day. Abraham Hechel said: “Just to BE is a blessing”! I have chosen to center my reflection today on “who we are called to BE” as women religious.
As the Jubilarians entered today, they each carried a copy of the Constitutions of their congregation. For a women religious, our Constitutions is second only to scripture as a “sacred book”. Our vow formula used at our profession contains a phrase like …“to live as a sister of N.N.”… Or “according to the Constitutions of the sisters of N.N.” Our Constitutions outlines for us the pattern of life we are called to live. Who are we called to be by our Constitutions? I believe, they call us to be… women of prayer….women in community…and women on mission.
Called to BE Women of prayer ….
From the day of entrance into formation for religious life we are invited into a deeper life of prayer. Our “prayer” is both individual and communal! Liturgical and non-liturgical! The Eucharist is at the heart of our life and commitment. Daily meditation and spiritual reading help us to grow in our spiritual life. We gather in community to celebrate Eucharist, the Liturgy of the Hours, faith sharing, and ritual celebrations which often include a renewal of our vows. On-going formation invites us to experience new forms of prayer…including the ways in which we can share the prayer traditions of members of our religious communities who are in countries other than our own. The day, for a women religious, is lived in the context of prayer. No gathering of women religious is ever without “prayer together”. Yes we are called to be “women of prayer”. It is our prayer life that enables us to maintain an intimate personal relationship with God and with Jesus, to whom we are espoused by our vow of chastity.
Called to BE Women in community …
From the moment we stepped into our “house of formation” we learned what it meant to “live in community”. We quickly realized that our vow of poverty calls us to live as if “ALL IS OURS” and “NOTHING IS MINE”. We have whatever we need, but it is not OURS.
Community life is a “value for us”; one which resonates deep within us. Community life for a women religious ministering in NC has a unique challenge! Why? Because all of us are at least several hundred miles from our Motherhouse, Provincial House, Center or whatever we name as our “community center”.
That fact has two implications in our lives. First, it means that we will choose to “form community and share in the blessings” of women religious living near us who may or may not be members of our congregation. Thus, we can live …in community … here in North Carolina.
The second implication is that you will find us, “slipping away” to our center … …wherever that center might be ….to see “our sisters”. Why? Because it is there that we experience the sense of belonging and acceptance that flows directly from our membership in a religious community.
-There we are able to sit down with the wisdom women who reside in our retirement centers and health care centers, who help to focus or refocus on our call;
-It is there …That we can gain renewed strength by spending time with the sisters who are part of our vow group;
-There we are able to be re-energized by those women who are in formation in our communities.
Community is the place where we share the faith that is the focus of our lives, and we know that “in community” we can live and grow.
Called to BE Women on mission ….Each year we are missioned … sent from our Center, in keeping with our vow of obedience, to serve in a given area. If you look on the surface, you might conclude that our mission is to be teacher, spiritual director, lawyer, nurse, catechist … or the many other works we do. But I believe that our mission is NOT what we do! Then, what is it??? Our mission is to live, in creative fidelity… to the charism of our congregation! What is a charism? “Charism is a word ONLY USED when talking about congregations of consecrated life. The charism of a religious congregation refers to the distinct spirit that animates a religious community and gives it a particular character. A charism is a gift given to the foundress/founder of a religious congregation. It is a part of the permanent heritage of a community. It is a gift that keeps on giving, ever changing, ever evolving. The charism of a community is such, that if all written records were destroyed, it could be re-created through the living testimony of the members of the congregation. Msgr. Jerry referred to the “Charisms” of the communities of the Jubilarians in his introduction of the Jubilarians ….”radiate the love of the Heart of Jesus” …proclaim the Good News of God’s unconditional love for all”... Proclaim the goodness and provident care of our God” … “animated by love, creative hope, and fidelity”. The charism of a congregation is the GIFT that, like a magnet, attracts women to a particular congregation … it is the Gift we resonate with and choose to live our life sharing, with creative fidelity. This enables us to be open to the “needs of the time and place” to determine our ministry…the work we do. We can DO whatever is needed as long as it allows us to be about our mission.
Yes! As women religious we are called to be …. Women of prayer, women in community, and women on mission! And that is the CALL we invite other women to consider as they discern whether to follow the path of consecrated life.
Yes!…”Just to BE a women religious is a blessing”.
There are two words that are guaranteed to send your “spellcheck program” into high alert mode! Those two words are “Jubilarians” and “Charism”. But I can assure you that both of them are alive and well today.
Thank you.