By Sr. Regina Bechtle, SC
“When you’re planning to take a long hike on a road you’ve never walked before – you’d better take a backpack with you.” That was the suggestion that Sr. Donna Dodge offered at a meeting of our Congregation last September. On our journey into the future, she said, be sure to make room in those backpacks for hope & trust, faith & conviction, courage & daring.
Plus some risk pills, a little curiosity and a lot of humor. Some music, too, to lift our spirits, songs like “Be Not Afraid”, “Strength for the Journey,” “We Are Family”. We could well add the songs from today, “My Shepherd is the Lord,” and “You Are All We Have.”
You, Sisters, our new Leadership Team, will help us navigate the next stage of the road.
It continues the path that Vincent & Louise shaped in 17th century France, the path that Elizabeth Seton & Elizabeth Boyle adapted & honed in America, the path that literally thousands of Sisters of Charity have followed for over 200 years.
We already know that the road leads to self-giving service, to dying in all kinds of ways.
It leads to the Cross – no way around it. BUT there is more. (There is always more!)
That path also leads to Resurrection. That is our sure and certain hope.
The future by definition is unknown.
But THIS WE DO KNOW: Each of you is a seasoned leader. You know the territory.
You know that our lives are in the hands of a God who gives us what we need – all the time.
And when Providence upsets our plans, as it often does, you know how to pivot, how to be “inventive to infinity” (as St. Vincent urged).
You know (as Elizabeth Seton did) that in each new challenge, if we “only do our best and leave the rest to our dear God,” if we only take the risk and “hazard yet forward,” then the One who began the work of Charity among us will bring it to completion, to fulfillment, in God’s good time – because the mission belongs not to us but to God.
Here, now, while we have life and breath, there is still so much work – God’s work – to be about.
We count on you to keep urging us on, impelled by the Charity of Christ.
As Sr. Donna ended her talk last year, “Remember that we are on this journey together.” We count on you to build on the energy of this “togetherness,” this solidarity, communion, interconnection, among us, beyond us, embracing our Earth and all its peoples, all created things. [We share it with one another, with our partners in ministry, with those on the margins whom we serve, with Mother Earth and its billions of humans, plants and animal species.]
You are women of faith in the Resurrection. Every rocky, blessed step on our journey leads to Christ who is risen and goes before us.
We count on you to keep pointing us toward that light, that hope, that truth, on which we and thousands before us have staked our lives.
Our prayer for you echoes that of St. Paul in today’s reading: “May your love overflow more and more with knowledge and full insight to help you determine what is best”.
These pictures were marvellous. I was looking for a very dear friend of mine Sister Eileen Martin. We studied together at St. Michaels in Vermont in the 80s. I hope she is fine?
I pray for the good Sisters of Charity every day that God watches over them and helps them to continue their journey. My family was taught by the Sisters of Charity at Our Lady of Good Counsel School at 323 East 91 St Street, NYC, NY 10128, from my Mother and her sisters and brothers from about 1915 onward and my fathers sisters and brother to the 7 of us in the 1950’s60’s and 70’s and my wife’s family as well. Her first cousin Sister Anna Miriam (Sister Barbara Fitzgerald ) was a Sister for almost 25 years before leaving the congregation but she kept in close touch with the order until she passed to go home.. I have known Sister Thomas,(Sister Trudy Collins) since Barbara’s days at St Athanasius and she came to our wedding over 50 years ago, may she rest in peace. Sister John Miriam(Sister Margaret Brady) who taught kindergarten and the 6th grade boys before going to Grace Institute. Sister David who taught the 4th then the 5th grade boys and then left the convent in about 1956, Sister Seton who was a new Sister when she taught me in the 4th grade., Sister Carmel, And my 8th grade teacher Sister Bernard not pronounced like the DOG. That was the first thing she told us. LOL On the girls side there was the beloved Sister Anilda, Sister Bernadette, Sister Vincentia, Sister Angeline. The sisters of Charity has a special place in my heart and always will. God bless you all on your journey going forward.
Congratulations to all. Praying for you moving forward
God Bless you Sisters & thank you for all you have done to make lives better & share God’s message. Keep up your wonderful work. I am a Graduate of Blessed Sacrament High School & Incarnation Grammar School.
Beautifully said, I will remember this as I go to the hospital every day to visit and be with my husband who is very slowly recovering from three surgeries in 9 days. These are beautiful thoughts to carry in my heart during my difficult journey. Many blessings to all of you as you begin this new journey. Always in my prayers.
I was taught by saints at saint monica’s School 1941-1949 in Jamaica N.Y. Of coarse at the time I didn’t think so,
but by the grace of my God i’m Still here to fondly remember and to pray for their souls always. It is but a small gift I can give for the great gift of faith they instilled in me.