SURROUNDED BY SISTERS
“See, you lowly ones, and be glad; You who seek God, may your hearts revive!”
-Ps 69:33
When it rains, it pours! This saying certainly came true this past weekend, at least with regard to sisters.
On Sunday alone we had religious sisters present at three Masses at Holy Cross, including one who served as a godmother for a little baby’s baptism and a group of missionary sisters whom Fr. Justus was bringing on a visit to notable churches in the area. (It was fun to see that he misses us already!) We had seven religious sisters visiting from three communities: three Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist, a Sister of Life and three Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary all the way from Uganda. If that wasn’t enough, on Monday morning I happened to have a Mass at the convent of the Missionaries of Charity in South Minneapolis. That’s a lot of sisters!
As I pondered the various encounters and conversations that I had, I was struck by a few things: first, how vivid and visible their witness is. They are hard to miss in a crowd and a walking reminder of the world which is to come. Second, the unity in diversity that they embody with different habits, different charisms, different apostolates and different vocation stories. Thirdly, I was encouraged by the fact that sisters are becoming less rare. Many communities are experiencing revival and growth in numbers of vocations. Even if recent decades saw rapid and precipitous decline of numbers of religious sisters, there are glimmers of hope and steady growth. Their joy and fulfillment in their calling was unmistakable.
I suppose I have had sisters on my mind as over the past couple of weeks I have been getting settled in the historic Holy Cross Convent which was, since its completion in 1941, home to many Franciscan Sisters of Sylvania, Ohio. Although the last resident sisters (Sr. Benita, Sr. Donna and Sr. Beverly Ann, of the School Sisters of Notre Dame who passed away a couple of years ago) moved from our parish in 2017, they left a huge impression on our hearts. I regularly hear stories from parishioners of all ages about the impact the religious sisters made throughout the years in the classroom, the sacristy, pastoral care visits and beyond. We recently offered Mass in thanksgiving for Sr. Benita’s Diamond Jubilee. Thanks be to God for all the sisters who served each of our parishes.
I am confident that the Lord is calling men and women within our parish to consider a call to consecrated life. As we unite in praying for vocations before Mass, let’s be attentive to the promptings of the Holy Spirit that might stir in our hearts about ourselves or someone we might consider inviting.
This weekend we welcome Fr. Bernard Kambala of the Missionhurst community for our annual opportunity to host missionary preacher for a mission appeal. Thank you for your generosity in answering his appeal that will sustain the beautiful works of mercy that tie in so directly to the parable of the Good Samaritan we are asked to consider in our Gospel. As we ask the question, “who is my neighbor?” we learn that we all belong to each other.
On a final note, on July 1st I began a new six-year term of service as pastor in our parish. I am very grateful to be asked by the Archbishop to continue to serve in this wonderful parish. I look forward to what is ahead!
~Fr. Howe