Getting head and heart right

MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. DAY

“One day we will learn that the heart can never be totally right if the head is totally wrong.” The Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. wrote that in his book Strength to Love in 1963. He underscored the necessity of taking responsibility for the formation of our consciences—including informing our consciences through ongoing education even after formal classroom days are behind us. After all, integrity doesn’t mean simply holding to your principles and actions in tandem with each other. You have to be sure, first of all, that your convictions are tied to more than your preferences, biases, and opinions! To be tethered to true north, reflect on scripture daily.

What a challenge! I have a great admiration for Rev. King Jr. for in the midst of his challenges, I was an eleven year old child and I was moved by his convictions, courage, and dream!  For so many he was the voice that cried out from oppression, following his conscience and deep faith.  It has been a long journey, and I am reminded of this when I feel that things are moving so slowly.  Transformation comes from pain and courage, and for this lesson I thank you Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.

WHO'S CALLING?

This Sunday's scripture readings included two of my favorites--the call of Samuel and the call of Peter. I was particularly struck this time by the fact that both calls were mediated in some way by other persons. Samuel needed a wise spiritual guide to help him understand that his call was from God (I resolved then and there to make my first appointment with my new spiritual director here in NYC)!

And for the first time I noticed the "chain call" required to get Peter where he belonged: John the Baptist recognized Jesus, and pointed him out to two of his own disciples. One (Andrew) passed on the call to his brother Cephas, and the rest is history. It renewed my awareness and gratitude for all the calls that have been made clear to me by other people--most recently the powerful call I felt to this new ministry, in service with the religious NGOs at the United Nations. Sometimes we need help actually hearing the call, or just have to be reassured that the call is real, and that we have what it takes to follow it (especially when the going gets tough).

This latest call is taking me into new territory, away from blogging, so this will be my last one for the foreseeable future. But I want to thank you for traveling with me on this journey of discovery, as I blogged my way through this past year of transition. Thank you for your support and kind responses. Hope there are some other bloggers out there who would like to take up the torch, and share their stories! God bless all, and may your own calls be very clear.

I will take our community love and greetings to the New Rochelle Ursulines, where I am spending a day of celebration for Saint Angela's feast day...

Sister Cheryl's insight on vocations

Awareness of vocations and the significance of each vocation whether it is the vocation to married life, single life, conscerated life or ordained ministry is needed in the Church today. I recognize in the lives of those around me that each is good and holy. I invite you to read Sister Cheryl Clemons, osu thoughts.

http://www.icatholic.org/article/all-catholics-incur-the-call-to-a-vocation-8523560

Be attentive, be aware, listen

"Speak Lord, your servant is listening."

This week is Vocation Awareness Week and I had the opportunity to visit with my sisters in community in Kansas.  Besides being in Kansas for the first time, which was thrilling enough, I was warmly greeted and welcomed by students at Bishop Miege Catholic High School on Tuesday. 

The schedule for the day allowed me to speak in all the Junior and Senior Theology classes and a few underclass groups.  I enjoyed sharing my story and encouraging them to give as much prayer and energy to choosing their vocation as they are their career.  They were very attentive and seem to understand why an awareness of a vocation is important. It was quite an enjoyable and exhausting day of interacting with twelve classes. 

In the last Senior class, I made a comment about, " I stand before you today to assure you that the vocation to be a consecrated religious woman in the Church today is fulfilling."  One of the Senior guys raised his hands and asked, " Sister Martha, are you happy?"  I said, "Yes, I really am!"  At that point he gave me the greatest compliment!  " It shows!  You look very happy and joyful!  Do you think all sisters are joyful?"   I found that to be an interesting comment and question.  In fact, in several of my presentations I had mentioned that it was the joy that I witnessed when I visited the Ursuline Sisters that stood out for me, and I wanted what they had--joy!

Through that young man's observation I was affirmed once again to joyful live my call to be Ursuline. Perhaps that was the great vocation effort I have done all year. Speak Lord for I am listening.   Once again I am reminded that God often speaks through our experiences and through others. 

The greatest vocation effort -- radiate your love for your call and joy wherever you are!  

The start of something BIG

FEAST OF THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD; NATIONAL VOCATION AWARENESS WEEK BEGINS

“God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power. He went about doing good and healing.”

When Jesus presented himself for baptism, the stakes got higher: He saw the heavens open and heard a voice proclaim him the beloved Son of God. His public ministry began immediately afterward. The sacrament of Baptism also calls the followers of Christ to something big: service. Today begins National Vocation Awareness Week, a time to think about how you will live out your call to greatness—in your chosen vocation or in the vocation you are still contemplating. By your baptism you were anointed with the Holy Spirit, which gives you the power to act with justice and compassion in service to all.  It is a good time to reflect on your life of servive.  Are you happy giving of yourself in your present situation?  Is there a nudge to do something more that allows you to share your gifts for the good of others or for something greather than yourself? 

This week I am in Kansas and have the marvelous opportunity to share my life as an Ursuline Sister of Mount Saint Joseph with the young people here.  Today I will be talking with fifth and sixth graders at Saint John the Evangelist Catholic School in Lawrence,  Kansas.   What a joy to be among such enthused youth.  It also gives me an opportunity to express my gratitude for the call to live out my baptismal call in as a consecrated woman religious and share prayer, service, ministry and community life with such dedicated and gifted women with whom I had the pleasure of praying and socializing this past weekend-- Ursuline Sisters Kathleen, Helen, Marcella, Martina, Jane, Dee, Pat, Amelia, Angela, and Betsy.  Thank each of your for your warm welcome and witness of your own call to Ursuline life! 

TODAY’S READINGS: Isaiah 42:1-4, 6-7 or 55:1-11; Acts 10:34-38 or 1 John 5:1-9; Mark 1:7-11 (21)

LADY SOLITUDE

During the recent holidays, when I was not distracted by hurrying off to the office, I made my peace with the reality of solitude / loneliness. Not the crushing loneliness of many in The City--that real loneliness of no personal ties, no one who cares about them (I can't even imagine how that feels). Mother Teresa of Calcutta said that the most terrible poverty is loneliness and the feeling of being unloved. I'm only a subway ride away from friends here in New York, only a phone call or a plane ride away from friends elsewhere, and as close to my religious community as tuning into the "prayer wavelength" where I know I am remembered. The card shower from my sisters that welcomed me to New York assured me of that! Yet...

Entering into the house of Lady Solitude, I recognize it as a place of growth for my extroverted "Type Seven" self. Yet...(like Scrooge perhaps) I wonder what this Visitor has to say to me, how it will be, and how I must change.

But I can already see how--after a day of global concerns and computer frustrations and steep learning curves--my little cave on the 10th floor will be a healing refuge. I think of those who have to share the same amount of space with eight others, or the mother who has no time alone for herself, or for the homeless man I saw sleeping in a doorway outside church today, and feel grateful for this chance to come to know Lady Solitude.

Stewardship for seasoned leadership

FEAST OF JOHN NEUMANN, BISHOP


“You will see greater things than this.”


There’s a time to build and a time to tear down, the Book of Ecclesiastes says.  Today as we recall the gift that John Neumann shared in his life and ministry provides an opportunity to pause and examine how we are stewarding our gifts for the good of others.  I am sure you, like me, have been trying to stick to some new year's resolutions.  Stewardship is a worthy resolve. Bishop John Neumann led the diocese of Philadelphia in the 1850s, a time of explosive growth in the immigrant Catholic population in the U.S. Under his leadership the number of Catholic schools increased from 1 to 200 and on average a new parish opened every month! We live in another era, one in which Catholic schools and parishes are being consolidated, closed, or otherwise changed in many parts of the nation. Each age calls for different gifts but good stewardship is never out of season. Pray that church leaders will be good and faithful stewards of the great legacy entrusted to their care.