In a time of escalating polarization, disrespect, paradigm shift, violent language and lack of civility that exists in the country, God called us. “We have been called to religious life at a time of great mobility”. (Tere Maya, CCVI).
Saturday, the day of Consecrated Life, religious women in the diocese of Richmond came together for an intentional meeting to celebrate God who gifted us with for a life of consecration and service, and to celebrate the gift of diversity.
AHLMA (the National Association of Latina Sisters) and the Comboni Missionary Sisters, invited all of the sisters in the diocese to join them for a day of joyful reflection. The theme of this gathering was about migration and the gift of accompaniment. We spent time getting better acquainted with one another and then we saw a video by Sister Teresa Maya that was titled “Migrant Religious: The Gift of Itinerancy in Religious Life”. International sisters “are part of this global migration”, said Sr Teresa. Looking around the room I noticed that we had sisters from many continents who are serving others in this diocese.
We also shared the understanding that as religious we go where we are called; we are mobile, and many might think us, migrants, as well. We recognized that community is not so much a place as the people we are with. We are all called to follow Jesus and like Jesus, we may often be asked to move to another house, another city, another state, another country. We can then join in solidarity with the 258 million migrants in the world, 124 million of whom are women. God called us “to serve and to minister people who are on the move”, said Sr. Tere.
We know that we must see in a global context because in Jesus Christ we are all one family. He leaves no one behind. We all have different gifts to share. Scripture demands we work together. Jesus was on the move, he was itinerant; and he told his followers, if you love me, then do what I do. What Jesus did was move from place to place healing, loving and serving. We are to do the same.
The day continued with the Eucharistic celebration at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart. Bishop Knestout invited religious at the liturgy to join him for a meal in honor of the Sisters and Brothers working and serving in this diocese. His homily was directed to the sisters and brothers reminding them of their gifts to the diocese and their commitment to living out the vows taken at their final profession. He also spoke of the divine love that is so often missed in this world that recognizes love only in a romantic sense. But God’s divine love is why women and men leave everything to follow Jesus in this particular vocation to the religious life. It is the divine love given to them by God in order for them to reach out to others and offer compassion, service, and unconditional regard.
The evening was very joyful, and all the sisters and brothers are grateful for the kindness of the Bishop and the hospitality of Monsignor Golden, Rector of our Cathedral.
God bless our Bishop, Sr. Tere Maya, AHLMA and the Comboni Sisters for reminding us of this call on our special day of celebrating consecrated life. I am so grateful to have been a part of this wonderful day of insight, camaraderie, and prayer.
Sister Kathleen Persson O.S.B.
