Sunday, July 10, 2011

Remarkable women - a remarkable day

     This afternoon in a special Liturgy celebrated by Bishop William Winter of Pittsburgh at Our Lady of Grace Church in Greensburg, the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill, the U.S. Province, celebrated their 2011 Jubilee Celebration, honoring eight Golden and one Silver Jubilarians.  I had the privilege of being present.  It was a joyous celebration.

     Sister Vivien Linkhauer, Provincial Superior, in welcoming us, shared statistics about this group.  In addition to the four hundred twenty-five years of Religious Life, the stats were outstanding.  These are remarkable women!  The Golden Jubilarians are: Sister Mary Elizabeth McCauley, Sister Catherine Meinert, Sister Kathleen McCauley, Sister Donna Marie Leiden, Sister Patricia Laffey, Sister Judith Marie McKenna, Sister Mary Jo Mutschler and Sister Bernadette Manning.  The Silver Jubilarian is Sister Rachel Blais.

     Their Renewal of Vows along with all the Sisters present, read:

In response to God's call to follow Christ more closely,
I, Sister ___________, vow to God chastity, poverty and obedience for life
according to the Constitutions of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill.
By this consecration I unite myself with this religious congregation
and its mission.  I ask the grace of the Holy Spirit
and the help of the Blessed Virgin Mary that, faithful to this consecration,
I may strive for perfect charity
in the service of God and the Church.

     It was a powerful and moving proclamation of faith and commitment.  The theme for the gathering was:
Sisters of Charity
are called to live in
HUMILITY
SIMPLICITY
CHARITY
and to remember that
God is ever present.

     Sister Kathleen McCauley whom I have worked with and known for years shared these thoughts on the final page of the program.  I'm sure she would not mind me mentioning them here.

Gift of Love
The call was heard
in the depths of our hearts ...
our Yes faltering ... yet sure
united us in prayer ... community ...
friendship ... and ministry ...
woven with the threads of
humility ... simplicity ... charity
into the tapestry of our
vowed life as
Sisters of Charity
to be God's presence ... to find
God's presence ...
wherever we are!

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     This was for me a day of sharing with Religious Women.  At the three Masses this weekend Sister Gratia Kuttianickal and her companion, Sister Ann, religious women of the Sisters of Mary Immaculate, spoke to our parish family regarding their work in India and Africa, as well as their mission in our own diocese.  Their visit was part of the yearly Mission Co-operative Appeal held in each parish of the diocese.  As I reminded everyone at Mass, it has not been that long since we in the United States were considered "mission territory".  Today we help bring the Gospel to all parts of the world and to all peoples through our prayerful and financial support.  As the Sisters shared their mission, it became clear that they, too, are remarkable women ... and the church is truly blessed.

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