LifeSigns, July-Aug 2012 - Sisters of the Holy Cross

leaves: Sisters in Ministry
I arrived in Baltimore in the evening, and
Sisters M. Adria (Connors) and M. Rose Cecilia
(McCully) were at the airport to welcome me.
Such blessings, that wherever I go my sisters are
always at the airport to greet me. On the front
door of Saint Angela Hall was a big Ghana flag
with the inscription, “Akwaaba Schola” (Welcome
Schola). I was touched. The sisters were at
supper, a very good time to arrive. I entered
the dining room and all the sisters applauded.
Supper was taken amid greetings, laughter
and introductions. I was shown to a beautiful
bedroom in Good Shepherd Community, where I
had everything I needed. I enjoyed a long, restful
night’s sleep.
The following day was spent leisurely. My
classes on midlife directions and feminine
spirituality were planned with Sister Patricia
Cornell. I met with her every day, and she gave
me a lot of resources to read for enrichment. I
also met with Sister Katherine Kase to plan my
ministry experiences so that by the end of my
stay, I would have time with each sister and take
part in her ministry.
On Thursday evening the community held a
welcome prayer service for me. It was a solemn
and touching moment, confirming that I was
where God wanted me to be.
I next went with Sister Patricia Ann Carroll
to Unity Health Care at Stadium Amory in
Washington, D.C. It is a wonder to witness the
work that goes on in the health unit, especially
working with people living with HIV/AIDS at
the grassroots level, teaching them treatment
adherence and responsibility for their own health.
Sister Grace Shonk gave me a tour of the
Academy of Holy Cross, where she serves as a
substitute teacher. I took pictures with both
students and teachers and used the opportunity
to tell them something about Ghana and
vocations to Holy Cross. I went with Sister
M. Veronica (Kerwin) to Brighton’s Gardens,
a nursing home, and Sister Vivian Mary
Mastromatteo and I went to Holy Cross Grade
Sister Scholastica helps care for Sister M. St. Brigid (Bromeling) at
Saint Mary’s Convent.
School. I also set some time aside daily to visit
with sisters and share our sacred stories. A
lifetime of wisdom was showered on me.
My main ministry was volunteering at
Martha’s Table, a homeless shelter in Columbia
Heights in downtown Washington, D.C. The
shelter helps feed and clothe the homeless poor.
It is sad to see people who do not have their basic
needs met, but happily they have a place like
Martha’s Table to help them.
My local community and all the sisters at
Saint Angela’s had a prayer service for me at the
end of my stay. They gave me their blessings and
invoked the Holy Spirit to accompany me on my
travels. The following morning, June 15, they
bade me goodbye.
During this cross-cultural experience, I had
a lot of time to pray and reflect on my vocation
in Holy Cross. I became more in tune with my
spiritual self and the stages in my life where I
truly felt God’s presence. Community gave me
spiritual eyes to know where and how I could
avail myself and my gifts. The friendliness of each
community encouraged me to tell my stories.
Individual sister’s stories were freely shared and
self-disclosure was paramount in our interactions.
My retreat at Loyola Retreat House in Faulkner,
Maryland, was the climax of knowing God is
walking in my life.¡
july / august 2012 ¡ LifeSigns
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