in coaching and in peer group for directors. Amongthese are: Maureen Bacchi, K<strong>at</strong>hryn Stelmak, theRev. Mike Gemignani, Sister Mary P<strong>at</strong> Driscoll,Sister Josepha O’Brien, Stephanie Harrison, GenevaGreen and Jenella Smith. Along the way, EugeniaRust, Nance Weir and Jana Ry<strong>de</strong>r have volunteeredmany hours, helping <strong>Ruah</strong> staff in various ways.As we sensed the groaning of the Spirit callingus to reach out to our neighbors, Sister RoseScanlan, who had been serving as an English asa Second Language teacher <strong>at</strong> St. Austin <strong>Center</strong>,became instrumental in expanding and shaping abroad based structure for a growing and vibrantbranch of <strong>Ruah</strong> to our Hispanic community. NowRachel Rodriguez and Janet Mayorga have grown inconfi<strong>de</strong>nce and cre<strong>at</strong>ivity as they lead th<strong>at</strong> aspect of<strong>Ruah</strong> <strong>at</strong> St. Austin. Not the least, and certainly oneof the most faithful helpers, has been our committedsacristan, Sister Esther Marie, who is ever willingto help us with Liturgies, Taize Services and otherchapel events.In addition to the help of the many won<strong>de</strong>rfullay workers of <strong>Villa</strong> <strong>de</strong> M<strong>at</strong>el <strong>Center</strong>, un<strong>de</strong>r thesupportive lea<strong>de</strong>rship of both Sister Lucille Desmondand Sister Rachel O’Keeffe respectively, other laypersons have co-ministered directly with us in <strong>Ruah</strong>.They have shaped and supported <strong>Ruah</strong>’s <strong>de</strong>velopmentbeginning with K<strong>at</strong>hryn Fitzgerald, C<strong>at</strong>hy D’Eramoand Barbara Rooney. Today, Janet Troy and KayeJohnson bring <strong>de</strong>dic<strong>at</strong>ion and cre<strong>at</strong>ivity as they servewith gladness and generosity exercising lea<strong>de</strong>rshipand influence in their areas. They not only offerspiritual direction and lead groups but they touch ourguests through displays, brochures, prayer services,plants and flowers and <strong>at</strong>tentiveness to the Liturgicalseasons. Their flexibility has been a gift and bothsay th<strong>at</strong> they have grown in many different ways,becoming a blessing and being blessed. During thefirst 18 years of <strong>Ruah</strong>’s life, Sister A<strong>de</strong>line, Director,also served as Vicar for Religious for the Galveston-Houston Diocese. She could not have done th<strong>at</strong>without the able assistance of co-workers in <strong>Ruah</strong>.Continuity amidDiscontinuity<strong>Ruah</strong> has been tremendously blessed to be bornand grow up in this beautiful <strong>Villa</strong> building on thissacred ground. Changes, growth and <strong>de</strong>velopmentshave marked <strong>Ruah</strong>’s history; yet, there has beena thread of continuity which has kept the focusclear. Initially the Sisters commissioned <strong>Ruah</strong>to be a resource for both themselves and theHouston community. At th<strong>at</strong> time many Sisterswere still actively ministering in hospitals,schools and clinics, and many of them came to<strong>Ruah</strong> for their annual retre<strong>at</strong>s of eight or sixdays. As more Sisters retired, some <strong>Ruah</strong> staffministered to them in their communities hereon the grounds, but now their spiritual needsare met in different ways.Gradually fewer Sisters were coming to<strong>Ruah</strong> and, <strong>at</strong> the same time, we began to noticelarger numbers of lay people seeking refreshmenthere. Some of those came for days, others forweekends, but few could manage to make longerretre<strong>at</strong>s. There was an explosion in the numbersseeking personal spiritual direction. So, somechanges were introduced from without, inviting us tolisten for God there.Other changes have been introduced fromwithin. We have learned to pay <strong>at</strong>tention to wh<strong>at</strong>seems to work, wh<strong>at</strong> truly re-cre<strong>at</strong>es the humanspirits entrusted to us, and wh<strong>at</strong> surfaces as <strong>de</strong>eplongings of groups who have come often. When wenoticed th<strong>at</strong> few lay persons could come for oursix or eight day retre<strong>at</strong>s, we heard the call to offermini-retre<strong>at</strong>s. Another such example is the initi<strong>at</strong>iveto schedule Taize Prayer experiences in the <strong>Villa</strong>Chapel and invite the public. Th<strong>at</strong> move arose out oflistening with a group from Willow Meadows Baptist
Church, who initially led it. L<strong>at</strong>er,lea<strong>de</strong>rship for th<strong>at</strong> service was taken upby Friends of Taize un<strong>de</strong>r the lea<strong>de</strong>rshipof Elizabeth Turner, her husband Al, andBridget Wink.<strong>Ruah</strong> staff’s annual planning is aprayerful process for <strong>de</strong>cision makingabout retaining current offerings oradding new ones. All are ma<strong>de</strong> in light ofthe original mission st<strong>at</strong>ement, whichcalls us to focus on promoting there-cre<strong>at</strong>ion of the human spirit and towelcome persons to experience healingaffor<strong>de</strong>d by an environment of beauty,quiet, and reverence for all of life. It hasserved as our anchor of continuity.Therefore, everything <strong>Ruah</strong> offers inministry, every change we make, everyrestriction we place on ourselves andothers, is in service of this one thing: enabling personsto listen to and trust the <strong>Ruah</strong> of God within theirown hearts.Yes, and we do place restrictions on ourselves asstaff. Such flow from reflection on our work habits,noticing the influence of the evolving culture whichinfluences not only our guests but which also influencesus. We regularly call ourselves to grow in <strong>at</strong>tentivenessto the Spirit of Truth through our staff meetings, PeerGroup supervision and in-service sessions.Wh<strong>at</strong> we Now SeeThrough the years we have noticed <strong>Ruah</strong> <strong>Center</strong>becoming wh<strong>at</strong> we never <strong>de</strong>liber<strong>at</strong>ely plannedand we can affirm th<strong>at</strong> <strong>Ruah</strong> provi<strong>de</strong>s a good exampleof wh<strong>at</strong> being C<strong>at</strong>holic means: groun<strong>de</strong>d, yet welcomingpersons of many Christian <strong>de</strong>no mi n<strong>at</strong>ionsand from other faith traditions. It <strong>at</strong>tracts many whohave been offen<strong>de</strong>d or disillusioned by the Church inwhich they have grown up, and provi<strong>de</strong>s experiencesth<strong>at</strong> initi<strong>at</strong>e reconcili<strong>at</strong>ion. Moreover, <strong>Ruah</strong> alsoconnects with our Hispanic neighbors who areoffered nourishment in their strong faith andintroduced to various ways of prayer.Finally, we can affirm th<strong>at</strong> <strong>Ruah</strong> is becoming anecumenical and an interfaith center, where silence isa shared language through which God’s Love healsand unifies.Today after 25 years, we are ready to celebr<strong>at</strong>eth<strong>at</strong> who we are becoming together in Christ is itselfour best way of ministering to those God sends us.It is the work of the same Spiritth<strong>at</strong> overshadowed Mary andcontinues to call us to pray:Praised Be the Incarn<strong>at</strong>e Word.This article is the fruit of the teameffort of Sister Mary A<strong>de</strong>lineO’Donoghue, Janet Troy andKaye Johnson.
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