Happiness Redefined

We all want to be happy, and all our drives and struggles revolves around the desire to be happy. Growing up, some of us probably observed our parents shuttle between jobs day and night to keep things going for the members of the family. In the midst of all that, some of them enroll into full or part time programs to acquire higher certification and advance themselves in the midst of already crazy schedules. This is because most good parents want the best for their family even if it means putting up with enormous daily toil and hard work. Hard work is rewarding, it can creates economic empowerment, which can be a stepping stone for a better future. So when everyone in the family is happy, parents are happy too because they helped to create it for everybody. There is nothing better than that when one rejoices in his or her work says Ecclesiastes. (3:22) Notice I said when parents work hard to help their children succeed, everybody is happy. The same thing applies to parents also. When parents grow too old to care for themselves, their child/children or Stepchildren take over their upkeep. Responsible adults ought to look out for their aging and sick parents. They ought to make sure that their parents are safe, secured and happy. There is always a sense of comfort and happiness associated with knowing that we have done the best for our parents who are no longer able to take care of themselves.

But how we treat those dearest to us is exactly the same way God wants us to treat everybody. We are one huge global family, seeking and desiring similar things, including comfort, stability, security and happiness. As we work hard to secure our individual futures, let us remember to play the role of children and parents to those who need it for we are not all equally gifted and because God intends that all the gifts of the earth, including wealth, talents be recycled. Everything is to be placed at the service everyone. When we truly play our part as co-creators of happiness, unimaginable measure of happiness, pressed down, shaken together and flowing over will our portion in time and eternity. Luke 6:38

 

Divine Nudging

"There is within us a fundamental dis-ease, an unquenchable fire that renders us incapable, in this life, of ever coming to full peace. This desire lies at the center of our lives, in the marrow of our bones, and in the deep recesses of the soul. At the heart of all great literature, poetry, art, philosophy, psychology, and religion lies the naming and analyzing of this desire. Spirituality is, ultimately, about what we do with that desire. What we do with our longings, both in terms of handling the pain and the hope they bring us, that is our spirituality Augustine says: ‘You have made us for yourself, Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you.’ Spirituality is about what we do with our unrest.”   ― Ronald Rolheiser

I  returned from Sunday mass this morning in high spirits. Where I live is next door to Holy Cross Parish, but for some reason, I have not been going there for Sunday masses. In the past ten months, I may have only attended mass at Holy Cross on on 3 occasions. And the only reason I can think about at the moment is because of my preference for early masses. I like going for early masses so that I can have the rest of day to do personal stuffs. But today I decided to go to Holy Cross, I returned with a deep sense of fulfillment.

Three Fridays ago it was announced at morning mass that grade school children will form a choir, to sing at the 10:30 a.m. mass. As soon as I heard that, I felt a strong urge to volunteer to be part of that. But by the end of the mass, I changed my mind. I told myself that my presence will not make much of a difference, and that others are available to do it. But the desire to volunteer refused to dissipate. So last week I decided to make more inquiries. I got the phone number of the choir director, and offered my help. He told me that he will be happy with whatever assistance I am willing to offer. So at mass this morning, I offered the gift of my voice, my ability to harmonize songs and my gift of playing the tambourine. Surprisingly, it seemed to make a little difference in the songs, people seemed to like it. At least three parishioners came to hug and thank me for the flavour my gifts added to the liturgy. The real highlight however, came from a particular parishioner who I will call "mr. Stabbler" to provide his privacy. Mr. Stabbler revealed that although he is also at mass, and can sing, today is the first time in 5 years that he has actually opened the hymnal. What Mr. Stabbler said brough chills all over my body. He praised the choir director for using the right pitch, acknowledged our blended voices and said he was elated with the music. That proclamation of faith made my day and I encouraged Mr. Stebbler to join the choir. He said he would think about it.  

The more I reflect on this, the more I am convinced that it is God himself who has led me into this unique encounter with him. Our shared faith experience of him at mass today lifted our hearts to praise and worship in a deeper way tby singing well, and a little differently. It has also helped me to realize that not only can a single person make a significant difference, but that we have all been given whatever gifts we have for the benefit of others. Yes, it is possible to enter into a more concrete experience of God through the ordinary things of life such as singing and playing tambourine. I pray that we will continue to remain open to the Spirit of God who continues to draw us into new and exciting encounter with him.

The Legacy Continues

 

The legacy of Blessed John Martin Moye continues as the wheel of life continues to turn. This beautiful picture was taken two weeks ago in Mary's garden at our Provincial House in Melbourne, Ky. Sr. Mary Echo Perry C.D.P. and I were hanging out with Sr. Mary Mansueta Martineau C.D.P. At 101, Sr Mansueta still attends most community activities, reads and listens to daily news and faithfully watches the Reds whenever they play. Mansueta's ready smiles, attentive ears and pleasant aura distinguishes her as an amazing woman of Providence.  

 Sr. Echo professed her first vows in August 2015, making her the newest member of the Province. Hopefully I will be next in line in the nearest future. As the newest and second youngest members of the Province, we are grateful for the opportunity to know and experience our Jewel of inestimable value Sr. Mansueta, who happens to be our oldest living C.D.P. sister.

In Nigeria where I come from, elders are respected and held in high esteem. Like the book of Proverbs, we, the Ibos. believe that "Gray hair is a crown of glory" (16:32) especially for people like Sr. Mansueta who have made the Lord their heritage. Elders are respected for their roles in teaching, guiding and impacting good examples on the young. Most importantly, the wisdom of elders makes the geniuses in their particular callings.  

With over 70 years of experience of living community and being in active ministry, I could become a happy, holy, prayerful C.D.P even if I learn by just carefully obeserving how Sr. Mansueta lives out our C.D.P. charism. She once told me that everything is possible for those who are open to life, to God and to new beginnings. She definitely seems to live what she believes because whenever I pass her room at Holy family Sr. Manueta is doing something productive which continues to enhance her as person and continues to help her be what God want her to be. She also told me that when we truly trust God like our beloved founder Blessed John Martin, we will find it easier to pray, trust and abandon ourselves and everything about us to God.

I like hanging out with Sr. Mansueta because she inspires me/us and she is teaching us all that she knows. We are blessed to have her and because of her wisdom, we will see  and go far because according to an Ibo proverb, "What an old woman sees sitting down, a young woman cannot see standing up"  

 

 

Emerging Intertwined Boundaries

I attended the National Giving Voice Conference for religious women under the age of 50 in Kansas City this past August. More than 70 women in different stages of religious formation gathered from different parts of the country/world to reflect on the changing face of religious life in an increasingly diverse intercultural/inter generational American church. The three days event offered us a great opportunity to pray, dialogue and dream together. The event was filled with a lot of shared energy which helped us articulate our collective reality as well discern direction for the future. Conference speakers, Holy Name Sister Sophia Park SNJM and Incarnate Word sister Teresa Maya CCVI led us in the reflection around the theme  “Crossing Boundaries in Religious Life” Both speakers were equally wonderful in their respective approach to the topic. With the use of charts and graphs both Teresa and Sophia showed how the declining, changing and diverse nature of religious life in the Unites States is calling for a new outlook and leadership for the future. Although women under 50 constituted only 10% of those entering religious life today, we rejoiced that our presence affirms the fact that religious life is still here and will continue through us. As a small cohort on the margins, our speakers helped us see that we are in a privileged position to both articulate our present reality as well as see future horizons more clearly. Smaller size also means that we can be lighter, more flexible and fast. One of the important directions of our time is also the issue of leadership. In her recent article “Beyond Middle Space” in “Global Sister” Sr. Tracy Kamme, S.C. beautifully articulated how the changes in religious life seem to be calling for three main types of emerging leadership styles (A leadership style that is able to harmonize all the different facets of religious life discussed at the conference) as we march into the future. Those who feel called to continue with things the way they are, those, the dreamers who have more thrust for the future and those who are in-between. So while it is important for Congregations to focus on retirement and the need of older sisters, we affirmed the need for them to realize we are also here, that our stories, our questions and experiences are all equally relevant and emerging.

  The event helped me realize that, as a group, we are all grappling with the same issues, asking the same questions bordering on size, diversity and resources. I found it enriching to be on  common ground where we could openly voice our hopes and dreams while acknowledging the challenges ahead of us. Hearing our hopes and fears spoken out loud helped us turn our hearts to God whose spirit is at work in us as a discerning group in an emerging church/world. In this space, we also realized that one of our major roles is to continue to build bridges for the future, a future that we are all part of and which we are all moving towards. As the present and future of the church, we are encouraged to continue to rend our voices because whatever we have to say is authentic, even as we respectfully acknowledge the disappearing past which our older sisters are grappling with. We cannot let our voices be stifled by the fear of a disappearing familiar past or concerns about an uncertain future.  

The speakers also discussed how to bridge age gaps, cultural and racial divides. As emigration into United States continues to affect it’s demographic, it is clear that future religious life is not going to be any different. During one of the session, a random sampling of the group’s diversity was conducted by Sr. Teresa who asked all those born outside of the United States to raise their hands. At least 25% of the group indicated that they were born in another country. As a group, I think that GV is well ahead in preparing for an emerging coordinated interconnected/intercultural future religious life. For example, the entire event was translated in both English and Spanish. I think that this type of initiative is great in providing the framework for bridging gaps and creating common ground. This is also why the event has a personal thrust for me. The topic helped me confront some of my own personal challenges as someone coming from a vibrant church discerning a vocation in a church/religious Congregation where things are beginning to slow down or die out. In Nigeria where I come from, the church is still very vibrant, pews are filled to the brim on Sundays and Holy days of Obligation, and religious life and seminaries are still getting lots of vocations. But I have moved from comparison to appreciation. I have personally experienced the type of inclusivity demonstrated at GV and which also happens to be the chapter call of my Congregation this year. I live with older sister whose cultural experiences are different from mine, but whose love, acceptance and openness is constantly challenging me to recognize and share my gifts. And that is the essential in being an effective witness of the Gospel. Recognizing and using my gifts is not limited to space nor place. The world is God's and everything there-in. Where I flourish is not as important as using my talents. 

How can we make religious life more inter-culturally relevant in our society today? No group, culture or generation can represent the entire picture of religious life. Like the universe, the church and religious life is in the process of evolution and each individual, group, and generation can only represent his/her/their experiences in the context of the culture in which they exist. In other words, part of our reflection is to see the whole picture of religious life, the past, the present and the future, to see how this evolution is part of God’s on- going creation Isiah 49:13. I am undoubtedly energized with hope for the future. The space provided at GV helped me not just to articulate the emerging themes of the reality of religious life in the United States but to realize how my personal story and experiences are part of God’s unfolding plan. My cultural background means that I bring an entirely unique outlook which is my gift to my Congregation/church/world. The conference reinforced my optimistic outlook on life/vocation to the religious life. I am at peace because I know that religious life is the work of God expressed in one language – Love. The culture of religious life, like all cultures, is not diminishing, will never extinguish as long as people walk the face of the earth. Rather it is evolving along the pathways specific to it, which is why GV is such a gift we must continue to treasure. Yes, the future may be smaller, inter generational, and multicultural but nevertheless a precious gift of our time. I am excited to be part of the future of religious life, energized in my present role in being the voice, the change the church and the world are waiting for. As a person/group, I/we are called to continue to build bridges for the pregnant future and remain open to accept it as it unfolds. I know that this is possible because we are united in our love for God and are motivated by our passion to bring about the reign of God through our services to the church/world.