ADDING & VENTING

From the beginning of time, God has equipped creation with whatever they need for their sustainability. He did not stop there. In every age, God continuous to reveal himself in new and diverse ways. All we need to do is pay attention. On this first Sunday of advent 2021, and I wanted to look at the season a little differently. I looked at advent through the lenses of “adding” and “venting.” In other words, this is a call for us to consider how our drives and emotions compel us to vent/or not for God’s justice and righteousness. 

A quick google search of the words “vent” and “add” showed meanings I expected to see: Vent means to “give free expression to (a strong emotion)” and “Add” means to “Join (something) to something else so as to increase the size, number, or amount.”  There are of course other meanings, but I decided the use these ones because it best reflects what my thoughts and what I am reflection on advent season.

     I dwelt on emotions, and looked at how they part of we are, and how we cannot exist without them. We all go through life experiencing a whole spectrum of emotions: Fear, joy, sadness, uncertainty, anger and so forth. For example, the that comes from finally falling in love, becoming engaged, attaining a milestone, or the pain of losing a parent, a job are all real. They make us react differently also. We may experience physical, emotional, and physiological reactions ranging from profuse sweating, having increased heart beats, suddenly developing sweaty palms. Making decisions/or not when going through excessive emotions is not the best. It is important to remember that our emotions add value to our lives, help us connect, but can lead also to regrettable outcomes unless we “vent” the right way, with the righteous anger of the Lord.

 Venting does more than helps us express emotions in a healthy way, it also helps us learn how to act/react in the future. When we feel something deeply, we tend to want to either want to talk or write about them with our most trusted friend or best other. We vent to people we love and trust, for comfort and so that they will help us to calm down. healthy venting helps us to let out the steam, regroup, cope, rethink, and perhaps make better decisions. But venting with those we do not get along with can lead to fights and other associated negative outcomes.

 

Advent is a season of preparedness. Through prayer, reflection, and good deeds we await the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, not just at Christmas, but on the last day. What sort of emotions should we nurture this season, and in fact the rest of our lives? What should we always be venting about and why? Jesus prayed (Luke 22:32) went about doing good (Act 10:38) and reacted to pain and suffering in his day (John 16:33). Christians who pray, who prepare for the Lord’s return, need to like him be sensitivity to the sufferings and injustices of our world today.

 This advent, let us add value to the scripture message by doing things a little differently. Maybe God is calling you to connect with someone in your family or neighborhood? Or maybe you need to mediate between your adult children/friends/ or family members who are not been getting along? Could you plant a tree? Join a cause for environmental awareness, or perhaps host an international student who needs a host family come Christmas? To add value is to bring scriptures to life by doing ordinary things with more intentionality. Jesus did not try to fit in, he became God’s desire for the world. By the end of this advent, this Christmas, this year; by the end of our lives, may it be that we would proudly acclaim like St. Paul “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing” (1 Timothy 4:7-8) Amen

 

 The Gain is Worth the Pain

Waiting can be difficult. Waiting takes effort, perseverance, hard work, and sometimes a few years for one to see real results. Such as the duration it takes to graduate from high school, college, or any institution, academic or not. As a college student 10 years ago, I went through  some of the marks of being a hardworking student which includes putting in several hours of study for weeks and months unending while preparing for one quiz, exam or presentation or the other. It was much more difficult coming from Nigeria where I had little access to neither computer nor the internet. I struggled with technology as much as I struggled with adapting to a completely new culture and learning to live this new way of life. Yes it was quite an experience.  There’ve been times when I had felt overwhelmed, and on few occasions wondered if I would ever make it.

However, in spite of everything I had to overcome, I refused to give up, I told myself that nothing in life comes easy. I was determined to give it all my had, and I trusted/still trusts the actions of God in my life. I knew that I was not alone, and that God is always with me, and that he will bring to perfection what he has begun in my life. I told myself that since God brought me to the United State, he has a plan, and I for one will not sabotage his plans for my good. Rather than give up, I realized that I could make life easier for myself by taking a step back to discern everything.

After further discernment and consulting my academic advisor, it became clear to me that I was partly responsible for my some of the issues I was having with. I was forcing myself to do something that is not my calling. I was trying to major in Nursing, when I have always know that I am a social worker. As such, changing my major was a blessing; I felt a deep sense of freedom, and the knots in my stomach all loosened up, I slept better and had more time for social and religious activities.

These thoughts came to mind this morning and I find myself using my experience to encourage a collage freshman who seem to be going though a similar experience as I was 10 years ago. He told me that he was excited about going back to college in the United States but is just realizing that he is struggling a with meeting up with academic and job demands since he must also work to be able to pay himself through school. He wondered if she should quit school (which is will be risky because that could put in out of legal statutes). We talked about other things he is struggling with, including pressure from family (in Nigeria) for financial assistance.  

I said so many things to suit my friend. But most importantly, I reminded him that nothing in life comes easy, and that we have the grace of God to rely on when all else fails us. On the other hand, I assured him that this is a transitional time in his life, he will not always be a student. We talked about options, including reducing his credit load and seeking extra help from his professors. At the end of the conversation, my friend confessed that he feels much relieved. He expressed appreciation and thanked me for listening.

Everything is life happens for a reason, and until it is known, it is important for us to continue to let God lead us though life. Be encouraged and go out there and be a beacon of hope for somebody who may be needing you, even as you are read this. Tell all the downtrodden that all hope is not lost, that all will be well because God has got their back. Let us continue to extend the compassion of God to the lost and discouraged, this is what pleases the Lord.

 

 

We Are “gods”

We Are “gods”

Life is a mystery. Yet, in his own way, God never ceases to help us understand some of it. In today’s reflection, God reveled that we are “gods” with a small “g” since we are not equal to Him. As I reflected on this more deeply, the meaning became a little clearer to me. We are “gods” because in some shape or form, we have power and wield some form of authority at different stages of out lives.

 In the creation story in the book of Genesis, scripture tells us that it was only after the creation of humans on the 6^th day, that God “looked at everything he has created, and it was very good” (Genesis 1:31). Another way to put it is that God was happy. The sort of excitement and feeling of deep satisfaction we most likely feel and exude at the accomplishment of any significant feat. We are the perfection of creation, in the eyes of God, nothing can compare with our worth. However, although we may be “good” as scriptures says, but God requires more than that, we need to take it from there. We need to maintain the godly quality God bestowed on us, so that God can “delight” in us. We need to perfect creation by affirming the work of God and reciprocate his love by taking pleasure in him, his plan for us and others, as we work towards the unity and oneness Jesus prayed for (John 17:21). One of our challenges as humans, is our inability to extend the euphoria God has for us to our dear brothers and sisters. But “how?’ Someone may ask. Well, anytime we act with love, mercy and justice towards others, we are demonstrating that we are “gods,” children of the most high (Psalm 82:6).

  

What are the attributes of God? God is kind, loving, merciful and compassionate. God forgives, heals, and transforms and so forth. Humans share in God’s creative nature. That is to say that we  have all been endowed with to some degree, all the attributes of God, for we have been made in the image and likeness of God (Matthew 1:27). Jesus showed us the way to the father and used several stories/parables to encourage us to follow in his footstep. “The one who showed mercy…” is the true neighbor. “Go and do the same.” (Luke 10:37), he taught. In this story of the good Samaritan, we learned that mercy and compassion are not options, but necessities. We are put into this world to see, feel, and act for the good of all our dear neighbors.

 So, we have all been gifted. Some people are rich wealth, others are famous, tall, intelligent, joyful are endowed with a great sense of humor, among other gifts. As I look at these gifts, it saddens me to realize that majority of us tend to believe that money is what matters the most. And I get it, everyone needs money. Money enables us to feed, pay our bills and get through in life. So yes, money is very important. However, we can live sustainable lives without hoarding money. The acquisition of wealth is not everyone’s gift, but the gift of  “daily bread” (has may prayed for (Mathew 6:11). Therefore, those blessed with the gift of wealth, have twice as much to answer before God if they act as “Gods.” Funny enough, scriptures even warns those who  desire wealth without a corresponding desire to be faithful to God (Proverbs 28:20), and I must add, faithful to the dispensation of wealth. Another way to look at this is that it is more important to be faithful that to be rich. Because those who seek the kingdom of God, those who give God his due will meet their daily needs and much more. (Matthew 6:33)

God is my brother and sister

As “gods,” it is important for Christians who have been blessed with wealth to be wise dispensers of God’s gifts. You may be telling yourself that you’ve earned your keep by working hard for what you have. But so have people who may have worked twice but have nothing to show for it. Poverty, pain, and suffering are challenges that will always be part of our global reality, but so is wealth. Unfortunately, instead of the wealth to continue to maintain their “kingly” positions at the Lord’s table (like king Darius) by inviting all the “Lazarusses”  around them, they have chosen the place of Lazarus on themselves on the last day.

 What is your gift? Perhaps the ability to give a listening ear? Radiate joy? Empathize with the suffering? Be a voice for the marginalized? Pray? …Yes, God sure got it covered, he did not miss a thing, we all have something. But when we fail to maximize the use of our gifts, again we are like kind Darius (Luke 16) or the rich fool (Luke 12). Have you discovered your gift? Now is the time to take a long and deep look at ourselves. We need to discover our own specific “godly” attribute, where should we invest most of our energy? Just as it is futile to hoard wealth (vanity of vanities), that is how useless it is to continue to spend sleepless nights dreaming for wealth while burying our own undiscovered talent(s) for which God will eventually hold us accountable  (Matthew 25:14–30).

The best way to prepare for Christmas and for Jesus’ return is to make his kingdom real, by using my gifts. God relies on us to make him real, known, so that where he has gone, he will also ensure that we join him. The measure of the “god” we are to our dear neighbors, (especially those who need us to validate them) is the same measure God will be for us when at last we shall “see him as he truly” (1 John 3:2).

 

 

The Pain of Being and Living in Nigeria

As a country Nigeria turns 61 today. Having recently returned from Nigeria, I cannot but sit for a minute to reflect on my experiences and some of the day-to-day realities in Nigeria. Anniversaries are times to reminiscence the past, celebrate the presence in look in hope to the future. To say the truth, the Nigeria I knew in the past is better than the Nigeria I saw last month, there is little or nothing to celebrate at all.  What is there to be happy, when people are so hungry, sick, and dying by the day? Poverty, insecurity, and untold hardship seems to be the order of the day for majority of Nigerians. The streets are not safe, people are afraid to go to their farms because they are afraid of being kidnapped or killed by the Fulani heads men, or unknown gun men. There are no job opportunities, graduates are doing menial jobs just to feed, the cost of living continues to increase by the day. Students do not feel safe in their schools because at any given moment they could be attacked, kidnapped for ramson, or killed. Churches are not even left out in the incessant attacks. Christians are continuously targeted and selectively massacred, such that some are too sacred of going to church at all, or walk to church alone.

The Nigerian economy is in shambles, the worth of naira is progressively falling. Only yesterday, I heard that it is now N600 to one U.S dollar. Tribalism, sectionalism, and divisiveness is over the roof top. Ibos say they want Biafra, the Middle Belters and people from Oduduwa Nations are also agitation for self-governance. Our political, economic, and social strata are all in shambles. As if that is not enough, majority of those in leadership positions are not doing anything whatsoever. Governors, senators, bishops, superiors, Imams, and majority of our political and religious leaders are not doing anything.

So, who or what is going to save Nigeria? How much longer are we going to continue to live like slaves in our own country? When will the cries of the poor be heard? Who is going to wipe the tears of the widows and orphan?

    GOD NIGERIA NEEDS YOUR HELP

I shudder with horror at what is going on in Nigeria. I shudder at the thought of a future that seems so bleak and dark. I am filled with fear and sadness because the shadows hovering over Nigeria is blood thirsty and deadly. I weep for the thousands already killed for being unfortunate enough to be born in Nigeria. My heart aches for the many who will still lose their lives to unknown gunmen, Fulani headsmen, hunger and poverty. This madness does not seem to be abetting, we do not see any end in sight.

What is most shocking is not only the fact that our leaders in Nigeria/Africa have turned the other way, but I am also perplexed at the complicity of the other world power. I get it, they have nothing to loose or better still gain. But of what benefit is our membership in the African and United Nations? What is the purpose of conglomerate partnerships if people cannot exist in their natural environments? There is no way international organizations can claim ignorance regarding the horrors happening in Nigeria? Go to the internet, listen to the radio, read the newspapers, watch ticktacks/YouTube videos, speak with any Nigerian/African… the list is endless, the story is the same everywhere… Nigerian is no longer a safe place, especially for the poor. Today thousands of women and children must face live without their husbands/fathers? How is this ok?  

Unfortunately, a few Nigerians believe that they have figured out a way to address this crisis. These smart citizens are leaving the country in drones, I guess because they have the resources. But what about the remaining majority? The Nigerian National Bureau of Statistics said in 2020 that 40% or 83 million Nigerians live in poverty.

I worry that the cost of health care is going to be the next huge crises to face us as a nation. Just last month, I read about the massive recruitment of nurses and doctors by Europe and Middle East. They offered irresistible remuneration packages which led to the exit of many Nigerian healthcare professionals. In a country already plagued with sickness, frequent violence and incessant killings, I cannot imagine what it will be like when hospitals and clinics have no healthcare professionals.

So no, I am not rejoicing about the fact that it has been 61st years since our leaders have been looting and destroying our country. I am sad, and helpless, unsure about why the Lord himself seems to be so silent? Should I attribute the woes in Nigeria to the fact that we have failed to heed the voice of the Lord? And have not followed the precepts he set before us as today’s reading suggested?” (Bar 1:15-22). Yet even if this is the case, I know that the Lord will never give up on his people.

May all brave Christian soldiers out there not give up. Like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego testified, even if the Lord will not answer us, even if we see no end in sight, even we must continue to lose our lives, we will not stop placing our hope in the Name of the Lord, since Our help will always come from the Lord who made heaven and earth.

 

FUA

A letter to my Sister in Heaven

I cannot believe that it has been a year since I spoke with you on the phone and you told me that you are not feeling well. Yes, it sure has been a year since the last time your adorable kids would rush to the dining table at the beckon of your coaxing voice and the aroma of your well prepared delicious meals. It’s been twelve months today since your doting husband last heard you affectionately hail him “NZE 1.” What about mama? Do you know that she once told me that she misses your sweet musical laughter and your favorite pastime of simultaneously changing the ringing tone cell and hers? I bet you also miss doing that. As for us, my Dear, the last time we were together we all recalled with love how you made each of us call you “Ash Born.” Such memories bring us much joy and happiness and is always fresh on our minds. How could we forget the love that emanated from you to everyone you encountered?  Since your journey last year, even the Abakaliki branch of the Honorable lady knights of St. John still remember and talk about the energy your brought to the group especially when you led them group in group parades. No I did not forget your job at the local government. Some of your former colleagues still talk about how much joy you brought and how your absence has left them dumbfounded.

On the other hand, my unwavering faith in God makes me believe that it’s been an entire year since you made yourself at home with God, the Cherubim and Seraphim. Knowing you, I imagine that you have also made friends, lots of them among the angles and heavenly beings. I hope you have learned a lot and is still learning everything you can in your new home. You were a good observer; I trust that you are learning as much as can so that your transition will continue to be easy and smooth. You must have also observed that heaven is orderly that the way things are over there. That being so, is it right to assume that you are no longer as carefree as you use to be? Yes, you may have a new heavenly community, but remember not everyone is a stranger to you right? Have you seen dad? Yes, I know you and him never met before he started on his journey, but remember that you are now is a place where there are no shrouds, a place of eternal reunion. You also have Bonny your adorable son and other friends and relations.

Thank you for remaining in touch, and for reminding us that a family once formed, cannot be   unbroken by tears, pain, suffering or death. But most importantly, thank you Eyi for reminding us to celebrate your many gifts, your new life. You will always be dear and we will always love and miss you.

Audieu most Beloved Ash Born.

May you gentle Soul continue to rest in Perfect Peace.

Amen.

A New Type of “Spring” for a Refugee Family

Volunteer Service at the farm with some of our clients 

It is the early hours of Tuesday morning when I slowly steered awake. My eyes quickly sought my beside table for my clock to see what time it is. I shuddered, when I realized that it is time for to get up. “Where did time go?” I wondered. Then I looked out of my window and muttered: “phew! it is raining” I looked beyond the rain to the beautiful sea of green leaves all around. Suddenly an unexpected peace and solitude enveloped me, I felt the presence of the Lord and an urge to listen more attentively to him. Deliberately and slowly, I raised myself to a sitting position on the bed, took a deep breath and gently slid down to the floor, or more precisely made myself comfortable in the prayer space in my room. Soon after I felt more relaxed after taking a few deep breaths and having thanked the Lord for the gift of yet another beautiful day.

I looked and saw that everything God created is indeed very good!

I sat there with no expectations, just a deep longing to be with the Lord. I waited, but not for long. The more I yearned for God’s presence, the more I hear the tack, tush, tack tush whistling sound of the rain. I looked out the window again and told myself that spring must be the most beautiful season of the year. Everything my eyes fell on sparkled with indescribable beauty. Trees, and flower, even the bushes looked happy as they swayed to and fro, as if dancing to a secret tune played by some invisible angelic being.

“But I must pray now!” I said out loud for the third time. I read from Living with Christ lying beside me.  Since it is still Easter season, the readings reminded me that those called by the name of the Lord are made perfect through the power of his resurrection. Our weak and sinful nature may be a curse unto us as a result of sin. But the power of Christ’s resurrection has freed us from that burden and obtained eternal salvation for us.

Bus tour with some of our clients 

The first reading talks also about perseverance in suffering, and about how our “brothers and sisters all over the world” experience all types of suffering. This phrase stayed with me for a long time. I thought about all of God’s children who through no fault of theirs, are experiencing all types of suffering all over the world. I held them in my heart and prayers, especially a newly arrived refugee family of 8 which the agency I work with is resettling.

Before finally making it to the United States, this family lived in a refugee camp somewhere in Africa for over 13 years, waiting, hoping and praying for their springtime. They all have little or no formal education, so could neither understand or communicate in English Language. They have seen/known nothing but violence, wars, guns and killings. Though they will forever carry the scars of their painful past lives, the glow I see on their faces after they go here makes me believe that they have found their spring. Even though some scars are still ongoing, such as their frail looking pregnant mother and her young teenage alcoholic oldest son who has anger problems. I know that God will perfect hat he has started. They may be poor, tired, emotionally and financially saturated, yet I see the buddings of new life because the Lord of Springtime has brought them in this land of the free and the home of the brave. Most importantly, it will be spring henceforth for them because the Lord has promised to perfect the works of his disciples by restoring all to himself. God will restore all their brokenness and I am humbled to have the great opportunity to share his love with them and all his anawims whom we serve daily. As long as we continue to be present, offer our smiles, our prayers and support our clients are sure that their long forgotten springtime has finally returned.  

Why I wear the Veil

Religious life has come a long way. Before Vatican 11 almost every vowed religious sisters in the United States wore habit, the old fashioned uncomfortable common dress of poor women of middle ages. Following Vatican II, and the promulgation of Ecclesiae Sactae by Pope Paul VI in 1966, sisters were permitted to experiment with habit modification according to the needs of the time and place for a period of time, without compromising the purpose, nature and character of their institutes. As times continue to change and new opportunities for ministry continued to open up for sisters, interest in wearing traditional habits waned to the extent that the habit gradually came to be seen as a symbol of oppression and obsolescence. Eventually around the 1980’s, most congregations in the United States discarded the habit altogether.

I know all about this as a former Dominican Sister. I was raised n Nigeria where sisters still dress in habit and as a Dominican sister myself, I wore one anytime I was in public. But when I came to the United States, I noticed that sisters wear ordinary every day clothes. Upon inquiry, I learned that most congregations see their congregational crosses and solemn vows ring as their only visible distinctive form of identification. It was a phenomenal experience for me.

As an apostolic novice, I am discerning the call to commit my life to God in the Congregation of the Sisters of Divine Providence, Melbourne, Ky. Long ago I grappled with the question of sisters’ invisibility in the United States. So, when the issue was raised at a gathering of young sister which I attended last year, I was eager to hear the opinion of other younger/newer members. The discussion bothers on visibility versus non visibility of religious sisters in the Unites States. While majority of those in the group said they are happy and comfortable looking simple and ordinary, a few indicated that they sometimes struggle with being incognito. In other words, they seem to be suggesting that there are times when they wished they could be more visible, without necessarily wearing a habit. At the end of the discussion, we did not really come up with any concrete solutions.

Personally, I do not struggle with being incognito. Perhaps my experience of being a religious sister in Nigerian (a habited culture) and now in formation in the United States (where habit is not the norm) made me recognize the need for a middle space. Some sisters are called to wear habit and others are  not. While these two forms of dressing represent the same authentic reality, I am all for a blend of both forms of dressing. As we well know, dressing distinguishes people. soldiers, sailors, doctors, flight attendants, priests, monks, bishop, altar servers and so on, are all recognized by what they wear. But this does not mean that they have to look that way all the time. Doctors don’t go fishing or golfing with stethoscopes hanging on their necks, neither would priests be comfortable swimming with Roman collars. In the same way, I have no problem with wearing distinctive garbs when occasion calls for it. 

So does this mean that I am advocating for a return to the traditional full habit like it was in the Middle Ages? By no means. However I think a mild modification is ok for our day and time. Thankfully, our CDP constitution makes room for such accommodation. The Constitution of the CDP Congregation states that our CDP cross and ring remain the distinctive sign of our consecration and membership, and that whatever we wear is a sign of consecration and a witness of our simplicity and poverty. At the same time, our constitution also makes provision for sisters who may choose to wear a veil, (and there are a few who do so). Those few sisters dress in simple skirt and blouse with a simple veil. For me, a simple skirt and blouse is also a contemporary attire. Skirt and blouse will certainly not inhibit a sisters ability to walk, drive a car or effectively carry out ministry, which were some of the reasons raised for discarding the veil or habit, among other things. 

I hope that no one opts for religious life just to be recognized. Jesus even warned his disciples against making a pompous show of their good deeds. But at the beginning of his public ministry, Jesus made himself publicly known. In the Gospel, Jesus read from the scroll and afterwards declared that he is fulfilling what he just read. (Luke 4:21) It would have been impossible for Jesus to effectively proclaim his message of salvation without some form of publicity. As a matter of fact, the entire Gospel is the eye witness account of the Jesus’ three years of public ministry. In the same vein, I strongly believe that the same Jesus who remains the same yesterday, today and forever wants to continue to be proclaimed and publicized until his return.

So what is the connection between the call of sisters to make Jesus known and the importance of being recognized as sisters? To begin with there are so few of us today in the United States. Recently I introduced myself to somebody and she said she didn’t know that people still joined religious life today because they are hardly seen. This is the more reason why we should be identifiable. In this day and time when people are going to court to have the crucifix and Christian images removed from public offices, we need to show ourselves as an irreplaceable sign of God’s Presence. We need to be seen by younger adults who are the future of religious life/church as they continue to choose between opposing alternatives in our increasingly secularized society. Yes, we need to let them now that we are still here, they need to not only hear us, but see us as well.  

The 1983 document on Essential Elements in the Church’s Teaching on Religious Life published by the Sacred Congregation for Religious and Secular Institutes stated that the witness of religious life is public. This was affirmed in Canon 669 which echoed the importance of habit for religious women. Furthermore, Vatican II’s Perfectae Caritatis clarified that religious habits could be modified for reasons of health, practicality and effectiveness in ministry (#17).

If you ask me, our call/mission today is public and distinct, just like that of Jesus. No one acts in secret says the gospel of John if he/she wants to be known publicly (John 7:14). For me the veil is not about the individual who wears it, nor is it about their comfort, or popularity. Being visible is mainly about Christ, about religious life, about the Holy Catholic Church, and especially about those seeking a deeper relationship with God. My experience with wearing a white veil has been mostly positive. On occasions, I have been approached, stopped and questioned. I have had the privilege to answer questions, clear doubts, and discuss my Catholic faith with both Christians and non-Christians. Being visible as a sister has given me the opportunity to share how we live the four fundamental virtues of simplicity, poverty, charity and abandonment to Providence. I have prayed and accepted prayer requests from complete strangers because they feel safe sharing their concerns with someone who will not judge or criticize them. People have walked up to me to discuss their pains, and thanked me for just being and for listening without any judgment. So if the veil offers me the opportunity to share the radical love of Christ with those who approach me because I am more visible, then I am more than happy to wear it irrespective of the seeming inconvenience it constitutes.

On the other hand, I have also noticed curious stares directed my way because of the veil. I understand that there are people out there who may be put off by the veil or who may feel too uncomfortable to ask me for prayers, and that is okay. The way I see it, the advantage of touching even a single life each day I go out wearing a simple veil, and being visible, far outweighs all contrary opinions.  

As an individual, I am comfortable with wearing the veil sometimes, because it offers me the opportunity to witness Christ in a unique way. As a sign of consecration to God, the veil serves as a constant reminder that consecrated women belongs to God. The veil is not fashionable, but counter cultural, which is exactly what sisterhood is about. In witnessing to the faith they profess, wearing the veil enhances a sister’s practice of the religious vow of poverty. Those who wear habit spend less time and money thinking about or shopping for what to wear. In this regards, the veil is liberating.

On the other hand, majority of sisters in the United States are old and retired. I think it is unrealistic to expect them to dress otherwise. Consequently, the issue of visibility may only be relevant to younger/newer members as was raised at the Giving Voice Gathering I had refereed to earlier. But in the spirit of communal charity, it will be great for older sisters to recognize and support younger/newer members who wish to wear habit/veil and not continue to insist on polarity of dressing. The mark of our our unity is portrayed our ability to be of one mind and heart not by how the spirit is leading us to dress. In addition, religious Congregations in the United State should recognize that some newer members are from cultures where wearing the veil is still a norm. How would such sisters deal with these duality, when for example they visit home?   

Religious life has survived the era when most sisters dressed in habit and now when majority do not in the United States. Could the future be calling for a blend of the two forms? I would think so, because both forms have their own merits. We need sisters who are recognizable and those who are not to assimilate the needs of everybody. So as we continue to wrestle with the issue of sister’s visibility/invisibility, what is important is to remember that whatever we wear, should be worn with the right intention. Let us continue to persevere in following the good intentions of our hearts and not criticize those who dress differently from us, because our journey into the divine mystery is deeper than a garb. May the radical love of Jesus continue to illumine out hearts as we continue to risk personal transformation for the sake of God and the coming of his kingdom. Amen!

                                 Rosemarie (right) and Emiline, CDP sisters from Madagascar