VIRIDITAS: SOUL GREENING
Interviewed by Sister Malia Dominica Wong, OP Hawaii Catholic Herald
I feel I have been so blessed in my life. Opportunities which at the time didn’t seem like such, actually turned out to be blessings unimagined. For example, several years ago when my provincial superior asked me to go to Rome, I literally burst into tears and cried. If I had to go anywhere, I would have chosen returning to Asia. However, after praying and reflecting over the request in view of our charism of availability, I couldn’t find a good enough excuse for not going. Providentially, it was there that I fell into a ministry that continues to be very rewarding to me.
In Rome I had met with Maryknoll Sister Teresa Dagdag who was working with the Commission for Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation (JPIC) and was very active in anti-trafficking. As a child, I remember standing up for the underdog. It was also part of my passion to protect those pushed to the margins. As the JPIC was an English-speaking group, I was attracted to it and eventually went through the training to become a promoter against trafficking. I also volunteered with Talitha Kum, a worldwide network of religious women committed to ending human trafficking.
In an unexpected meeting with Pope Francis, I heard him encourage young people to work against prostitution, sex trafficking and labor trafficking. To hear the stories of survivors and how ordinary people were able to rescue or save them from such situations, was awesome. We might not think that these issues exist everywhere, but they do even here in Hawaii. Thus, it is important for everyone to be aware of these problems and to know how they can help those in need. Pope Francis’ letter on non-violence only affirms that this is the direction we need to move in to protect the rights of all people.
At the same time, I also have a passion for being able to create peaceful environments for people to encounter God through. Since returning to the islands last June, I have become more aware of how much listening is needed in our culture today. We do a lot of communicating, but not listening. People don’t talk, they text. I like texting as it is convenient. But seeing another person face-to-face is important. And what a blessing it is to be able to listen to the journeys of others whether they be of family, friends or strangers briefly met. No matter how old you get, as long as your ears are working and your heart is open you can listen.
My favorite spiritual practice is centering prayer. There are apps for it. Set aside 10-20 minutes of intended time to spend with and for God. Then choose a word symbolizing your intention to be with God. Settle and relax into the word. Say it when you need to, but not like a continuous mantra. Distractions of all kinds, even warm fuzzies or ecstasies will arise in your prayer, but they are not the point of the prayer. Go back to your sacred word and let them go. Let God work and God will. 300 distractions mean you have 300 opportunities to go back to God and say you love him. Listen, this too is a blessing.
Sister Marie Lemert is a religious of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary. She is 30 years professed. She is an active advocate against human trafficking and resides at St. Anthony Retreat Center where she guides retreats and leads others in spiritual direction.
