Leave it to Jesus
When I visit the homebound with the Sacred Hearts Secular Branch on Molokai, we make it a point to do whatever those whom we are visiting would like us to do for them. If they want us to dance, we bring our ukuleles and instruments along with us. If they want to do something else, that is fine. We know that we are not alone in what we do as the Spirit of Jesus always goes before us.
On a regular visit we spend about two to two-and-a-half hours with each person we reach out to. For those who are bedridden, we might stay about 15-30 minutes saying prayers with them and exchanging conversation. With others, we might bring some food along and have lunch with them. Everyone is kind of different. We try to be the extension of the hands of God reaching out and touching others with his love.
I have been on topside Molokai for nearly six years now. I keep on going by remembering the reason why I entered religious life; I entered for the Lord. I entered the Sacred Hearts Sisters because of their perpetual adoration. And I want to continue the work of spreading the Lord’s charism of love.
It is interesting to know that I did attend school at Sacred Hearts Academy. But I wasn’t interested in entering that congregation because the sisters were kind of strict. On the other hand, I had it in my mind that I wanted to enter an order that was both missionary and contemplative. To find one that encompassed both was hard to resolve.
One day, when I went to visit one of the Sacred Hearts Sisters, another sister asked me, “Did you come to see me?” I responded, “No.” She continued, “Then what are you doing here?” “I came to visit the sisters,” I replied. She told me to follow her. All of a sudden she said, “You know, there are the Maryknoll Sisters who work outside and everyplace in the world. And then there are the Carmelites who stay in the convent. But in our order, we do both. We go out to minister and we have the contemplative life.” I started to cry. It was like the voice of God speaking directly to me.
During the earlier years of religious formation we worked within the house, had kitchen duty, did the laundry, etc. There was a contemplative silence that surrounded us all the time, night and day. We recited the Liturgy of the Hours, and attended classes. Those activities were like active works and quiet works.
Today, I continue to try to balance my activities. At the church of St. Damien I try to be present to the people by going to different Masses, accompanying them at funerals, and teaching the children catechism. Those are my active works. Early in the morning, my community says the Divine Office. This is followed by about a half hour of quiet adoration which I do twice a day. I don’t think I am ever working too hard. I simply say, “Jesus, you do it. You can do it better than me. So I leave it all to you.”
Sister Herman Julia Aki is a Sister of the Sacred Hearts. She entered the religious life in 1951 and is 61 years professed. She is actively involved in parish ministry at St. Damien Church, Kaunakakai, Molokai. She lives in Kaunakakai with the Sacred Hearts Sisters Molokai Community.
