Christ within the community
Nearly 50 years ago, back in the 1960s, I was assigned as a teacher at St. Theresa School in Kekaha, Kauai. After I left teaching, I went into nursing, then did some library and secretarial work followed by serving the past 15 years as the cook at St. Francis Convent in Manitowoc, Wis., for our sisters.
Now I am back at St. Theresa helping with the elderly and homebound of the parish and cooking for the sisters in school. Amidst the various changes in life I have found that aside from formal prayer, there are certain songs that sort of pop into my head that encourage me along the way. “In Christ Alone” is a very familiar one.
As Franciscan Sisters of Charity, we are never really alone. We whole-heartedly live our vocation in the loving community spirit of our foundresses. Christ is within the community. Prayer is a part of that; having fun together is another part. For example, after the sisters get home from teaching at school about 4:30 p.m., we go to chapel for Evening Prayer in common.
After that, we sit down for supper and share what happened during the day. We then clean the kitchen together, followed by watching the evening news. Although we do not have a lot of formal recreation time here in the mission, conversation is always exchanged.
The church community is also a source of spiritual sustenance. At St. Theresa Church, the Miraculous Medal Novena is prayed every Monday. I really am glad for this as in my private prayer I like to pray to Mary. My mother was a strong influence in training my seven brothers and seven sisters and myself how to pray. My Bible is also filled with markers on favorite passages that I refer to when needed.
It really gives me joy to serve God by serving other people. When I cook, I just enjoy what I am doing. I know I am doing it to support the other Sisters. When trials arise, or I am having a bad day, I like to say, “What is, is.” That means, whatever happens at the present moment is God’s will for me. This helps me to accept the things I cannot change whether it be the people, situations or even challenges that might arise due to my being of a different generation.
Expectations can get in the way, but acknowledging that we are all different, and accepting that our upbringing and religious life trainings differ, makes for more harmonious relationships and communities.
Our founder Mother Gabriel reminds us in her writings: “Can you really comprehend what feelings passed through our hearts when we were clothed in the religious garments and thus consecrated to God after three and one-half years as candidates? … As we were now members of a community we had to take the yoke of Christ on our shoulders, for he says: ‘My yoke is sweet and light.’”
“Yes,” I say. “In Christ alone I place my trust and find my glory in the power of the cross. In every victory let it be said of me, my source of strength, my source of hope, is Christ alone.”
Sister Verone Leeman is a Franciscan Sister of Charity. She was born in Green Bay, Wis., and is 55 years professed. She visits the homebound and elderly of St. Theresa Church, Kekaha.
