I received a text yesterday from a former student. “I thought you might enjoy reading the following article. Thank you for all the love, support and prayers that you have sent my way over the years. It has helped get me where I am today.” Attached was a cover story from a professional journal about his career trajectory. I was truly humbled.
Interestingly, I had spent the bulk of the day with members of the board of the Sisters of St. Joseph Mission and Ministry Foundation for planning. What brought each of us to the table were the incredibly selfless, generous, dedicated and God/neighbor loving Sisters of St. Joseph. It got me thinking of them each by name…Sr.Ann Louis, Sr. Rose Irma, Sr. Mary Sarah, Sr. Michelle, Sr. Mary Alice, Sr. Mary Rite, Sr. Marilyn, Sr. Mary Rose, Sr. Theresa, Sr. James Francis, Sr. Bernadine, Sr. Catherine, Sr. Clare Marie, Sr. Margaret, Sr. Rachelle… each in their own way and with their own gifts fulfilled the mission of Christ to His Glory and the love of the neighbor. As a board, we seek to support them as they age, and their numbers diminish and to continue the work of ministry they now pass on to us. It is the purest form of tradition…to pass on.
Today, I ask you to pray with a sense of gratitude…for these sisters, and for anyone else who has passed on to you something of such great value that you might both treasure it….and Pass it on.
I Cor 11: 23-26
For I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus, on the night he was handed over, took bread, and, after he had given thanks, broke it and said, “This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes.