Boundary-Crossing

  By Sr. Angela Thanh Trần

“We possess the prophetic word that is unwavering. Pay careful attention to this word, as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns, and the morning star rises in your hearts” (2 Peter 1:19).

Dominican Preaching: Encounter the Gospel-Actualized Community
with Fr. Greg Heille, OP

Scriptures at the Heart of Preaching
with Sr. Mila Díaz Solano, OP

We had powerful and in-depth sessions on Preaching with Fr. Greg Heille, OP, and Sr. Mila Díaz Solano, OP. They both connected us to the core of our Dominican charism. We all preach in and for the community. The invitation to expand our idea of who is included in "common" has lingered, specifically in the call to situate ourselves in solidarity with the marginalized. The challenging question is, how can we locate ourselves with the marginalized if we are so privileged in many ways?

We had our volunteer orientation at
Greyhound Bus Station with the Maryknolls,
Norbetines, and Franciscans.

With the increasing number of new arrivals in Chicago these days, some of us have committed to help at the Greyhound Bus station on certain Friday mornings (5:45-7:45 am). We collaborate with the ICDI (Illinois Community for Displaced Immigrants) to offer migrants food, water, clothes, directions to their next location, etc. One Friday, one of us came home and called for a house meeting after Morning Prayer, she said, “I encountered a family that I think was homeless. A young couple with a child. They speak Spanish. Only the wife knows a little English. They slept on the street the night before and couldn't afford the ticket to get to where they wanted to go. I would like to take them into our home and provide them food and a place to rest, while we help them get their tickets. Is it okay for you?”

I initially thought this was a crazy idea. None of us knew the family. Is it safe for them to come to our house? Is it safe for us to let them in? How are we doing with space? What about our schedule? It was not like we had “a day off.” Is it even possible to alter anything? The unexpected proposal disrupted the convenience of the day, and it opened up the door to a way of living consecrated poverty that we, as a community, did not experience before. It reminded me that we hold in common not only our resources, but also the time we choose to offer. This life involves a constant choice of saying Yes to one thing while saying No to the other, so I can fully be present in my Yes. We are not separated from reality. Consequentially, it became challenging when there was a choice that interfered with my privilege – my time. As we affirmed each other’s freedom by not looking for a right or wrong answer, we were also aware, the question was asked because one of us recognized our capacity to respond.

Holding together the ongoing unmet needs around us, we listened, asked questions, named our concerns, asked for help to address them, and finally said Yes.

It was on that same day that we had our class on the vow of Consecrated Celibacy
and a Zoom session with our three panelists -- Srs. Corinne Sanders, OP, 
Diane Capuano, OP, & Beth Quire, OP.

Consecrated Obedience I with Srs. Anna Oven,
OP, Kelly Moline, OP, & Katherine Frazier, OP
(Click on photo to zoom)

Consecrated Poverty with Srs. Jeanne Moore, OP, Cecilia Canales, OP, & Xiomara Mendez-Hernandez, OP

Consecrated Obedience II with Srs. Gloria Marie Jones, OP,
Teresa Hougnon, OP, & Sharon Casey, OP

Elyse, Teresa, Shingai, and I drove two cars to the station to pick up the family and all their luggage. In the meantime, Paula organized the space for them and installed the safety gate we borrowed from our neighbor (for the child), while Julie and Terri started baking and cooking. The family came, showered, ate, and rested in our house that day. We took them back to the bus station to catch the bus at night. When we said goodbye, one of us lifted her hands and asked if we could bless them with our Dominican Blessing. The husband, not knowing English, seeing her gesture, thought she wanted a high-five. He approached her, gently put his hands on her hands, and then gave her a big hug.

Two different languages. Two different cultures. Two different life forms. Two different worlds. The minute that line named difference was crossed, I heard the Good News. The whole Body of Christ was completely present in that embrace. I learned about preaching in the most real and tangible way I could ever grasp. It was in each person-to-person transforming encounter. It was about expanding and making space available for others. It was about struggling with the reality that we were unable to help everyone, and at the same time, knowing our capacity to bridge and collaborate in matters present right in front of us.

February 8 each year is a special day for my home Congregation – the Dominican Sisters of Mission San Jose, as we celebrate our Founder's Day. We give thanks to God for our Foundress, M. Maria Pia Backes, a pioneer preacher, who dared to cross the country in 1876. We remember all the Dominican women who have gone before us. The Word of God was spoken throughout their lives, in their generous “Yes” to the unmet needs, their courage to think in a bigger frame of mind, and their fidelity to a way of life that keeps on evolving.

We celebrated Terri's un-birthday this past weekend
with a Murder Mystery game (her actual birthday is in the summer).
We each dressed up as a character in that Murder Mystery and had a fabulous time!