Solidarity

My view of Lent has changed as I grew up. As a kid it was about giving up things –candy, sweets, caffeine –whatever my addiction was at the time. Later, it was less about giving things up and more about what new things I could do to better myself during Lent (and hopefully after) –exercise, volunteering, smiling more.

 

 

I've realized recently (meaning while writing this blog post) that I have also changed the way I view the vows during my discernment of religious life. In the very beginning, they were about giving things up: poverty meant I couldn't own anything, obedience meant I couldn't decide anything, and celibacy meant I would never get married (remember, I did say this was my thinking at the very beginning).

 

 

Of course, a large part of religious formation is examining the vows from all different perspectives and applications. We've had/will have a semester-long course, panel discussions, and workshops on the subject. Before coming to St. Louis, and definitely since being here, I've come to see the vows as less about giving things up and more about taking on an entirely new way of living – a prophetic life with less fetters and more openness to God's call, God's will, and God's people.

 

 

Lately, I've been re-examining the vows in the light of solidarity with diverse groups of people. Poverty obviously helps put us in solidarity with the poor. Ron Rolheiser talks about how the vow of chastity puts us in solidarity with the lonely. The vow of obedience puts us in solidarity with the powerless. It's a new and interesting way of thinking about them and I'm enjoying the reflection.

 

 

So, to complete the circle, let's go back to Lent. This year, I'd like my Lenten observance to not just be about giving up, or even about taking on. I want to try putting this newest reflection into practice. How can I use the next 40-some-odd days to become in solidarity with a group of people I've previously overlooked, ignored, or been ignorant of? I'm still figuring it out, but at least it's given me plenty of food for thought.

So, what are you doing for Lent?

--Kelly

What does it mean to be “homeless”?

A hole lies exposed where there once used to be a window.  Inside are strewn blankets, empty cans and markings on the wall that indicate this “home” has been claimed.  In a nearby hospital, people are being taken through the Emergency Department door, uncertain of their diagnosis and feeling some anxiety about their future.  And at the Collaborative Dominican Novitiate, a novice visiting from another congregation is welcomed to what will be her new “home” for a few weeks.

As I reflect back on the examples that have been shown to me of what it means to be “home”, no longer are those who are homeless limited to those who must survive on the street.  No, they have become for me anyone who must “pick up their mat and walk”.  Where they lay their head one day may not be where they are being called to place it the next.  Like the paralytic person, we are being invited by Jesus to try something new, be open to a new way of living and not to close the door on the gifts that await us. 

During these last few weeks, we have been blessed with the presence of Mary Therese Perez, a second year Dominican Novice from Mission San Jose.  At this time, her congregation is not a part of the Collaborative Novitiate.  After meeting Mary in October, during the Young Dominican Conference at Mission San Jose, her congregation asked us if Mary could come visit for a couple of weeks, but it is we who have been blessed.  We have been changed. 

We have learned through Mary that when we open ourselves up, risk the journey into the unknown, we come out stronger than we first began.  Home is more than shelter.  To me, home is where we can lay our head in trust, resting in the belief that where we are provides food for our journey.  What “food” we receive, through the support of new friends, a dry place out from the cold, a new diagnosis that reminds us our bodies have changed, are gifts that feed the soul and give us strength to face tomorrow.

--Chris

What Does Community Mean?

One pillar of Dominican Life has been the focus of my thinking and praying recently. I am a very independent person and have grown up doing things for myself, so when I became sick and needed assistance in November I began to understand what community means. I had to rely on my sisters to lift things, pick things up off the ground and even take notes for me in class when I was not able to go myself. They willingly helped me but still let me to do what I could do, however small it was. Community means helping even when it is not convenient, but also allowing others to still do for themselves.

When I went to the Mound this Christmas break I continued to expand what community means. I was blessed to lead some of the sisters in an art project and to witness their sense of accomplishment and pride when they had a number of completed projects in front of them. Over the next couple weeks I heard what the pictures were being turned into. Community means sharing the gifts I have and being receptive to how those gifts are used for others and God.

When I returned to St. Louis a couple weeks ago my understanding of community expanded again. We participated in a two day workshop that prompted a long conversation at supper one night where we learned quite a bit about each other and deepened our relationships. Community means really listening to the other and being present to the person/people in front of you. It means mutual risking of self as relationships grow deeper.

How do you define community?

-Krissie

Navel-gazing – useless or excessive self-contemplation (from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/navel-gazing)

Call me old-fashioned, but I never cared much for psychology before. I remember taking a course in college, but honestly the only thing I remember about it is signing up to be a participant in various studies to I could get extra credit on exams.

I never, never expected psychology to be such an important part of my novitiate experience, but time has proven me wrong.

At first, this emphasis on “know yourself, know your issues, know how to cope with them” seemed excessive, even self-defeating. Why spend all this time thinking, talking, and remembering just to be able to shout “I'm screwed up!! And X, Y, and Z made me so!!” [insert your own favorite players there – parents, siblings, cultural mores, pop icons, etc]

But lately I've begun to wonder if this isn't so much about excuses as it is about explanations. An excuse is something you hide behind (“I couldn't do ______ because of __________!!”). It provides you an out, and escape, of an otherwise uncomfortable or unwanted position. It seemed at first that a lot of this “navel-gazing” was all about finding excuses (“I can't meet community obligations because I didn't have enough rigid boundaries when I was a kid!”). However, the more we talk about self-reflection and personal development, the more I see it can be used to explain our “quirks” or our “buttons” – not with the idea of using them as excuses, but with the goal of being able to work around them and try to make sure that they don't stand in our way.

So, I guess I'm coming around to the overall usefulness of this psychology stuff – or at least, I'm willing to talk about it!

-Kelly

St. Theresa's Prayer

A few days before I left Sparkill, I found myself in our community room.  This had become my place of refuge each evening, after “good nights” had been spoken, and God was calling me to reflect on the day’s happenings.  The white lights from the Christmas tree reflected onto the floor, as I thought of my own reflection and the reflection of others with whom I received the gift of getting to know better; myself included.

In the quiet of the evening, I thought of the ways I tried to be Christ for my community, and how they in turn were Christ for me.  I thought of the humility that was shown to me when our infirmed sisters entrusted me to provide personal care, or simply to reposition them if they were uncomfortable.  Many of our sisters shared with me a trust in their God with whom they had grown to love more intimately now than when they began their own formation.  I remember the words of encouragement offered to me to be open to trust the God with whom I am beginning to know, who wants to deepen our relationship, and who understands my struggles.

During this particular night, the words to a song I had not heard in years came back to me. 

“Christ has no body now but yours
no hands, no feet on earth but yours.
Yours are the eyes through which He looks
with compassion on this world.
Yours are the feet with which He walks to do good.
Yours are the hands,
with which He blesses all the world

Yours are the hands,
yours are the feet,
yours are the eyes,
You are His body

Christ has no body now but yours
no hands, no feet on earth but yours
Yours are the eyes through which He looks
with compassion on this world
Christ has no body now on earth
but yours.”

                                    John Michael Talbot

As I begin this next semester of my journey as a Dominican Novice, may I be more open to the God who is re-creating me.  May I be God’s hands as I contribute even more to my ministry and my community life.  May my eyes see the light I am invited to chase, to embrace and to make brighter.  And may my feet walk more firmly through the transitions of the day that lies ahead.

-Chris

Going Home

Part of our Novitiate experience is to return to our home Congregations to celebrate Christmas with our sisters and re-connect. Our agendas include meetings with leadership, volunteering at holiday festivities, doing research in the archives, spending time with the elder sisters, and absorbing more of the culture of our communities. Another important part of our time “home” is to explain our novitiate experience to the sisters. Our experience is very different from theirs, which leaves a lot of questions, but the larger goals are the same across the generations.

We also have a chance to see our families whom we left behind when we moved to St. Louis in August.

During our break we will not be updating the blog as often, but will be back on schedule in mid-January.

Thanks for your prayers and support.

Krissie

Incubation

It takes about 9 months to make a baby.  Garlic has to stay in the ground for 10 months before it is ready to harvest.  Apparently, it takes approximately 10 months to create a better novice!  So, why are we given only 4 weeks to prepare for the coming of Christ?  Maybe that's why we need to repeat the process year after year after year.  One month is simply not enough time.

The season of Advent is unique, because in it we are called to be both incubator and incubatee.  We are called to bring the Christ child more fully into our lives, but at the same time to give ourselves over to God to continue the work begun in the Incarnation.  We at once hold God within ourselves and are asked to become God for all the people of the world.  All this, and we have four weeks to prepare.

What I pray most for this advent season is patience.  Patience to celebrate one season at a time, and not start siging Christmas carols before we're done with Advent hymns.  Patience to be preset in this tme and space, and not always looking forward to the things Ill do when I go home to Texas.  Patience to remove myself from this busy, hectic time and just sit and be with God.  The patience to prepare to celebrate, to wait on God and with God, and not rush the process.  The patience to incubate.

-Kelly 

PS.  Speaking of incubation – say “Hi!” to my first-ever niece AND nephew!!  Anyone got any name suggestions?  Dominic and Catherine have already been ruled out :(.