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The Gift of Belonging to a Community
Fri, Jun 26 2009 10:33
Recently, one of our sisters, S. Bernard Ann, went to God. A custom in our community is to allow anyone who wishes to share memories, reflections, stories, etc. about that sister at a prayer service. As I listened one of our sisters share a story, I thought of a song ... Standing on the Shoulders by Joyce Rouse.
She told of her experience as a young sister and first-year teacher at the school where S. Bernard Ann was principal. The story took place in the early 1950s in a school outside of Washington, DC. It was before civil rights; the sisters taught in this school that served only African American children. The remarkable story happened on a field trip to the capitol.
To the sister's amazement, S. Bernard Ann had carefully arranged the timing and details of the trip. When it was time for lunch the children ate in the government cafeteria. Had she not planned for this, they would not have been allowed to eat in any restaurant. Then, on the trip home they had a detour - a stop to visit a convent. The sister telling the story questioned why a bunch of kids would want to see a convent! What benefit would there be in stopping, what was the point? It quickly became clear - bathrooms. The children would not have been able to use public restrooms... so the visit to the convent had an ulterior motive!
S. Bernard Ann was concerned with making sure her students had a trip in which they had the same opportunity as any other children going on a field trip. She wanted them to have a smooth day; a day filled with learning... not uncomfortable situations or bad feelings. At the time, S. Bernard Ann may not have given much thought to the significance of her planning. It may have been just another way to meet the needs of the students of her school - nothing out of the ordinary for her. As I listened, I wondered if any of the students on that field trip ever realized and appreciated her efforts. What would the trip have been like had she not bothered to consider their needs?
To those sitting in church, listening to the story, it may have seemed like a small act of kindness or something everyone did in those days. To me it was more than that. It brought to mind the words in the song: ...I am standing on the shoulders of the ones that came before me... I am grateful for their vision and their toiling on this earth...we know by their efforts, things will be better in the end... I imagine our world if they hadn't tried, we wouldn't be so very blessed today...
Long before we claimed justice as a congregational value, our sisters were doing it. We have many of them to thank for their vision and courage. We would not be at the place we are today had it not been for sisters like S. Bernard Ann and many, many others - paving the way by doing what was right, loving, just and, at times, unpopular.
I've only been back at the Motherhouse for six months after living away for eighteen years. One of the greatest blessings I have experienced in this short time is being able to hear the stories that make up who we are today. In some ways it is overwhelming to think about being part of this congregation. I get to be a small part of this wonderful legacy of charity that has been passed on from countless generations. This legacy is a privileged place - full of hidden surprises, blessings and wisdom. As it says in the song, I hope I become "stronger for their courage" and "wiser for their words".
She told of her experience as a young sister and first-year teacher at the school where S. Bernard Ann was principal. The story took place in the early 1950s in a school outside of Washington, DC. It was before civil rights; the sisters taught in this school that served only African American children. The remarkable story happened on a field trip to the capitol.
To the sister's amazement, S. Bernard Ann had carefully arranged the timing and details of the trip. When it was time for lunch the children ate in the government cafeteria. Had she not planned for this, they would not have been allowed to eat in any restaurant. Then, on the trip home they had a detour - a stop to visit a convent. The sister telling the story questioned why a bunch of kids would want to see a convent! What benefit would there be in stopping, what was the point? It quickly became clear - bathrooms. The children would not have been able to use public restrooms... so the visit to the convent had an ulterior motive!
S. Bernard Ann was concerned with making sure her students had a trip in which they had the same opportunity as any other children going on a field trip. She wanted them to have a smooth day; a day filled with learning... not uncomfortable situations or bad feelings. At the time, S. Bernard Ann may not have given much thought to the significance of her planning. It may have been just another way to meet the needs of the students of her school - nothing out of the ordinary for her. As I listened, I wondered if any of the students on that field trip ever realized and appreciated her efforts. What would the trip have been like had she not bothered to consider their needs?
To those sitting in church, listening to the story, it may have seemed like a small act of kindness or something everyone did in those days. To me it was more than that. It brought to mind the words in the song: ...I am standing on the shoulders of the ones that came before me... I am grateful for their vision and their toiling on this earth...we know by their efforts, things will be better in the end... I imagine our world if they hadn't tried, we wouldn't be so very blessed today...
Long before we claimed justice as a congregational value, our sisters were doing it. We have many of them to thank for their vision and courage. We would not be at the place we are today had it not been for sisters like S. Bernard Ann and many, many others - paving the way by doing what was right, loving, just and, at times, unpopular.
I've only been back at the Motherhouse for six months after living away for eighteen years. One of the greatest blessings I have experienced in this short time is being able to hear the stories that make up who we are today. In some ways it is overwhelming to think about being part of this congregation. I get to be a small part of this wonderful legacy of charity that has been passed on from countless generations. This legacy is a privileged place - full of hidden surprises, blessings and wisdom. As it says in the song, I hope I become "stronger for their courage" and "wiser for their words".
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