TO SEE TAKES TIME

Sr. Mary Nancy Vance, SND, Br. Charles and Sr. Mary Bonita Sniegowski, SND, Director of the Adult Literacy Program in their new facility on Canal Street in New Orleans.

On Saturday, April 14^th, we went to a “Newcomers” gathering at the St. Vincent dePaul Adult Literacy Center run by SND's from Toledo, Ohio who also help staff St. Leo Elementary and assist in early childhood literacy programs.

Srs. Margaret Mary Faist, SND and Mary Keefe, OP [Adrian]

The Newcomers are mostly members of religious communities who came to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina.  Unencumbered by established works, or expectations formed by traditional practice or nostalgia, the communities have sought ways to respond to new needs, often on the periphery.  There are also members of long established communities here who, having passed on institutional leadership to new generations of laity, have gone to the margins to respond in new ways.

We are all small communities.  Some of the communities welcome short term volunteers, often from established ministries of the community in other places, who may stay a week or so.  The religious accompany them at meals and with daily prayer and guided reflection, helping them to bring to awareness the Spirit working in their midst during their service. 

Our program has been unique in providing a year-long commitment for a small group who can live with religious and take time to let the experience of community prayer, life and mission develop gradually and in depth.  We feel time is important, for like the artist Georgia O’Keefe [1887-1986] said:  “Nobody sees a flower really; it is so small. We haven't time, and to see takes time - like to have a friend takes time.”

Red Poppy by Georgia O'Keefe

So our program tries to accompany volunteers who, like Edmund Rice, have heard Christ appealing to them in the poor.  And our accompaniment is for an extended period so that when the mission begins to challenge, when compassion fatigue sets in, when frustration with fellow ministers surfaces, the volunteers’ Brothers can be there for them.  

Charles with Sr. Mary Ellen Schroeder, SND, John with Sr. Mary-Louise Wolfington, RSCJ

We Brothers realize, that to be honest in our efforts, we need times for “checking in” with others doing similar work.   The twenty of so who gather for prayer, fellowship and a light lunch at the Newcomers meetings are also seeking to respond to the pleas of those on the margins whose voices are faint with fatigue, or spoken in ways we are not accustomed to hearing.  The support of others on the journey is helpful and necessary to ensure we are not falling into self-pity, self-righteousness, or delusion! 

One interesting note is that the participants bring refreshments.  The Sisters bring lovely table settings, floral napkins, salads and healthy variations on foods we love.  The Brothers bring chips and dips and cookies and cakes—and slide in a fruit tray so we appear to be with it.  The cookies always disappear!

At the close of Saturdays’ gathering, one of us said, “I always wonder why I am going, and then I am so glad I went!”  To see takes time. . .

A reflection:  The Heart Which Sees

The Christian's program —the program of the Good Samaritan, the program of Jesus—is “a heart which sees”.  This heart sees where love is needed and acts accordingly.

Charity, furthermore, cannot be used as a means of engaging in what is nowadays considered proselytism. Love is free. . . .  Those who practice charity in the Church's name will never seek to impose the Church's faith upon others. They realize that a pure and generous love is the best witness to the God in whom we believe and by whom we are driven to love. A Christian knows when it is time to speak of God and when it is better to say nothing and to let love alone speak.  [Pope Bendict XVI, DEUS CARITAS EST]