Theology Quotes: Rosemary Radford Reuther

I'm digging back into the research for my MA thesis. My working title is "Human Trafficking as Social Sin: An Ethic of Resistance." Next week I am going to start writing, but for now I'm finishing up reading on social sin.  One of my sources led me to look back at Rosemary Radford Reuther's classic text, Sexism and God Talk: Toward a Feminist Theology.  She of course is writing (rightly) specifically about the social sin of sexism, but it applies to all "isms" and forms of social sin.

I especially appreciate how she both draws distinctions and makes the connection between individual responsibility and the systemic nature of social sin. Change begins with us, here and now, in our relationships with God, self, and other through our choices and identity as authentic human persons.

Conversation with Jesus

I was remembering a former spiritual director of mine the other day. She was an amazing woman, very insightful,  and an important companion on my own journey. She was also very intense and Christ focused. Often she would ask, with feeling: "Where is Jesus in this? Have you talked to Jesus?"

Today's Gospel story from John reminds me of her. It is the one where Jesus arrives at his friends' house (Mary, Martha,  and Lazarus) after Lazarus has died. In Martha's eyes, Jesus was not there when they needed him. And so she tells him:

   “Lord, if you had been here,
   my brother would not have died.
But even now I know that whatever you ask of God,
   God will give you.”

I love the juxtaposition of her real, human, and heartfelt frustration,  anger, and grief with her belief in and love for Jesus.

She doesn't hide behind false piety. She doesn't break the relationship.  She stays with it and talks to Jesus. She doesn't exactly know how things will work out. But she knows that it is important to bring it all to Jesus.

My spiritual director would have been proud.

Courage, Daughter ...

Picture of woman touching the cloak of Jesus
depicted in catacombs of Rome

Today's Gospel reading (Matthew 9: 18-26) includes the story of the woman with the hemorrhage. While it is a familiar story, when I prayed with it this morning I was struck by the words Jesus speaks to her, this woman who snuck up behind him and dared to touch his cloak: "Courage, daughter! Your faith has saved you."

Courage.
Courage to reach out.
Courage to risk.
Courage to be vulnerable.
Courage to stand out in a crowd.
Courage to believe in the power of God.
Courage to act as a beloved daughter of God.
Courage as a woman.
Courage.

Feast of Mary Magdalene

The Church today celebrates Mary Magdalene, faithful friend and follower of Jesus.  Today's Gospel passage is one that has born much fruit for me over the years, ever since I "re-discovered" Mary Magdalene for the model of faith and love she truly is.

Mary stayed outside the tomb weeping. ... she turned around and saw Jesus there, but did not know it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?” She thought it was the gardener and said to him, “Sir, if you carried him away, tell me where you laid him, and I will take him.” Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni,” which means Teacher. Jesus said to her, “Stop holding on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am going to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord,” and then reported what he told her. (John 20)

Mary's simple response to the Risen Christ - "Rabbouni" - comes back to me often in prayer. She is the "apostle to the apostles." Not only was she the first to encounter the resurrected Jesus, she then immediately went to spread the good news. Of course, as other gospel stories tell us, her news was not necessarily believed. But that's for another post.

I noted above that I "re-discovered" Mary Magadalene. Sadly, tradition and misunderstanding have led many to continue the misconceptions about Mary as a fallen women, prostitute, etc... (even though such conclusions are not born out by Scripture and even if true would not discredit her in any case). I could hazard a guess or two as to where the smear campaign against Mary Magdalene came from, but for now let's just say that the story of this strong woman of faith might have intimated some of those in power.  But again, that is for another post.

What we do know is that she was healed by Jesus, travelled with and followed Jesus, and was faithfully there at the foot of the cross and at his rising.  I too have been healed by Jesus in my own way.  I seek to travel with and follow Jesus as best I can.  I seek to witness to the suffering of our world and to hold fast to the hope of the resurrection.  Who better to have as a spiritual companion than Mary Magdalene?

Sadly, many folks have not yet "re-discovered" the real Mary Magdalene of Scripture and instead are still clouded by the fog of misconceptions.  Today, the feast of Mary Magdalene, is a good feast day for women -- women of the cross and women of the rising. Today is a good day as women to stand at the tomb with Mary and recognize the risen Christ as our teacher and friend.

Peaceful Mother's Day

It is hard to believe that my Mom passed away almost ten years ago.  In addition to being an awesome Mom and a great friend, she inspired me by her love and concern for all God's creatures. In her honor, today I continue my bloggy tradition with this re-post.

How many of you know about the original pre-hallmark meaning of the day? Read Julia Ward Howe's Original Mother's Day Proclamation from 1870. Here's a teaser:

"Arise, then, women of this day! Arise all women who have hearts, whether our baptism be that of water or of fears! ... We women of one country will be too tender of those of another country to allow our sons to be trained to injure theirs. From the bosom of the devastated earth a voice goes up with our own. It says "Disarm, Disarm! The sword of murder is not the balance of justice."

You can also listen to the entire proclamation in this video:


Somehow that meaning has gotten lost over the years.  But it is so very important and needed today in a world where so many families are torn apart by violence.  Domestic Violence.  Street Violence.  Violence of war, poverty and oppression.

So, in the midst of final paper writing, I will be spending some time in prayer this Mother's Day in thanksgiving for my own mother who rests in eternal peace, but also in solidarity and love with mothers in war torn countries and the mothers of those serving in the military. This continues to seem to be the most appropriate way to mark the day.

Margaret Anna Fridays - International Women's Day Edition

Today is International Women's Day. In honor of the day, I thought I'd share something that the founder of my community, Margaret Anna Cusack, wrote in her 1874 book Women's Work in Modern Society:

Give women their rights then, for these rights are justice – justice to men as well as women, for the interests of men and women cannot be separated. Let women have the possession and the control of their property; it is necessary right for the rich as well as for the poor.

On Women's Word & Work ... 50 years later

We've been marking some significant 50 year publication anniversaries of late.  Last September, for example, was the 50th anniversary of the publication of Silent Spring by Rachel Carson. In Silent Spring, Carson reflected on the impact of pesticides on songbirds and asked deeper questions about the impact of humanity's technological power on our natural environment.  She pointed to the "disturbing magnitude" of our power to contaminate air, ground, and water, power which was growing at an alarming speed. Such pollution, she noted, was "for the most part irrecoverable," with chemicals forming part of a "chain of evil" in humanity's "war against nature."  Her powerful and prophetic words sparked the environmental movement.

Yesterday marked the anniversary of the publication of another watershed book, The Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedan.  Friedan also looked at the world around her, specifically the role of women in relation to a patriarchal society.  It is by no means an exaggeration to say that her words helped spark another movement, that of second wave feminism.  I actually had the opportunity to meet Betty Friedan several times, in her later years.  She was my father's across the hall neighbor in his assisted living center in Washington, D.C.  It was an honor and a privilege to meet this woman whose words had had such an impact on society and my own life, opportunities, and perspective as a woman.

You cannot underestimate the power of words and the impact that both Rachel Carson and Betty Friedan have had on how we relate to each other and all of creation.  A friend pointed out to me that even Pope Paul VI met with Betty Friedan, which got me curious.  I searched the New York Times archives, and sure enough, found this little item from the October 15, 1973 edition (when I was just learning to walk).

The Feminist and the Pontiff Have a Short Dialogue 

The women's movement and the Roman Catholic Church have not always shared common ground, but yesterday Pope Paul VI and Betty Friedan, the feminist, met for five minutes in an exchange of medallions, viewpoints, and restrained tributes. 

"The Catholic Church is coming to terms with the personhood of women," Mrs. Friedan said, though she suggested that the Church had a long way to go.  The Pope, she said, told her that the Church was continuing to examine the role of women but would not be making any "radical" changes. 

Mrs. Friedan added that the Pope had expressed his thanks "for the work you have done for women" and presented her with a bronze medal.  In turn, Mrs. Friedan gave the Pope a medallion of the women's liberation movement, featuring the biological symbol for female encircling an equal sign. 

"I got a chance to say all I wanted to say, and I was pleased," said the feminist author.  "But, well, as my protocol aide said, it was the meeting that was the message."

Indeed.  What a meeting that must have been! I wonder if the medallion is somewhere in the Papal archive. I think it is fair to say that the Catholic Church is still examining the role of women.  My experience as a woman in the Church and society is certainly different than that of my mother and grandmother.  In other ways, however, there is still a long way to go to embody the vision of equality that seems so evident to me when I read the Gospels.

We have another 50 year publication anniversary coming up in Pacem in Terris, what many have called the last will and testament of another Pope, John XXIII.  I'd like to end this post with some of his words on the role and dignity of women as one of the things which "characterize the modern age."

...  the part that women are now playing in political life is everywhere evident. This is a development that is perhaps of swifter growth among Christian nations, but it is also happening extensively, if more slowly, among nations that are heirs to different traditions and imbued with a different culture. Women are gaining an increasing awareness of their natural dignity. Far from being content with a purely passive role or allowing themselves to be regarded as a kind of instrument, they are demanding both in domestic and in public life the rights and duties which belong to them as human persons.

And so I pray ... in gratitude for the word, work, and lives of women.  I pray in hope that men and women, made in God's image, may work together to build a world where every person may live a fulfilling life which respects the dignity which belongs to them as children of God.  I pray that we may unlearn patterns of domination, be it against other peoples or God's creation, and instead teach each other to reverence the gift of life in all its manifestations.  Jesus, born of a woman, friend of woman, defender of woman, I pray this in your name.  Amen.

Woman You are Set Free

From the Gospel according to Luke:

Now Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. and just then there appeared a woman with a spirit that had crippled her for eighteen years. She was bent over and was quite unable to stand up straight.

When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said, “Woman, you are set free from your ailment.” When he laid his hands on her, immediately she stood up straight and began praising God.

But the leader of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had cured on the Sabbath, kept saying to the crowd, “There are six days on which work ought to be done; come on those days and be cured, and not on the Sabbath day.”

Jesus answered him and said, “you hypocrites! Does not each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the manger, and lead it away to give it water? and ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham and Sarah whom Satan bound for eighteen long years, be set free from this bondage on the Sabbath day?”

When he said this, all his opponents were put to shame; and the entire crowd was rejoicing at all the wonderful things he was doing.

Today there are many things keeping women bent over--patriarchy, sexual violence, and poverty to name a few. But there are also many signs of hope, women finding their power, men working as allies for gender equity, and communities coming together to set women free and enable them to stand tall.

If you'd like to learn more about the global status of women, check out the Spring issue of A Matter of Spirit (the quarterly justice journal that I edit at the Intercommunity Peace & Justice Center).

In the words of Jesus, "Woman you are set free!"

Margaret Anna Fridays

Every Friday, I’m going to share a quote from the founder of my groovy sisters, Margaret Anna Cusack, known in religion as Mother Francis Clare. This week’s installment …

Give women their rights, then,

For these rights are Justice --

Justice to men as well as to women,

For the interests of men and women

Cannot be separated.

International Women's Day

"Because our founder showed particular concerns for justice toward women, we commit ourselves to be involved in ministries and action which affect the contemporary situation of women in the church and in society." (CSJP Constitution 22)

Today is International Women's Day. In fact, it's the 100th Anniversary of International Women's Day. The upcoming issue of the justice journal I edit is all on the global status of women, so I've been reading lots. We still have a long way to go to real gender equity and an end to violence and discrimination against women. But there are also things to celebrate.

Did you know that this year, the UN formed a new agency dedicated to gender equity and the empowerment of women? As UN Women's Executive Director Michelle Bachelet says, "We are here to serve half the world." Read more at www.unwomen.org.

On the first International Women's Day in 1911, only 2 countries allowed women the right to vote. Now that is essentially a universal right (and one that more women need to exercise!).

But we also know that every 90 seconds a woman dies in child birth or due to complications of pregnancy. One in four women will experience domestic violence in her lifetime, and sexual violence is increasingly used as a "tool" of war. The disturbing stats can go on and on. Rather than list a litany, I'd like to enlist your prayer.

Join me in praying for gender equity and an end to violence against women. May the day soon come when we can say to women and girls who have been oppressed, in the words of Jesus to the woman healed of her 18 year infirmity in the Gospel of Luke, "Woman, you are set free."

So be it.

My Desert Mother

I was lucky enough to spend this past weekend with other younger Sisters (in our 20s & 30s) for prayer, discussion and celebration. Our prayer time together was guided by one of our own, Sister Sarah, a Dubuque Franciscan who is in parish ministry in Texas.

Sarah began our time together by inviting us to reflect on this passage from Hosea:

So I will allure her; I will lead her into the desert and speak to her heart.

She also gifted each of us with a Desert Mother, an Amma who was herself led into the desert to listen to God in her heart. These women are such a rich part of our tradition, although I'll admit to not knowing much about them!

This is an icon of "my desert mother," Synceltica of Alexandria, Egypt. I'm planning to spend some time with her in the coming weeks, getting to know her and asking her to journey with me. Like most of the desert mothers, even though she went into the desert seeking solitude, she was soon surrounded by other women seeking to learn from her! I'm sure she won't mind being a spiritual friend to me. :)

Amma Syncletica was born in the 4th Century to a well-respected Christian family. When her parents died, she distributed her family's wealth to the poor and took her little sister (who was blind) to live with her in her family's tomb outside Alexandria. She began her life as a desert ascetic, but soon women began to gather around her. She reluctantly agreed to serve as their spiritual mentor. She died in her 80s!

Many of her sayings have survived. Here's one that I found online that is definitely worth some thought (and prayer).

There are many who live in the mountains and behave as if they were in the town, and they are wasting their time. It is possible to be a solitary in one's mind while living in a crowd, and it is possible for one who is a solitary to live in the crowd of his own thoughts.

The Weekend

Hello again. As I promised in my Wednesday night post, blogging was certainly light over the weekend! I was super busy doing lots of little things to help make the Women's Convocation go smoothly. I was too close to the details to really tell, but from what I've heard from friends and community members who attended, it was amazing. And, I must say, I certainly picked that up from the buzz of positive energy that filled the Meydenbauer Center on Friday & Saturday.

Imagine ...

1,800 women (and a few good men), gathered under one roof for two days of prayer and celebration and contemplation and dialogue and discussion, with 30+ nationally/internationally known speakers sharing their wisdom (including Cokie Roberts, Meg Wheately, Ivone Gebara, Riane Eisler, John Dear, Edwina Gately, my friend Maria Cimperman, and many more ...).

The theme was "Dawning of a New Story: Radical Hope."

Even though I missed most of the conversation/speakers as I sorted out the logisical stuff, I am still filled with radical hope for our church and our world. The energy, the smiles, the laughter, the tears, the sharing ... together, we are the Church. It's good to have concrete reminders of that from time to time!

And while I was incredibly exhausted in the aftermath of helping things to go smoothly, what a joy to know that in my little ways and with my amazing coworkers and our hundreds of volunteers, I helped to create the space where this happened.

Very cool.

Margaret Anna Fridays

Every Friday, I’m going to share a quote from the founder of my groovy sisters, Margaret Anna Cusack, known in religion as Mother Francis Clare. This week’s installment …

We must then consider the conditions under which humanity exists before we can clearly understand the position of woman. She was created on an intellectual, social and moral equality with man. In the terrestrial paradise we find two perfect souls and two perfect bodies. We find an absolute union of thought, will and purpose. We find life under exactly the same conditions. This was the divine appointment and the divine plan -- "Male and female created He them;" a distinction of sex is the only difference.

Women's Work in Modern Society, 1874

What a difference four years make

Four years ago, I attended an amazing gathering of 2,000 Catholic women and "a few good men" called the Northwest Catholic Women's Convocation. I had just become a pre-candidate with the CSJPs and attended with many of our sisters. It was a heart expanding and hopeful experience with nationally and internationally known speakers. You can read my impressions here.

It's four years later, and now I work for the group that puts this little shinding together. I now have a whole new appreciation for what goes into a two day gathering of 2,000 people. As one of the volunteers said to me yesterday, as we were checking each and every name tag one last time .... "I'll never wear a nametag without thinking of what it took to put it together again."

Tomorrow is our set up day at the convention center. Friday is Day One. Saturday is Day Two. Needless to say, blogging will be very light until this is all over. Lots of little things to take care of to help make sure things go smoothly. We've got a great team working on the event - staff and oodles of volunteers. Looking back at my impressions from the event four years ago, I see that I wrote down this quote from one of the speakers:

"Our actions don’t have to be huge. In fact, we will probably only be effective if we each work on our own little part."

Don't know who said that, but it's fitting , especially as I look forward to three days of little actions that hopefully will help make the event a huge success!

See you all on the flip side!

Peace Out,
Susan

Prayer for Victims of Domestic Violence

I attended mass at a new-to-me parish this morning, where I learned that Nov 25 was the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. Regular blog readers may recall that I spent 3 months working with survivors of domestic violence last spring in Jersey City. My role was to accompany them as they sought orders of protection and restraining orders from the court system. The stories that I heard were heart breaking, and the strength of some of the women in the midst of the violence was inspiring. I think of the women I met often, and I pray for them.

At the end of mass today we prayed a beautiful prayer which I brought home to share with you. I don't know the source of the prayer, but I hope you will join me in praying for the elimination of violence against women.

God of Love and Creator of the universe, there are homes in our world where people live with fear of violence. For these families the home is not a safe place, but a place of danger and pain.

Give them the strength and wisdom they need to conquer arrogance, fear and division.

Give them the grace to solve the conflicts without violence and to establish relationships based on the spirit of love and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ.

God of Mercy, many of us have ignored abused people. Open our hearts to the pain of all who suffer. Help us to reach them with love and understanding.

God of Hope, in you we trust opening our lives to your strength, healing and love. Teach us that peace only comes to our world through the peace we have in our hearts and homes.

Amen

something about Mary

Today is the Feast of Mary Magdalene. Not only that, but today's Gospel reading is one of my all time favorites:

Mary stayed outside the tomb weeping. ... she turned around and saw Jesus there, but did not know it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?” She thought it was the gardener and said to him, “Sir, if you carried him away, tell me where you laid him, and I will take him.” Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni,” which means Teacher. Jesus said to her, “Stop holding on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am going to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord,” and then reported what he told her. (John 20)

Mary's simple response to the Risen Christ - "Rabbouni" - comes back to me often in prayer. She is the "apostle to the apostles." Not only was she the first to encounter the resurrected Jesus, she then immediately went to spread the good news. Of course, as other gospel stories tell us, her news was not necessarily believed. But that's for another post.

Recently someone that I know and admire who has 16 years of Catholic education under her belt asked me if I thought it was true that Mary Magdalene was not a prostitute. She apparently had come to this conclusion not based on spiritual reading or church teaching, but a popular novel. I shared with her that of course Mary was not a prostitute, that no where in Scripture does it tell us that she was. She looked at me incredulously, a I told her that what Scripture does tell us about Mary is that she was the "Apostle to the Apostles." The misconceptions about Mary, the cover up and smear story if you like, only came later. I could conjecture as to why this version of the story was spread, but for now I'll just say that for some reason it seems that those in power were afraid of the power of the real story of this strong woman. Again, that's for another post.

At prayer this morning here at the Novitiate house, we reflected on this quote by our founder, Margaret Anna Cusack:

Women worked not only for the apostles, but with them; they were co-workers; they were fellow-helpers; and... their services [were] equally prominent and equally important.

What struck us was that Margaret Anna says so definitively (in the late 1800's) what we are only now coming to know - the role of women in the early Church. And how did she know this? As a convert from the Protestant tradition, she had grown up reading the Scriptures. And if you read the Scriptures, you read the story of women who stayed with Jesus at the cross. You read the story of women who funded the early church. Even in Scripture stories that come to us through a patriarchal system, you read of the "prominent" role of women. I for one wonder, if this much made it into the official canon, how much more there must be to the story!

Sadly, most of the folks in the pews (of Catholic churches anyway) still have not heard the good news about women. Today, the feast of Mary Magdalene, is a good day to resolve to do something about that!

Anne Frank

Today is the birthday of Anne Frank. If she were alive today, she'd be 79 years old.

You can read the story of Anne Frank here. There's also an interactive monument where you can "leave a leaf" in her tree ...

One of my novice-housemates shared this quote from the teenage Anne Frank during morning prayer today:

I simply can't build up my hopes on a foundation consisting of confusion, misery and death. I see the world gradually being turned into a wilderness; I hear the ever approaching thunder, which will destroy us too; I can feel the sufferings of millions; and yet, if I look up into the heavens, I think that it will become right, that this cruelty will end, and that peace and tranquility will return again. ... I must uphold my ideals, for perhaps the time will come when I shall be able to carry them out.

Powerful.

Trafficking Presentation

We gathered here today at east coast groovy headquarters for Founder's Day. In the morning we had a prayer and presentation centered around human trafficking and in the afternoon a picnic in the hot hot weather. Were Margaret Anna Cusack, our founder, alive today, she would certainly be working on the issue of human trafficking.

The main presentation was given by our Congregation Peace & Justice Coordinator. Another Sister who works with Covenant House shared about her experience working with trafficked young people there. I talked about my spring ministry experience at Catholic Charities. Here's the written version of my talk.

I recently spent three months working with the Human Trafficking Program at Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese Newark. Catholic Charities works with women who have been internationally trafficked into Bergen, Essex, Hudson and Union Counties. People often think that human trafficking is a problem in far off places, but the New Jersey Statewide Human Trafficking Task Force estimates that there are at least 4,000 victims in our state.

Perhaps the most important and life changing part of this ministry experience, , was the simple act of befriending some of the women who have been rescued from situations of human trafficking. They entrusted me with their stories, and I now share some of them with you.

The women I met were from all over the world: Ecuador, Mexico, the Philippines, Togo, and Kenya. They were young and not as young, from their late teens to mid forties.

Each woman I met left situations of poverty in their country seeking a better life for her family. They made the sacrifice to come to America, to work hard and send money home. Some couldn’t write their name. Some had college educations. Some had children and/or husbands back home.

Sadly, they were all tricked by their traffickers. Every story is different, but there are common elements. Force and coercion. Seizure of passports and other documents. Threats of violence and harm to their families back home. Restriction of movement and warnings against trusting strangers or the police.

The women were forced into slavery right here in New Jersey: as nannies, household servants, in hair-braiding salons, and as sex workers.

One thing that I learned from the women, is the daily violence trafficking does to the human spirit – whether or not actual physical violence in involved. Most days they may not have been beaten, but there was always the threat. They were mentally and physically exhausted, being forced to work 15 to 20 hours a day 7 days a week. Some days they might even be home alone, but were more afraid of what unknowns awaited them outside in this strange land.

Traffickers do something more than steal their victims’ freedom. Bit by bit, day by day, they try to take away a little more of what it is that make a human being a human being. They take away joy, laughter, and life so that the women are easier to control and exploit.

All of the women I worked with were emerging from human trafficking situations. By the time I met them, they had already been rescued. In exchange for cooperating in the prosecution of their traffickers, the women are given assistance needed to rebuild their lives here in America. Most cannot return to their home countries – either because of continued threats to their families or the shame of having been trafficked. They are eligible to apply for a “T” Visa which allows them to become residents of this country, work, bring their families over, and eventually become citizens.

In the Newark area, Catholic Charities receives funding from the US Bishops Conference and to provide food shelter and clothing, trauma recovery and mental health services, medical care, job training, English classes and employment counseling to women who have been internationally trafficking into our community.

During my three months at Catholic Charities, I met a number of these strong and brave women and in particular befriended one woman from the Phillipines and one from Ecuador. I was blessed to be able to journey with them on their road to recovery.

Each week, they were a little more themselves. A little less afraid. A little more joyful. A little more free. A little more human.

In the end, they survived. They are reclaiming their hope, their humanity, their very life. They illustrate to me the resiliency and inherent power of the human spirit. Really, they inspire me.

stories

Today was my last day of ministry at the domestic violence program. I was struck by how quickly the past three months have flown by. I was also struck by something quite profound ... how privileged I have been to be entrusted with the stories of the clients I have worked with these three months.

I haven't written much about my ministry here, mostly because it's a challenge to write about the work without writing about the clients, and my concern for confidentiality causes me to use caution. But essentially what I was doing at the domestic violence program was journeying with women (and a few men) as they navigated the restraining order process. We explained the court process to them, gave them information about community and legal resources, and if they requested we could accompany them to the actual trial and sit next to them before the judge. This part of the experience was very powerful - sitting quietly next to the client, offering them my moral support, even though I couldn't say anything. It was an amazing example of the ministry of presence - of being rather than doing.

I've been reflecting on my time with the domestic violence program, and even though I think I have been able to provide some assistance in understanding the legal process and support through court accompaniment, I think the main gift I was able to give was being a listening ear. Upon further reflection though, I realized that this gift goes both ways. While I was there to listen, the clients were there to share their stories with me. Sometimes I'm sure they were tired of sharing their business with strangers. Other times perhaps it was helpful to speak the words to another human being. But in either case, as the receiver it was really a sacred moment.

A few years ago we organized a community conversations program at our parish. The idea was a simple one. Each participant would talk for half an hour with two other parishioners that they did not know. It was a community building exercise, and as one of the organizers we had fun pairing different conversation partners together trying to make for interesting conversations. But really, the magic wasn't in the planning or in what we thought would happen. Rather, the magic was in the sacred moment of two people intentionally sitting down and sharing their stories. Now of course in my ministry situation, I wasn't sharing my story with the clients so it was a bit different. But there was something special there all the same, and I for one feel very blessed.

Tomorrow it's back to my other ministry placement for two more days. Then this spring ministry experience will be officially over. Looking around my room I'm realizing I need to start packing (again!). I am getting a little tired of moving ....

on violence

I know I haven't written much here about my ministry experience. This is mostly out of respect for the women I am working with - it's very challenging to find a way to share the experience while respecting their right to confidentiality. But today was one of those days that inspires me to try.

Months ago when I was asked what type of ministry experience I'd like this spring, I answered that I'd like to work with women because, as our Constitutions say:

Because our founder showed particular concern for justice toward women, we commit ourselves to be involved in ministries and action which affect the contemporary situation of women in the church and in society.

I felt like I needed a direct experience trying to live out this passage of our Constitutions as part of my novitiate experience. And so I find myself on Mondays and Tuesdays working with victims of domestic violence, helping them to navigate the court system as they seek to find some protection for themselves and their children.

First of all let me say I am in awe of these women for finding the strength to claim their own power in confronting the oppressive situation of their daily lives. I am also in awe at the people who commit themselves, day in and day out, to helping them do exactly that.

But I am also frustrated. Frustrated at the continued and pervasive existence of violence in our world. From the violence of armed conflict to "solve" international problems, to the violence on our streets, to the institutional violence of our social/government structures, to violence in families.

I am frustrated at the bureaucratic systems that make it so hard for some of these women to be protected. On the one hand I recognize that the work of domestic violence advocates and legislators in the past has provided more resources and made it easier. At least we have laws that protect people from domestic violence on the books. But on the other hand, particularly when these women have faced such daily terror and harassment, the bureaucratic hoops they have to go through seem to be almost too much.

It's easy perhaps to be overwhelmed by the frustration. It's a temptation I suppose to be numbed by the day-in-day-out reality of these stories of violence. It certainly seems as if many of the women have suffered from this numbing effect in their own lives. And yet, here they are seeking to do what they can to protect themselves. That, in itself, is a source of hope and a reason to be doing what I'm doing. Again, as our Constitutions say:

We value the mutuality that empowers people to share in decisions that affect their lives, and we work in a collaborative way to achieve this. Whatever our ministry, we act on the belief that only in freedom can persons assume responsibility for their lives.

And so I pray. For an end to violence. For an end to unjust structures. And for freedom for all people.