2 • ThE PiloT • SEPTEMBER 26, 2014As the Delegate for Religious, the most frequently asked question that I hear is:Is God still calling women to be Sisters? Often the ques-tion comes from some-one who feels the call to religious life and is not receiving much encour-agement. Conversations about vocation and God’s plan tend not to be commonplace. A life dedicated to the service of the Church may seem irrelevant or unexciting in our career-oriented culture. My response to this question is always an unqualified yes. God continues to call women to be Sisters and the life of a Sister is meaning-ful and filled with many blessings. I think we are all familiar with Jesus’ response to the question about the greatest commandment: “You shall love the Lord your God with your whole heart, with your whole soul, and with all your mind. The second is like it. You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” (Matthew 22: 34-38). Sisters dedicate their lives to these two commandments through fervent prayer and loving ser-vice. They strive to imitate the actions of Jesus during his public ministry wherein he demonstrates the compas-sion of God by caring for the sick, wel-coming the stranger, and reaching out to those in need.Where are Sisters? They are every-where. They are in schools, hospitals, nursing homes, prisons, parishes, adult education and after-school programs, immigration centers and literacy pro-grams. Wherever people need care and assistance, Sisters tend to be there. Sis-ters pay careful attention to Jesus words: “go out into the deep and lower your nets for catch.” (Luke 5)What do Sisters do? They are teach-ers, administrators, lawyers, doctors, nurses, pastoral associates, directors of religious education and canon lawyers. The list of positions and job titles is extensive. Responsibilities are many and varied.Why are there so many religious communities? Communities of Sisters were founded at different times and in different locations throughout the world as a response to specific pastoral needs. Some communities were founded many years ago. Others have been founded more recently. The Ursuline Sisters came to Boston in 1816 to teach immi-grant children. In the 206-year history of the Archdiocese of Boston, Sisters have come to serve as Jesus would serve. The charism (the reason that the com-munity was founded) , usually rooted in one of the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy, is the compass that guides the direction of the community and enables it to respond generously to emerging pastoral needs. In the early days the Sisters came to Boston to teach, to care for the sick in hospitals and nursing homes and to care for children whose par-ents were not able to do so. In 2014, pasto-ral needs include out-reach to new peoples, the homeless and vic-tims of human traf-ficking.What is the dif-ference between and active and contem-plative Sisters? Con-templative Sisters live a life of enclosure. A large part of their day is spent in prayer for the intentions of the Archdiocese, the Universal Church and the special intentions that people bring to them. Sisters who live the active life also pray for these same intentions and devote the greater portion of their day to activities related to their specific ministries.What are the Vows and why are they important? Sisters profess vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. Reli-gious vows proclaim that there is more to life than individualism, materialism and success. Only God can totally sat-isfy the deepest longings of our hearts.Are Sisters ever bored? Not usu-ally…for there is too much to do and to pray for. Pope Francis has called on men and women living the consecrated life to “Wake up the world.” In the Apos-tolic Exhortation, The Joy of the Gospel (‘‘Evangelii Gaudium’’), Pope Francis reminds us of the importance of self-giving love. Sisters give joyful witness in their sharing of God’s love and concern with others. The articles that follow in this Supplement confirm that a life lived for God is a rich blessing. Do you have a heart that desires something great? Do you wish to move away from the culture of the temporary and live a life that is focused on Christ? If so, pray about the vocation of Sister.How can I know more? Come and see. There are numerous ways to meet Sisters in the Archdiocese of Boston and beyond. Fiat is a discernment group for single women considering a vocation to religious life in the Catholic Church. Join us on the last Wednesday of the month at Our Lady Help of Christians Church in Newton. For more infor-mation, go to www.facebook.com/Fiat-ForDiscerningWomen.SiSter Marian Batho, CSJ iS the Delegate for religiouS of the arChDioCeSe of BoSton.The vocation of Sister….Is God still calling?By Sister Marian Batho, CSJWherever people need care and assistance, Sisters tend to be there. Sisters pay careful attention to Jesus words: ‘go out into the deep and lower your nets for catch.’ (Luke 5)
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