Presente: On the 25th Anniversary of the UCA Martyrs

November 16, 2014: Today marks 25 years since the massacre of the martyrs at the UCA.

It is also a day marked by remembrance and action in the Ignatian Family.  6 years ago, at the Ignatian Family Teach-in in Fort Benning, Georgia, I delivered a talk on how this event in a different country years ago still has an important connection to us today.  I thought I would share it in this forum today, as a way of marking this anniversary.

"Vocations for Justice"

“You’re Catholic and you’re a woman?”

 “You know it.”

“And you’re preparing for ministry in the Church?”

“Precisely.”

I cannot tell you the number of times I have had this conversation.  Everyone from the stranger next to me on the airplane to my mother has asked me these questions.  Sometimes I wonder if they think that I somehow didn’t notice that I was a woman. 

Now I realize that lay ministry in the Church isn’t something with which everyone is familiar.  I know that the fact that I am in a Masters of Divinity program yet not preparing to be a pastor is confusing.  I am also acutely aware that given current Church practice, women cannot be ordained to the priesthood.

But I’m also aware of something more.

I’m aware that God continues to call.  And I’m aware that God does not limit his or her calls.

I’m aware that I am here, that you are here, because God calls us to be here.

I’m aware that in this room, God is calling each and everyone of us to something unique, to be a fire that kindles other fires.

And if we listen, truly listen, we can hear God stirring in our midst at this very moment.

Now, you might be asking yourself, how on earth does this lady know that God is working in me?

Well, first of all, a call isn’t necessarily the booming voice of God telling us what to do.

I know that God is calling you because I’ve seen it.

I saw in yesterday in the students who spoke about their experience in El Salvador.  I saw it this morning in sleep deprived people piling out of the hotel into this room. 

And I’ve seen it in my own life.

I have been called to study theology at the wonderful Jesuit School of Theology at Berkeley.  And let me tell you, if you would have asked me 5 years ago if I thought I’d end up at a theology school, I would have told you that I had no idea what that was.  Throughout my studies, I’ve continually asked myself exactly what it means to be a female lay minister in the Church.

It means collaboration with my Jesuit brothers who are preparing for ordination.

It also means being told that I do not work as hard or am not as important as priests.  It means coping with this rejection.

But if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that far outweighing the struggles are the joys. 

Preaching at a Eucharistic celebration is an exhilarating experience. 

Sharing conversations about why we traveled all the way down to Georgia and feeling the presence of God in our midst continues to give me chills. 

And being here with the Ignatian Family continues to be one of the most inspiring experiences I could imagine.

As we gather together, we talk a lot about people who have gone before us. 

Well, I’ve got news for you. 

Women who inspire me, women like, Ita, Dorothy, Jean and Maura. 

They were called to vocations of justice, and so are we. 

Ignacio, Segundo, Elba, Celina, Amando, Nacho, Joaquin and Juan were called to vocations of justice, and so are we.

God is an equal opportunity recruiter--- and calls all of us, regardless of whether we think we are good enough or holy enough or even want to hear it. 

It may not be a call like we expect, but I guarantee the One who called Mary and Jeremiah and Peter is stirring in you in a way that only you can recognize.

God continues to call each and every one of us.  Men and women.  Lay and ordained.  All ages.  All nationalities.  All types.

God is calling each and everyone of us to something unique.

God is calling each of us to be a fire that kindles other fires.

God is calling you to be a fire that kindles other fires

You Know You’re in the Ignatian Family When…

The Jesuit Post recently ran an article “You Know You’re a Jesuit When…” by the always wonderful Fr. James Martin.  I thought it would be hilarious to expand this to all of us who live in the Jesuit world (and thereby use words like “informatio” on a regular basis), yet clearly are not Jesuits. 

I present to you, “You Know You’re in the Ignatian Family When…”

1. Your favorite pastime is the “Name all the Jesuit Colleges and Universities” game.  You even have a strategy that you argue is best, i.e.: Start with the Loyolas, go west to east.  And, you pride yourself on the fact that when you name “LeMoyne,” everyone else looks at you in astonishment.

2. James Martin and Jon Sobrino constitute “Jesuit Royalty” in your eyes, and you probably have an embarrassing story about freaking out when you met them.

3.  At some point, your email signature has been “Go forth and set the world on fire,” “Fall in love, stay in love, and it will decide everything” or a Hopkins quote.

4. Even though it is overused, you still tear up every time you hear Pedro Arrupe’s prayer, “On the Love of God.” And you have it posted in your house somewhere. And probably include it in at least 85% of the talks that you give.

5. You also know the “secret” access code to the majority of Jesuit residences.  But, you have good enough boundaries not to use them.

6. You have a favorite Jesuit residence, a favorite item on the menu, and a favorite place to sit during social.

7. You wish that you had a cloth napkin at the Jesuit Residence that you frequent the most.

8. November 16, the Feast of the UCA Martyrs, is a solemn day for you.  You mark it in a variety of ways: prayer, liturgy and of course, a facebook post.

Because why wouldn't you have a picture with Father General?

9.  When you mention that you went on a silent retreat to someone not in the Ignatian family, they look at you like you have 3 heads.  When you mention that you really want to do a 30-day silent retreat, they have no way to process what you are talking about.  You hope that one day you’ll have a break in your work schedule that will allow you to complete the exercises.  Also, when you hear “the exercises,” you think of Ignatius, not Richard Simmons.

10. You get irrationally upset when people think that Notre Dame is a Jesuit school.

11. Words like solidarity, consolation, desolation and indifference are commonplace in your lexicon.  It’s not unheard of for you to call a friend and say, “Let’s grab a drink.  I’m experiencing some desolation today.” (via Katie Bignell).

12. There are four letters that guide your life: AMDG. 

Struggles with Solidarity

Solidarity.
It is a tenet of Catholic Social Teaching that calls us to be connected to people throughout the world, especially those suffering.

For me, there are few words more powerful, yet also few words more cliché.

When I was in college, we threw around this word for everything. If I’m being honest, I’ll admit that when we wanted to make something sound good, we just threw in the word “solidarity” and knew that the inclusion of this buzzword would get us whatever we wanted- whether it was funding for a spring break trip or approval for any number of activities.

In Paul’s Letter to the Colossians, I am struck by his description of community, for it is really a description of solidarity. Listen to this:

For I want you to know how great a struggle I am having for you
and for those in Laodicea
and all who have not seen me face to face,
that their hearts may be encouraged
as they are brought together in love,

I mean, it is practically a definition of solidarity.

When I hear this passage, immediately a question comes to my mind,

“Am I struggling for anyone who I have not seen face to face?”
or, asked in another way,
“Am I in solidarity with anyone?”

And the answer to this is hard for me to admit:
If I’m being generous, then I’ll respond “not as much as I should.”
But if I’m being honest, the actual answer is “no”

And here’s how I know at my core, that the actual answer is no:
Immediately, as soon as I ask myself “am I in solidarity with anyone,” people jump to my mind, people who I know God is calling me to be in solidarity with. I know this is from God, because it is so close to my heart. I don’t even have to search my mind for it: as soon as I ask myself this question, the people of Syria are on my heart and mind.

Life has been crazy for me recently. The months of August and September in Student Affairs are so busy that it's hard to keep up with daily activities, let alone look at big world issues.

But this busy lifestyle, well, it’s only an excuse for not living a life of solidarity. We put our time to what we value, and I have not prioritized solidarity as something worthy of my time or energy.

So, why am I making this public confession?
It’s not because I want to feel sorry for myself, or beat myself up
Rather, I’m going out on a limb and thinking that some of you might struggle with this too.

Balancing all of the demands that come with life in a college is difficult as it is. Opening up the question of solidarity can be overwhelming. I mean, there are so many issues in the world, so many people suffering, how do we even begin to care for others? It seems impossible, right?

But, here’s what I know:
God does not call us to do everything.
That does not mean that we are off the hook.
God calls us to do something, and to do that well.

And here’s where solidarity comes in:
God calls us to do this with one another, but also importantly, for one another.

Solidarity is realizing that my struggles are not the only struggles in the world.
It is recognizing that there is a connection between myself and people in Syria who I have never met and likely will never meet.

And this connection is God.

Our call in this is to listen to God in our lives:
Where is God calling you?
With whom is God calling you?
For whom is God calling you?

While I cannot say for certain what God is calling you to do, there are two things of which I am sure
1) God is in fact working in your life
2) This call is communal, that is, God is calling you through other people and FOR other people

This call to solidarity does not mean that I need to quit my job and move to Syria. In fact, that’s probably a bad idea all around.

But here’s what it does mean:
I need to listen to God in my life
I need to respond to God in my life
I need to be aware of the struggles of others and ensure that they are not alone.
And finally, I need to act.

And that is the beauty of our God:
Through Jesus, we are united with others.
Through prayer, we ensure this community.
Just as Paul was joined with others in the early days of our Church, here we are, 2000 years later, called to do the same.

My prayer for all of us is that we can form a community, a local community, wherever you are, that is in solidarity with those throughout the world. And as we do this, may we avoid the trite meaning of the word, but instead focus on the call from Paul to the Colossians:
How can we be with those struggling throughout the world?

While I may not be certain of the answer, I am certain that God is calling us to be with one another- in solidarity.

This reflection is adapted from a Gospel Reflection delivered on September 9, 2013 at Lucernarium night prayer on Col 1:24-2:3

Paula Deen: Reasons It Impact ALL of us

Clearly, Paula Deen has been making quite a bit of news recently.  The setting is a lawsuit:  waiter Lisa Jackson is suing Deen and her brother Earl "Bubba" Hiers for  exposing Jackson to “violent, sexist, and racist behavior” while working in their restaurants.

While reading about the lawsuit, everything seemed to be business as usual.  Until I got to this point:

In the complaint, Jackson is described as a “white female.” However the complaint noted she has biracial nieces, so “derogatory remarks regarding African Americans are even more personally offensive to Ms. Jackson than they would be to another white citizen.”

Um, I'm sorry, what was that?  Was that an implication that a white citizen without biracial family would not be offended by behavior such as making African Americans use separate bathrooms and entrances?

And let's be clear: that was stated factually, as though it is an agreed upon fact in our society that white people will not be offended (or, if I'm being generous, as offended) by racist behavior as minorities.

The attorney had to make the point that the white waiter had a personal investment in this discriminatory environment.  Or else- what?  Would the case be thrown out?  The implication is that this behavior is only offensive to those who are being targeted by the discrimination.

This has to change.

As human beings, we should all be offended by this.  Any discrimination, whether in practice or in thought, is an attack on human dignity that should outrage all of us.  To say that just those who are Black should be offended by Deen's statements continues discrimination.   And maybe it even makes it worse.

Using language of faith, this line of reasoning is not just divisive, it is actually an injury to the Body of Christ.  Faith calls us to a community of solidarity.  It does not mean that as a white female I have experienced this discrimination in the same way that someone who is the target of such discrimination has.  It is ludicrous to think that I could will myself into experiencing this on the basis of "standing in solidarity" with others.  What it does mean is that I recognize that an attack against someone else is also an attack against me.  It means that I do not sit idly by when this happens.  And it means that I speak and act when this happens.

Racism is real.  It is not a thing of the past.  And maybe more importantly: racism impact us all.