Your
Excellency Bishop Chappetto, Father Jeff, Dear Sisters of the Presentation and
Jubilarians, and dear friends.
I am
delighted to be with you today. As some may know, I was educated by
Presentation Sisters at St. John & Mary in Chappaqua. When I was the Pastor
of Sacred Heart in Highland Falls from1996-2002, I worked together with Sister
Carol, who is being honored today
This
summer, I had the opportunity to journey on the Way of St. Paul in Greece and
Turkey. One stop was in Ephesus, the site of the famous riot of the
silversmiths. But it also has a connection to Mary and St. John. At the foot of
the cross, Jesus said to Mary – Behold, thy son. And to John – Behold, thy
Mother. And from that hour the disciple took her into his care. For a period,
she actually lived with him in Ephesus – called Mary’s House. Years later, in
Ephesus, she received the title Mother of God. Her constant Yes to the Father
teaches us how to be sons and daughters of God.
Today
I am reminded of a wonderful daughter of God - the Venerable Nano Nagle, from the
Nagle Mountains in County Cork. She lived in difficult times. As a child, her
classroom was among the bushes and trees. The Penal Laws were in force, and it
was against the law to educate Catholics. When she reached age 10, her parents
decided to secretly send her to France to get a good education. There, Nano had
a good life. But one day, she was in a carriage with friends. She passed a
group of poor people huddled in the cold waiting for the church to open for
Mass. It would change her life. How would she say Yes to God now?
After
her dad died she returned home and saw the same terrible poverty. Eventually
she would found a small school for poor children – then another. After school,
she did not stop, she would visit the poor, sick and elderly. She became – The Lady
With The Lantern. Her moto was “Not
words but deeds” a constant yes!
Without
any doubt, this can be said to be the motto of the Jubilarians here today:
Sister
Clare Roche, who worked in poor Missions in Houma Louisiana & Henry Street
in NYC
Sister
Mary Lusk, who imitated Nano Nagle’s love for children and taught them.
Sister
Julia Ciccolini, who reached out to those suffering with AIDS
Sister
Ann Daly, who loved to watch her students grow, and now cares for the dying in
Hospice
Sister
Joan Dombrowski, who now works in a Safe House for trafficked women.
Sister
Christine Liegey, who now trains people in the Ministry of Consolation and
volunteers at a funeral home, comforting those who have lost loved ones.
Sister
Dale McDonald, who was President of the Community for 2 terms and taught
countless children and adults.
Sister
Carol Melsopp, who used the Workshop Way to teach God’s special and personal
love for each student.
Sister
Margaret Murphy, who gave her life to teaching children and leading Catholic
schools
Sister
Kathleen Treanor, who also taught countless children and was a dedicated leader
of Catholic schools
Sister
Patricia Morrison who was told recently by a former student – you influenced my
integrity, fairness and sense of justice more than anyone else in the world.
Don’t you agree –
Nano Nagle would be so proud of these her daughters! They are a shining example
to each of us! Daughters of God - Ladies with the Lantern – bearing the light
of Christ to all. They said Yes!
I am reminded of
the writer, John Ruskin. It was back in the days before electricity. Lamps in
town were powered by gas. It was the job of the lamp lighter to light the lamps
each evening.
Well, John Ruskin
was sitting on his porch with a friend. They had a beautiful view of the valley.
As evening came on, the lamplighter appeared. One by one he lit his lamps.
After a while, you could no longer see the lamplighter, only the lights. John Ruskin turned to his friend – "There’s
a good illustration of a Christian. People may never have known him, they may
never have met him, they may never even have seen him, but they know he passed
through their world by the trail of lights he left behind him."
Well, we have been
honored to know them, we have met them, we have seen them, and yes, they have
left a trail of lights!!! God bless you for all you have done and who you are –
Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Ad Multos Annos!
