Inspired by Scholastica

Sisters Mary Benet Obear and Kathleen Egan Two of our sisters went to heaven last week. Sister Kathleen Egan and Sister Mary Benet Obear were both women of deep faith and many gifts. Sister Kathleen was a teacher, librarian, writer, and friend of St. Teresa of Calcutta. Sister Mary Benet was a teacher, nursing home director, and librarian. They were wise and holy women, but most of all they were women for others, especially the needy and vulnerable. They stood up for women's rights, for non-violence, for abolishing the death penalty, and for fair treatment of immigrants. Both sisters had hearts expansive enough to embrace all with compassion and mercy. They were encouragers. women who brought out the talents in others and supported their efforts. Sister Kathleen had a radiant smile and loved to visit with people from all walks of life. No one was insignificant to her. She rejoiced in her students' achievements and worked indefatigably for peace and justice. She read t...

The solar eclipse in Atchison was a little disappointing because of rain and cloud cover, but we did see a sliver of the sun and experienced the darkness as the moon came between the sun and the earth. The people who came seemed to appreciate the presentation by Dr. Aileen O'Donoghue on"Eclipses, Einstein, and the Fabric of our Souls." She explained in understandable language the physics behind the phenomenon with an excellent Powerpoint and emphasized how God was there in every new discovery. People came from California, Texas, New York, Oklahoma and Nebraska to experience the once in a lifetime opportunity. A busload of people from St. Paul's Church in Olathe, Kansas, came with their pastor. I'm sure they will be telling their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren that they witnessed the eclipse on August 21, 2017 in Atchison. Liliana Parra, who came with her husband and three young children, said that she had mixed emotions --feelings of aloneness ...

The synagogue leaders shunned me, deemed me demon-possessed. Stooped in body, crushed in spirit. I hobbled to the synagogue, hidden, eyes riveted to the dusty walkway.  Then Jesus called me;  hesitant, I shuffled toward him,  perplexed and fearful, unable to lift my head. Jesus touched me and I felt my body straighten, my eyes lifted to see his face, joy flooded my soul. I could stand up after eighteen years of being horizontal  to the ground, amazing the crowd. Jesus called me a daughter of Abraham, making me part of the family of Israel . Jesus defied Jewish law by speaking to me, a woman in public, touching me, curing me on the Sabbath. He stood up for me and for all those bent over by injustice, hatred, fear or sickness, for when one is crushed, all are laid low and diminished; when one is raised up, all have dignity and worth.

Last Sunday we celebrated the golden jubilee of four sisters at Mount St. Scholastica in Atchison, Kansas. It was a beautiful celebration of four amazing women who in 1967, in the midst of Vietnam War protests, Beatlemania, race riots, and mini skirts, heard God's call and responded wholeheartedly. They were part of the generation of Baby Boomers who forged new trails and demanded new freedoms. They did not know what lay ahead, but they entrusted their lives to God, knowing he would not be outdone in generosity. There were three other women who made their profession of vows that day, but were called home before they could celebrate this day. They surely celebrated with them in heaven. In her homily, Sister Esther Fangman, our prioress, commented that we celebrate not so much their ministerial contributions which are many, but their 200 years of praying morning and evening for the People of God. Combined, that makes 146,000 times of public prayer over their 50 years, not countin...