Sister Carmelita Latiolais, SEC
Concentric Circles of Life
Life has been described as a series of concentric circles. I have experienced the truth of that numerous times. I am always surprised to find myself dealing with the same issues over and over again. I can only hope there is deeper growth and healing each time I go around a particular circle.
A few days ago I had the opportunity to talk about developing our spiritual life to RCIA candidates and catechumens who are preparing to enter the church at Easter. For the presentation, I decided to draw on the resources that opened my eyes earlier in my spiritual life. As I was reflecting on various concepts and looking at books helpful to me in the past, I realized how true these 'old' ideas still are.
Thirty plus years ago I read Henri Nouwen’s 1975 book Reaching Out in which he describes three movements of the spiritual life. The first is from loneliness to solitude. No matter how many people are around, I can still feel alone and lonely. Solitude is being centered in life, content in experiencing life as it is occurring. There is limited solitude in our ‘connected’ world and thus a tremendous amount of loneliness. We are in a ‘human race’ of TVs, Computers, iPhones, Facebook, Twitter etc. Choosing solitude is a daily experience of realizing my communion with God and others. This first movement of the spiritual life is an ongoing challenge in a distracting world. It seems counter-intuitive, yet when I experience loneliness, I need to spend time cultivating solitude and not lapsing into distracting myself. Thirty plus years and I am still dealing with this race.
The second movement is from hostility to hospitality. Nouwen relates how we view others as being hostile to us. He suggests we move from hostility to being a host to others. It is a challenge to be hospitable in all aspects of our life. How many of us can be tolerant of the thoughts and opinions of others? Nouwen suggests that the host become poor in mind and
Winter 2013
poor in heart. Being poor in mind will allow me to be tolerant of the thoughts and opinions of
others. By emptying my mind of presuppositions, I will be able to receive the gift of the guest by being fully engaged in the guest’s world. Poor in heart refers to being willing to put aside the feelings that naturally come up, and feeling what the guest is feeling. I had a conversation with a heavily tattooed young woman who shared her ambition to be a tattoo artist. She had a lovely spirit and felt called to her art. I was able to feel her enthusiasm for something I had never considered as art.
The third movement is from illusion to prayer. Nouwen believes that most people live their lives in an illusion of immortality. We proceed as if this world will not end for us. Last week I had an interesting experience with a physician specialist who suggested I come in for testing every 5 years. In closing he said “I guess I will see you two or three more times.” I don’t know if he was expecting me to live only 10 or 15 more years or if he was talking about his work life. I am not promised 10 or 15 more days or years and yet I live with the illusion that there is plenty of time. Another way to phrase Nouwen’s thought is that we move from illusion to Truth. What is the truth I am avoiding by clinging to illusion?
Another ‘old friend’ of my spiritual life is Teilhard de Chardin. Teilhard was a visionary French Jesuit and paleontologist. He spent his life trying to integrate religious experience with theories of evolution. He became enthralled with the possibilities for humankind, which he saw as heading for an exciting convergence of systems, an "Omega point" where the coalescence of consciousness will lead us to a new state of peace and planetary unity. Hopefully by continuing to move through the circles of life, we can all head to the Omega Point. “By means of all created things, without exception, the divine assails us, penetrates us, and molds us. We imagined it as distant and inaccessible, when in fact we live steeped in its burning layers” ― Pierre Teilhard de Chardin
“I mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an enemy. Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.” –Martin Luther King, Jr.
Remembering SEC Associate
Greta Margaret Gauthier Desselles
March 16, 1933 – October 24, 2012
Greta was the first born of five siblings to Della Ducote and Lamar Gauthier. She grew up on a cotton farm in Mansura, LA,and yes she picked cotton and fed the chickens and did all the chores needed on a farm. Greta loved to sing and sang the “Ave Maria” solo at her high school graduation. After graduation she moved to New Orleansand worked for the Telephone Co.for a few years. She married her best-friend from Mansura, Harvey Desselles. They were married for 60 years. From that marriage came four sons and nine grandchildren. Greta continued her education at the local Community College, taking courses she enjoyed. Her interest in reading was psychology, and modern medicine! Greta sang with the Church Choir, at Our Lady of Prompt Succor in Chalmette. She felt her
singing was a prayer to GOD, and loved how it made her feel. And with all to keep her busy, she always found time for family and friends.
She will be greatly missed.
Greta was commissioned as an SEC Associate on July 27, 2009.
Sept 24 Beginning the last Monday in September and the five consecutive Mondays Sister Jeannette hosted a Bereavement Support Group. These Bereavement sessions take place three to four times a year. You do not have to be a Catholic, there is no time limit as to when the person(s) died and there is no cost…all are welcome.
There is no easy way around the pain of losing a loved one. Grief has no rules and no timetables. Understanding the grieving process can soothe the doubts that linger. Learn about the “surprises” of grief and the emotions that affect you physically, mentally, and spiritually.
The next Bereavement Support Group will begin on Monday, February 18th and will be held in the Ave Maria Hall across from the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Lake Charles.
Sept. 28 SEC gathered in Lafayette for their fall meeting. At this time Sister Carm was unanimously elected to begin her second term as President of the Community. We are all so grateful and happy she accepted this ministry.
February 6 Sr. Doris, Celeste and Carm and our associate Mrs. Ouida Robert attended the annual Lafayette Serra Club dinner for sisters. The event brought together many friends, old and new, who are encouraging and supporting vocations to the religious and priestly life.
Sister Celeste Larroque, SEC
When I was in high school I was lucky enough to live in a time when the universal effects of Vatican II were making their presence known in the smallest corners of my hometown. Our local church and school leaders were entrusted with the mission of opening our eyes and hearts to the spiritual wisdom of ages past and how that made us into a full-fledged people of God in the present. Being a baptized Christian meant we had an authentic filial relationship with the Holy Trinity. It was definitely a rebirth of the Holy Spirit within the Church.
The wisdom of Pope John XXIII and company was that they recognized that more than a millennium of politics, economy, science, war and peace had made an indelible mark upon the identity of the Church. Thus, it was incumbent upon modern Church leaders to teach us how to embrace our past with understanding in order that we move into the future with an abiding sense of being led by the Holy Spirit. To do this, our leaders invited us into a more experiential journey of faith and devotion.
One of the most refreshing movements within the Church at that time was the revitalizing of Lent and Easter. Like so many other reforms of Vatican II, the people of God were simply asked to glance back at the history and theology of the original rituals and practices of these great seasons. They were invited to recapture in their hearts the first sadness at the foot of the cross, the stirring darkness of the empty tomb, and the indescribable joy of seeing a friend once thought dead.
One tiny but significant impression that I recall at that time was when our religion teacher asked us what we were giving up for Lent. The usual suspects were rounded up: chocolate, TV, movies, soft drinks, etc. Then she asked: what are you going to DO for Lent? This sort of took us aback as we were used to giving up things, not doing things outside of the usual going to daily mass, cleaning my room, etc. She handed out a small card that had a Lenten prayer on the front. On the back was a list entitled “Things to do for Lent.” It was a list of everyday events that normally would be overlooked to the bored teenager or the busy parent. It was things like, sit quietly for three minutes, watch clothes on the clothesline flap in the March winds, write a note to a friend, call your grandmother, walk with your little sister to the bus stop, be the first to volunteer, make your father smile. (Ok, some of these could be admittedly a little fluffy, but it was the 60’s)! But the challenge was to take into consideration those things that are not usually noticed. Sometimes, when you take notice you are spurred on to action or maybe simply into gratitude. Are we just observing life, or do we take part in its movement and trust where we are being led in faith?
Our everyday experiences are what make our life real. Life is not reality TV; it is not “social networking” via the internet. Life is what we encounter everyday and how we respond to those encounters. The internet cannot enable you to wonder at your mother’s certainty that the white sheets flapping in the daytime breeze will become the soft protectors of her family’s dreams at night. And maybe such a meditation will lead to our readiness to the light of the Easter Vigil as it reveals the white shroud left at the empty tomb, or reflects off the brilliance of the neophyte’s baptismal gown. As you were comforted by sheets on the clothesline, you also find your soul wrapped in a vibrant cloth of hope for life beyond life. So, I ask: What are you going to DO for Lent?
Feb. The “Year of Faith” is truly being celebrated in the Diocese of Shreveport. Sr. Ann Middlebrooks, SEC, and SECA Sr. Carol Shively, OSU are participating in a wonderful Lenten experience, Living the Eucharist. The Diocese of Shreveport is engaging in this new, parish-based program designed to help revitalize parish life and spirituality through a more profound experience of Sunday Mass. Why during Lent? Living the Eucharist explains that throughout the season of Lent, the liturgy sets the tone of our Lenten observance. Because it is the public prayer of the Church, the liturgy is our primary way of sharing this time with our brothers and sisters in Christ. We may also share common activities, devotions, and prayer outside of the liturgy. Yet the liturgy remains the center, from which everything flows and to which everything returns.
Feb. During Lent and following at the Immaculate Conception Cathedral in Lake Charles the “Catholicism Adult” study program will be presented. This program is a thematic presentation of what Catholics believe and why. Msgr Jace Eskind and Sister Jeannette will facilitate the sessions.
Book of Interest
In the Shadow of the Banyan: A Novel by Vaddey Ratner
In the Shadow of the Banyan is a fictionalized work that parallels author Vaddey Ratner's personal history: a (minor) royal family of privilege and education is driven from Phnom Penh during the Khmer Rouge revolution. It is told from the perspective of seven-year-old Raami. The novel follows her family through years of toil and labor in the countryside of Cambodia, through monsoons, sickness, and famine. Ratner does an amazing job of illustrating both the horror of the genocide and the power of hope.
Saturday, April 13, 2013
Annual “Day of Prayer”
Our Lady of Good Counsel – Lake Charles, LA
Saturday, June 22, 2013 SEC Associate Assembly – Our Lady Help of Christians - Jennings, LA
More information will follow --