| January 4th, 2007
Feast of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
Eucharistic Celebration
Feast of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
January 4, 2007
Homily by
Archbishop Patrick C. Pinder, S.T.D.
in gratitude to the Sisters of Charity from Mount St. Vincent, New York
Readings: I John 3:7-10
[Ps. 98]
John 1:35-42
Beloved,
We are gathered in faith for a happy purpose this evening. As we turn our attention to the table of God’s word, the message comes first from the First Letter of St. John. This is what it says,
“…let no one deceive you. The person who acts in righteousness is righteous, just as [God] is righteous.”(I John 3:7)
In the biblical context righteousness has a range of meanings. Included among these is the idea of Justice. Justice speaks of relationships – right relationships. That is right relationships between ourselves and God, between ourselves and others and lest we forget, that right relationship within our own hearts. Indeed, our hearts can be divided such that we know the good yet pursue its opposite. It is a contradiction well identified by Paul to the Romans in the words, “The willing is ready at hand but doing the good is not. For I do not the good I want, but the evil I do not want.” (Romans 7:18-19)
Yes, righteousness, justice, speaks of the right relationship between ourselves and God and ourselves and others. No wonder that Jesus declares the greatest commandment to be that we should love God and love our neighbour as ourselves.
Talk of love takes on a particular significance as we gather on this Feast of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton and as we recall with gratitude the wonderful work her sisters have done and continue to do among us.
Focusing once again on the Word of God proclaimed for us on this occasion, we find before us a Gospel which describes an encounter. Andrew informs his brother Simon that the Messiah (Christ) has been found. He brings Simon to meet Jesus.
When they meet, Jesus looks at Simon and says, “You will be called Cephas” which translated is Peter which we know means Rock. This encounter between Jesus and Simon, now called Peter, has had a profound effect through the ages from that day to this. But the first chapter of the Gospel of John also mentions another mighty encounter.
It says, “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. (John 1:1)
Then it goes on …
“And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. …full of grace and truth. From his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace.”(John 1:14-16)
So then, God who is infinitely distant from us drew intimately close to us. So close as to share our nature, to share our world, to share our condition. And in turn, to give us a share in his divine life. Because of this encounter we each have a dignity which no one can measure and which no one can take away. We have a destiny which is nothing short of Salvation. Such is the point of the Christmas Narrative.
Tonight, we gather because of still another encounter. It began here in Nassau on October 28, 1889. It was the arrival of the first group of Sisters of Charity from New York.
Today, January 4, is reserved on the Liturgical Calendar of our Church as the feast day of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton. She died on this date in 1821. Here is a woman who found herself at the age of 29, a widow with five young children. The measure of this woman can begin to be grasped when we note that she was beatified by Blessed John XXIII in 1963. Pope Paul VI canonized her in 1975.
Elizabeth Ann Seton, an adult convert to the Catholic faith, was to become the first native-born citizen of the United States to be canonized. Her life story tells of how she had a special concern for children who lacked educational opportunities. Indeed, the Sisters of Charity intertwined social ministry with education and faith formation in all the missions they undertook. It is no surprise then, that the group of sisters, who arrived in Nassau on that October day in 1889 immediately set about doing what they did.
The record shows that on November 4, days after their arrival, these first permanent Catholic missionaries established St. Francis Xavier school, the first parish school. It was a free school for poor children. Many years later, I myself would have the benefit of attending that school.
Again we are told that: “Easily noted in their distinctive habits, the Charities became beloved figures in this community for the acts of mercy which accorded well with the name of their community.” The record further states that: “The Sisters’ work in the schools and clinics they helped to found over the course of the next century would eventually be acknowledged as one of the outstanding contributions to the social and educational development in this country.” (P. Glinton-Meicholas, From the Void to the Wonderful, Pg. 26)
The work of the Sisters of Charity among us has not ended. It continues to this day in the management of the Nazareth Centre. Their ministry here has been and is a labour of love. The memories, stories and anecdotes of how the Sisters of Charity have touched the lives of so many in our community could fill a library.
In summary the story of the encounter between the Sisters of Charity and the Bahamian people is a wonderful story. It is a story which needs to be told to every generation. To the Sisters of Charity here tonight I say that if you reflect on the Bahamian Catholic community today and noting that it is quite different from 1891 or even 1991, know that you did your part in helping to fashion this achievement. Your Sisters came here and worked tirelessly and generously and lovingly and this is what we have become.
We are not perfect, to be sure, but I speak for generations of Bahamians living and dead when I say to the Sisters of Charity we are profoundly thankful, that’s for sure.
Our gratitude is far more that any words or gesture would convey. None-the-less we shall seek to make a permanent expression of our sentiments in a plaque to be erected on the façade of the Cathedral tonight.
So much of what the Sisters taught us by word and example is a reflection of the words their founder used to summarize her way of life. She said, “Faith lifts the staggering soul on one side, hope supports it on the other, experience says it must be and love says let it be.”
In response we all say thank you and Amen.
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