From a Presentation by Sister Kathleen Cornell, SSND
Preparations are now well underway at Villa Assumpta for our Sisters' upcoming move to Stella Maris, with closing rituals and moving dates scheduled.
To help the Sisters prepare individually and communally for the change, Sister Kathleen Cornell reflected with the Sisters on claiming our aging during the morning of August 6.
She reflected on aging as a gift of opportunity for inner work and soul work.
As Ram Dass wrote, "It is a great feeling to be able to open the door to mystery and reflect on the deeper significance of life. Slowing down is the only way to take advantage of this opportunity.”
Aging is a time of gratitude, a time to reflect on “Who am I now? and a time of letting go. It is a time to accept the truth of impermanence and loss.
Author Kathleen Singh challenges us to “allow our hearts to open up and enfold” these truths of aging (The Grace in Aging).
Sister Kathleen reflected with the Sisters regarding community and what was important to them as they moved to Stella Maris.
She referenced You Are Sent, The CALL, St. Augustine, and a beautiful piece written by Sister Dominica Michalke, SSND, which the Sisters had read in preparation for the morning:
"We cannot build a community just by oneself, we need to deliberately work to shape our community to become the best it can be. … The community needs to take time together to agree on elements of community life – and then together bring them to life.”
Our Sisters in Chicago, Waterdown, and Wilton can attest that moving out of our beloved homes is challenging. Community is, however, the salve and glue.
The fact that aging and change are done in community, with community, and for community is at the heart of the SSND call.
Sister Dominica writes, "Although each of us is called individually by God and has to respond personally to God, we do this in community. We are not hermits who respond in solitude to God’s call. Our call is embedded in the experience of community life. "
