Last May, I was blessed to be part of a service group of eight Benedictine Sisters from around the country going on a mission trip to Eagle Pass, Texas, which is on the southern border of the United States. Sister Ursula Herrera, OSB and her monastic community, the Benedictine Sisters of Borne, Texas, sponsor a ministry there called Caridad Corazon (Charity of the Heart).
It was a great blessing to experience part of Sister Ursula’s ministry and to join with other sisters in this volunteer project. Truly Sister Ursula brings God’s love to the people she serves in this vital ministry. God’s providence was evident in the generosity of people donating to the ministry, providing whatever the ministry needs to help the people there. Sister Ursula’s role in Eagle Pass is like a bridge connecting donor contributions to those who are most in need of them.
Some of the sisters on this mission trip had already known one another from prior Benedictine 55 and Under gatherings, but we did not know everyone we were volunteering with. Yet, core threads of Benedictine life were present among the group of volunteers. We prayed Lauds and Vespers together each day before and after our trip to Piedras Negras, Mexico. Each sister took a turn at leading prayers. We took turns preparing breakfast together and had the most amazing meals waiting for us when we returned for dinner. There was also community time to play a game or watch a few movies. Our common goal was to collaborate on a social justice service project and to share our Benedictine charism.
We saw God in the laughter and smiles of the children and adults in the orphanages and shelters. We brought clothes, hygiene articles, games and crafts. The Benedictine value of hospitality seemed to be everywhere we turned, and we were the ones receiving it in abundance! People opened up their homes and shelters to us and prepared wonderful meals for us to eat. It felt like we received much more than we gave during our two weeks.
Our Community Philosophy calls us “to witness joyfully to God’s presence and love and to be a prophetic sign against the evils of our day.” These beautiful people might not have wealth by the world’s standards, but they were very rich in love and welcoming joy. It was truly a blessing to meet them!
The conclusion of our Community Philosophy states: “We believe that God is here and can be found, and that a diversity of persons bonded into unity shows Christ to a divided world.” May we, like Sister Ursula, see Christ in our brothers and sisters providing love, inclusion and dignity.
By Sister Michelle Renee St. Marie, OSB