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Who are
Presentation Associates? Associates tell their stories.
What Being An Associate Means for Me
by Jane Hetherington
 Associates
and Sisters celebrated the Feast of the Epiphany together with a liturgy
and brunch followed by presentations by Paula Johnson, Jean Holsten and
Pat Cane about their ministries. The day’s activities ended with a gift
exchange set to the story of the “Right Family Christmas.” (That’s
right; pass your gifts in the correct direction whenever you hear the
words “right” and “left.” And listen carefully or you’ll be left
behind!)
The following is the reflection given by Jane
Hetherington, an Associate, after the Gospel reading.
Good
morning and welcome to our third annual Associates' Epiphany
celebration. The feast of the Epiphany offers us three wonderful themes
for reflection: journey, stars that guide us and gifts. Of these
three, the theme I am focusing on today is that of gift, specifically
the gift of Association. What calls women to become Presentation
Associates? What is the gift that Presentation offers its Associates?
What gift can Associates bring to Presentation? Naturally, I will
answer these questions from my own experience as a Presentation
Associate. And, while I would never presume to speak for ALL the
Associates, I know I am not alone in feeling as I do about Presentation.
As part of the
chaplain training program in which I am presently involved, I was asked
to identify and discuss major life events, relationships and cultural
contexts that influence my personal identity as expressed in pastoral
functioning. After I figured out what all that meant, I wrote: "I
realize that probably the major influence on my personal identity as
expressed in pastoral functioning is my experience with nuns. As I
think back on my life, I know that the influence of nuns on me has been
HUGE." And, without question, it is my twenty-year relationship with
the Sisters of the Presentation that has had the greatest influence on
me.
Becoming
a woman of justice is the greatest challenge that Presentation has
offered to me during these years. How can I continue to look the other
way when this community I cherish and these women I revere are
relentless in their efforts to serve the poor and to right the wrongs of
the world? How can I not care when they care so much? Twenty years of
being challenged and stretched: the first of Presentation's gifts to
me.
Community is the second gift. To be a member of the Presentation
Community is a most precious gift. Support, caring, love: that has
been my experience of being a part of this community. When I have
needed it the most, Presentation has been there for me. It is the
spirit of this community that has inspired and strengthened me for so
many years. I really do count on you - and you haven't failed me yet.
Certainly the gifts of fun and laughter must be mentioned. There is
nothing like a Presentation celebration. Once I mentioned to a Sister
that my favorite Presentation event was our commissioning in June.
"Oh," she said. "You enjoy the commissioning service?" "Well," I
replied. "I certainly do enjoy the commissioning service but it is the
party after that I really love." Probably not the spiritually correct
answer - but the truth. Presentation women know how to have fun!
But the
greatest of gifts I have received as an Associate - and on this point I
am sure all Associates would agree - is the privilege and opportunity of
knowing Presentation Sisters. I have said to Sisters often: "It is not
what you do that inspires us - although it is pretty inspirational - but
who you are." And who are you? I see you as women of prayer, of faith
and of commitment. Women who can truly sing the words “Because we love
God, we are who we are and we do what we do...” For twenty years you
have inspired me, guided me and helped me as I have struggled to be the
same. What greater gift could there be?
Gratitude is the appropriate response to receiving a wonderful gift -
and I am very grateful for all the gifts I have received as
a Presentation Associate. The gift I offer in return is to do all I can
to live as a Presentation woman: bringing the Presentation charism to
life in my ministry, living a life committed to the Gospel, loving and
following Nano the best I can, striving always to be ready and willing
to go one pace beyond and doing all that I can to keep the lantern
burning bright. Like the Wise Men, I will not be traveling alone on
this journey. Many wise women - Presentation women, will accompany me.
And that gives me peace and joy.
School of the
Americas 2006
By
Cathy Pickerel, Associate
I
am so grateful that I was able to be a part of the Presentation
contingent that traveled to the Vigil to Close the School of the
Americas in 2004 and that I was able to bring a few of the students from
Junipero Serra High School there in 2005. Last November, because I
retired from teaching just a few months before, I was able to spend a
week in Columbus (GA) and assist the SOAW staff with their many set-up
chores. What a blessing! I met some engaging and interesting staff,
volunteers and Columbus residents, got to hang out with Father Roy and
experienced my first tornado warning! (Or was it a watch?)
- There was
George Baldwin, a retired Methodist seminary professor who had a
book recently published, A Political
Reading of the Life of Jesus.
George took a voluntary vow of poverty at age 50 and spent several
years living in a Christian community in Guatemala.
- Noteworthy,
too, was the conversation with the manager and one of the waitresses
at Ruth Ann’s Diner when they saw that I was reading The Wal-Mart
Effect.
- Debra took
care of the printing needs for the vigil at generously discounted
rates. She was 4 when her Dad went off to Vietnam, never to return.
One of her customers was widowed when her soldier husband was killed
by some Vietnamese youngsters he was trying to help. Debra now
thinks about the “ordinary people” in Iraq and their grief. She
wonders about the widows of the enemy.
- The energy
and commitment of the young SOAW staff challenged me to dust off a
few of the “we can change the world” dreams of my own youth.
- Seeing
Father Roy’s VERY small apartment reminded me of my recurring
resolution to divest of at least some of my STUFF.
No doubt about it, God was very present in all I met that week. Not to
mention in the tornado that touched down in Fort Benning just 2 days
before the vigil!
Even more powerful for me than that storm, however, was being able to
connect with Presentation Sisters at the vigil from Dubuque the vigil from Dubuque. I was able
to meet Sister Mary Dennis, who had been arrested and served 6 months in
a federal prison for “crossing the line” in 2005. (Powerful stuff!)
Because we were all wearing Presentation tee shirts, a couple of Jesuit
Volunteer Corps members came up to us on Sunday exclaiming, “We love
Presentation!” They had been working with our Sisters in New Orleans
post-Katrina. What a gift to be able to enjoy such wonderful
Presentation family connections!
The last bill presented in Congress aimed at cutting off funds for the
SOA/WHINSEC came very close to passing. Perhaps the next vigil at Fort
Benning will also celebrate the closing of its “School of Assassins.”
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