Rooted in Love

Response to http://trailbrazin.blogspot.com/2016/10/phenomenal-women-prompt-18.html

Rooted in Love
The Sisters of Saint Joseph
by Helen Sadler

This prompt was a wonderful challenge – how to come up with an inspiring woman I have never written about before.  The first person I was going to profile was my great-grandmother, Julianna.  But then I realized I have written about her several times before.  Then I thought of going deeper.  I thought of Frankenstein author Mary Shelley and her mother Mary Wollstencraft.  I thought of Gloria Steinem.  All good choices, and yes, inspiring.  But it was when I came to the influence of the Sisters of Saint Joseph in my life, tears filled my eyes.  Yes, I thought.  I have struck on the right thing. 

I was taught my nuns my entire life, but it wasn’t until I went to high school at Saint Joseph Academy on Rocky River Drive in Cleveland that I felt inspired by the nuns (save my second grade teacher, Sr. Flaviana.)  I will be the first to admit that during my time at SJA, I was not a fan of the nuns.  It is only in retrospect I realize what they gave me.

The Sisters of St. Joseph are much like their male counterparts, The Jesuits.  Their purpose lies largely in social justice issues.  Think of Sr. Helen Prejean of Dead Man Walking fame, working tirelessly to eliminate capital punishment. 

What the Sisters gave me, I realize now, was a way of looking at the world with integrity and love and faith.  I’m sure a lot of my idealism comes from those days sitting in Theology class studying The Holocaust or Marriage or Womanhood or Consciousness.  I remember long discussions and even disagreements over what the meaning of love really was.  Sr. Kathleen Carey insisted it could only be in the conscious actions we take, whereas a student names Sue swore her dog loved her.  A debate worth having?  Yes!  After all, the dog did run and greet her.  Wasn’t that love?

We did projects and papers on those doing good work in the world.  I clearly remember writing about Jane Fonda, probably a polarizing figure to some.  But my admiration of her was met with confirmation that she was a worthwhile human being, doing what she thought was right to bring peace and justice to the world.

Every year in late winter we went on retreat.  As freshman and sophomores, it was in-school retreats. As juniors and seniors we went to remote retreat locations.  This taught me the value of quiet, of time to just think about my spiritual life in a concentrated way.  It is something I have incorporated into my life ever since, as often as I can.

As seniors, the Sisters allowed us to study existentialism in literature.  It remains my favorite high school class to this day.  To sit and ponder the words of those who did not believe there was a God was a revelation to me.  It did the opposite of what some would be afraid it would do – it caused me to confirm my belief in God.  I could not tolerate a meaningless universe, even as I love and adore the writings of Albert Camus, and to some extent, Jean-Paul Sartre.  It was literature worth knowing.

As the years go by, I can see more and more clearly how the Congregation of Saint Joseph (as they are now known) deeply influenced me as a teacher.  I reject the role of reward and punishment in our current system because I know it isn’t needed if the focus is right.  We knew that the real reward in life was to be a good and decent person.  We had very few punishments at SJA – no detentions and very few suspensions. Yes, it might have been because it was a private school.  But I still believe it went beyond that.  I think there was a unifying factor in the teachings that created a safe space for us to experiment, yet find a place to land if needed.

I receive a publication from the Congregation quarterly, in which they write about the work they are currently doing.  This past summer, for example, they were instrumental in “Circle the City With Love,” an event held the day before the Republican National Convention started in Cleveland (see videos.) 

In the current issue of the magazine, they cover the Circle the City event, as well as the Community Builders of Peace Program (for students), their partnerships with groups around the country to preserve the earth, the launch of a human trafficking TraffickCam app, and questions that take us deeper into our relationship with God an others called “Re-examination of ‘Consciousness’” – something I have been using and find immensely inspiring.

Although I have lost interest in attending Masses or being part of a Catholic congregation, I am well aware that my life and my idealism and my entire way of being is rooted in the loving energy of the Sisters I have known, and the contributions they made to my life, even as I dismissed them or even actively rejected.  They knew that what they had to offer would take time to sink in. I try to remember that with my students.  Not all teachings can be heard and acted upon immediately. Some of them take a long time.

So, I dedicate this blog to the ones who made a difference to me – the phenomenal women of the Congregation of Saint Joseph.  Long may their work take root and grow in the world.