Bridget Mary's Blog

Wednesday, August 7, 2019

Why are the shootings so profoundly sad for people who didn’t lose anyone? by A. Pawlowski

Hate has no home in our hearts, communities, nation or world.
Resurrection is about believing someone like Jesus could be wounded and resurrected at the same time. This applies to all of us. The path to resurrection includes great love, suffering, death and healing. (Adapted from Richard Rohr, The Universal Christ)
Today we grieve with all who lost loved ones in El Paso, Dayton and all survivors of violence. May we do all we can to banish hate, embrace all who are grieving unimaginable loss and take action to change the laws of our country that allow assault weapons to be bought in our stores and increase resources for mental health. Bridget Mary Meehan ARCWP, https://arcwp.org
https://www.today.com/health/how-deal-grief-pain-anxiety-after-mass-shootings-t160209

Kessler: While you may not be personally affected, it feels personal because their lives remind us of our lives. We go to the store, a Walmart, a theater, a concert. It also brings out our own fears about: Could we be next? How safe is the world? We’re not quite as disconnected as we think we are because these are normal people doing normal things.

New loss often triggers old losses. Don’t be surprised if these deaths in the news take you back to your own loss.

What about people who are grieving the loss of a family member?

Kessler: We need to help them get through the next few days. It’s about keeping them safe and connecting with their loved ones. Their lives will never be the same. This is a devastating loss. This isn’t something they’re going to get over. They’re going to learn to live with it.

But they are not alone. While we can’t bring their loved ones back, we can try to do things in the world to honor them and do our best to make sure these shootings won’t happen again.

The memorials become very important. We want our grief to be seen. We want people to know what has been lost. When we go to these community gatherings, it helps families know we get what has happened, we see the enormity of their loss. Gathering at a candlelight vigil or a funeral — it’s how we let them know their loss matters to us, too.

People visit a makeshift memorial at the site of a mass shooting at a shopping complex in El Paso, Texas.AP

Why do we grieve so powerfully?

Kessler: Grief is a part of the love we had for that person. Grieving is what comes from having connections in this life. Grieving means their life was important, it mattered and it touched us. There is no timeline in grief, we don’t get over it, we learn to live with it. But in time we can learn to honor the person, to talk about it, say a prayer, light a candle, take time to feel it and fully grieve it.

Grief is as unique as our fingerprint. No two people’s griefs look alike, even in the same family. We all experience grief differently.

What is your advice for people who survived the shootings, but saw others die?

Kessler: As soon as they can, seek help and counseling.

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When I’ve worked with shooting survivors, I help them try to understand when they go outside or to a public place that horrible moment has ended. The shooting is over. That was then, this is now. I want to help people understand that now they are safe, now they are OK.

As much as we hear about post traumatic stress, more people end up with post traumatic growth. It’s where we integrate the loss into our lives and we actually find meaning and grow from it.

El Paso holds vigil for victims as stories of heroism, tragedy emerge

AUG. 5, 201903:16

What would you say to people who are now anxious about going to a public place?

Kessler: Fear doesn’t stop death, fear stops life.

Remember that anything is possible, but not probable. So of course it’s possible there could be another shooting at a store or a bar or a theater, but it’s not likely. These events are horribly tragic, but we also have to put the loss in perspective. Many things we do in life are risky, but the chances are on our side that when we go out, we are going to be safe.

How can people deal with anniversaries of such horrible events?

Kessler: There’s nothing to celebrate, but I think we want to mark it. Some people want to get together; others want to grieve very privately. Do what works for you.

For those who are directly affected, the days leading up to the anniversary are usually more anxiety filled than the actual day because we’re beginning to anticipate the anniversary and we have fear about the pain we’ll be in.

How can people cope with all of this?

Kessler: Doing something helps, whether it’s giving to the Red Cross or donating to the families or helping out in your community. Making positive changes in the world in the face of tragedy seems to help us.

We see communities band together so beautifully after these losses. We have to band together to keep each other safe before the losses and maybe be able to prevent more of them.

A. Pawlowski

A. Pawlowski is a TODAY contributing editor focusing on health news and features. Previously, she was a writer, producer and editor at CNN.

Tuesday, August 6, 2019

Dr. Shanon Sterringer's Ordination - Homilies by Bishop Mary Eileen Collingwood and Bishop Christine Mayr Lumetzberger, Linz Austria - August 3, 2019

Bishop Mary Eileen Collingwood, ARCWP, and Bishop Christine Mayr-Lumetzberger, RCWP delivered the following homilies at Dr. Shanon Sterringer’s ordination.

Bishop Christine Mayr-Lumetzberger’s homily:

I chose the image "universe" or "cosmic egg" for today's ordination service.

Shanon, Hildegard is your life motto and role model for your pastoral work as a deacon and priest - you have chosen this life form that you can not and do not want to take off. Deacon, because this ordination obliges you to have the welfare of the "poor" in many forms in mind. It also means providing food for people.

Priesthood also means to lift the necessities of life out of daily use and place them in the light of God.

"Give them food" has many meanings.

I have read all sorts of explanations and interpretations of the picture - mainly of men. Now I put everything aside and offer you some meditative thoughts:

Hildegard is a woman, a wise woman. She knows the universe from her observations, from her studies, from her experiences. She senses that the universe outside is also present in her:

the fire of the sun, the darkness, water and earth, heaven and hell, diversity and desert, a breeze and deadly storm, the cycle of the moon and the planets, the heat of the day and the cold of the night.

Hildegard draws her experiences, paints them with love of detail in wonderful colors. Hildegard paints her life into this picture herself. With this she gives inexpressible informations. All life comes from the woman. The divine is in her. In her writings she systematically rationalizes what is expected of her. Hildegard is smart. She can not be convicted by the men.

But I see the smiling Hildegard when she tells in mystery/brain teaser what only women can read. She replaces the real information with pictograms.

The cosmos is in our view the space of infinity. Our work as a priest may be just a pictogram in time and space and size, a very small symbol of something great. In the great things of the world and the church, we are perhaps only small dots, stars, a flower, a delicate breeze, sometimes perhaps the glow of a sun or the moon. Sometimes we are bread for people or water, or wine, when we try to give them food for the soul.

Being a priest means in the sense of Hildegard

Know the ways - being a scout for the people - to seek and find ways to lead people to God,

Healing for ourselves, for those entrusted to us for church and the world.

In the church, however, the divine visions remain - to follow the spirit of God and, in the spirit of Ignatius, to consider the distinction of the spirits. In the rule of St. Benedict – this ist he order of Hildegard - this is called the Discretio.

An important point in Hildegard's teaching is food. We are called to gather people together, to remember the good news of Jesus, and to give them the food of bread and wine.

Bishop Mary Eileen Collingwood’s homily:

Wisdom has been given to me… and she who makes others friends of God and prophets will find a home in Wisdom.

Rays of sun shine upon you and you will flourish, and you will be gathered into God’s bosom.

You have been pruned and will live on in me; my joy will be yours and your joy will be complete; I have made known to you everything I have learned from Abba God. I choose you to go forth and bear fruit that will endure. Whatever you ask will be given to you.

The scripture passage that summarizes all our readings today is from Luke 12: 48: “From those who have been given much, much will be required; from those who have been entrusted much, much more will be asked.”

As many of us present here today know, this journey is not for the faint of heart. We have been called and entrusted to bear witness to what is true and just--what needs to be proclaimed for future generations. Yes, we have been given much, and, therefore, much more will be asked.

This journey that you are entrusted with today, Shanon, is a courageous one that will need strength and vision as you go forth. But you need not carry this responsibility alone. In fact, if you try to go it alone, you will fail. Jesus formed a community of disciples and sent them out two by two. It is within community—the Roman Catholic Women Priest Movement-- that you now find yourself and will be here with you and for you. While you have been given much personally and communally through your past academic, ministerial and spiritual experiences, you will now find yourself needing the support and strength of this new community of prophets.

The Spirit of God has plainly shown us what is required for our journey in the passage from Micah (6:8): “simply do justice, love kindness, and walk with integrity in God’s presence.”

From these inspired words of scripture, we launch our mission. Now is the time to fully grasp that this mission of ours is a communal mission. Only by understanding this will your strength and grace of character remain strong and vibrant.

Yet, communication is part of the life force that drives us, shapes us, brings us to fullness of life. And the way we communicate will determine the quality of our own lives as well as the lives of those we touch.

Great women and men are all around us. Great people will share their vision and ministries, great people will tell you their secrets. Look for them, call them on the phone or buy their books. Go where they are, get around them, talk to them. They will give you all they have. For being “great” is exactly what you are called to be and called to do. Shanon, you have been entrusted with much, and therefore, more will be asked of you.

These are exciting times for prophets in our church—and we are very fortunate and blessed to have you among us! This is a holy mission. Your presence increases our holiness!

And so you are sent forth in the words many an Irish lass would say:

They rose in dark and evil days

To right their native land;

They kindled here a living blaze

That nothing shall withstand.