Message from Congregation Leadership: To Be Who We Say We Are

by Andrea Nenzel, CSJP, Congregation Leader

As I prayed over what to say, the image of Jesus asking Peter, “Who do you say I am?” was suddenly before me and just as suddenly shifted to Jesus asking me, “Who do you say you are?” This simple statement, I think, is the key to our breaking open our Chapter Act, because, before I can be who I say I am, I best know who I say I am.

The COVID-19 pandemic that still impacts our everyday lives in so many ways has thrown us out of our complacency and our illusions that we control our lives, creation, and our world. The reality of living through a crisis is that we never come out the same – either better or worse – never the same.

In our Chapter gathering, the Spirit urged us to speak and act boldly with open, loving, and adventurous hearts. Pope Francis has said many times these past two years that we have before us the profound opportunity to set things right in our world. We have before us endless possibilities; will we dare to risk letting go of what has been and step into the unknown unfolding, even though we may not see it?

L to R: Leadership Team elected April 2021, Sisters Sheena George, Andrea Nenzel, Susan Francois, Margie Fort, Kathleen Pruitt

While this Chapter Act was written by Sisters and Associates of St. Joseph of Peace, it is truly a message for any person seeking to make our world a better place; for any person concerned about the ongoing wars and violence throughout our world; for any person concerned about the thousands dying from starvation and suffering malnutrition while there is enough food to feed everyone on the planet; for any person who is concerned about the millions of refugees and asylum seekers stranded in camps and under bridges all over our earth; for any person concerned with the ongoing racism that permeates so many aspects of life and feeds violence and death in every country; for any person concerned about the thousands of people who have no say in how they will live.

I invite you to ask yourself, “Am I who I say I am? Am I really true to who I say I am with my thoughts, words and actions?”

Together with people of good will all over the globe, let us embrace these promptings of the Spirit of Life with courage, humility, hope, and trust as we dare to BE WHO WE SAY WE ARE. What will you let go of? What will you risk today?

Sisters Sheena George, Bridgetta Rooney, Catherine McCormack, Amalia Camacho, Chero Chuma, Sukyi Hur