4 minute read
Analysis - Understanding
SNJM writings
“As women of the new millennium, we have continued to carry the fire of Mother Marie Rose amid the cares and questions of our times.” (2001)
- Kathleen Ross, SNJM
The rose Project Day TWO Analysis - Understanding
From Scripture:
[The Pharisees] watched him closely to see if he would cure him on the sabbath so that they might accuse him. [Jesus] said to the man with the withered hand, “Come up here before us.” Then he said to them, “Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath rather than to do evil, to save life rather than to destroy it?” But they remained silent. Looking around at them with anger and grieved at their hardness of heart, he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out and his hand was restored. - Mark 3:1-6
Reflection:
In 1975, I was the Academic Vice President at Fort Wright College of the Holy Names (FWC) in Spokane, Washington, and my life changed suddenly one day. Two Native American women, Martha and Violet, showed up in my office. They had driven four hours from the remote Yakama Indian Reservation to ask if our college would start an outreach program to prepare teachers in their rural area. It seemed like an impossible request, but research revealed how much need was in their area. The poverty rate was three times the rate in Seattle and no four-year degree programs were offered within commuting distance of almost 100,000 people! Asking ourselves, “What would Blessed Marie Rose do?” we began designing courses to offer on Fridays in the town of Toppenish. (No internet or on-line courses existed then!) As I oversaw the faculty who drove there every week, I got to know many taking the classes. Most were Yakama Nation members or Mexican immigrants from farm-worker families. I saw so much undeveloped talent that had been neglected! Our degree program in teacher education began to make a difference, and after five years, local Native Americans and Mexican immigrants were becoming teachers in schools and professionals in service agencies. Things changed suddenly when the financial problems of FWC caused those in charge to announce that FWC would have to close. I was devastated, thinking of all the folks at the outreach site who would be cut off from their only four-year degree opportunity. With a heavy heart, I went to Toppenish to tell Martha and Violet. Violet said, “We don’t have any
other options! Spokane has other colleges, but we don’t!” Martha shocked me by saying, “Well, Sister Kathleen, let’s start our own college!” My immediate answer was, “You’re crazy!” Martha responded, “Tell us one thing we can’t do!” And that’s where it all started. First, I told them they wouldn’t be able to find leaders for a new Board of Directors, but they did and at their first meeting, the Board chose the name, Heritage College. So I found a local nurse and a school administrator who agreed to quietly survey more than 75 locals on what majors were wanted – Business, Education, and General Studies. Then after consulting accreditation officials, I moved to Toppenish— the smallest town I had ever lived in—with two other sisters, and worked ‘round-the-clock to find faculty, launch Heritage College, and earn accreditation. Thankfully, the local School District offered us an old 1926 Elementary School building for $100/month. In 1981, we launched a transition year for 120 commuter students, 65% women and 75% Native American and Latinx, and in 1982, we became Heritage College with 150 students. Many challenges occurred over the next 38 years, but the encouragement of Martha and Violet and the mission of Heritage College inspired us to persevere because it focused on the “dignity and worth of each individual. . . [to] fulfill their truly human, God-given destinies.” Even though poverty was all around us, we began to see the difference our students were making, as they became professionals serving their own communities. By 2020, Heritage University awarded more than 9,000 baccalaureate and master degrees and currently enrolls over 1,000 students on a 125-acre campus with nine beautiful buildings. In BMR’s tradition, we are proof that the injustice around us can be reversed! e- Sister Kathleen Ross, SNJM, Toppenish, Washington
1. How does Jesus’ interpretation of the law challenge you/us to ‘do good’ even when the circumstance is not customary? 2. In your point of view, who was the voice of Jesus in Sister
Kathleen’s Reflection?
Why? 3. How did Sister
Kathleen and her collaborators learn and analyze the situation in the Yakima Valley before responding? 4. Do you think it’s important to analyze a situation before responding through charity or justice? Why or why not? 5. Name an insight or learning that is influencing your response to your Rose
Project?
Prayer Request
Pray for all the missionaries, that they may grow in understanding the needs in the world.
