Jesus, St. Joseph: North Stars for the consecrated

By BETH DONZE
Clarion Herald

With their calling to be “messengers of hope” more challenging than ever in a time of pandemic, political discord and social media overload, Josephite Father Oswald Pierre-Jules encouraged men and women religious gathered for the Feb. 20 Mass for the World Day for Consecrated Life to renew their vocations by looking to the example of St. Joseph and by deepening their reliance on the Eucharist – Christ himself.

“We may not be called to be prophets, but we are called to be witnesses,” said Father Pierre-Jules, speaking to about 40 religious sisters, brothers and religious-order priests seated inside spacious St. Rita Church in New Orleans and  hundreds of others watching the Mass virtually.

Father Pierre-Jules, the homilist at the special Mass, pastor of St. David Church and dean of the St. Bernard Deanery, said it was only human for people, even the consecrated, to buckle spiritually under the weight of recent events – a seemingly endless succession of disasters that now includes a hard freeze in Texas that has claimed nearly 70 lives.

How can those in consecrated life effectively convey a message of hope in such fraught times? The priest offered two suggestions.

“Maybe we need to call upon St. Joseph,” said Father Pierre-Jules, noting how the saint lived in chaotic times of his own and, as Scripture tells us, suffered tremendous personal distress when he learned Mary was with child. Yet, Father Pierre-Jules noted that as soon as Joseph received God's message to stay the course, he gained clarity – he was suddenly fortified, renewed and refocused on his mission. There is a lesson in that, the priest said.

“From that time on, (St. Joseph) fulfilled his duty, his role as the father of Jesus," Father Pierre-Jules said.

Religious also can renew their callings through “the abundance of the Eucharist” – Jesus, whom the priest called “the source of our vocation.”

“Jesus tells us how to hold our cross,” Father Pierre-Jules said. “There will be times when we are going to fall. Jesus fell the first time; he fell the second time; he fell the third time – to show us how to carry our own cross, because, he tells us, there is no cross (that doesn’t result in) a victory!”

Because “Jesus is the one who called us,” Father Pierre-Jules said the consecrated should likewise never hesitate to call on Jesus when they detect a need to refresh their vocations.

“There is no Simeon; there is no Anna,” he said, referring to the first people outside of the Holy Family to recognize Jesus as the Messiah and sing his praises. “But God is with us; Jesus is with us. (Jesus) said, I will be with you not ‘sometimes,’ but ‘always.’ Lean on me! If you lean on me, you will bear fruit!

“May he continue to lead us to be the best witnesses that we can be!”

The consecrated point to 'God among us'

During her brief reflection following Communion, Sister of St. Joseph Helen Prejean spoke of “the divine spark” that is present inside every human being, even those whom she serves in her longtime ministry assisting the incarcerated and those on Death Row.

Sister Helen said one of the roles of the consecrated is to call attention to “God among us” – to remind the world that all are part of that patchwork quilt of holiness created by God.

“It’s a wonderful thing to be Catholic. I’m very grateful for being a sister,” Sister Helen said. “God bless us all.”

Archbishop Gregory Aymond, the Mass’ principal celebrant, thanked the consecrated men and women for being part of the archdiocese’s centuries-long history of religious-led service in a myriad of ministries. He also commended them for being an important part of the local witness that is prompting more than 250 people to state their desire to become Catholic in 2021. Two recent Masses featured an important step in this process – Rite of Election of Catechumens and Call to Continuing Conversion of Candidates Who Are Preparing for Reception into the Full Communion of the Catholic Church liturgiesat St. Catherine of Siena Church in Metairie and at Most Holy Trinity Church in Covington.

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