I have just had the privilege of completing a weekend of charism animation in one segment of our mission center in Brownsville, Texas. Our founding vision, established in this part of the world in 1849, is evident and alive in our Mazenodian family. Saint Eugene continues to speak to and through the people of the parish dedicated to him. The people showed me how important Eugene’s spirituality is for their daily lives, and how his mission continues in their concern for those who are in need. “Evangelize” and “love for the poor” and “social commitment” were words I constantly heard from the associates, young and old, who wear their Oblate crosses with pride.
Our founding vision is reflected in the beautiful Church of St Eugene, lovingly built with the hard work and sacrifices of so many people: the bricks have been constructed by hundreds of thousands of tamales, tacos, cupcakes, raffles and many imaginative fund-raisers. It is a church of our Mazenodian family and our founding vision is reflected in its numerous stained glass windows.
What Eugene founded us for two hundred years ago continues to reflect today through the windows of the lives of St. Eugene’s extended family!
“People are like stained – glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in, their true beauty is revealed only if there is a light from within.” Elisabeth Kubler-Ross
I love the windows above showing Eugene, with the poor, preaching and carrying the cross. Beautiful! I imagine how they must look from the inside with the sun pushing through them. It would be hard to ignore them, hard to not be reminded of how we are called to be, hard not to be inspired by them. And yet I know that it would also be quite easy to see them and not see them at the same time. It takes sometimes a conscious effort to stop and let such beauty touch us, because we are busy and have other things on our mind.
In my own church there is the most beautiful cross ever! Well so it is for me. We have some very nice stained glass windows – but the Cross – for me it is the centre piece, the symbol that dominates our church and that always draws my eyes as much as do the individuals who come through the doors to be together. It is made of old wood – perhaps they were beams from one of the earlier churches that stood here but that burned down. The wood is rough and worn, no paint or finish on it and there are a few old rusty nails in it. It requires something to help it to stand on it’s own. And even thinking of it here in this moment my heart fills a little for it reflects who we are just as do the windows in that beautiful church that Frank has spoken of. For me it is the centre of our little church and it stands on it’s own while at the same time it stands only because of the many people there to support it.
When I picture the cross in my mind I find my hand wanting to simply move and touch the small Oblate cross which I too wear with pride and an always deepening love. I share a tiny laugh that wants to come forth. Here I have described what I see when I look at one small part of my church, at some of the dearly beloved who come together with me there. In days gone by – did not the priest get up and start his homily with the words ‘dearly beloved’ – those are the words that I just used to describe my parish family, my community. An ‘aha’ moment for me.
In a funny way what Eugene founded us for two hundred years ago hopefully continues to reflect today through the window of our lives, of my own life. I came here this morning wanting to ‘receive’ something and feeling a little disappointed because most obviously it did not apply to me and my life. God has a most wicked sense of humour. Indeed that ‘aha’ moment was a wondrous gift. I pray that the joy it has given in my heart will be reflected in a very special way to all I meet today.