The weather in Chicago has been warm and pleasant, with cool breezes and passing clouds. It has been nearly three weeks since I began living with the other novices and formators at ICCN. We’ve shared so many special moments—telling stories, learning, cooking and enjoying distinctive aromas of national foods, praying, having simple gatherings, watching movies, laughing, and savoring popcorn together. I especially enjoy walking to the beach with them, collecting rocks, sea glass, and sometimes finding free treasures like bracelets or sunglasses.
This time of peace and togetherness is a moment of grace. Yet I know the deeper call lies ahead, where challenges will arise, and we will confront our vulnerabilities. It will require a communal effort, rooted in faith, to transform us all. Help us live in love, seeing one another through Your heart: ‘Have an ardent, generous love for all, without distinction, and without seeking anything in return.’ - Saint Mary Euphrasia.
Today, as I sit in stillness, my heart is drawn to write to You. I just read Your Word, and this sentence stood out for me: “I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.” John 10:16
Jesus, You have shared this passage with me many times before, but today it is moving, guiding me towards unity. You are calling me to embrace all my brothers and sisters, to see the beauty in our differences. I confess to You how often I’ve judged others based on appearances or differences, and how fear of the unknown has sometimes prevented me from connecting with others. But, You call me for something greater. Just as You sought out the “other sheep” and gathered them into one flock, You call me to transcend cultural, languages, my own experiences, and perceptual boundaries. You invite me to step beyond my narrow views with humility and courage, embracing each of my brothers and sisters as a reflection of Your image, Your boundless love. I am learning that this path is not always easy, but it has always been blessed and beautiful for me up to this moment. It is a gift.
As I reflect on my journey toward embracing interculturality, I am deeply grateful for walking my faith journey with the Good Shepherd Sisters, where I feel both loved and joyful in sharing my love. Each community I have been part of has deepened my understanding of living together, listening to one another’s lives, and accepting each person as we are. I am inspired by the Good Shepherd mission to honor the individual worth of every person. In both community and ministry, the Good Shepherd creates a home where everyone is welcomed, responsibilities are shared, and each person’s different needs are lovingly cared for, emphasizing that: ‘A person is of more value than the whole world.’ We all grieve when one of us suffers because we are all parts of You.
In this chapter at ICCN, with You, my heart is open to learning from novices and sisters from diverse countries and congregations, and to trusting each other in Your love. I see their souls, filled with holiness, kindness, bravery, and a profound desire to follow You, inspiring me deeply. There is a simple beauty in their humility and openness, that builds our relationships closer, resolves issues effectively, and fosters solidarity within our community. We are like threads in a beautiful tapestry, each adding its own special touch to create something that brings comfort and warmth to others. In this space, no single culture is seen as the standard, and no one is asked to change who we are. Instead, it is a place to grow in Your love through mutual respect and acceptance, where trust can flourish.
Thank you for walking with me and my companions, guiding us as we embrace each other’s differences and grow together in faith and love.
Sr. Theresa ~ Sisters of the Good Shepherd
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