THE CATHOLIC PAGE 8 Youth Camp July 19, 2019ommentator Vol. 57, No. 12 SERVING THE DIOCESE OF BATON ROUGE SINCE 1963 thecatholiccommentator.org C THIRSTY NO MORE Superior general drawn to St. Teresa By Debbie Shelley realize I have a vocation,” Sis- The Catholic Commentator ter Prema said in an interview with The Catholic Commenta- Sister Mary Prema MC, tor. Superior General of the Mis- Sister Prema went to India sionaries of Charity, continued to join the order. After serv- the work of the congregation’s ing as regional superior of the founder, St. Teresa of Kolkata, order in Europe, she returned in helping people look to the to India. After St. Teresa’s crucified Christ and hear his first successor, Sister Nirmala words, “I thirst,” when she Joshi died from heart failure, came to Baton Rouge in July. Sister Prema was elected Su- Sister Prema, the third sis- perior General in March 2009. ter to lead the Missionaries of There are currently 4,500 Charity, was born in Reken, Missionaries of Charity sisters Germany. She read the biog- actively working in more than Sister Mary Prema MC, superior general of the Missionaries of Charity, visited with the sisters of her raphy of St. Teresa in 1980 and 600 missions across 133 coun- congregation, volunteers and the needy and homeless at the soup kitchen and homeless shelter run went to meet St. Teresa in Ber- tries. by the sisters at St. Agnes Church in Baton Rouge. Photo by Debbie Shelley | The Catholic Commentator lin. With a thoughtful gaze of “I was drawn to their mis- undivided attention and grace- of belonging to community in them,” she said. “And that tered alongside St. Teresa, said sion and Jesus made it very ful, unhurried manner, Sister and getting to know the sis- makes me understand how we the quality of St. Teresa that clear to me that he wanted Prema said what she enjoys ters from very different back- are dependent on God. And stands out to her most was her me to join the Missionaries of most about her vocation and grounds, which enlarges my how many gifts God has given determination and that’s what Charity and join Mother Teresa work is “belonging to Jesus.” heart. In our work with the to me.” she strives to carry forth in her and serve the poor. I came to “There is this experience poor we see our own frailty Sister Prema, who minis- SEE PREMA PAGE 16 OLOL links saintly legacies By Bonny Van the Dominican Sisters of Springfield, The Catholic Commentator Illinois “sent out requests” to Catho- lic health care systems nationwide In a twist of faith, divine inspira- seeking sponsorship to take over the tion and a bit of business acumen, Mississippi operations. The Domini- the legacies of two famous Catholic can Sisters had been supporting the friends, St. Dominic and St. Fran- ministry for more than seven de- cis, have joined forces to continue to cades. provide Catholic health care for the “This is the Dominican Sisters Jackson, Mississippi area. On July 1, only health care ministry,” explained the Franciscan Missionaries of Our Vath. “They are primarily in second- Lady completed a transition of spon- ary education. And, they were having sorship from the Dominican Sisters fewer and fewer (sisters) who were for Dominic Health Services in Jack- both interested and experienced in son. health care. So they decided rather According to Dr. Richard Vath, than sell their facility, what they re- St. Dominic Hospital in Jackson, Mississippi and its subsidiaries are now sponsored by the president and CEO of the Franciscan ally wanted to do is to maintain a Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady and are part of the Franciscan Missionaries of Our Missionaries of Our Lady Health Sys- Catholic identity in Mississippi and Lady Health System. Photo provided by FMOLHS tem, talks began 10 months ago when SEE OLOL PAGE 15 2 The Catholic Commentator July 19, 2019 | DID YOU KNOW Holy hospitality, hope & prayer By Dina Dow St. Paul continues to teach so as to increase awareness of what separates humanity from Simple life lessons arise from the 16th and God and one another, with the hope of their 17th Weeks in Ordinary Time Mass readings. ultimate conformity to Christ. He spares no These lessons are tangible for us. They serve expense, including suffering, when it comes as foundations for a life filled by Christ with- to the hospitality of the word of God and the in; a life filled with hope that not only glori- hope of salvation. fies the Lord but also shares the hope of the Holy hospitality glory of God. Within the act of hospitality there exists Hospitality 101 moments of encounter where relationships Think of a time you had unexpected form. From the Gospel of Luke, we hear the company. Recently at home my husband well-known story of two sisters, Martha and and I were startled by a knock on the door. Mary. Their unique personalities are ap- It was well after 9 p.m. A friend was walk- parent from the beginning. As you read the ing his dog and wanted to visit. What would passage, try to empathize with both points you say or do? The readings re- of view. Martha, the well-in- mind us of the goodness of tentioned yet “burdened” hospitality. Life-Giving hostess, is focused on the act Abraham is sitting in the FAI H of service rather than their The nave of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome contains this holy water font sur- opening of his tent in the heat of day, guest. Her priority of giving, al- rounded by cherubs. The font was created by Gian Lorenzo Bernini, who was as three men approach. Before being though done in good measure, commissioned by Pope Innocent X in 1645 to complete the decoration of the asked, Abraham is fetching them water and increases her aggravation and impatience pilasters and chapels. © Jorge Royan / http://www.royan.com.ar/CC BY-SA 3.0 food, while providing shade and comfort. He with her sister, who has chosen to receive and even washes their feet. He knows the weary sit beside the Lord, literally at his feet and lis- road of a sojourner. Thus, he goes out of his ten to him. Martha’s and Mary’s choices have way and spares no expense to make these conflicting priorities. One’s choice creates three feel welcome. He realizes only later stress and anxiety, while the other’s choice is Holy water cleanses they are messengers from God, sent to re- filled with peace. Whose priority results in a veal great news. Sarah, his wife, would have a greater perfection? The one who serves to the child within a year. point of stress or the one who sits with God? Our nighttime visitor was not an angel True hospitality is important as long it is tem- both soles and souls from God, but actually a saddened friend pered with holy hospitality, sitting beside the seeking comfort with the passing of a mutu- Lord and receiving his words. Here we shift As Catholics, when we walk into materials used for stationary holy al friend. We invited him in, sat on the patio, our focus entirely on him. Further, we are a church or a chapel our eyes au- water fonts included bronze, mar- shared memories but passed on washing his called to sit with others, sharing holy hospi- tomatically scan the walls near the ble, granite, terra cotta or solid feet. Two more friends also unexpectedly vis- tality rather that the hurry-up-and-get-it-do- entrance. What are we looking for? stone. While some are rather non- ited that same evening. Needless to say, it was ne mindset. When have I chosen the “better Holy water. descript basins, others, especial- a long but inspiring night. part?” The holy water font comes ly during the Middle Ages were The hospitality of discipleship Hope of mercy in many different forms in our quite ornate including the large St. Paul’s Letter to the Colossians ac- With holy hospitality comes mercy. The modern day churches from mar- one surrounded by cherubs at St. knowledges the suffering which accompanies Book of Genesis continues with the experi- ble bowls attached to walls to Peter’s Basilica in Rome. such hospitality. This is joined to the role of ence of Abraham and the men sent by God, freestanding basins. Still other The Catechism of the Catholic being a disciple of Jesus. For the sake of the who leave the tent and head to Sodom and churches offer holy water in flow- Church (CCC), Article 1, No. 118 body of Christ, St. Paul, like Abraham, of- Gomorrah. Abraham knows, as God sees, ing fountains, tempting very small states, “The gathering of the Peo- fers his entire self in order to fulfill the mis- the sinful actions of the people in these cit- children to dip more than just ple of God begins with baptism; a sion God has given him, which is to “bring ies. Yet, Abraham also knows some of those their tiny fingers into the blessed church must have a place for the to completion for you the word of God” (Col who live there are innocent. As God reveals waters. celebration of baptism (baptistery) 1:25). In order for followers to know Jesus, SEE GOSPEL PAGE 3 The origin of the holy water font and for fostering remembrance of or stoup, as so many other tradi- the baptismal promises (holy wa- tions in the Catholic Church, can ter font).” be traced to ancient times, accord- So the next time you reach for ing to newadvent.org.