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Marianites of Holy Cross: A Welcoming Presence
All Marianites-in France, Canada, and the United States —
have decided on a common focus for their ministry: to confront exclusion in all its forms.
What-you may be saying-does that mean?
Why have Marianites decided to act on this issue together?
Our ministries have changed. Thirty five years ago, Marianites in most situations, ministered together in schools or hospitals often in Marianite-owned or sponsored institutions. Now many Marianites find themselves ministering with lay colleagues as the only Sister on the faculty or the only Sister in a church parish setting. In order to act together-as a Congregation- Marianites have decided to focus their efforts toward one goal by confronting exclusion in their ministries and anywhere they find it in their lives. This focus enables all Marianites-no matter where they live or where they minister, no matter their age or their health-to act together. This decision acknowledges that, unfortunately, exclusion turns up everywhere.
Why have the Marianites chosen to focus on offering a welcome presence as Jesus did?
Exclusion appears as prejudice, closed-mindedness, snobbery. It is always present when one person rejects another person simply because of race, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion, ideology, poverty, riches and on and on. Exclusion creates victims.
Exclusion exists everywhere and creates great suffering in individuals and groups. Jesus welcomed many people suffering from exclusion: lepers, tax collectors, Gentiles, prostitutes. Jesus welcomed them as friends.
Just read newspaper headlines or watch the news on TV. Sometimes exclusion can be heard in conversations that people of one race have about people of another race. . . or in conversations that people who are heterosexual have about people who are homosexual (vice-versa applies to all situations). You can add other examples from your own experience.
Marianites are asking themselves questions -- and you are invited to reflect on these questions.
Who are the people around me who are suffering because I reject them due to the color of their skin, the ethnic group they call family, their accent or speech patterns? (If you can't answer the question immediately, just listen to your thoughts -or words-when you're angry.)
How can I offer a compassionate presence to those who suffer from being intentionally left out or victimized by prejudices?
How can I become a person who embraces those who are victims of prejudice, as Jesus did?
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