Sister M. Charlene
When You Share in the Care, You are an Extension of Jesus Christ
Many of us were deeply saddened when we received news that Sister Andrée Fries, CPPS, Executive Director of the National Religious Retirement Office at the U. S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, died unexpectedly in July 2007. This was a ministry Sister Andrée loved as she worked to provide retirement resources for thousands of women and men religious.
In September of 2006, Sister Andrée wrote an article anticipating the possibility of retiring. In the closing paragraph she wrote, “The future of my physical and mental abilities is a sobering reality and question. A song rumbles through my head, “Will you still need me, will you still feed me, when I’m sixty four?”
So too I have begun the journey of young elder hood. I wish I had a mentor. What lies ahead is in God’s hands and I know I am safe there. It is going to be an interesting, surprising journey ahead.
God’s timing is a mystery we do not understand. God now embraces Sister Andrée forever. Little did she realize that God would call her home to “retire” with him and bask in His love forever.
As I reflected on what sister wrote, I couldn’t help but think that these are thoughts that probably run through the minds of our elderly members. What is going to happen to me? Who will take care of me? With so many of my brothers and sisters not able to minister for a stipend, where will the monies come from?
These are questions being posed as I visit various motherhouses and health and wellness centers. It pains me as I look into their faces listening to their concerns. I try to ease their minds by telling them about all of you, our wonderful people of the Buffalo diocese, who are so generous, remembering those men and women religious who have impacted your lives in different ways whether they taught you, cared for you in hospitals and nursing homes or simply listened to your stories and consoled you.
In the 19-years between 1988 and 2006, the Diocese of Buffalo remitted $17,389,411.00 to the National Religious Retirement Office. The total grant amount received, which was disseminated to the congregations in Buffalo who requested funds amounted to $16,701,285.35. That means 96 percent of the money contributed to the appeal in the eight counties of Western New York was returned to our religious communities. What a wonderful gift given to our men and women religious because of your generosity and love for them.
When I attend the National Vicar’s meeting held every year in various parts of the United States, the religious will always comment about the generosity shown by the people of Buffalo. You indeed “Share in the Care.”
As committed Christians, you show how you have been called to give of yourselves living up to the Beatitudes, especially when you show the religious genuine care. You are indeed aflame with love, care and compassion and for this, we religious will be eternally grateful. You are indeed an extension of Jesus Christ bringing joy into the hearts of these men and women religious as you share your gifts with us. Thanks be to God for your kind and generous hearts.
Sister M. Charlene Nowak, CSSF
Vicar for Religious
Diocese of Buffalo