Maryknoll Sisters

When your 7-year-old sister is dying of cancer, who do you turn to? Sister Kathleen Reiley's blog post about the love between two sisters reveals the true message of the Easter season.

As you know, I work with children with cancer. About four weeks ago, a little 7-year-old girl died.

Her older sister often came to the hospital and had to wait in the waiting room for hours until it was time to go home with her mother. Since she was under 12, she couldn’t go into the ward to see her sister often.

We had a Cherry Blossoms viewing picnic for the families recently, and the sister of the little girl who had died told her mommy that she would like to go to the picnic.

We took a walk together through the park after the picnic and this is a picture of the little piece of gravel that Rue’s sister found. When Rue would make a card or something in art class, she often made hearts!

A real message of love between sisters!

Happy Easter!

 – Sister Kathleen Reiley, MM

Ethiopia is among the African nations with the highest tuberculosis rates, yet little is done to help victims cope. Now, with the aid of Sister Rosemarie Milazzo, patients are building a social network so they can overcome.

On my last mission to Ethiopia’s tuberculosis hospital in Addis Ababa a few months ago, I wanted to do something to get the patients out into the open, instead of staying in their wards all day. I introduced some breathing exercises that would help them.

You can see that some of them are doing the breathing, arms outstretched, others are already into the yoga which we began the day before. It was fun and as we continued, many more of the patients joined us. I really was trying to animate them so that they would have a bit more energy, bring laughter into each day and get them together for some activities outdoors.

Through activities and social networking, Sister Rosemarie shows TB patients they can beat this disease.

 One example is someone I will call Peter. He was extremely ill, weak, listless, lonely. We sat together for a bit and each day, I would comment on his improvement. It was very, very slow, but there was improvement. He could hardly get the strength to respond.  However, we began to talk about food and how important it was to eat. In the picture, we are comparing our wrist sizes so that we could work towards the day when his wrist was larger than mine.  He would take out his arm each time I walked into the room, looking forward to the day he could win our bet and collect the prize…a bag of peanuts!

Another patient I got to know told me she was very depressed when I walked into her ward. I just sat with her as she cried and told me how tired she was of being sick. She has been in the hospital for a long time and will not be ready to leave for a while.

Sometimes, just sitting together, listening to her story, urging her to drink some of her juice or milk, helped to pick her up for a bit. It also helped because other patients came over, and Mary was no longer alone.

– Sister Rosemarie Milazzo, MM

In Hong Kong alone, 3,000 people became Catholics during this year's Easter period. A Maryknoll Sister reports from the tiny island.

In Hong Kong, we had over 3,000 baptisms this year. The 3,000 are all at Easter. Most of the candidates have been in the catechumen program (religious education) from one to two years. 

This is primarily is the result of the enthusiasm and witness of the newly baptized in previous years.

As this is the Year of the Laity in the diocese of Hong Kong, we very much encourage them to become involved in sharing their Catholic faith with others, especially through acts of love and forgiveness. 

It really is bearing fruit. 

 – Sister Michelle Reynolds, MM

For many people around the world, this is their first Easter as Catholics since being baptized into the faith earlier this month. Part of the job of preparing them falls to Sister Michelle Reynolds in China.

This year we had 43 adults and 39 infants & children preparing for baptism.  For the past few months, I’ve been visiting all the families, taking time to get to know them, encouraging them in their journey of faith, introducing the parish, and helping them prepare for baptism. 

On three Sundays, we had the Scrutinies, special prayers during the Mass, so that the community would become familiar with our newest members.  On March 18, they participated in a diocesan gathering, so they could meet some of the Elect from other parishes.  It encouraged them to see so many others eager and open to become followers of Christ.

Besides the liturgies, retreats, we also had preparation meetings for the parents of the children to be baptized and practices for the actual Baptism.   You could actually feel the sense of excitement and anticipation as Holy Week drew near. 

Our Catechumen program is at least one and a half to two years.  During that time deep bonds of friendship have developed, and there is a beautiful sense of community and unity.  As one of the catechists, I find that it’s also a time for personal reflection and renewal.  We were well prepared for Holy Week!

 – Sister Michelle Reynolds, MM

In many ways, Haiti's needs are overwhelming, reports Sister Elizabeth Knoerl, and people are hungry for food, medicine, education, justice, and the basics of life.

Greetings to you from Duval Roche, Haiti!

In the three weeks we (Sisters Dianne and Janet and I) have been here, so much has happened!  We unpacked, cleaned out things, started language studies, met a million people, spent days it seemed in church and once in a while slept when the night heat allowed!  Last night was a night no one slept!  The heat and humidity was unbearable.  We each prayed the electricity would come on so a fan would work.  It was not to be.

I have been appointed the house breakfast chef, sacristan, “Jackie” of all trades, driver, and overall person to handle most things requiring repairs, transfer of phone minutes or anything technological.  Actually we three all have our gifts and have been wonderful in sharing them.

The three of us gather each night on the back porch to sit and pray, reflect on the day and simply talk to get to know each other.  When the stars are out and there is a breeze we could be out there for hours.  We enjoy each other’s company and are looking forward to beginning some small “project” with our neighbors.  There is an orphanage near us that is in desperate need of food, clothing, medicine and tender loving care for the children.  We have visited the place twice already and are pulling together some clothing, vitamins and treats for the kids.  We plan on going over later today when the heat is not so bad. 

Holy Week was an experience beyond any I have ever had.  Palm Sunday morning we started the day with a procession at about 6:30AM to the local church with about 500 or so people singing and waving palms.  We walked over a mile to get to the church.  Along the way we passed small communities of people living in shacks.  The children were beautiful and friendly!  Several times I found myself dancing in step with the music.  During the liturgy, I was very into the music–Haitian-style, loud and with rhythm. The Palm Sunday celebration was close to three hours.  After liturgy, the pastor invited the four of us (Dianne, Janet, Father Ron and me) for breakfast.

Walking along with the people in the morning was a moving experience.  I felt a part of the people in the way I had not experienced in other places I have been for Palm Sunday.  The Spirit was infectious and drew you right in.

Holy Thursday we went up to an area where a Sister friend of Dianne’s died.  The community invited us to join them and the villagers in their remembrance of the beginning of Holy Week.  Good Friday – Easter we stayed close to home and went to the parish for services.  The services were packed with people.  The music was wonderful and so lively on Easter Sunday!  During the Easter liturgy, there were children sitting around us who were quite interested in touching us and holding our hands.  I think they were fascinated with the freckles on my arms.  There was a little girl behind me who harmlessly kept lightly running her hands up and down my back and upper arms throughout the liturgy.  Towards the end of the liturgy I said to one of the guests with us, I feel like I have been cleared for take off!

The three of us students are working hard to learn the language. We had three guests until yesterday.  Sr. Marilyn from the Charity leadership left yesterday after being here a week.  Father Ron left yesterday for a few weeks in FL.  His mother suffered a stroke last week.  She is 83.  Tomorrow the two other guests leave.   Despite the guests and traveling around to see various parts of Haiti, I have been able to get study time in each day.

The days are hot and humid and the nights usually worse!  Electricity is rare and usually on for only a few minutes (sometimes we are lucky and get it a few hours).  Twice I have had to go out on the veranda to sleep.  There is usually a wonderful breeze that helps cool me off.  Sometimes the breeze keeps the mosquitos away but sometimes the mosquitos are stronger then the wind!  Speaking of mosquitos, I am one big mosquito bite!  Relief from the heat and bites comes from the wonderful cold shower I can take.

On a more personal and spiritual note; I have often found myself sitting at night while looking at the stars giving thanks to God for bringing me back to Haiti as well as giving thanks to Maryknoll’s Congregational Leadership Team for their continued interest in trying to get Maryknoll Sisters to come down here to work.  The people are in need of help, support, and honest and good people to work with them. 

Mother Mary Joseph’s words to Gemma, “Let’s go and see what God has in store for us,” is so much a part of my time here thus far.  In many ways the needs are so overwhelming and the people so hungry for food, medicine, education, support, justice, the basics of life, I wonder how can I offer them what they need.  Then I think of scripture where we are to be aware of when and how we see God – in the hungry, sick, lonely, etc.  Can it be as simple as just responding to the people and needs as they are seen or presented to me?  The Haitian people offer me more than I can offer them by their Spirit, welcome, laughter, music in all its forms, smiles and cries.

Oh rats! My computer battery is running low so I must close here.  Know that I will write again as time allows.   Let us keep in touch and continue to hold we other in prayer!

 – Sister Elizabeth Knoerl, MM