Co-creating the future with God

Sister Editha, who ministers with women discerning life as a Sister of Providence, hugs Sister Tracey Horan as she enters the Congregation in 2014.

“Providence is the mystery of God actively engaged with us, calling us to enter into the creative activity of co-creating the future.” Sister Marie McCarthy, SP

On my monthly day of solitude, I was struck with this profound sentence.

I consider my calling as a woman religious in an apostolic community an unearned blessing. Belonging to a group of women actively co-creating with God, responding to this call through the charism and spirituality in service to Jesus’ mission, is still a mystery to me.

Two weeks after graduating with a bachelor’s degree in education, I left home without my parents’ consent to join religious life. It broke my father’s heart. And my family was sad. (A year later, they let me be and years later, they are proud and happy for me). In retrospect, the fearlessness and determination were purely motivated by my strong desire to do God’s will, to respond to God’s call and to serve in return to God’s unconditional love.

It has been 48 years blessed years since I responded to that initial call. And I am still relishing it. I am deeply grateful for God actively engaging with me as I today walk with women discerning their vocations, as I foster respect in our diversity and live in the spirit of abundance in my own simple way. Who I am, and who I am still becoming, I believe is God co-creating the future through and with the Sisters of Providence, where I am called to be a part and to belong.

It is beyond words. It is a mystery. And in my heart it’s for real and it’s true.

Let us be more intentional in allowing Providence to actively engage in our lives. More present to how we are called to co-create in this time of distrust, cultural animosity, economic crisis and increasing violence.

Christmas is a timely, urgent reminder of God’s passionate love for us. Jesus became one among us, restoring the dignity and sacredness of life, showing us to live in God’s mercy and love in return.

Together, let us be fearless in making greater sense of what Christmas means in our world today. And with Pope Francis, let us renew our commitment to bring about “peace, mercy reconciliation, pardon, love” during this Year of Mercy.