Community Life

A couple of years ago when several of us were asked to write about our experiences of being a Dominican sister of Sinsinawa, the question posed for us to reflect upon was something like, “What is it about living  in community that gives you life and hope?”   That question popped into my mind, actually my whole being, this evening as we celebrated our first Sister Appreciation Night at the Mound.

We began our prayer of celebration with The Servant Song.  I have sung that song many times in a prayer or liturgy service, but tonight since we were celebrating who we were to each other, the words of that song embedded themselves into my very being.

 “Will you let me be your servant?

Let me be as Christ to you?

Pray that I may have the grace to

Let you be my servant, too.

We are pilgrims on a journey

We are travelers on the road

We are here to help each other

Walk the mile and bear the load.

I will hold the Christ light for you

In the nighttime of your fear

I will hold my hand out to you

Speak the peace you long to hear.

I will weep when you are weeping

When you laugh I’ll laugh with you.”

Overall, this has been my experience of being joined with this awesome community of Dominican women of Sinsinawa.  We are servant to each other. We do help each other walk the mile and bear the load. We do “hold the Christ light” when someone is “in the night time of fear.”  Many of us have especially known this when we ask for prayers during the really bumpy days of our journey together.

Have you experienced this within your community?

Is God calling you to experience community life with us?

Anne Sur, OP

East Dubuque, Illinois