The theme this Advent season is “Recognizing prophets in our own
time.” Specifically, this week we are looking at Religious (men and
women Priests, Brothers and Sisters) who, like John the Baptist, have
“prepared the way of the Lord.” Last week we heard Michael Quinn
speak eloquently of his son who was such a gift to their family, and
who surprised him as a prophet, a little prince who was a prophet of
joy and vitality, even through his sickness and early death.

For me, I can think of many religious who have been like the
prophetic voice of John the Baptist, ones who prepared the way of the
Lord in my life. I have been privileged to have been taught by, and
worked with, many talented and compassionate religious, including the
Sisters of St. Joseph, who founded and sponsored this school and
Carondelet High School, the Sisters of the Holy Names, the Christian
Brothers, diocesan priests and other religious in this diocese and
elsewhere. They all have given their lives to living the Gospel
through their ministry to the Church in various ways. But four
specific individuals come to mind in a special way,
all unique voices who brought a prophetic vision of POSSIBILITY,
HUMILITY, INCLUSIVITY AND PASTORAL MINISTRY to me in understanding
the way of the Lord in my life.

By way of brief background, I was in the 2nd grade in 1962 when
Vatican 2 opened. I have always considered myself to be a “child of
the Vatican 2 era,” and of a time that was characterized by rapid
change, the Civil Rights and Women’s rights movements, a time of
great conflict and upheaval, and a time where there was a strong
commitment to social justice in the Church and in the world. All
four of the Religious Prophets of whom I speak came out of that
milieu and spoke to my heart and conscience. They were voices
calling me to know the Jesus of the Gospels, and challenging me to
live his message in my own life in the world and times that I lived in.

The first “prophet” is a woman, a Sister of the Holy Names named
Margaret Spiller. Margaret has always been the PROPHET OF
POSSIBILITY for me. She belongs to an order of Religious women whose
charism is to educate young women with a strong commitment to social
justice issues in the world today. Officially, Margaret taught me
chemistry, physics, and religion in high school, specifically a
course on Christian non-violence. But beyond that, she taught me
that education makes a difference, and that young women can and
should make a difference in the world. She pushed me, and so many
other young women to find our passion in life, to believe in the
world of possibilities, to think outside of the box, and to GO AND
MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD. She looks at challenges not as
roadblocks, but as puzzles to be solved. She encouraged me to go
into the field of education in Catholic schools, to challenge other
young women and men to learn, to embrace the Gospel call of Social
Justice in the world, and to know that they can make a difference,
one person at a time. She has been a tremendous role model to me,
going to Lesotho in Africa to bring computer and internet access to
the Sisters there who hardly had electricity, much less technology,
and doing it single-handedly. As Provincial of the Holy Names
Sisters, she was a master of innovation, knowing how to make things
happen and to live a life of commitment to the Gospel and to her own
calling to service in the Church as a woman Religious. She is indeed
the prophet of POSSIBILY in my life.

The second prophet for me is Fr. Richard Vaughan, S.J., a Jesuit who
was my father’s best friend from an early age. Fr. Vaughan, who was
a clinical psychologist, dean at USF, Provincial of the Jesuits
during the 70’s, and college professor, is the PROPHET OF HUMILITY
and SIMPLICITY for me, in a religious order that is not typically
known for these qualities. All my life, I have known him, at 88
years of age today, to be a good listener, a quiet friend, a man of
deep humility, who always knew how to keep it simple. He exemplifies
to this day Ignatian Spirituality at its best, looking for ways to
experience Christ in his everyday activities and prayer. He always
loved fishing, gardening, visiting friends and family and enjoying a
good walk and conversation. I was recently privileged to attend his
60th jubilee as a Jesuit, and I was filled with awe at listening to
his fellow Jesuits describe him in exactly this same way, humble,
quiet, and simple, even though he had held so many prestigious
positions, but never with any sense of power or elitism. Instead, he
was described as a role model to his fellow Jesuits, and one who
lived out that Ignatian Spirituality in every facet of his life. For
me, he has always been the one I think of when I hear the reminder
from the book of Micah to “Act justly, love tenderly, and walk humbly
with God.” He has been that voice calling me to the same
and he has for so many others as well.

The third prophet is Br. John Johnston, FSC, who passed away on
October 11, 2007, just two months ago. He has been the prophet of
INCLUSIVITY in my life. Br. John was both the Provincial of the
Christian Brothers in St. Louis, as well as the Superior General of
the Brothers throughout the world from 1988-2000, where he supervised
the work of Lasallian education in 81 countries.. The charism of
the Christian Brothers is to provide a “human and Christian education
to the young, especially the poor.” Those individuals who work as
educators and colleagues with the Brothers are now known as Lasallian
partners. I came to know Br. John in my capacity as a Lasallian
educator, and had many opportunities to work with Br. John, and
listen to him at gatherings and workshops over the past nine years,
including at the last Regional Assembly on Mission that the Brothers
held two years ago. John had incredible faith in the wisdom of the
Holy Spirit, and believed powerfully that the Spirit can move in lots
of ways if we are willing to listen. He had an absolute commitment
to fulfilling the educational mission of the Brothers, especially for
young people and families without access to a good education. He
understood more than most that, while the demographics were changing,
with the number of Brothers decreasing dramatically in the past 30
years, the need for quality education remained, and that the
Christian Brothers MUST focus on how to provide quality education to
youth. John believed, like St. La Salle, that if God calls us to
something, God will give us the wherewithal to accomplish it. For
him, that meant INVITING, INCLUDING and ENCOURAGING lay partners to
step forward with the Brothers to build up Lasallian schools and move
into an era of collaboration and partnership at a time when so many
other communities were consolidating and folding. That message of
INCLUSIVITY was heard loud and clear, and today the Lasallian world
is thriving as a result.

And finally, the last prophet for me is our pastor, Brian Joyce, the
prophet of Pastoral Ministry and community. Brian had no idea that I
would mention his name, and yet the list would be sorely lacking
without it. I first met Brian when I was a college student at St.
Mary’s, and directed the choir at St. Monica’s. Both then, and in
these nearly 20 years, I have known him to be THE MODEL of Pastoral
care and builder of Parish community. A few weeks ago, on the feast
of Christ the King, Brian outlined the three characteristics of a
good parish. You might remember them: good liturgy and homilies,
ownership and participation, and good ministry, especially to the
hurting. As I listened, I realized, as I am sure most would agree,
that it has been through Brian’s leadership that this parish has
indeed become such a dynamic faith community. Brian has a clear,
compelling and quiet way of bringing out the best in ministry to
others, because he “walks the talk.” He reminds me of one of the
great lines from Benjamin Disraeli, one of the greatest statesmen of
all time: “The greatest good you can do for others is not just to
share your riches but to reveal to them their own.” Brian is indeed
a prophet, one who prepares the way of the Lord in our hearts, lives,
and parish community each day and week. He challenges us to know and
live the Gospel and invites us all to be a welcoming faith community to one another.
His ability to provide pastoral care when someone has died, or when
someone is in crisis is noteworthy. He is known far and wide across
the country for his skills as a liturgist and pastor, and we are
fortunate to have had him for nearly 20 years as our own prophet of
PASTORAL MINISTRY. He has certainly made a difference in the life of
our parish, and in my own life as well. So I publicly thank you,
Brian, for your prophetic voice.

So I leave you with a question. Who have been those Religious
prophets whom you have known? What was their message to you? How
have they helped to deepen your faith, and how did they become that
voice preparing the way of the Lord for you in your life? Take time
this weekend to pray for them to thank them. Amen.