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I
ask God to bless them and to be with them as they work. In this way I feel
that I too have a part in their ministry. In this house we receive many
phone calls, letters, E-mails from people who request prayers for their
various intentions: for deceased loved ones, the sick, suffering and those
in any difficulty or are in any need. My prayers go out for these also and
I remember them especially during our community celebration of the Eucharistic
liturgy, the center of life and unity of our community. Our community has
a Memorial and Prayer Association which is administered by the development
department. Prayers and good works of all the Sisters are offered for all
those whose names are sent in to be prayed for. Many, many requests keep
coming in. I include myself as one of the pray-ers. I do have another ministry here at the motherhouse. I am assistant to our community archivist. It would seem that I am not really doing anything for anyone in the archives. However, on some days I can get quite busy searching for documents, photos, articles or some phase of our community history for Sisters who request them. Sometimes a letter comes from a parish celebrating an anniversary. They are asking for the names of all the Sisters who taught in the parish school. I am happy to fulfill these and similar requests.
However, my main task in the archives for several years has been translating
Czech documents and other archival material to English to preserve the history
and works of our congregation. The Sisters who founded our province came
from what is now the Czech Republic and they spoke the Czech language and
wrote all archival material in Czech during the early years of our community
here in the U.S. I am happy to help my community as one of four Sisters
who speak, write and translate the Czech language. Although I spend much time alone doing work in the archives I do not feel lonely or isolated. I know I have a community of Sisters who support me. They support me in my work; when I am down they lift me up; when I am happy they rejoice with me. In my successes they affirm me. This kind of love and support is mutual; fostering unity and support of one another in community. The first verse of Psalm 133 says it best for me. “How good and pleasant it is for Sisters to dwell as one.”
Sr. Agnes Marie Ostry, N.D.
