Moving Day: Another Mary and Martha Lesson?

This blog is the transition from blogger Anna to her Dad, Ray.  As those of you who have followed the blog know, Anna will not have an on-line presence during the formation process, lasting 3 years.  My first step is to communicate the excitement, tears, and blessing that occurred from Anna’s “Today is the Day” blog through the acceptance ceremony. So, initially expect quite a few blogs followed by occasional updates of her continuing journey through letters received.  I will also post pictures from our visits - set your expectations low on pictures as we have only one formal visit the rest of the year. J   

Many access this blog through Facebook.  Hopefully you received the warning that Anna has deactivated her Facebook page.  Friend Caitlin to get updates: https://www.facebook.com/people/Caitlin-Hoefer

Anna has a definite talent in communicating via the written word using compelling stories of her personal experiences and reflection.  The number of page views doubled each of her last 4 blogs.  So, keep spreading the word of Anna’s beautiful reflections of her vocation journey. 

Anna, Caitlin, Gachia and I left for Mishawaka Saturday (August 31).  Anna continued her Detachment blog in preparation for her new living arrangement at the convent.  Below is what Anna took to Mishawaka.  We have helped move Anna many times through college and her working career and can guarantee this is BY FAR the least number of items that have ever been moved.  Obviously, one does not need many things to live a full life in a convent.

One of our family traditions was to take a photo of Anna and Caitlin when they left the house the first day of each school year in grade school and high school as well as the day they left for college.  The pictures captured the excitement but also the apprehension each transition brought.  So after we packed the car, it was only natural to take a picture of Anna at the front door of the house to capture the move to the convent!

 

We got to Mishawaka early, so we stopped at the South Bend Chocolate Café in downtown South Bend for lunch and of course chocolate.  It was fun to chat, eat and sample chocolate.  We arrived at the entrance to the St Francis Convent at 3:30 pm and began the drive up the beautiful tree lined drive up the hill to “Mount Averno”.  As soon as we were getting out of the car, several Franciscans Sisters were there to warmly greet us.  We immediately took Anna’s belongings into her new home, where the postulants are housed.  Walking up the 3 flights of non-air condition stairs with Anna’s belongings to her room did make me thankful that the postulants have few things.  Anna’s room is about 7 x 11 feet which is large enough for a single bed, small desk, small armoire, and a hall tree. 

The Sisters provided guest rooms for the families of the six postulants.  Anna was given the option to spend Saturday night in her new non air conditioned room or with Caitlin in her AIR CONDITIONED and much larger guest room.  Surely spending one more night with family was the driver in her decision?  Each family was also provided a large room to relax and talk.  The “Hoefer Family” room was a very nice parlor.

This is where God provided another Martha and Mary lesson in life.  What seems to be such a simple and direct story is very rich and deep.  I admit I have only scratched the surface of understanding.  But first, let’s clarify that the detachment and ‘semi-cloistering’ which occurs the first 3 years of the formation process JUST SUCKS!!!  Even though we understand the rationale, simplicity, and even beauty of the formation process, it still sucks. But I digress (that will be probably be a future blog), back to Martha and Mary. 

The four of us settled into the Hoefer Family parlor room and soon two of us were crying, then three.…. We are a family of criers.  Yes it can be a 3 way race but we are led by our master crier Gachia, followed by Anna and then Caitlin.  Although I am not in the lead pack I do frequently get teary eyed (and yes I have shed tears writing this blog).  But why is crying in the parlor a Martha and Mary moment? Like Mary sitting at the feet of Jesus, we were sitting at each other’s feet in the parlor.  But unlike Mary, who was focused on Jesus (what was important), we were like Martha “worried and troubled by many things” that went unspoken.  When will we see each other again? Why can’t we just pick up the phone and talk?  Since Anna struggles with major transitions will she struggle adapting to the convent life?  We will miss each other so much…...  

Then we realized we were still called to be Martha.  Jesus admonished Martha for being “worried and upset” but never asked her to stop serving.  Our role was not to worry about what will come tomorrow, but to interact with the other postulants, their families, and the Sisters, to serve each other collectively in our time of transition. God (and the Sisters) provided a wonderful evening of food, community, a hammered dulcimer concert, and s’mores on the patio.

Tomorrow's blog will be on the long anticipated "Entrance Day".  Anna really enjoyed the day!!