Spiritual Perspectives
Eucharist Leads to Service

By Sister Mary Matthias Ward
Special to The Independent

In the Catholic Church, we sing a song which says: "What do you want of me, Lord? Where do you want me to serve you?" Another one that resonates with me: "Whatsoever you do to the least of my people, that you do unto me." I wish to share how I saw both of these songs enacted this summer.

Each year there are many college students, youth groups and adults who come to the Gallup Diocese to help the different parishes, the different agencies, to help to be of service in many ways.

In the later part of June, a group of youth came from Blessed Mother Parish, Owensboro, Ky. These young people were workers and did lots for us at Sacred Heart Retreat Center. No doubt they can tell you exactly how many windows we have! The group worked all year earning money for the flight out... then came and worked for a week. They were Jesus to people in CARE 66, San Martin, the Chancery Office and here at our center.

Those young people, along with their chaperones, began the day with the Morning Prayer of the church. They had daily Mass when they returned from their mission... and ended the day with the Evening Prayer.

At an early age they are learning that Eucharist leads to service.

What hope we have in those youth!

During the first week of August, 17 adults came from St. Barnabas Parish, Indianapolis, Ind., to our diocese to give of themselves... to do for others.

These men and women wanted to learn more about Native Americans. When they arrived in Albuquerque, they visited a museum and steeped themselves in the history of the Southwest. One evening Sister Michael Claire Wilson visited and shared with them her advocacy for Indian people.

The 17 from St. Barnabas, a parish of almost 1900 families, really didn't know one another until they arrived at Sacred Heart Retreat Center and began to pray together, to eat together, to share together, and to work together.

These men and women had a sense of being commissioned by their parish to work among us. On the evening before four of the men left for Keams Canyon to help Father Clay Kilburn, the community commissioned them off to St. Joseph Parish. There was a sense that where one painted, they all painted; where one bagged potatoes, they all bagged potatoes.

On Thursday evening when the men returned, it was much like the apostles' return after their first mission. They told all that they had been doing. It was a sacred moment.

Living at Sacred Heart Retreat Center and going out to minister at San Martin, Care 66, the Community Pantry and the Little Sisters of the Poor made for much conversation at evening prayer as they brought closure to the day.

Community building was part of the plan of the two parish Dominican Sisters, Mary Ann and Romano. Members of the group took their turns planning prayer and cooking the meals. These teachers, business men and women, family people, single parents and retired were here giving service to others.

Recently, I reflected on how Eucharist leads to service. We remember how at the Last Supper Jesus put a towel around himself and washed the feet of his apostles. On Holy Thursday night when this happens again during the Mass, it causes me to reflect on how often I wash others' feet... not literally, but am I there for them? Do I notice the anxiety and hurt on others' faces? Do I offer to help? Do I phone when I know another may need it? All of these actions are washing the feet... all of these actions are ways of being Eucharist.

These folks from Indianapolis were Eucharistic people. They began their day by attending Mass... by putting the new day and all it held into the hand of their God.

Over and over I heard how the homeless, the needy, and the elderly had been Christ to them. The St. Barnabas people left knowing they had been blessed... that they had received far more than they had given. They truly were examples of Eucharist leading to service.

This column is the result of a desire by community members, representing different faith communities, to share their ideas about bringing a spiritual perspective into our daily lives and community issues.

For information about contributing a guest column, contact Elizabeth Hardin-Burrola at the Independent: (505) 863-8611, ext. 218 or lizreligion01@yahoo.com.

Sister Mary Matthias Ward is the director of the Sacred Heart Retreat Center. She can be contacted at smmward@cnetco.com.