By Rita McInerney

“We need your ministry,” Archbishop Eugene A. Marino told the sisters of the archdiocese of Atlanta May 14 during a Mass at Marist Chapel. More than 100 sisters attended the Eucharistic celebration which was followed by lunch in the school cafeteria.

The archbishop told the assembled Religious, “As your bishop I welcome your presence. I want to collaborate with you and hope you will with me. I look forward to working with you. You are one of the great blessings that we have.”

The Church needs consecrated men and women as a sign in a world that sees itself in material things, he said. They are a reminder of the eternal realities of love, dedication, fidelity and faithfulness, of enduring values, things that remain constant.

“We need your consecration. We need to be reminded by your religious presence that God is faithful to us. We need your ministry. You are in touch with a vision (the charism of founders)…and a call from the Lord.”

“I, as your bishop, want to continue to value you, to empower you in that responsibility to your apostolate.”

He told them that while they represent many different congregations and have unique differences, all have religious commitment in common, and have made the decision to live life in service to their brothers and sisters.

Many people lose sight of the meaning of religious commitment, lose sight of the substance, he continued. People need to remember that such a commitment is “not a flight away from the world but a flight to Jesus Christ” and detachment from material things. “Poverty means that we use material things of the world as Jesus did, with reverence and detachment. Chastity means our life is about love. Love and giving ourselves so completely to Jesus that it is not possible to give ourselves to another. Our love is open so that we can love each man, woman and child. It is open ended, there is room for everyone.”

“Obedience is opening minds and hearts to the Lord so completely that we detach ourselves from our own judgement so that we can be open to the Spirit in the people around us and, in our community, to the superior.”

The archbishop said the Church needs the faithful witness, service and presence of each one of the sisters.

“Today we begin a new phase. Today I get to know you, today you get to know me as your brother and friend as well as your archbishop. Today we begin to walk together,” he concluded.

Sister Barbara Baker, M.H.S.H., of Transfiguration parish in Marietta, welcomed the Religious attending. Sister Marie Sullivan, O.P., gave the first reading, and Sister Margaret McAnoy, I.H.M., presented the intercessions. Music was by Therese and Bill Campbell of Transfiguration.