PRESENTATIONS: A CALL TO MISSION: CARRYING THE CDP HERITAGE INTO THE
FUTURE – OLLU
April 7, 2006
Presenters: Sister Jane Ann Slater, CDP and Sister Ann Petrus, CDP, PhD
INTRODUCTION – READING THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES – Jane Ann Slater, CDP
In the Gospel of Mark we read “Jesus appeared in Galilee proclaiming the good news of God:
‘This is the time of fulfillment. The reign of God is at hand! Reform your lives and believe in
the Gospel’”. This good news that Jesus lived and proclaimed is that God loves us and
wants us to love one another and live in unity. John Martin Moye, Founder of the Sisters of
Divine Providence was so committed to this Mission of Jesus to show to the world how much
his Father loves us that he was led to very close observation of how the people of his day
were being taught about God and God’s great love for his children. He read carefully the
signs of his time and was moved to send young women out into the very poor villages of rural
France to spread the Gospel and to teach the children and their parents. His plan was quite
unique because he sent these young women out by ones and twos, something that was
unheard of in those times.
In 1866, again in response to his reading of his times, Bishop Claude Dubuis invited the
Sisters from St. Jean de Bassel in France to send Sisters to his vast diocese which included
the entire state of Texas. Two valiant women, Sisters St. Andrew Feltin and
Alphonse Boegler volunteered. They settled in Castroville and opened many schools
throughout Texas, Louisiana, and Oklahoma.
It was this same attention to the needs in 1895 that brought the Sisters from Castroville to
San Antonio, to this very site. The need for the education of the Sisters and others to
continue teaching in rural Texas was the driving force that prompted the founding of Our Lady
of the Lake University.
Moye equipped his first Sisters with four very important virtues that were to serve as the
sturdy foundation for their lives and work. These virtues are Poverty, Charity, Simplicity, and
Abandonment to Divine Providence. It is these that we will be hearing about and discussing
this morning. I am confident that, if Moye were here today, he would be looking carefully at
OLLU and how we are living out of that special spirit on which he
had founded the Sisters. It is through our fidelity to these virtues that we Sisters live and
carry out the Mission of Jesus. And they must drive the Mission of OLLU.
Sister Ann Petrus will now speak about Poverty and Charity. Later, I will address Simplicity
and Abandonment to Divine Providence.
THE VIRTUE OF POVERTY – Ann Petrus, CDP
There are two kinds of people in the world: people who go ahead and eat the brussels
sprouts first to get it over with and people who leave them to last in case the end of the world
comes and they won’t have to eat them after all! I’m the first kind! When Sr. Jane Ann called
and asked me if I would help with this presentation, she said that she wanted me to talk about
poverty and charity. I thought, “Well, better talk about poverty first.”
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Now, I it’s not that I feel about poverty the same way I feel about brussels sprouts! Here’s the
thing: millions of people around the world suffer dreadfully every day from the devastating
effects of poverty and thousands die. For a well-fed, well-cared for, safe, healthy person to
proclaim poverty as a virtue sounds like a cruel irony. You see, my problem with this virtue is
its NAME. Clearly, we mean something other than destitution, something VERY important. I
don’t have time today to tell you my own thoughts on why we have never adopted a different
term for this reality. Here’s the solution I came to: In mathematics, we are fond of calling
things X. So, with apologies to the Sisters present, let’s refer to this as Virtue X.
I could tell you lots of good stories about what X has meant to the sisters for the last 140
years, but today we’re talking about what it means to OLLU now.
I’d like to talk about three areas:
our relationship with the material world
attitudes and actions that relate to economic standing
where we find our joy
1. Material world
What this virtue asks of OLLU in its relationship to the material world certainly has to do with
the recycling bin behind Providence and other similar efforts—and lots more as well. We
want to use what we need of the world’s resources and not more, not just to save money, and
please our deans and directors, but so that there will be enough of the goods of the world for
everyone, and because THINGS are good. Paper is good; water is good; plants are good;
they deserve respect, not abuse. On the global level, this virtue requires us to get seriously
busy on our makeup work for our past misuse of the environment.
There is another attitude that means a LOT to us CDPs. Let me illustrate: Once a young
woman who entered the congregation was working at one of our institutions and complained
that there seemed to be so many things that were expected of her that she hadn’t had to do
in her previous place of employment. I said, “Oh, you now live above the store. This is the
family business and you take up the slack.” OLLU needs you to care for this place, to treat it
well, to help Margarite make Metz Hall last many more years, to pick up the occasional litter
and help Alex make the mall area even more beautiful. Perhaps we ALL could act as if this
place were ours and we were beautifying it for the next generation. Of course, that carries
over to so much more than the physical plant, and is so wonderfully evident among so many
people in this room who claim OLLU as your place.
2. The second aspect has to do with relationships with people and economic factors. Three
points:
A. Virtue X calls the OLLU community to be completely blind to a person’s economic
condition and social status when it comes to the respect we accord that person as a fellow
human and child of God.
B. This virtue shows in the attitudes and actions of staff, faculty, and administrators who
refuse to expect less of some students because those students may come from
disadvantaged life circumstances, and those persons who are amazingly generous with their
time to help the students meet the standards.
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C. I think this virtue asks that we give up any sense of inferiority about being on the
Westside, should anyone have that. At the risk of sounding like a cheerleader, I think this is
the most beautiful campus in the city and the university has an important, viable mission. If
any of us aren’t doing our jobs to the best of our abilities, then, indeed, let us feel inferior! But
not because we’re here! I am confident that were Father Moye alive today and were he to
start a university, it would be here, not on the north side.
3. Where we find our joy
Unless something truly extraordinary happens, OLLU will probably never be wealthy. If we’re
waiting to be joyful when we have financial security………….. The CDP Constitutions
encourage the sisters to “find their joy in God, in one another and in the simple things of life.”
That could be a watch phrase for OLLU as well. Doesn’t our café have some of the best
breakfast tacos anywhere? Can you imagine a greater smile than Ruben Caudillo’s. Is there
a more beautiful, peaceful, quiet place than Sacred Heart Chapel when no one else is there?
“Find joy in God, in one another and in the simple things of life.”
THE VIRTUE OF CHARITY – Ann Petrus, CDP
No, it will not be necessary to call this one Y! It’s about doing for others, of course.
John Martin Moye expressed it as performing the corporal and spiritual works of mercy. How
many of you are old enough Catholics to remember memorizing those?
Feed the hungry
Give drink to the thirsty
Clothe the naked
Visit the sick
Shelter the homeless
Ransom the captive
Bury the dead
Instruct the ignorant
Counsel the doubtful
Admonish the sinner
Bear wrongs patiently
Forgive offenses willingly
Comfort the afflicted
Pray for the living and the dead
In terms of what we are—an educational institution—and because so many of the programs
we offer are service oriented, our nature as an organization is oriented toward this virtue.
Our Office of Service Learning and Volunteerism has done much in the last years, and I
understand that others in the San Antonio academic community recognize OLLU as being a
leader in making service an integral part of its mission. It’s something of which we can be
justly proud.
As far as I know, we do pretty well about being of assistance to those within the OLLU
community who occasionally have unusual material needs. It seems that Staff Organization
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and its Helping Hands Committee is especially good about community outreach, and many
other groups and individuals among students, staff, faculty and administration are very active.
Campus Ministry alerts us to “pray for the living and the dead” and to various needs and
concerns of members of the community. If anyone is aware that as a community we are
missing some of those concerns, today would be a good day to make that known.
I’d like just to comment on two areas. The first is an obvious one. As we “do charity,” feed
the hungry, visit the sick, etc., or encourage the students to do so, we want to be continually
attentive to the ways we can change structures so that the people will have food to eat
tomorrow, have health care tomorrow, etc. I recently had an opportunity to participate in the
students’ Homeless Night Out and shake the hands of some people who need food and
clothes and the things we talk about. That was a wonderful experience. I learned that one of
those “structures” we discuss would be places for street people to use restrooms.
Secondly, there are a couple of little zingers hidden in the list of spiritual works of mercy:
Bear wrongs patiently; Forgive offenses willingly. We are asked not just to bear wrongs and
forgive offenses, but to do so patiently and willingly. What do forgiveness and patience mean
to us here at OLLU? Practicing “Admonish the sinner is a lot easier,” isn’t it. It seems to me
that there must be at least some patience and forgiveness running throughout every day as
people rub against each other in any healthy working environment, and certainly in what we
hope is a community. I think that forgiveness does not mean denying or ignoring wrongs
done to a person. I think it does mean recognition that all of us are fallible. Sometimes it’s
simple, but it can be a very complex phenomenon, can’t it. It may be something that some of
us want to think about—or not.
Of course, the bottom line of the virtue of charity is “love one another.”
THE VIRTUE OF ABANDONMENT TO DIVINE PROVIDENCE – Jane Ann Slater, CDP
The name of this virtue often prompts a negative reaction. Who wants to be abandoned?
That’s certainly not a goal for anybody. However, living with God in the deepest part of our
hearts, attentive to how much God loves and cares for us is a very positive image. Imagine a
very caring, gentle, and accepting friend
who accompanies you throughout your entire life,
one who accepts you just as you are,
who has the courage to challenge you to be the very best person you can be,
who stays by your side through your worst and best behaviors,
who gently points out to you the best way to walk the path ahead and then
guides you as you make your way,
who never gives up on you though you may make terrible mistakes,
who is ever forgiving.
This is the God of Providence! Why wouldn’t we give ourselves over to this wonderful, loving
Being? Wouldn’t we be very foolish not to?
How can/does this virtue impact the OLLU community and the Mission of OLLU?
Living out of a deep trust in the Provident love of God helps us realize that we can and must
collaborate with Providence in bringing about the unity in love and acceptance that Jesus
came to teach us. As individuals and as the OLLU community we can
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be more active in reaching out to others in forming loving relationships – take
some time to help a classmate or friend with a difficult assignment, project, or to
study for a test. Remember those corporal and spiritual works of mercy that
Sister Ann talked about!?
live with the assurance that we will do our best and then “let go and let God” –
really do those assignments and study hard for those tests on a regular basis
know that we are enough and that we have enough because Providence never
leaves us to make our way alone – as you look around at what others
wear or the kind of car they drive or even the grades they make, rejoice in
the loving Providence of God that created you with all of YOUR gifts and
share them with those around you.
give up on our tendency to “count the cost” of what we do – we recall the
unimaginable love of our God in sending Jesus to live among us and to
die for us – as you go to class each day or come to your office or your
work, realize that you are the concrete manifestations of Providence to
all with whom you interact. They might just need the smile or word of
encouragement that you give them.
live with less fear, rigidity, mistrust because Providence will be our guide – when
those recruitment numbers are lower than hoped or it’s taking longer than
you expected to get that paper written, say a quick prayer of trust in God’s
provident care and help and ask for calm and peace. Then continue your
efforts. We work as if everything depends on us but we trust that everything depends on God.
I believe that OLLU and the Sisters of Divine Providence have a unique and wonderful
Mission in our call to be Providence people. We must live and act in such a way that others
see us and say: “There’s something special about you. You have a confidence and peace
that is very unusual. These are trying times. How is it that you are so calm?” You and I can
answer with confidence: “We walk with Providence and Providence will continue to be with
us.”
THE VIRTUE OF SIMPLICITY – Jane Ann Slater, CDP
The virtue of simplicity may be the most demanding of the four. It is Moye’s challenge to us
to live with integrity – to speak and act outwardly what we know to be God’s call to us. Father
Moye challenged the first Sisters:
“… may you have a consuming desire to glorify God by accomplishing God’s
work here on earth…”
“May you be single in heart and purpose.”
“may you say what needs to be said according to needs and occasions,
avoiding temptations to pride and anything that is affected, speaking only to
edify, instruct, and console others”.
“Go to God sincerely, without deviation, without false pretense, with an upright
intention, having no other aim than to please God, without caring what people
think and without any thought of self interest.”
These are strong admonitions! Father Moye wanted his Sisters and all of us who follow in his
way to be people of our word! We can’t be wishy-washy, changing from one day to the next
in order to have others like us. We are called to be women and men who are ready to stand
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up and be counted for what is right and true and just. We are to be people who live the
Gospel, the good news of Jesus – God loves us and we in turn love God and one another.
This means that
we not only speak our truth – we are honest in bringing our concerns to those
who can do something about them and also affirm others for the good
work they do AND
we also listen openly and respectfully to others as they speak their truth to us –
it is never easy to hear things that are critical but we must be willing to
hear things that could be useful in making our OLLU community better.
we let go of trying to fool others into thinking we’re other than who we really are –
each of us is human and flawed and we’d might as well acknowledge that
we can learn from and help one another.
we use our knowledge and wisdom to bring about justice and right relationships
wherever we are – OLLU is a community of learners and what better way
is there for growing in knowledge and wisdom than sharing our goodness
and knowledge with others. Community is all about being with and for others.
we are honest and forthright in our dealings with others, no matter what the cost
 we just won’t allow ourselves to cheat on a test or project. In reports, we
make sure that numbers and the way we say things are true and honest.
In summary, if we live out of the virtue of simplicity, we will be people who are at peace with
ourselves. Others will see us as women and men of integrity. Because we try to live out of a
constant search for truth, we will help others enter into their own journey toward integration
and wholeness. What a wonderful and powerful call! I pray that all of us who are the OLLU
community will commit ourselves to living out of this virtue of simplicity.
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