Sr Norma Pimentel is a Catholic Religious Sister in the United States, and a member of the Sisters of the Missionaries of Jesus. Sr Norma is Director of the “Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley” in Texas. This charity has provided basic assistance of food, clothing and housing for around 125,000 immigrants who have crossed the Rio Grande border for reasons of safety and hopes for a better life. This year, Sr Norma has been honoured by being named as among the 100 Most Influential People in the United States. In a recent interview Sr Norma said the following:
“My prayer life is key for who I am today, and for what I do. If I didn’t make that time to wake up early in the morning to go to Mass and do my prayers, and end with prayers at night I would get lost in all this… it would be all about me, and all the sensational attention that is given to me…” (ie her work, and the public recognition which has also included being awarded the University of Notre Dame Laetare Medal).
Sr Norma spoke of the many volunteers who came from all over the United States to assist the impoverished immigrants; “You see the joy in their faces, the joy of helping… their engagement and involvement becomes so alive and you know that God is present in their life…”
Sr Norma’s comment about her life and work not being “all about me” helps emphasise her conviction that her life is about her relationship – with God, and then others, particularly the vulnerable poor. Sr Norma’s Faith has blossomed, matured and deepened. It now “flows over” in a generous commitment to honour the dignity of the poor. Sr Norma reminds us that indeed life is about “us”- our relationship with God and each other. Jesus told the story about the two sons who hesitated or refused to respond to their father’s request to “go work in the vineyard”. Their reluctance indicated that their lives had not yet matured. Their lives were still about themselves, and not yet about “us” …ie their father, and others. In a certain way, St Augustine’s words are applicable: “they are unwilling to die, that their life may be hidden with Christ”.
We know maturity of life and of Faith takes time to grow and shape our lives and requires occasions of significant decision-making. This is so true of married life, of friendships, of parenthood and perhaps in grandparenthood we see the God-blest richness in it all much more clearly.
Like Sr Norma, we also sometimes recognise God’s presence also at work in the lives of those who have a heartfelt commitment to give of their skills and time in selfless service of others’ needs. We sometimes witness here the presence of humility.
Listening to the story of Sr Norma of Rio Grande is a lovely and reassuring reminder of what God’s loving will and purposes are for us all – that we blossom in our God-given goodness to be our best selves, wherever we find ourselves in life. And humility? Sr Norma’s daily reliance upon Mass and prayer helps her to also live out the self-emptying of Christ present in every Eucharist.
During this week, perhaps we can pray part of the Psalm which is prayed this weekend at Masses around the world: “Remember your mercy, Lord. Make me know your ways and teach me your paths”, (Ps 25).
Fr Kevin