Sisters of Charity of Nazareth celebrate golden jubilee

BELIZE

Sacred Heart Parish in Dangriga was filled on Sunday, August 31, with women, men, and children to celebrate the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth’s (SCN) 50th Jubilee. September 1 marked the 50th year the Sisters have been in ministry in Belize. The Mass brought in many families and friends from across Belize, representing the areas the Sisters served in ministry with the people.

According to The Christian Herald, it all began in 1975 in the Stann Creek District when two Sisters of Charity of Nazareth visited Dangriga, Belize, the year before.

Provincial Barbara Flores SCN said in her welcome remarks, “Thank you, Dangriga and our villages of the entire district for your wonderful reception of us then and now.”

Sr Barbara recognised the Belizeans who chose as their vocation to become SCN, “even daughters of the soil of Belize became Sisters of Charity, from Punta Gorda by way of Dangriga, from San Antonio, from Cayo, and from Belize City.”

She also spoke of the women and men Religious who had preceded the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth. “We became part of a diocese in which several congregations of women and men Religious had, for a century and more, served the Church generously and courageously. These were Jesuits, Pallottine Sisters, Mercy Sisters and Holy Family, to name a few, who supported us and even offered temporary living space.”

She thanked the bishops and local clergy of the Diocese for the partnership over the years. “We were joined in ministry and partnership by Dominican Sisters of Peace. We are grateful for the relationship. Today, we partner with our Sisters of Charity of Halifax.”

Sr Barbara also recognised the Daughters of Charity who attended the Jubilee celebration.

She spoke about the SCN’s Associate Programme, a programme made up of women and men who want to deepen their spirituality, build community, and reach out in service. The Associate relationship continues to grow and thrive with approximately 207 SCN Associates, which includes Associates from Belize, India, Botswana, and the US.

In addition to the hundreds of people who joined the Sisters at Mass, many Sisters who could not travel were able to watch the livestream courtesy the Diocesan Communication Center. “These Sisters were so grateful to witness, especially those who had served alongside the people of Belize many years ago,” reported the local news source.

In his homily, Fr Brian Christopher SJ, reminded parishioners of the importance of humility. Humility, he said, at the heart comes from a Latin word meaning ‘dirt’ or ‘earth’. He connected that with Ash Wednesday and said “we are all from the same substance, the people, the animals, plants, and all living things. And to that we will return, no matter a billionaire or a pauper, no matter your race or gender. Humility is not putting yourself on a pedestal, nor is it putting yourself down. It’s about being right-sized. It’s about being yourself.”

Fr Brian thanked the SCN for the groundwork begun with the lay ministers. “We are all called to minister in this church; it requires humility to realise that.”

He spoke about the importance of the SCN working to translate Masses into the local languages. He said the Church can be Eurocentric, and this was an affirmation in humility. “We still need it as much as we did in 1975,” he said.

The Prayers of the Faithful were given in multiple languages: English, Maya, Garifuna, Spanish, and Creole. As part of the multicultural celebration, three Sisters of Charity of Nazareth performed the aarti, which is a sacred ritual with roots in East Indian religious tradition and culture, using incense and flowers at Eucharist as an act of total surrender to God.

The joyous Mayan marimba and Garifuna drums reverberated through Sacred Heart Parish, recalling the beauty of the last 50 years, and continued at the celebration that followed nearby.