Florida Catholic | Living Christ's Compassion

Nun strives to live compassion of Christ

BETTY ANN WEBER | FLORIDA CATHOLIC CORRESPONDENT

Published: 11.02.07

VALETA ORLANDO | FC
Sister Cathy Gorman, Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, and a coordinator of the Office for Farmworker Ministry in Apopka, addresses attendees Oct. 27 at the second annual Pastoral Care Conference at Sts. Peter and Paul Parish in Winter Park.

WINTER PARK | They came from all parts of the Diocese of Orlando, filling the parking lots of Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Winter Park Oct. 27. The dedicated ministry volunteers were eager to refuel and improve the services they render to their parishes.

The Orlando Diocese Office of Family Life and Pastoral Services had just the ticket: the second annual Pastoral Care Conference, aptly titled “Living the Compassion of Christ as Witnesses to Hope.”

And who was better equipped to give the keynote address than Sister Cathy Gorman, Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, and a coordinator with the Office for Farmworker Ministry in the new Apopka Hope CommUnity Center?

After Bishop Thomas Wenski welcomed the assembly, he introduced the speaker. Seated in a wheelchair but looking fit, Sister Gorman beamed at the smiling faces.

“First I want to thank every one of you for your prayers following my heart attack and then through my lengthy recovery from a debilitating automobile accident,” she said. “I’m alive and able.” The supportive listeners roundly applauded. “But keep on praying. I’m going to have to learn to walk again with a new prosthesis.”

She began, “As Gospel people we proclaim that we are compassionate as mandated by Jesus.”

“You and I consider ourselves compassionate people, don’t we? We’re basically good, gentle, caring and understanding. Aren’t we? Then I stop and think for a moment and ask myself, if this is true then why are we continually torn apart by conflict in families and neighborhoods, among races and ethnic groups, and in wars within and among countries? Why do differences frighten us? We have to see God in the broken world. To go where it hurts. To walk among those who are hurting.”

Brooklyn-born Sister Gorman, 64, who arrived in Apopka more than 30 years ago with Sisters Gail Grimes, Ann Kendrick and Teresa McElwee to serve the poor and neglected, knows from whence she speaks.

“True compassion demands we give up control and be willing to enter into the vulnerability of the other. Not for just an hour, nor a day, but always!” she exhorted. “Jesus, from his position as servant, shows us compassion is not bending toward the underprivileged, but walking among them.”

At one point, Sister Gorman signaled for six Hispanic teenage girls to take their places on an elevated stage behind her. “When someone listens to us with real heart and sincerely cares about us,” she said, “something important happens to us as human beings. We are changed and so, too, are they.” With the help of people who share their time and talents with youths through the Office for Farmworker Ministry, these young women are learning to understand and respect who they are. “Listen to their stories and watch them,” she said. “They give me hope.”

A teenager named Carolina began. “I am Carolina. I come from Mexico. I am 16. This is my mask,” she said, displaying a colorful creation and pointing out that each color corresponds to a trait of hers that she had discovered.

With the help of Nilka Melendez, who is in charge of the youth ministry at the center — she placed the mask over her face. One at a time, the others — Jimena, Jessica, Tania, Reyna, Lucy — followed suit with their masks and self-descriptions. Each one alternately said, “I am struggling. I need to hide the sweetness and kindness that I have. I’m sensible, dreamy, a rebel, sad. I get scared, like to have fun, have so many things on my mind, passion for life and love, challenged, growing up, confused.”

Soft music began. With Carolina in the lead, they moved their arms in a liturgical dance.

“What did you see?” Sister Gorman asked the audience. “It is important to hear stories. We all have light and darkness.

“Over my years of ministry,” she continued, “I have learned that if I am going to be compassionate, I need to focus on listening to those in difficult situations and with them, figure out solutions. This was hard for me because I am a problem-solver.”

Sister Gorman spoke of creating networks among communities to help people cross the differences that can divide; providing tutoring, mentoring, teaching, so people can help and support each other; organizing prayer to remember people in the local communities and the world who are in need of compassionate support; and trying to live in a spirit of gratitude to God and each other.

“Renowned Rabbi Abraham Hershel said: ‘A religious person is one who holds God and people in one thought at one time. Who at all times suffers harm done to others, whose great passion is compassion. Whose greatest strength is love and defiance of despair.’”

Sister Gorman cried when speaking of the recent failure of the Dream Act to be voted into law, but left her listeners with this thought: “Live in a manner that fills us with hope. That is the memory of the future — a future where we’ll all survive.”

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