Epiphany in Ranong:

Who said that Priests and Sisters cannot work together?

The long association of RNDM Sisters and Marist Fathers , however fraught history might retell, is bearing mutual fruition in the far frontier of Ranong.  It was a great joy for me to spend some extended time here, after working with the Community.  I experienced great privilege in witnessing vision and mission emerging from:

-faithfulness to the Marist Charism

-a desire to live community of Gospel Wit[h]ness

-to have a heart and zeal for the poorest people in Ranong.

It is in caring for each other on Love’s journey that we reflected on the Epiphany these last few days.  A call to find within ourselves, our own “East” – the place of strength and wisdom that compels us to carry our gift to places of Incarnation and Revelation . And here in Ranong and in this faith-filled Marist community, I experienced blessings of rest, healing of health and zeal for Mission.  In resting with the weakness of Manger, we somehow found wisdom for Mission.  In journeying beyond ourselves, we discovered the “more” of ourselves. 

It is from here, Marists respond to the challenge, “Give them something to eat yourselves” [Gospel for Tuesday 6 Jan 2009]

In Ranong, nourishment from this Marist Mission involves:

-Education for those who would otherwise not benefit, especially Burmese Migrant children.

-Hospitality and literacy gives strength and affirmation to those judged harshly as outsider.

-HIV/AIDS ministry gives presence and healing to people living with AIDS, enabling necessary medicine and hospital visits.

I know this community of Marists in Ranong, gathers women, men and children, sits them down and faithfully, and strengthened by their daily prayer and reflection, gives of their resources.  The people in Ranong who sometimes live in darkness, surely sees the great light of God who is faithful, because of Marist Mission Ranong.

Anne Sklenars   rndm      

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