As I sat in the waiting room of a hospital waiting for a sister to get a special procedure, I reflected on one aspect of community that is important, especially as we get older and frailer.  We don’t age alone. There is always someone who can take you to the doctor or hospital or even sit with you while you wait to go into surgery. There is comfort in knowing someone “has your back” when you’re ill or experiencing a medical emergency. As a person who has sat with many sisters in the hospital, I can say that it has been both a challenge and a blessing. It was a chance to learn more about the sister’s ministries, what drew her to the convent, or how God had worked in her life. It was a chance to hold a sister’s hand and pray with her when she was afraid.  

There are many aspects of communal life to celebrate but I find this one is the most tender and rewarding. Many people might not like the idea of staying with a person in the hospital or emergency room. I was one of them. I was not a ‘hospital’ person.  Each time I got a call to accompany a sister to the emergency room, I panicked but forced myself to go. It was almost always a pleasant, if often long, experience.  Some years ago, my Spiritual Director suggested that I take a unit of Clinical Pastoral Education, the training necessary to become a chaplain. I resisted for several years until finally I agreed.  Of course, it changed my life and helped me become more comfortable with hospital visits and being present to patients. I’m grateful for the blessings that come from accompanying my sisters during their vulnerable time.  It is an unexpected benefit of community life.  

Are you ready to lean on God’s understanding and direction for your life, just like Sister Barbara? We invite you to our Come and See Discernment retreat, October 2 - October 4, 2026 in St. Catharine, Kentucky. For more information, contact Sister June Fitzgerald, OP, at [email protected].