Albert Schweitzer Honors Scholars Award Lecture
Sister Isaac Koenig, S.U.
Over two decades ago, Fr. Dan Berrigan, Author, Poet and Social Activist was
invited to a prestigious University on the East Coast to deliver the
Commencement Address. The ceremony was packed. When the time came for him to
give his address to the crowded audience, he stood up and said: “Know where you
stand and stand there.” and he sat down.
And here I am – standing before you, the honors Freshman class of a prestigious University on the East Coast and friends and co-workers. Unfortunately for you, I am neither an author nor a poet. Nor am I going to sit down after I say to you, “Know where you stand and stand there!”
Dr. Tom Dooley, who was the co-founder of United Nations - Medico and who worked in Laos in the 1950’s-60’s, wrote a book about his experiences. In his book he quoted these words of Dr. Albert Schweitzer: “I do not know what your destiny will be, but this I do know – you will always have happiness if you seek and find how to serve others.” I know that you have read Tracy Kidder’s book about Dr. Paul Farmer, who like Albert Schweitzer worked with the poor so that they would receive better health care. Seeking and finding how to serve others takes is a life journey.
My journey began in a small city, Kingston, N.Y., 100 miles north of the Big Apple. I t even had been selected to be the capitol of N.Y. but after our Founding Fathers and Mothers had a good night’s sleep, they changed their minds! I am the third of six children and all my siblings entered into vocations that are service oriented. I believe that my parents were responsible for that. My mom’s vocation was that of a registered nurse, and my Dad, who never finished high school, exemplified for me a deep respect for all people, no matter what race or economic status a person might be.
I attended a Parish Elementary School, and then went to an all girl’s High
School that was under the direction of the Sisters of St. Ursula, a religious
community that was founded in 1606. As you know, religious life which
encompasses a group of people who come together, putting all things in common,
has its roots in the 5th In the first several hundred years of the Christian
Church, those who professed belief in Jesus Christ, were more often than not,
persecuted and killed for their beliefs. With the peace of Constantine and the
Edict of Milan in 313 AD the bloody persecutions gradually stopped. A new
movement began for the Christian Church. Men and women wanted to be more radical
in living their faith lives so small communities, dedicated to prayer and
service of others came to be and continues even today. The group I am a member
of was founded by a French woman, Anne de Xainctonge. In 1606, she gathered
together several women who supported her vision of education for women,
especially the poor. Since at this time in History women religious were
cloistered –living a hidden life of prayer and sacrifice behind the walls of a
convent. It was impossible to educate those who did not have the resources to
come and board behind those walls. One of Anne’s contributions to religious life
was the idea of remaining contemplatives, but doing it by interacting and
serving others who lived outside convent walls. She and her companions began
educating young girls outside the cloister. Their first students were found
around the town’s water pool where women came to wash clothes.
The Sisters who educated me in High School inspired me. The day after my 17th birthday I entered the Society of St. Ursula and, two years later, professed my vows of simplicity of life, celibacy for the Kingdom and obedience – discerning together what God asks of me. I have been a religious sister for 53 years.
I am not quite the “Flying Nun” but I can assure you that the years have sped by quickly as I studied and prayed and reflected as to just where do I stand? My first educational degree was a BA, with a major in History and a minor in Latin. My MA, also from Marquette University, was in Modern European History and Political Science. Then I attended NYS University at New Paltz for a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies in Administration and Supervision. For 20 years I ministered as a Principal in Kingston NY, Providence, R.I. and Milwaukee, Wisconsin. I was still “learning” where to “stand”, when in 2002, I had a sabbatical and I studied at St. Mary of the Woods in Indiana where I received a Master in Earth Literacy – learning about our interconnectedness with the Universe, the World, my local habitat and sustainable agriculture.
During the turbulent and challenging ‘60’s, several members of my community, worked with a Black Priest in Ferriday, Louisiana operating a sort of “summer school”. It was there that much of what I stand for today was settling deep within me. When we arrived in Ferriday I experienced first hand the power of “fear”. The priest arranged for us to stay in an apartment in the white section of town. During the wee hours of the morning we were awakened by several of the residents moving out. Was this a southern custom? In the morning we were told that the Klan was planning on bombing the boarding house! *(Story of Father ‘s Sermon”.) We settled in the black section of town that very day. Several times a week, some FBI agents would come to visit us and bring us up to date on the activities of the CORE workers. The agents had come to Ferriday for information about the murder months before of the 4 Civil Rights Activists, who were members of the Congress of Racial Equality. You will recall from your Civil Rights history that CORE was a group of young idealistic men and women worked for change in racial equality, particularly by encouraging our African-American brothers and sisters to register to vote.
The F.B.I. agents would sit around the table in our tiny living room and place their guns on it. The discussions centered on ways to prevent the KKK from dropping leaflets from a plane that warned the black community of the consequences if they integrated the local businesses. Reflecting back I wonder if some of the local residents didn’t think we were part of the Klan as we wore white religious habits at the time! Believe me, this was a new experience for this white girl who didn’t even know there was a race problem!
During the following two decades I was involved in education. You know, there are two sides of the coin when you get involved in social justice issues. On one side you work to change what is called the “sinful social structure” of injustice. So I wrote letters to my congress persons to pass laws that would be more just for the poor. Letters went to large corporations to improve their hiring practices. I marched for peace and for caring, compassionate care for the victims of aids.
Then, in 1982, another Sister and I came to serve in St. Mary Parish here in Wilmington. We simply wanted to be a presence among our people. Hopefully we were “standing” for peace and reconciliation and service to anyone who might be in need. This is when the “coin” turned over, and I began to get directly involved with those who suffer in society from prejudice and economic injustice. The coin was in the process of being turned over. This did not happen in a vacuum. One of the reasons I accepted to come and speak with you is that I wanted to “honor” those who give of themselves to serve their brothers and sisters who suffer, for whatever reason. They are the Volunteers who challenge me and work with me to give hope to those we serve. Just once and a while we might even helped some to move up a level economically. You all know that saying…”If you give a man a fish you feed him for a day; if you teach him how to fish you feed him for a lifetime.”
The outreaches of the Tileston Social ministry began when, in the early 1980’s, we were approached for food and request for funds on a daily basis. As you might know, St. Mary Parish is on 5th street in the Historic District and there are many poor families who live in this area. We would try to respond to their requests and we had a small “closet” in the school from which we dispensed food and a bit of clothing.
Then our Parish, in the late 1980’s, purchased from the county the former Tileston School, which is across the street from the Church. We now had space, and we came out of the closet. Our Pastor, Father Hadden, set up a committee to look at ways we might serve the local community. One suggestion from four Doctors, members of the Parish, was to begin a free clinic; others looked at an outreach to the homeless and hungry and economically poor. The St. Mary Social Ministry at Tileston was born, and hundreds of volunteers came and started cleaning up the building. They put in over $800,500.00 dollars of free labor and love!
Just a year ago I attended a press release conference here at the University. Graduate students in the Capstone Seminar in Public Administration presented their findings, entitled “Blueprint for Impact”. It was about the “comprehensive needs in the Cape Fear Region,” – which covers New Hanover, Pender and Brunswick Counties. The Summary of their survey showed the most essential challenges to our Region. Listed in order of being most crucial were:
- Affordable Health Care
- Affordable Housing
- Domestic Violence
- Drug Abuse
- Drunk Driving
- Underage drinking
As I sat in the audience I looked back on my Tileston experience. For the past 15+ year’s volunteers from all faiths, races and professions have worked together on just these issues here in New Hanover County. One of the needs is being met so well by volunteers that it didn’t make the list. It is the issue of hunger.
I believe hunger was not on the list because volunteer groups are working hard to see that all who are hungry will be able to find nourishment. I am sure you know that as a social issue, there is enough food to feed our world – the problem is unjust distribution-but we won’t go there today.
As students you might not come down into the Historic District too frequently – except to visit First St/Front St. – at least during the hours when you find the poor lining up at various places that provide lunches, such as Good Shepherd Ministries on 8th and Martin Street that served a hot lunch from 11-12 Monday through Friday. Hundreds of volunteers, some of whom have gone out in the early hours getting food from local restaurants and markets and brought it back to more volunteers so it might be cooked and served to the 200plus men and women who come for dinner. Four days a week Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard, located on Grace and 5th St., has volunteers who serve over 50 families who come for boxes of food that will help them have several meals for the coming days. The Cupboard came to be because of volunteers in area churches worked with the Food Bank, a National Agency that provides food to non-profit agencies to feed the hungry. Now hundreds of volunteers collect food at local markets, and other volunteers bring it to the Cupboard. Local Churches and small faith groups also feed the hungry, especially on weekends. The people are most grateful for their help. Many of the people who are fed are the working poor and the elderly and the ill.
The need of affordable health care was singled out as our Number one challenge. Three years ago, representatives from Blue Cross/Blue Shield asked to use the Tileston health clinic as a place to present a Check of several million dollars to the State so that more free clinics could be started. The donors from Blue Cross/Blue Shield stated that N.C. is the second worst state in the Union for the number of uninsured. As I stood among the small group gathered there I reflected on the dream of those four Doctors in 1991. This free clinic is trying to provide services who need medical assistance, help with their diabetic problems, dental care, eye care and pharmaceutical needs. Just this year it served its 10,000th client. It is the only free clinic in a 60 mile radius and it operates because of the 300 plus volunteers: Doctors, Dentists, Psychiatrists, Psychologists, Podiatrists and Ophthalmologists, Pharmacists, Physician Assistants, R.N.’s, LPN’s, Medical secretaries, Translators and many other men and women volunteer their time and talents Monday through Thursday to care for the uninsured. Just one little fact – Since its inception in 1995, the Dental Clinic every Wednesday serves 8-10 people – extractions only. That says something about the need for health care for our people. The medical clinic on Wednesdays receives 30 clients and records indicate that at least 30% of them are diagnosed with diabetes – so we know have a diabetic clinic to educate and treat these men and women. Most of those served by the clinic and the outreach are the working poor. If you do not have transportation in Wilmington it is hard to find work that might pay for insurance. So many can find employment just for 25-30 hours, at minimum wage – not quite enough to buy insurance, much less food for their children, rent and utilities.
Monday through Thursday, the West Wing of Tileston, which is where the Social Ministry Outreach is lodged, at least 35 families receive help with food, both regular and diabetic, clothing, toiletries, household articles and some funds when we have them to help with rent and utilities. This past week, a Senior from Cape Fear Academy fulfilled his service obligations, by helping our volunteers deliver beds and couches and a dining room table and chairs to a family the had absolutely nothing in the home they had recently moved into. The Father works on construction. He, his wife and three children slept for weeks on the floor; nor did they have any blankets for warmth. Last month, a 78 year old woman who had worked all her life and who is $75.00 over the limit to qualify for Medicaid, came to ask if we could help fill her gas tank. She had a stroke in January so is not able to do small jobs to earn a bit of extra money to help with her needs. We were able to give her some assistance. Two weeks ago, an amputee rode the bus here to get diabetic food and since he has paid more attention to his diet he has been able to control his illness. There are so many stories each day and everything is interconnected. Domestic violence, substance abuse and crime certainly play a role in all of this.
The second need, affordable housing, also requires attention. For a good number of people this is a number one problem. Rents in this area are very high – and many of the places are rented by absentee landlords who claim to be unaware of the house’s condition. Thus we have many homeless in Wilmington. If you just ride down 17th Street – across from the Dept. of Social Services , there is an area that is referred to as Tent City – or when you pass over one of the Bridges think of the many who find a resting place under them. We can miss seeing the poor. We need to open our eyes and look around. To be a volunteer is one way to help you to “see”. I challenge you, during your college years, to find some type of hands on service that you can be involved in for a time. A simple thing like going to a soup kitchen and sitting down at table and entering into conversation with a poor person might be one way to serve. Remember the Indian proverb…Don’t judge a person until you walk a month in their moccasins?”
You might ask – how do you and your volunteers keep going? Here is another quote from Albert Schweitzer” “Sometimes our light goes out, but is blown again into instant flame by an encounter with another human being. Each of us owes the deepest thanks to those who have rekindled this inner light.” This saying is applicable to both ourselves and our guests whom we serve. The work done at the Outreach is about giving hope to one another.
For me, I draw my strength from prayer and reflection each morning. That helps me do what Mother Teresa is said to have said to a reporter who was interviewing her. He said, “Mother Teresa, I wouldn’t do what you do for all the money in the world.” Mother Theresa responded, “Neither would I!” Then how do you do it – when you see so much pain and suffering. She said, “I just love them one at a time”.
So how do you come to know where to stand and stand there”? You, members of the honors class are well on your way to finding out where to stand. You need to study hard, and take time not only to smell the roses but to reflect about your life and what you are called to be and do in your lifetime. Life is primarily about “being” not “doing.” What is your attitude towards others? Do you see them truly as your brothers and sisters, all coming from the same source of Life? Yes, you are learning how to make a living, but you also need to learn how to make a life. And I suspect it is more than making lots of money and having prestige among your peers. Search honestly and deeply within your hearts to find out what it is that puts fire in your spirit. Then dedicate yourself to this fire and light so that all those you meet and interact with will be better people when you take leave of them. You have been gifted so gift others so that they, too, may have hope.
I would like to conclude with an ancient Buddhist Blessing:
May no one who ever meets me (us)
Have a meeting of little consequences.
May the simple fact of our meeting
Assist in the fulfillment of their wishes.
May (I) we be a lamp
In the darkness of life,
A home for the homeless,
And a servant of the world.
I thank you.
Photography by Frank Bua