CLINTON TOWNSHIP, Mich. — Basilian Sister Barbara Jean Mihalchick was the guest speaker at the Lenten day of reflection at St. Nicholas Byzantine Catholic Parish March 17.
More than 30 parishioners and guests stayed after the 11 a.m. Divine Liturgy that morning. It wasn’t to honor and celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, but rather to enjoy a light luncheon, followed by Sister Barbara Jean’s presentation about the teachings of Jesus at the Last Supper.
One of the key points of her reflection was that leaders are people who serve others, not those who are served by others. In today’s society, as well as over history, it is common practice to serve a leader, perhaps out of a human desire to reward those who are considered heroes.
However, Sister Barbara Jean pointed out, by washing the Apostles’ feet, Jesus made it clear that leaders must always maintain humility and be ready to serve the needs of others, even if the task at hand seems to be “beneath them.”
The Society of Jesus expresses this spirit of servant-leadership by encouraging its members and those who are educated in its institutions to be “men for others,” said Sister Barbara Jean, referring to an address that the late Jesuit Superior General Father Pedro Arrupe gave to students in 1973. The cause for Father Arrupe’s beatification was opened last July.
Byzantine Catholics need look no further than the life of their patron, St. Nicholas the Wonder Worker, who was well-known for his selflessness, and has many miracles attributed to his intercession, she said. Indeed, if it wasn’t for the selfless sacrifices of many countless people, often unrecognized, for the past 1,200 years, from Sts. Cyril and Methodius to the present, the Ruthenian Catholic Church wouldn’t exist today, she added.
After the presentation and group discussion, the afternoon concluded with a short prayer service.
Caption: Basilian Sister Barbara Jean Mihalchick, left, speaks about servant-leadership at the Lenten day of reflection at St. Nicholas Parish. Parishioner Joel Schwark assists. (Photo: Nikolaj Nagrant)
As published in Horizons, April 21, 2019. Sign up for Horizons’ e-newsletter.