For as long as she can remember, my good friend, Rev. Janet Skagerlin has felt a "profound connection to God." She'd always been drawn by the richness of the Catholic faith and, at one time, thought she'd like to be a Catholic sister. Ultimately though, she received a master of divinity degree at Andover-Newton Theological School, was ordained and became, as her first assignment, pastor of First Baptist Church in Worcester. We became friends during her pastorate at First Congregational Church in Gardner, where I had spent almost forty years in teaching and pastoral ministry and as an active member of the Interfaith Religious Council. For years, getting to know pastors of other denominations and their congregations and being involved in community projects together greatly enriched my life.
Almost three years ago I moved to Mont Marie in Holyoke, and, to my surprise, received a call from Janet a few months ago telling me she was now ministering at the First Park Memorial Church in Springfield. We got together for lunch several times and realized that, spiritually, we continued to have a great deal in common, both continuing to seek ways for an ever deeper connection with God and neighbor. As I spoke of my interest in ecology and making my small contribution to care of Mont Marie property, she updated me on her small farm in Templeton, with its variety of animals and vegetable gardens, where she resides with her husband and daughter. Our meetings, as in Gardner, continued to be mutually enriching.
Recently, Janet was installed as the newest pastor of First Park Church and I was honored to be invited to come and offer a Prayer of Installation for her. How good it was, once more, to be warmly welcomed
by another denomination, and to take part in their beautiful service of thanksgiving for the gift of Janet to them.
In our mission statement as Sisters of St. Joseph, after the gospel prayer of Jesus "that all may be one," we say that "we welcome all to walk with us." Since my delightful evening with the First Park Church community, I have been reflecting on how heart-warming it is to be on the receiving end of that kind of welcome and I am grateful.
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