(THEME MUSIC) >> I'M FATHER MITCH PACWA AND WELCOME TO EWTN LIVE WHERE WE BRING YOU GUESTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD. TONIGHT'S GUESTS ARE TWO DOMINICAN NUNS, BOTH MOTHERS, LEADERS OF ONE OF THE FASTEST GROWING RELIGIOUS ORDERS IN THE COUNTRY. WE WILL GET AN UPDATE ON THEIR COMMUNITY'S RELIGIOUS LIFE AND HEAR ABOUT WHAT MAKES VOCATION WORK AND THEIR CHARISM OF EDUCATION. BUT FIRST WE'D LIKE TO TALK WITH EWTN'S PETER GAGNON ABOUT SOME UPCOMING SPECIAL EVENTS AND NEW PROGRAMMING. PETER, WHAT DO YOU HAVE? >> WE HAVE A VERY BIG WEEK BEGINNING NEXT WEEK. THE INTERNATIONAL EUCHARISTIC CONGRESS IN BUDAPEST, HUNGARY. IT'S THE 52ND INTERNATIONAL ONE. WE ARE GOING TO BE ON THE GROUND WITH FULL COVERAGE BEGINNING ON SUNDAY FOR THE OPENING MASS. THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE FIRST COMMUNION. OUR COVERAGE WILL BE HOSTED BY MATTHEW BUNSON AND FATHER JOHN PAUL. THERE IS CATECHESIS, TESTIMONIES EVERY DAY. ON WEDNESDAY THERE IS A BYZANTINE LITURGY. THERE IS A EUCHARISTIC ADORATION EVENT AND ON SATURDAY EVENING THEY ARE GOING TO DO EUCHARISTIC PROCESSION, IN THE SQUARE BACK TO HARROW SQUARE AND CANDLELIGHT PROCESSION THROUGH STREETS. AND ENDING WITH MASS, SUNDAY IS CLOSING MASS WITH THE HOLY FATHER, POPE FRANCIS, COMING IN, HAVING MEETINGS WITH SOME OF THE PEOPLE THERE. AND THEN DOING THE CLOSING MASS. IT'S A FANTASTIC EVENT. WEB SITE SET UP, ewtn.com/IEC, FOR NRGS EUCHARISTIC CONGRESS. PEOPLE CAN GO THERE, SEE ALL OF THE EVENTS THAT ARE AIRING. AND OFFLOADED ARE GOING TO BE REFLECTIONS ON THE EUCHARIST BY MOTHER ANGELICA. SOME OTHER FILLERS, AND THEY CAN SEE THE ACTUAL PROGRAMMING ITSELF. THEN, ON THAT SUNDAY, THERE'S THE BEATIFICATION OF CARDINAL, HAPPENING IN POLAND, AND SAME DAY BUT AIRING LATER IN THE DAY. AND THAT'S A VERY BIG EVENT FOR THE POLES AROUND THE WORLD. >> CARDINAL WAS ONE OF MY HEROES GROWING UP, JUST AMAZING. >> AND HE WAS GOING TO BE BEATIFIED WITH MOTHER ROSA MARIA, A POLISH NUN. IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE END OF THE EUCHARISTIC CONGRESS, HOLY FATHER IS GOING TO SLOVAKIA, PAPAL VISIT AND WE'LL COVER THAT, TOO. SO, IT'S GOING TO BE BACK TO BACK TO BACK EVENTS. AND OUR NEW SERIES DEBUTING IN THE NEXT WEEK, THEY ARE DELAYED JUST A LITTLE BECAUSE OF THE EUCHARISTIC CONGRESS. BUT LIVING DIVINE MERCY, GOING TO BE A WEEKLY PROGRAM WITH THE MARIANS IN STOCKBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS. AND SHOT RIGHT THERE ON 0 LOCATION, FATHER ALAR, AND DIFFERENT MARIANS ARE GOING TO BE HOSTING THE PROGRAM, JUST A GREAT AND BEAUTIFUL PROGRAM HOW DIVINE MERCY IMPACTS LIVES. GOING TO BE PACKAGES WITH PEOPLE WHO HAVE GONE THROUGH DIFFERENT STRUGGLES IN LIFE AND HOW THE DIVINE MERCY MESSAGE HELPED THEM OUT. >> NOW, YOUR GUESTS TONIGHT, DOMINICAN SISTERS, EUCHARIST OF HOLY MARY AND THEY ARE SO POSSIBLY WHEN WE HAVE THEM ON, TRUTH AND HEART, AND ALL NEW PROGRAMMING WITH THEM IS FANTASTIC. AND JUST A GREAT VARIETY OF DIFFERENT PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE WITH THEM. THAT'S GOING TO BE REALLY GREAT. WE LOOK AT ANOTHER SERIES, CALLED METANOIA AND FATHER PALANKA, HE'S GOING TO BE PRESENTING THAT. PEOPLE JUST LOVE HIM. AND THEN THE SERIES THAT WE DID WITH YOU, POLISH CATHOLIC. WE TURNED THEM INTO SPECIALS INITIALLY AND THEN, SIX ONE-HOUR SPECIALS AND DECIDED TO TRIM THEM DOWN TO GIVE A REGULAR WEEKLY SLOT. AND THEY WERE ATTRIBUTED TO POLAND AND YOU MET LONG LOST RELATIVES, VISITED THE SHRINES AND TALKED ABOUT THE SAINTS OF POLAND AND PEOPLE REALLY APPRECIATED THE SERIES SO WE TURNED IT INTO 13 EPISODES, WEEKLY. AND TWO OTHER OFFERINGS, EWTN GREAT BRITAIN. OUR OFFICE IN WALSINGHAM, THEY HAVE CREATED DIFFERENT PROGRAMMING FOCUSED ON GREAT BRITAIN, TURLEY TALKS AND LOTS OF DIFFERENT THINGS GOING TO COME FROM THERE. FINALLY, THE PROMISE, ANOTHER SERIES THAT WE'RE AIRING, THE PROMISE, WE SAID, I DO, FOREVER. IT'S ABOUT MARRIAGE AND THE MARRIAGE BOND AND HOW TO REALLY BUILD YOUR MARRIAGE. IT'S A HUGE OFFERING COMING UP IN SEPTEMBER! GO TO THE INTERNATIONAL EUCHARISTIC CONGRESS, EWTN, ewtn.com/IUE. AND THEN, YOU CAN GO TO THE TV PAGE AND CLICK ON THE ICON THERE. >> Fr. Pacwa: LOTS COMING UP. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR LETTING US KNOW ABOUT THAT AND WE'LL BE BACK IN JUST A COUPLE OF MINUTES WITH TONIGHT'S GUEST. STAY WITH US OR THE NUNS WILL HOLLER AT US ALL! SO BE WITH US. (THEME MUSIC) (THEME MUSIC) >> WE WILL GET A SMALL PEEK INTO THE CHANGING OF THE GUARD INSIDE A RELIGIOUS ORDER OF WOMEN. THIS IS A COMMUNITY THAT WAS FOUNDED IN 1997 WITH ONLY FOUR SISTERS. TODAY, THEY'VE GROWN TO OVER 157 SISTERS! NOW THAT'S NOT A VERY LONG TIME FOR THEM TO GET THAT DONE. THEY HAVE 18 CONVENTS AROUND THE COUNTRY, AND ONE IN ROME. THEIR MAIN SERVICE AND CHAIRMAN IS CATHOLIC EDUCATION IN CLASSROOMS FROM KINDERGARTEN THROUGH COLLEGE. THEY ARE SPREADING THE WORD THROUGH A MEDIA PLATFORM CALLED OPEN LIGHT MEDIA. SO, PLEASE, WELCOME FROM THE DOMINICAN SISTERS OF MARY, MOTHER OF THE EUCHARIST, IN ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN, LONG TIME FRIEND OF MINE AND MOTHER ASSUMPTA LONG AND ALSO, MOTHER AMATA VERITAS ELLENBECKER. NOW, WAIT A MINUTE. SOME OF OUR VIEWERS AREN'T CATHOLIC. BUT WHY IS IT THAT YOU ARE NOT SISTERS, YOU ARE MOTHERS? WHAT'S GOING ON HERE! >> Guest: WELL, IN CASE YOU DON'T KNOW, THE CHURCH IS A VERY WISE AND LOVING MOTHER. SO, TERMS ARE LIMITED FOR THOSE IN AUTHORITY WHICH IS A GREAT THING. >> Fr. Pacwa: YES >> Guest: AND I GUESS FOR MOST RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES, THIS IS THE NORM. WE HAVE A SIX YEAR TERM, RENEWED BY, CAN BE RENEWED MY SIX YEARS AND THEN ANOTHER MAJOR SUPERIOR OR PRIOR GENERAL IS ELECTED. I KNOW THAT SOME PEOPLE WONDER BECAUSE I WAS PRIOR GENERAL FOR SO LONG. BUT WHAT HAPPENED IS THAT WE WERE A NEW COMMUNITY AND YOU GO THROUGH STEPS. SO, EVERY STEP YOU TAKE, YOU KIND OF START OVER. BUT IT WAS TIME. AND THE HOLY SPIRIT WAS WORKING OVERTIME WITH THE ELECTION OF A NEW LEADERSHIP WHICH MOTHER AMATA VERITAS IS THE NEW PRIOR GENERAL AND NEW COUNCIL. IT'S A WONDERFUL THING AND THAT'S THE WAY THE WISDOM OF THE CHURCH IS TO DO THIS BECAUSE YOU NEED NEW IDEAS, NEW BLOOD. IT'S GREAT. >> Fr. Pacwa: AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WAS GETTING AT, YOU KNOW, THE REST OF THE COMMUNITY IS ADDRESSED AS SISTER, AND YOU TWO, AS MOTHER BECAUSE YOU WERE THE SUPERIORS. RIGHT? >> YES. >> YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS? >> Guest: WELL, THE BIGGEST PART, MAJOR SUPERIOR FOR OUR COMMUNITY IS PRIORESS GENERAL AND WE ADDRESS HER AS MOTHER. SO IT'S A SIGN OF OUR ESTEEM AND FOR HER LOVE FOR THE LEADERSHIP IN THE COMMUNITY. IT'S THE SPIRITUAL LEADERSHIP, THE MOTHER OF ALL DAUGHTERS, OF ALL SISTERS IN THE COMMUNITY. >> Father: ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I LIKE ABOUT IT AS WELL IS THAT IT GETS ACROSS THIS IDEA OF THE CHURCH AS FAMILY, NOT AS A BUSINESS OR A POLITICAL ORGANIZATION. THAT THERE'S A RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE SUPERIOR, NOT JUST THE SUPERIOR TO INFERIOR, BUT AS MOTHERS TO DAUGHTERS. >> ESPECIALLY WITH OUR VOW OF OBEDIENCE, ADDRESSING THE MAJOR SUPERIOR, THAT IT'S A FORM OF OBEDIENCE AND A LOVE AND CARE FOR THE SISTERS >> Fr. Pacwa: I MENTIONED, THIS WAS IN 1997 AND YOU AND THREE OTHER SISTERS STARTED THIS NEW COMMUNITY, IS THAT CORRECT? >> Guest: WE DID. AND WHENEVER YOU ARE GOING TO DO THIS, YOU HAVE TO HAVE A BENEVOLENT BISHOP, CARDINAL O'CONNOR WAS OUR BENEVOLENT BISHOP. AND I WORKED WITH HIM WITH THE SISTERS OF LIFE. AND IT WAS A WONDERFUL RELATIONSHIP. HE WAS SO GOOD FOR US AND HE GAVE US HIS BEST CANON LAWYER. WE LIVED IN -- WELL, THAT'S ANOTHER STORY! WE LIVED IN A BARN THAT WAS NOT EXACTLY A BARN. BUT HE GAVE US HIS BEST. AND WE HAD TIME TO WORK ON THE CONSTITUTIONS AND TO HAVE TIME TO PRAY. HE GAVE US A BEAUTIFUL -- WE HAD A CHAPEL IN WHAT WAS A FORMER HORSE STALL. IT WAS BEAUTIFUL! THE CARDINAL GAVE US A TABERNACLE TO USE SO WE HAD TIME FOR PRAYER. AND THERE WAS A SWIMMING POOL ON THE PROPERTY. BUT WE HAD TIME TO PLAY. A LOT OF TIME, WE HAD TIME TO REALLY WORK ON OUR CONSTITUTION TO SAY WHAT WE REALLY DID WANT. THAT'S BASICALLY WHAT HAPPENED. >> Fr. Pacwa: ONE OF THE ELEMENTS IMPORTANT ABOUT THIS IS, A LOT OF COMMUNITIES OF WOMEN RELIGIOUS HAVE BEEN DECLINING IN NUMBERS, AGING. AND SOME COMMUNITIES HAVE BEEN WORDED -- ORDERED BY THE LOCAL BISHOPS TO STOP ACCEPTING NOVICES BECAUSE THEY CANNOT GUARANTEE THERE'S ENOUGH SISTERS AROUND TO COMPLETE THEIR TRAINING. I GAVE A RETREAT TO A SISTER IN CALIFORNIA, AND HER COMMUNITY WAS DOWN TO 27 FROM 800 DOWN TO 27. SHE WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE AGE GROUP AT 72. SO, THIS MEANT THAT THE BISHOP THEN, THINK IT WAS CARDINAL HONIG BASICALLY DECIDED THAT YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE TO CEASE TO EXIST AS AN ORDER. IT'S NOT THE ONLY ONE. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF OTHER ORDERS GOING THROUGH THAT. YOU ON THE OTHER HAND HAVE AN ORDER WITH A MEDIAN AGE OF, WHAT, 30? >> 32, 33 FOR MOST OF THE ORDERS, THEY HAVE 50% UNDER THAT AGE AND MEDIAN AGE FOR YOU IS 30-YEARS-OLD. SO, TELL US WHY THIS IS GOING ON. WHAT IS ATTRACTING SO MANY YOUNG WOMEN TO JOIN YOUR COMMUNITY? >> Guest: I CAN THINK WHEN I FIRST ENCOUNTERED THE COMMUNITY AS ONE THING THAT DREW ME INTO SERIOUS RELIGIOUS LIFE WAS THE JOY OF THE SISTERS. THE JOY COMES FROM, WHEN YOU PEEL BACK ALL OF THE LAYERS, THE JOY COMES FROM AUTHENTIC LIVING OF A RELIGIOUS LIFE. COMMUNAL PRAYER, WE PRAY THE DIVINE OFFICE. WE HAVE COMMUNAL EUCHARISTIC ADORATION, HOLY HOUR. AND THEN OUR COMMUNAL APOSTOLATE, THE HABIT. THE SIGN THAT WE BELONG TO CHRIST, WHETHER WE'RE IN A CLASSROOM, AIRPORT OR WHATEVER, THAT WE BELONG TO A CORPORATE BODY, DOMINICAN SISTERS AS WELL. >> AND NOT JUST A HABIT TO SHOW YOU BELONG TO CHRIST, BUT SHOWING THAT YOU BELONG IN A SPECIFICALLY DOMINICAN MANNER, AND THAT YOU HAVE A VOCATION TO FOLLOW THE RULE, INSIGHTS, AND WISDOM OF SAINT DOMINIC AND ALL OF THE OTHERS BEFORE. >> Guest: YES. AND AS YOU LIVE ON THE RELIGIOUS LIFE AND YOU TAKE ON ALL OF THE ASPECTS OF OUR LIFE, YOU BECOME MORE AND MORE SECURE IN THE IDENTITY OF THE COMMUNITY. AND THAT FORMS YOU IN YOUR RELIGIOUS VOCATION. THINK THAT SOMETIMES WHEN YOU FIRST ENTER, YOU DON'T EXACTLY KNOW WHAT YOU ARE ENCOUNTERING, BUT AS YOU ARE FORMED, YOU UNDERSTAND THAT ALL OF THE EXTERIORS OF THE RELIGIOUS LIFE ARE TO HELP YOU BECOME AN EXCELLENT DOMINICAN. >> AND TO FURTHER STATE, WE HAVE AN EXCELLENT FORMATION PROGRAM. THE YOUNG WOMEN THAT COME ARE STEEPED IN THE DOCTRINES OF THE CHURCH. YOU KNOW, I'M JUST SO -- >> Fr. Pacwa: LET ME ASK YOU THIS. DO THEY COME WITH LOTS OF KNOWLEDGE OF CHURCH TEACHING? >> NOT REALLY. WE START WITH THE BASIC, CATECHISM, TO BE SURE THAT THEY ARE THOROUGHLY GROUNDED IN THE TEACHINGS OF THE CHURCH. ANOTHER THING IS THAT, WE GIVE AN EXCELLENT EDUCATION TO THESE YOUNG WOMEN. WE ARE AN EDUCATION, WE MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE PROPERLY EDUCATED IN THE PLACES AND THAT THEY GET THE DEGREES NECESSARY. >> Fr. Pacwa: YOU ARE TEACHING A VARIETY OF SUBJECTS. MOTHER, YOU TAUGHT ENGLISH LITERATURE. >> YES AND I TAUGHT HISTORY >> Fr. Pacwa: RIGHT. AND YOU WERE MORE TRAINED IN LITERATURE, CORRECT? >> YES >> Fr. Pacwa: AND SOME OF YOUR SISTERS ARE FORMED IN SCIENCE. >> YEAH, SCIENCE, MATH. REALLY JUST EVERYTHING >> Fr. Pacwa: SO IN ADDITIONS TO THE TRAINING IN THE FAITH, THEY LEARN THESE OTHER SUBJECTS >> Guest: I FIND THAT IT'S A POSITIVE THING. I PROBABLY HAVE RECEIVED AND YOU WILL STILL RECEIVE, YOU KNOW, MAYBE OVER 400 REQUESTS TO, PLEASE, COME TO OUR SCHOOL. I BELIEVE IF WE HAD A MILLION SISTERS, WE COULD USE THEM! PEOPLE ARE SO ANXIOUS, WE HEAR FROM BISHOPS, PRIESTS, LAITY, SCHOOLS, PLEASE, OUR SCHOOL NEEDS SISTERS! AND THAT BREAKS MY HEART WHEN I THINK OF MANY RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE GOTTEN OUT OF TEACHING. AND WE KNOW THAT MANY, MANY LAY PEOPLE ARE NOT CATECHIZED, WHICH IS UNFORTUNATE. >> Fr. Pacwa: ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I MAY BE WRONG ON THIS, BUT IT'S AN IMPRESSION THAT I'VE HAD OVER THE LAST 50 YEARS WHEN I BEGAN, IT WAS IN THE 1960S THAT SISTERS BEGAN TO WITHDRAW FROM THE CLASSROOMS FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS. BUT ONE OF THEM IS, THERE WERE SO MANY OTHER EXISTING POSSIBILITIES TO SERVE AND NOT ONLY HOSPITALS AND SCHOOLS BUT ALSO IN SOCIAL WORK AND IN TIMES OF SOCIAL CHANGE. BUT THAT DIDN'T SEEM TO BE THE KIND OF APOSTOLATE THAT REALLY DREW YOUNG WOMEN TO JOIN THEM. THAT'S MY IMPRESSION. DOES THAT FIT YOUR EXPERIENCE? >> Guest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uest: AND ANOTHER THING I THINK, EDUCATION IS A DIFFICULT AND I THINK OF OUR POOR SISTERS AND PRINCIPALS IN PARTICULAR GOING THROUGH COVID. AND YET, THE CATHOLIC SCHOOLS GOT SUCH POSITIVE FEEDBACK BECAUSE NOW THAT THEY STAYED OPEN AND THEY ARE GETTING STUDENTS FROM THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS. BUT WHAT I AM SAYING IS THAT IT'S JUST DIFFICULT TODAY. YOU ARE FIGHTING A LOT OF CULTURE, FIGHTING A LOT OF, JUST TO BE PREPARED AND KNOW THE ISSUES. IF YOU THINK THAT YOUNG PEOPLE TEACHING IN THE HIGH SCHOOL, THEY ARE SO CONFUSED ABOUT OUR CULTURE. SO, YOU JUST DO IT AND IT'S SO VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE'RE THERE >> Fr. Pacwa: AND IT'S NOT JUST THAT THEY ARE CONFUSED, THEY ARE OFTENTIMES LEFT WITHOUT INFORMATION. THEY ARE LEFT IGNORANT. THEY ARE NOT STUPID, NOT AT ALL. >> NO, THEY ARE VERY SMART >> Fr. Pacwa: BUT THEY ARE LEFT IGNORANT. THEY DON'T KNOW MUCH. SO, AGAIN, MY SENSE, HAVING TAUGHT HIGH SCHOOL FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS MYSELF, FIVE YEARS, THERE'S A TEDIUM TO TEACHING. ESPECIALLY THE YOUNGER THE CHILD, THE MORE TEDIOUS BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST THE TOPIC. YOU ARE DISCIPLINING AND GUIDING AND WAKING UP! WAKING UP! AND DEALING WITH THE BAD BEHAVIOR THAT THE BOYS DO, NOT GIRLS! BUT CERTAINLY SOME OF THE BOYS MAY HAVE BEEN MISBEHAVING IN CLASS. >> THERE'S A LOT MORE TO TEACHING THAN JUST THE SCIENCE. THEY HAPPEN TO KNOW THAT THEY COME FROM, WHEN YOU ARE TEACHING THEM, YOU ARE COMING FROM A PLACE OF LOVING THEM, SEEING THEM, AND KNOWING THEM >> Fr. Pacwa: AND I THINK THAT'S PART OF THE FEMININE GENIUS IS TO BRING THAT MATERNAL INSTINCT, TRAINING, YOU ARE NOT THEIR PHYSICAL MOTHERS BUT YOU ARE THEIR SPIRITUAL MOTHERS. >> YOU KNOW, IT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE, LIKE MOTHER SAID, MOST OF THE TIME IN TEACHING, YOUR STUDENTS LEAVE YOU AND YOU NEVER KNOW. YET, SOMETIMES YOU GET A FEEDBACK AND YOU SAY, OH MY GOODNESS, I DON'T EVEN REMEMBER SAYING THAT! SOMETHING THAT REALLY MEANT SOMETHING. NOT LONG AGO, I GOT A LETTER FROM ONE I TAUGHT 70 YEARS AGO, PROBABLY IN THE FIRST GRADE! AND HE HAD A BAND, AND LONG HAIR AND HE SAID I WAS TELLING MY BAND SOMETHING YOU TAUGHT ME IN THE FIRST GRADE. AND THEY SAID TELL MOTHER THAT! AND HE HAD A HARD TIME FINDING ME. AND HE SAID, IT DIDN'T SOUND LIKE ME, BUT I GUESS I SAID IT. BUT YOU KNOW, GOD CAN USE YOU. >> Fr. Pacwa: AND YOU DON'T KNOW! IT'S LIKE THE BOOK OF ECCLESIASTES, YOU CAST YOUR BREAD ON THE WATER. YOU JUST DON'T KNOW WHERE IT'S GOING TO FLOAT AND WHO IS GOING TO EAT IT. BECAUSE I GET THE SAME THING. THINGS THAT I SAID, OH, YEAH, THAT WAS A GOOD THOUGHT. >> Guest: SOMETIMES IT'S BETTER THAN WHAT YOU COULD COME UP WITH! OH, GOODNESS. >> Fr. Pacwa: LET'S TAKE A LITTLE LOOK HERE. WE HAVE A CLIP BY SISTER JOHN PAUL, FROM YOUR COMMUNITY. SHE'S TALKING ABOUT SOMETHING THAT WE WANT TO ADDRESS, WHICH IS EDUCATION IN VIRTUE. SO, LET'S JUST TAKE A LOOK AT HER. >> THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT COMES INTO PLAY, WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT EDUCATING OUR YOUNG PEOPLE IN VIRTUE. IT'S AN IMMEDIATE CHALLENGE TO OURSELVES. WE HAVE TO SAY, GOSH, DO I BELIEVE IT'S POSSIBLE FOR THEM TO PRACTICE VIRTUE? WHEN I APPROACH MY DAUGHTER, SON, CHILD, CHILD MY STUDENT, WHEN I APPROACH THE PERSON, DO I BELIEVE THAT IT'S POSSIBLE FOR THEM TO GROW IN VIRTUE. WE HAVE TO ANSWER THE QUESTION, AND WE HAVE TO ANSWER THE QUESTION, DO I BELIEVE THAT I AM CAPABLE OF GREATNESS? I THINK THAT EVERY ADULT THAT APPROACHES THE EDUCATION IN VIRTUE PROGRAM HAS TO BE ABLE TO SAY, WELL, GOSH, WHAT DO I REALLY THINK ABOUT THIS? DO I REALLY THINK THE POINT OF LIFE IS TO BE CALLED TO HOLINESS? DO I THINK THAT THE POINT OF LIFE IS TO GET TO HEAVEN, MY SPOUSE, GET TO HEAVEN, MY JOB, MY CHILDREN GET TO HEAVEN? DO WE REALLY BELIEVE THAT? >> Fr. Pacwa: WHEN SHE TALKS ABOUT THIS EDUCATION IN VIRTUE, SHE AND YOU ALL ARE DISCUSSING A VERY DOMINICAN APPROACH. ST. THOMAS AQUINAS, ONE OF THE EARLY DOMINICAN USED TRAINING IN VIRTUE AS HIS APPROACH TO MORAL THEOLOGY. AND YOU ARE TEACHING THAT AS WELL, CORRECT? >> Guest: YES, SISTER JOAN DOMINIC HAS DONE A TERRIFIC JOB IN PUTTING THE PROGRAM TOGETHER. IT'S REALLY TAKEN OFF. MAYBE IN ALL OF THE OTHER, SOME OTHER PLATFORMS AND TO TEACH THAT, IT'S A GREAT VIRTUE. AND WHEN I TAUGHT, INSTEAD OF CORRECTING A CHILD, IN A SENSE, I SAY, WHAT VIRTUE DO YOU NEED TO PRACTICE? OR WHAT -- ANYWAY, SOMETHING LIKE THAT. BUT IT WAS A POSITIVE APPROACH WITH CHILDREN. AND SHE'S DONE A TERRIFIC JOB IN TRYING TO GET THIS OUT. THE MATERIAL THAT'S BEEN SENT OUT BY THE COMMUNITY, IT'S WONDERFUL. >> Guest: AND WHAT THE EDUCATION IN VIRTUE PROGRAM, IT TAKES A LOOK AT HOW TO EDUCATE THE CHILD IN VIRTUES, WHICH MEANS TO LEAD A HAPPY, HOLY LIFE. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT A LOT WITH IT, THERE'S 157 OF US AND WE CAN BE IN A LOT OF SCHOOLS BUT NOT ALL OF THE SCHOOLS THAT WE'RE INVITED TO BE IN. TO HAVE AN OUTREACH OF OUR COMMUNITY AND TO OTHER SCHOOLS IN SUPPORTING THEM TO TEACH THE CHILDREN LIFE AND TO TEACH THE VIRTUES. SO, THE SCHOOL, IT'S VERY MUCH SUPPORTED BY THE COMMUNITY AND HELPING, A LOT OF SISTERS USE THE EDUCATION AND VIRTUE WITHIN THEIR OWN CLASSROOM. TEACHER-TRIED, TEACHER-TESTED. AND WE HAVE TO GROW, AS ADULTS, LIKE SISTER JOHN PAUL TALKED ABOUT, SO WE CAN MODEL, THAT'S THE CHRISTIAN LIFE NO MATTER WHAT STAGE OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE YOU ARE AT. >> Fr. Pacwa: WHEN YOU SPEAK ABOUT TRAINING PEOPLE IN THE VIRTUES, WHICH VIRTUES? >> Guest: ALL OF THEM! [LAUGHTER] THE THEOLOGICAL, CARDINAL VIRTUES, AND THE VIRTUES UNDER JUSTICE, PRUDENCE, TEMPERANCE AND FORTITUDE. >> Guest: WHAT'S INTERESTING, PRIMARY EDUCATORS OF THEIR CHILDREN, WE KNOW THAT. BUT WHAT'S HAPPENING, THE PARENTS THEMSELVES ARE CATCHING ON TO THE PROGRAM AND DOING IT IN A FAMILY LIFE. LOOKING AT -- >> FORESIGHT, STATIONS. >> Guest: IT'S A GREAT THING AND I'M LEARNING FROM IT. WE ALL HAVE TO GROW IN VIRTUE >> Fr. Pacwa: DON'T I KNOW IT! >> Guest: WE'LL BE DOING THAT THE REST OF OUR LIVES. IT'S EXCITING ESPECIALLY, WHEN I SAY, WITH YOUR LITTLE CHILDREN LEARNING THESE VIRTUES. EVEN GO HOME AND TEACH THEM AND EXPLAIN THEM TO THEIR PARENTS. YOU CAN IMAGINE. BUT IT'S A GREAT THING >> Guest: AND THE MATERIALS LEAD YOU TO BE VERY FLEXIBLE HOW IT IS IMPLEMENTED. SO HOW THE SCHOOL TAKES IT INTO THEIR CULTURE AND EDUCATION IN VIRTUE HELPS FORM THE CULTURE, IT'S NOT A STRICT PROGRAM OR APPROACH. IT'S VERY MUCH THE SCHOOL APPROPRIATING HOW TO USE THIS VOCABULARY, COMMON VOCABULARY OF THE VIRTUES. SO, IT'S A VERY GOOD PROGRAM. >> Fr. Pacwa: THIS MORNING, I PREACHED ABOUT THE THEOLOGICAL VIRTUES, SO DEPENDENT ON GOD'S GRACE. BUT THESE OTHER VIRTUES KNOWN AS THE CARDINAL VIRTUES THAT ARE REALLY ARISTOTLE, A PAGAN PHILOSOPHER WAS WELL AWARE OF THIS, SYSTEMIZED THEM AND THESE ARE HUMAN VIRTUES THAT WE NEED LOTS OF PRUDENCE. WE NEED JUSTICE. ESPECIALLY AS SOME PEOPLE TALK ABOUT JUSTICE IN OUR CULTURE AND USE VIOLENCE TO TRY TO ENFORCE IT. ANGER. EASILY SLIP INTO THE CAPITAL SINS TO PROMOTE THE VIRTUE. THIS IS INCONSISTENT. >> THAT'S RIGHT. >> Fr. Pacwa: AND THIS IS AGAIN WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT, PART OF IT. IN CONTRAST TO THOSE WHO WANT JUSTICE AND PEACE NOW. NO JUSTICE, NO PEACE AND I'M FURIOUS. I WANT THIS JUSTICE NOW. AND I'LL BURN YOUR BUILDING DOWN! AND I'LL HUFF AND PUFF WHILE I'M DOING IT! YET, ON THE OTHER HAND, YOUR APPROACH IS, LET'S LIVE VIRTUOUSLY IN ORDER TO TEACH IT. THAT'S VERY DISTINCT IN THIS CULTURE. >> YOU MADE ME THINK ABOUT, JUSTICE OF THE CARDINAL VIRTUES IS THE GREATEST. BUT WE KNOW THAT YOU HAVE TO HAVE PRUDENCE. IF YOU DON'T HAVE PRUDENCE, YOU DON'T PRACTICE THE OTHER VIRTUES! SO, IT'S LIKE, I LOVE THE CHURCH AND THE TEACHINGS OF THE CHURCH AND THE WONDERFUL THINGS THAT WE GET, OF COURSE, ALWAYS PARTIAL TO THOMAS AQUINAS. HE'S A GREAT TEACHER >> Fr. Pacwa: AND SO ARE WE JESUITS! ST. IGNATIUS, THEY PUT THAT IN OUR CONSTITUTION. >> Guest: GOOD. >> Fr. Pacwa: HE STUDIED AT THE UNIVERSITY OF PARIS, AND HE LEARNED SOME MYSTIC THEOLOGY. IT'S GOOD STUFF. AS A MATTER OF FACT, IN GENERAL, WHEN THE CHURCH MOVES AWAY FROM THOMISM, IT TENDS TO MOVE TOWARD FOOLISHNESS. THOMISM. JUST SAYING! >> YOU SEE THAT TREND AND THEN I SEE IT COMING BACK. YOU KNOW, IT DOESN'T WORK. A TREND TO GET AWAY FROM THOMISM, IT'S BEEN PROVEN THROUGH THE CENTURIES. >> Fr. Pacwa: AND THE ONLY TEMPTATION THAT I THINK WE HAVE TO BE ALERT TO IS THAT PEOPLE CAN BECOME RIGID THOMISTS AND SAY, THIS WORKS, THIS WORKS AND IT ALL FITS THIS WAY. BUT IT DOESN'T COME ALIVE! IT HAS TO BE VERY MUCH ALIVE. THIS IS WHERE THE VIRTUE EDUCATION HELPS THOMISM TO COME TO LIFE IN VERY CONCRETE WAYS. THE KIDS AND THE PARENTS CAN UNDERSTAND THAT. BUT ONE OF THE ELEMENTS WE HAVE TO HAVE, NOT ONLY PRUDENCE BUT TEMPERANCE, AND WE'RE RUNNING OUT OF TIME FOR THIS SEGMENT. SO, WITH TEMPERANCE, LET'S RESTRAIN OUR SPEECH, TAKE A BREAK AND WE WANT TO OPEN IT UP TO YOUR QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS. PLEASE STAY WITH US. (THEME MUSIC) (THEME MUSIC) >> WE CONTINUE OUR DISCUSSION WITH MOTHER ASSUMPTA, AND NEWLY ELECTED PRIORESS GENERAL MOTHER AMATA VERITAS. NOW, BEFORE WE GET BACK TO YOUR QUESTIONS, I WANTED TO MENTION THAT THE DOMINICAN SISTERS OF MARY, MOTHER OF THE EUCHARIST HAVE A PROGRAM AND YOU CAN WATCH IT ON SATURDAY AT 1:30PM EASTERN TIME. AND YOU CAN WATCH IT AGAIN ON WEDNESDAYS AT 5:00 AM EASTERN TIME. SO, I SHOULD BE GETTING UP WITH THEM! WE'LL HAVE THAT ON. LET'S TAKE SOME QUESTIONS. WE'RE GOING TO START OFF WITH THOMAS. HOW ARE YOU DOING? >> Voice: HOW ARE YOU FATHER? >> Fr. Pacwa: THIS IS THOMAS FROM TENNESSEE >> Voice: KINGSPORT. >> Fr. Pacwa: THAT MAKES MOTHER ASSUMPTA LONG HAPPY. >> Voice: THEY MAKE ME HAPPY THAT YOU HAVE THEM ON THE SHOW, I HAVE TO TELL YOU, MOTHERS AND FATHERS, I AM SO INDEBTED TO YOU, THE NUNS TAUGHT ME IN GRADE SCHOOL. AND THEY HAVE MADE ME REALIZE THAT EVERYTHING THEY TAUGHT ME AND I DIDN'T REALIZE IT UNTIL I WAS 39 AND EVERYTHING THEY TAUGHT ME IN GRADE SCHOOL WAS TRUE. HERE'S MY QUESTION. MY QUESTION IS, YOUR COMMUNITY WHICH I AM FAMILIAR WITH, BECAUSE THERE'S A NUN FROM KINGSPORT, SISTER MARY MICHAEL, WHO IS IN YOUR COMMUNITY. AND YOU HAVE GROWN SO QUICKLY AS COMPARED TO OTHER COMMUNITIES, WHICH I BELIEVE THAT IT IS BECAUSE, AND FOR LACK OF A BETTER WORD, THE OTHER COMMUNITIES ARE NOT AS ORTHODOX AS YOU ARE. I REALIZED THAT IN MY OWN LIFE, LIVING IN THE FULLNESS OF THE TRUTH OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH, IT GIVES YOU JOY. IT MAKES ME HAPPY. AND THAT'S THE ONLY WAY I'M HAPPY IS LIVING IN THE FULLNESS OF THE TRUTH. SO, THAT'S MY QUESTION. >> Fr. Pacwa: I GUESS HE'S ASKING YOU TO SAY, IS IT THAT LIVING OF CATHOLIC TRUTH AND CATHOLIC LIFE THAT IS THE SOURCE OF JOY IN YOUR COMMUNITY THAT ATTRACTS SO MANY YOUNG WOMEN? >> Guest: YES, THINK IT'S TWO THINGS. THE JOY OF LIVING THE CHRISTIAN LIFE AND LIVING AUTHENTICALLY WITH OUR VOCATION. ALSO, THOUGH, THERE'S AN ASPECT THAT WE WANT YOUNG WOMEN TO JOIN US. WE HAVE WORKED VERY HARD FOR VOCATIONS WITH OUR VOCATION DIRECTIONS, SISTER JOSEPH AND THE SISTERS WORK HARD WITHIN THEIR COMMUNITIES, IN THEIR MISSIONS TO INVITE YOUNG WOMEN TO CONSIDER A VOCATION TO OUR COMMUNITY OR TO OTHER RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES. SO, WE'RE NOT ONLY, THINK, LIVING AUTHENTICALLY AND JOYOUSLY OUR LIFE, BUT ALSO, WE INVITE OTHERS TO LIVE OUR LIFE. WE MAKE THAT POSSIBLE BY SHOWING THEM THE JOY OF LIVING OUR VOCATION. >> Guest: I HAVE BEEN SO PLEASED WITH SISTER JOSEPH, AND YOUNG PEOPLE COME, SHE INTERVIEWS THEM AND SHE THINKS THAT THEY BELONG TO THE MISSIONARIES OF CHARITY OR ANOTHER CLOSER COMMUNITY THAT SEEMS TO BE BEST, SHE ADVISES THEM TO GO TO SISTER SERVANTS OR WHEREVER. AND I THINK THAT WHEN YOU SAID THAT, I THINK THAT WHEN PEOPLE SAID THAT I WOULD BE SHOCKED AND THEY SAY, THEY ARE SO ATTRACTED TO OUR COMMUNITY, THEY SAY, BECAUSE OF THE JOY. AND I REMEMBER THINKING, WELL, WHY WOULDN'T YOU BE? YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? YOU JUST DIDN'T NOTICE IT THAT MUCH. >> Fr. Pacwa: OR YOU MAY TAKE IT FOR GRANTED. >> Guest: YEAH, WE PROBABLY TAKE IT FOR GRANTED. >> Guest: YES. >> Fr. Pacwa: AND IN A LOT OF PLACES, THERE'S A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF SUCH FOCUS ON THINGS, LIKE, JUSTICE, SOCIAL CHANGE THAT MAKE A LOT OF PEOPLE VERY, VERY ANGRY. NOT ONLY IN SOME OF THE SECULAR POLITICAL MOVEMENTS BUT EVEN AMONGST THE RELIGIOUS PEOPLE. THEY BECOME SO ANGRY AND IT'S NOT FUN TO BE WITH THEM. ALL RIGHT. LET'S GO OVER TO ANOTHER CALLER. CHRISTIE, WHERE ARE YOU CALLING US FROM? >> Voice: HI, I'M CALLING YOU FROM NEW JERSEY. THIS IS SO EXCITING! IT'S MY BIRTHDAY >> Fr. Pacwa: HAPPY BIRTHDAY! >> Voice: AND YOU ARE MY FAMILY. FATHER MITCH, YOU ARE THE MOST BRILLIANT MIND I HAVE EVER COME ACROSS IN MY LIFETIME. AND I ALWAYS SAY THAT, WHEN I TRY TO OFFER CATECHESIS IN GENERAL TO PEOPLE. SISTERS, YOU MEAN EVERYTHING TO ME. I BOUGHT YOUR VIDEOS WHEN I TAUGHT CATECHISM WHEN I TAUGHT CATECHISM IN THE SECOND AND THIRD GRADE PUBLIC SCHOOL CHILDREN. THEY ARE IN THE EIGHTH GRADE NW AND I HAVEN'T SEEN THEM. I'VE BEEN ESTRANGED FROM MY FAMILY FOR THE PAST YEARS BECAUSE THEY SAW ME GROWING IN SUCH A POSITIVE DIRECTION, AND I WAS IN A MONETARY IN HAWAII, AND RETURNED HOME BEFORE THE PANDEMIC. AND UNFORTUNATELY, THINGS HAVEN'T GOTTEN ANY BETTER SO MAYBE YOU CAN HEAR THAT IN YOUR PRAYER. BUT AFTER HEARING THOMAS' CALL IS BASICALLY EVERYTHING THAT I WENT THROUGH. I KNEW AT 38-YEARS-OLD THAT EVERYTHING I LEARNED IN CATHOLIC SCHOOL WAS TRUE. I SAW FROM MY OWN EXPERIENCES IN LIFE THAT THE LACK OF PRESENCE OF SISTERS IN SCHOOLS IS HORRIFYING AND HOW BAD THEY ARE NEEDED OUT THERE. I FELT LIKE I HAD A VOCATION WHEN I WAS 6-YEARS-OLD. SO, I SPENT 10 YEARS LIVING CHARITY, POVERTY AND CHASTITY AND IT FREAKED PEOPLE OUT. SO, I WAS SO HAPPY. AND THE LAST COUPLE YEARS, I'VE TRIED TO SURVIVE THE PANDEMIC AND ESTABLISH MYSELF IN THE SECULAR WORLD. IT'S BEEN FUN, BUT I HAVE BILLS AND I'M MISERABLE. I'M TRYING TO WORK MY WAY BACK UP TO WHERE I WAS BEFORE AND GET A LITTLE GRACE BACK ON. BECAUSE THE DIFFERENCE IN BEING DEPRIVED OF THE SACRAMENTS, BEING DEPRIVED FROM ADORATION, BEING DEPRIVED FROM BEING MY TRUE SELF, SCREAMING JESUS 24/7 TOOK A TOLL ON ME. I DO RECOMMEND ANYBODY TEACHING AT HOME, GETTING YOUR VIDEOS, ESPECIALLY FOR THE CHILDREN SO YOU CAN CONSTANTLY REFER TO THEM. YOU WILL LEARN SO MUCH. BECAUSE CHANCES ARE, IF YOU WERE BORN AFTER 1955, CHANCES ARE YOU DIDN'T GET IT. >> Fr. Pacwa: AND WE'VE PLAYED THE DVDS, VIDEOS THAT YOU DID, AND WE HEAR FROM A LOT OF PARENTS, EXACTLY AS CHRISTIE WAS SAYING, AS ADULTS THEY LEARN SO MUCH THAT THEY DIDN'T KNOW. AND THEY ENJOY BEING WITH THEIR CHILDREN, LEARNING THIS BECAUSE THEY ARE LEARNING THEIR FAITH BETTER. THANK YOU BY THE WAY FOR YOUR KINDNESS AND YOUR NICE THOUGHTS, CHRISTIE. BUT ISN'T THAT TRUE, THAT SO MANY ADULTS ARE FINDING THAT, WOW, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I WAS MISSING. >> Guest: YES. >> Guest: AND THIS IS, MAYBE NOT RELATED, A LITTLE IT IS, BUT YOU ARE DEALING WITH FAMILIES OUT THERE, FINANCIALLY BEST FOR THEIR CHILDREN. AND I DID WANT TO SAY SOMETHING ABOUT THE COMMUNITY THAT'S NOT JUST ALL AWE, YOU HAVE TO LOOK TOWARD THE PRACTICAL AND BUILDING THINGS. AND I WANT TO SAY THAT SISTER MARY SAMUEL HAS DONE A TERRIFIC JOB TAKING CARE OF SO MUCH OF THE PHYSICAL THINGS IN THE COMMUNITY. AND THAT WAS NECESSARY, TOO. ANYWAY, WE HAVE A LOT OF TALENTED SISTERS AND EACH ONE CONTRIBUTES SO MUCH TO THE COMMUNITY. I'M JUST AMAZED, LIKE, THE ONES IN TECHNOLOGY, THINK, OH MY GOSH. SO EACH SISTER BRINGS SO MUCH TO THE COMMUNITY. AND EACH SISTER, HER OWN GIFTS. IT MAKES IT EVEN MORE BEAUTIFUL. >> Fr. Pacwa: AND YOU CAN STAY NICE AND BALANCED. WE HAVE ANOTHER CALLER, I CAN'T SEE THE NAME. HELLO? ARE YOU CINDY? >> Voice: HELLO. I'M CINDY. I'M CALLING YOU FROM MASSACHUSETTS. >> Fr. Pacwa: WONDERFUL. WHAT'S YOUR QUESTION? >> Voice: I WAS JUST WONDERING, HOW OLD DO YOU HAVE TO BE IN ORDER TO BE A NUN? IS THERE A LIMIT ON AGE? AND I WANT TO ASK YOU TO PRAY FOR MY SISTER BETH AND NIECE ALICIA, THEY LOST THE FAITH AND I'M TRYING TO EVANGELIZE THEM >> Fr. Pacwa: GOOD FOR YOU, CINDY. THE LORD WILL USE YOU, WATCH AND SEE. NO MATTER HOW LONG IT TAKES, HE WILL USE YOU. SO, WHAT'S THE AGE LIMIT? CINDY SOUNDS YOUNGER THAN I, SO, LOWER LEVEL AND WHAT FOR THOSE OF US ARE OLDER, THE UPPER AGE LIMIT >> Guest: WE ACCEPT YOUNG WOMEN 18, GRADUATED FROM HIGH SCHOOL. AND A NUMBER ENTER AT THAT AGE. AND THEN ALL THE WAY UP TO THE EARLY 30S. >> Fr. Pacwa: OKAY. YOU MAY HAVE HEARD THIS, MOTHER, BUT SOMETIMES AS PEOPLE GET OLDER, THEY GET A LITTLE MORE SET IN THEIR WAYS >> Guest: ARE YOU SAYING SOMETHING? >> Fr. Pacwa: YEAH, I AM! I'M TALKING ABOUT MYSELF. [LAUGHTER] >> Guest: AND THERE ARE COMMUNITIES THAT DO ACCEPT OLDER, TOO. SO WE CAN REFER THEM, IF THEY HAVE A VOCATION. AND THERE'S A COMMUNITY THAT EVEN ACCEPTS PEOPLE WITH PHYSICAL DISABILITIES. IT'S A BEAUTIFUL THING. BUT WE CAN'T BECAUSE OF OUR APOSTOLATE >> Guest: I THINK THE MOST POPULAR AGE TO ENTER IS 18, AND THE COLLEGE AGES, MAYBE 21, 22, RIGHT AFTER COLLEGE. >> Fr. Pacwa: AND THIS IS AN IMPORTANT THING IN TERMS OF VOCATION, WHEN YOU AND I WERE YOUNGER, CERTAINLY, PEOPLE DID ENTER AT EARLIER AGES. >> I DID. I WAS 16 >> Fr. Pacwa: RIGHT. AND SEE, I WAS -- I WAS 14 AND I WENT TO HIGH SCHOOL SEMINARY. AND I THINK PROBABLY PEOPLE EXPECTED TUESDAY MAKE A DECISION EARLY. >> Guest: RIGHT, THINK I WAS READY TO MAKE A DECISION THEN. >> Fr. Pacwa: THERE WAS NO IDEA ABOUT SITTING AROUND IN YOUR PAJAMAS PLAYING VIDEO GAMES IN THE BASEMENT OF YOUR PARENT'S HOME! >> Guest: THAT'S RIGHT >> Fr. Pacwa: AND NOW, THINK THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OLDER, NOT TOO MUCH BUT LITTLE BIT OLDER AND THEY CAN MAKE A BETTER DECISION. ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE ANOTHER CALLER. TONY? >> Voice: HI, FATHER MITCH. I'M CALLING YOU FROM PLAINFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS >> Fr. Pacwa: THAT'S A COOL TOWN. I LIKE THAT PLACE. >> Voice: I'M CALLING, I HEARD A STATEMENT, I GET TO THE SISTER OF MARY EVERY THREE MONTHS AND THE REASON I STARTED DOING THIS, OH, THREE YEARS AGO OR SO, WHEN I GREW UP, I'M 76-YEARS-OLD NOW BUT WHEN I GREW UP IN BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, I HAVE FIVE BROTHERS AND SISTERS, AND MYSELF. WE WERE VERY POOR. THE CATHOLIC CHURCH AT THE TIME MADE SURE THAT EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US WENT TO A CATHOLIC SCHOOL, FREE OF CHARGE. AND THE ONLY REASON WHY WE COULD DO THAT IS BECAUSE THE NUNS WERE TEACHING IN THE CATHOLIC SCHOOLS. THEY WORKED FOR ALMOST NOTHING. AND THAT WAS THE ONLY REASON WHY WE WERE ABLE TO GO. AND THAT'S WHY I REALLY LOOK, EVEN THOUGH ALL NUNS DO A GREAT JOB IN WHATEVER FIELD THEY ARE IN. BUT I'M VERY, VERY PARTIAL TO THE SISTERS THAT TEACH OUR CHILDREN. BECAUSE IT'S SO NEEDED, SO MUCH IN THIS COUNTRY RIGHT NOW. AND I REALLY APPRECIATE WHAT YOU PEOPLE DO. >> Fr. Pacwa: THANK YOU. >> Guest: THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> Fr. Pacwa: AND I WOULD RESONATE, WE PAID $2 A MONTH TO GO TO CATHOLIC SCHOOL. IT WAS THE GENEROSITY OF THE SISTERS THAT MADE IT POSSIBLE IN THE 1940S AND THE 1950S TO GO TO A CATHOLIC SCHOOL. AND WE SHOULD HAVE NOTHING BUT GRATITUDE FOR WHAT THEY DO. >> Guest: AND THERE SHOULD BE NO CATHOLIC CHILD WHO IS NOT GIVEN THAT PRIVILEGE. REALLY, THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WOULD DO WHAT WE CAN TO HELP THEM. >> Fr. Pacwa: I THINK WHEN WE LOOK BACK, THE SISTERS WERE NOT TAKEN CARE OF AS WELL AS THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN BY THE PARISHES. I THINK THERE WAS SOME ELEMENTS OF NOT BEING TOTALLY JUST AS THE PROCESS OF AGING AND EVERYTHING ELSE AND NEED FOR MEDICAL CARE. AND PEOPLE DID NEED TO BE MORE GENEROUS. IN THOSE DAYS, THEY COULDN'T AFFORD MUCH TUITION. WE WERE BARELY ABLE TO PAY THE $2 A MONTH IN MY FAMILY. >> Guest: SAME HERE. >> Fr. Pacwa: BUT I THINK THAT TONY IS A GREAT EXAMPLE. AS A GRADUATE OF THAT, HE CAN BE GENEROUS TO THE SISTERS NOW BECAUSE HE HAD WORK THAT THAT EDUCATION MADE POSSIBLE. >> Guest: THAT'S BEAUTIFUL. >> Fr. Pacwa: I THINK, ALONG THE LINE OF TONY, A LOT OF FOLKS DON'T REALIZE THIS. THE BIG WAYS OF CATHOLICS CAME LATER IN OUR COUNTRY'S HISTORY. THE IRISH WERE FIRST BUT THE GERMANS CAME SECOND. AND THEN EASTERN AND SOUTHERN EUROPEANS FROM THE 1880S TO THE 1920S THAT IMMIGRATION WAS CUT OFF. BUT WHAT'S VERY IMPORTANT IS THAT, THOUGH WE WERE LATE COMERS, BY 1960, CATHOLICS BECAME THE SECOND BEST EDUCATED RELIGIOUS GROUP IN THE COUNTRY, IN THE SECOND WEALTHIEST AS A RESULT. THE BEST EDUCATED WERE THE JEWISH COMMUNITIES THAT CAME AT THE SAME TIME, FROM THE SAME AREAS. AND THEY BECAME THE WEALTHIEST, TOO, BECAUSE THEY WERE BETTER EDUCATED. BUT IT WAS THE GENEROSITY OF RELIGIOUS JEWS THAT MADE JEWISH EDUCATION POSSIBLE. AND THE SISTERS, BROTHERS, AND PRIESTS WHO MADE CATHOLIC EDUCATION. THAT'S AN AMAZING TRANSFORMATION IN A PERIOD OF 80, 90 YEARS. AND WE OUTSTRIPPED THE COLONIAL RELIGIONS THAT WERE HERE BEFORE US. >> Guest: FATHER, DO YOU MIND, I WANTED TO GO BACK TO THE FIRST QUESTION, JUST AS A LITTLE P.S. HE MENTIONED, THE ONE FROM KINGSPORT, TENNESSEE. HE MENTIONED SISTER MARY MICHAEL AND I WANTED TO MENTION THAT SHE'S OUR VICAR GENERAL. SHE WAS ELECTED AS THE SECOND IN COMMAND. IT WAS INTERESTING THAT HE MENTIONED HER NAME. >> Fr. Pacwa: PRETTY GOOD. ALL RIGHT. THOSE PEOPLE IN BIG PLACES! IN TERMS OF CATHOLIC EDUCATION, NO MATTER WHAT, IT WILL BE MORE EXPENSIVE TO HAVE A CATHOLIC EDUCATION TODAY THAN IT WAS IN THE 1950S. WE WON'T HAVE $2 A MONTH EDUCATION. THAT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. BUT IS IT POSSIBLE FOR THERE TO BE A REVITALIZATION OF CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WITH MORE SISTERS COMING ALONG. DO YOU SEE THAT AS A POSSIBILITY IN THE PARISHES? >> Guest: FATHER, I WAS TALKING TO MOTHER ABOUT THIS, WHATEVER SO MANY, IT'S A HARD DECISION. BECAUSE WE GET SO MANY ENVISIONS ALL OVER, IS IT BETTER TO DO THIS OR TO PUT MORE SISTERS IN AN INDIVIDUAL SCHOOL. SO, I THINK THAT WE'VE BEEN SPREADING OUT. I MEAN, IT WAS JUST A QUESTION TO ASK. DO THEY HAVE MORE IMPACT, IF THEY ARE TEACHING MORE STUDENTS IN THE SCHOOL. BUT STILL, YOU LOOK AT PARISHES THAT ARE BEGGING FOR SISTERS. SO, IT'S HARD. >> Fr. Pacwa: IF I CAN MAKE A SUGGESTION, I REMEMBER A LINE FROM THERESA OF AVILA, SHE SAID THAT RELIGIOUS ARE LIKE FERTILIZER. WHEN YOU SPREAD THEM OUT, THEY MAKE THINGS GROW. IF YOU PUT TOO MANY IN ONE PLACE, THEY BECOME A PILE THAT SMELLS BAD. [LAUGHTER] >> Guest: I LIKE HER! THAT'S GOOD. >> Fr. Pacwa: AGAIN, WE WANT TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO WATCH THE DOMINICAN SISTERS OF MARY MOTHER OF THE EUCHARIST, SATURDAYS AT 1:30 EASTERN TIME AND AGAIN ON WEDNESDAYS AT 5:00 AM EASTERN TIME. THIS IS A SERIES THAT YOU CAN CONTINUE TO LEARN FROM. THESE SISTERS, THIS PARTICULAR COMMUNITY AND I JUST WANTED TO MENTION THAT THERE ARE OTHER COMMUNITIES ALSO GROWING THAT DO QUITE WELL. THE CARMELITE SISTERS OF LA HAM BRA, AND OUR TEACHING AS WELL, CONTEMPLATIVES. NUMBER OF COMMUNITIES GROWING BUT AGAIN, AS YOU SAID, COMMUNAL LIFE, COMMUNAL PRAYER, HABIT, COMMON IDENTITY AND THE JOY OF LIVING THE CATHOLIC FAITH. THESE WOULD BE THE KEYS, WOULDN'T YOU SAY? >> YES, I WOULD. THANK YOU. >> Fr. Pacwa: THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US. AND I WANT TO GIVE YOU AND YOU AND THE AUDIENCE A BLESSING. MAY ALMIGHTY GOD BLESS YOU ALL, IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, SON, AND OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. AMEN. >> Guest: AMEN. >> Guest: AMEN. >> Fr. Pacwa: AND KEEP US IN BETWEEN YOUR CABLE BILL GAS BILL AND ELECTRIC BILL AND WE'LL PAY OUR BILLS. THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT. GOD BLESS. (THEME MUSIC)
