Opportunities for Visitation

In your relations with one another, clothe yourselves with humility, because God “is stern with the arrogant but to the humble he shows kindness.”  Bow humbly under God’s mighty hand, so that in due time he may lift you high.  Cast all your cares on him because he cares for you.

1 Peter 5:5b-7

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Eternal Father,

You inspired the Virgin Mary, mother of your Son,
to visit Elizabeth and assist her in her need.
Keep us open to the working of your Spirit,
and with Mary may we praise you for ever.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
Who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.

From the Liturgy of the Hours

 

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View of Ain Karem from the Church of the Visitation

 

Today we celebrate the feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  The familiar story found in Luke’s Gospel Chapter 1 Verses 39-56 tells how Blessed Mother Mary set out in haste and traveled to the hill country to visit the expectant Elizabeth, and the words of praise to God which ensued as they greeted each other.  It is easy to place ourselves into this scene as two women reach out in faith, hope and love.  The Lord gives us opportunities to do the same every day of our lives.  What is most important is that we see God in each person we greet, share Christ’s love and peace, and be open to the promptings of the Holy Spirit to “travel” - sometimes beyond our comfort zone - in order to be a faith-filled presence to another.

 

On my first trip to the village of Ain Karem, I had the privilege to “visit” the Saint Vincent Home for Children with Special Needs.  It was founded in 1964, as a non-profit institution by the Daughters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul, and works in coordination with the Israeli Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare.  The staff members are Jewish, Arab, Muslim and Christian lay people working and living together with four religious sisters. They are physicians, nurses, physiotherapists, social workers, caregivers, a dietician and a speech therapist. In addition, there is the office, kitchen, laundry and garden staff. Also, volunteers from around the world generously help and support their amazing work. 

 

Saint Vincent Ain Karem cares for 60 Jewish and Arab children. They range from one year old to their early twenties, and they come from all parts of Israel. They are children with special needs: this means that their motor skills (sitting, walking, eating, control of movements…) as well as their cognitive skills (talking, recognizing people and objects, understanding situations…) have been delayed or is very slow. For most of the children, the disabilities are the consequence of brain damage (before or after birth), others present with genetic problems, and there are some for whom the cause is unknown.

 

The children are lovingly cared for. Each child’s disability is taken into account. The caregivers feel that they receive from the children even more than they give. This is not easy to understand, it really has to be experienced, and once it is, this feeling remains with you for the rest of your life. Seeing that a child is free of pain or discomfort and that he/she can develop to his/her full potential is an immense reward.

 

It is a blessing to experience how the sisters and staff care for these special children of God in a joy-filled, peaceful setting.  At the end of our visit we gathered in the sisters’ chapel to pray with them and give thanks to God for the great things still being done in this village in the hill country.  I will always believe that I received so much more than I was able to give through this humbling visit.

 

For more information on Saint Vincent Ain Karem, please visit:

http://svaka.org/

 

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Mosaic detail of olive branch, floor of the Church of the Visitation, Ain Karem

 

For more reflections on the Visitation, please visit:

http://theapostoliclady.blogspot.com/2012_05_01_archive.html

 

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