Fr. Dale Fushek’s Reflection

There is no doubt the greatest gift in my life was Mother Teresa.

To meet Mother would have been enough, but to be with her 10 different times and develop a friendship with her is still “mind-blowing”.  I thank God often, for the privilege of knowing a living saint.

Those of you who have known me for many years might be tired of hearing me speak of her.  I hope not.  I believe there is so much more we can learn from her about how to love, how to serve, and how to make Christ more present in our world.

In October, I will be leading a class entitled, “The School of Mother Teresa”.  I have asked two friends who love Mother as much as I do to be part of the classes.  Mary Jo West and Patti Keough will be guest speakers.  Mother impacted their lives in very deep ways.

I want to lead this class because I do not think most of us really know the teachings and the prayer life Mother Teresa shared with the world.  She embodied love and when you were with her you could see it, smell it, and even taste it.  I want us to grow from her wisdom.

I have spent my life seeking how to love.  I have finally figured out that I cannot really love.  When it is all done and said, I can kid, I can be nice, and I can be affirming.  But, when it comes to love, that needs to come from God.  My job, our job, is to die to ourselves and let God love through us.  Mother did that every day…in situations that we cannot even imagine.  She let God shine through her.

Mother had many beautiful teachings about love.  Here are a few of them:

1. “I am a pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world.”
2. “Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love”
3. “If you judge people, you have no time to love them.”

“Do something beautiful for God is Mother Teresa’s enduring invitation and challenge to the world.  This is not an abstract invitation but a deeply personal and intimate one.  There is so much happening in the world and so much happening within our own hearts, minds, and souls.  All this makes it easy to lose sight of what matters most and get absorbed in what matters least.” (Malcom Muggeridge)

I hope you will join us for these three classes. We have purchased a beautiful statue of Mother that has been placed at the entrance of our church.  As you know, Mother Teresa belongs to all people:  Catholics, Protestants, Jews, Muslims, Hindus, and people who have no faith.  In fact, Billy Graham once said, “When she walked into the room to greet me, I felt that I was indeed meeting a saint.”

President Ronald Reagan said, “Mother Teresa personified a boldness of spirit and purity of soul revered by the entire world…She served as a model of holiness, virtue, and humility.”