70 Years: Sister Bernadine Pachta –

Sister Bernadine Pachta –
As a Sister of St. Joseph for 70 years, my being continues to be filled with gratitude for God’s Abiding Presence in my life. I have been blessed by the support of my community and family of origin, and have been privileged to minister with many diverse people and age groups–from young children to college-age and university students and faculty and, most recently, archival ministry for our religious Congregation. And what unifies all these ministries for me is love. 
 Yes, God has and is always calling us to unifying love. In each ministry, I have been graced in finding God’s presence and love, and I am immensely grateful.
I especially cherish the long-lasting friendships that I still experience from my many years at Marymount College. Also, I appreciate the many diverse, multicultural, and cosmopolitan experiences when I ministered at Harvard and in the Boston area. Moreover, as former Archivist of our Congregation, I carry a profound reverence and gratitude for the life’s work of each Sister in the Congregation.
Furthermore, in each ministry, I’ve been captivated by the beauty of God’s Presence within and on planet Earth. Really, the whole cosmos leaves me in awe; from the stars to squirrels, sunflowers, and stones—yes, everything and everywhere—speaks to me of the Spirit of God. All is sacred, and we are an interconnected community with an ongoing presence of God in the whole universe. To me, our ministry or mission of a lifetime is to preserve what we have been given by God. What can I say except All is Gift and Grace!