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A Nun and a Runner
Sister Mary Elizabeth Lloyd is runner and a member of the order of the Religious Teachers Filippini. Sister Mary Beth was featured on ESPN Page 2 in the article Sister Mary Beth is no ordinary nun by Jack McCluskey (April 26, 2010).
Sister Mary Beth is part of the crew of Lisa Smith-Batchen, an ultra runner who is on a mission to raise money for the Orphan Foundation of America, AIDS Orphans Rising, and the Caring House Project. Smith-Batchen is the first person to attempt to run 50 miles in each of the 50 states. And Sister Mary Beth is right there with her. “Sister Mary Beth, 61, will walk as far as she’s able — her goal is 20 miles a day — and provide support and encouragement as part of Smith-Batchen’s crew when she can’t help keep the pace.”
Click to see a video of Lisa and Sister Mary Beth on CNN
The image of “habit” is woven in throughout the article. Though perhaps unintended, it offers an interesting commentary on what a habit is and the power of every day lived habits, like Sister Mary Beth’s habit of generosity.
Let us know what you think of the article — and also what your habits are or ones you hope to develop within yourself for the sake of others.
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What an inspirational story – well done to all involved, not least Sr Mary Beth and Lisa – it was obviously no ‘accident’ these two got together all those years ago! I will follow the story with interest..God bless them for their efforts.
At this moment in time I want to get into the habit of not reacting to negativities thrown my way by the ‘enemy’ It’s all too easy to ‘lose it’ and scream and shout when things displease us but the only person that ends up smiling at the end of it is ‘him downstairs’ and I refuse to let him do it any more. It is harder to smile and walk away from negativity but, with God’s help and through our Lord Jesus Christ, I will do just that. And no doubt everyone around me will be better off for it, too! Thanks for a magic post….blessings x
Beautiful story! One more win for nuns and Sisters!
Thanks for sharing the story, S. Julie!
We have Filippini Sisters teaching at the local parochial school in New Mexico. They are a hard working and fun bunch of women–and I love their New Jersey accents!
And I almost forgot! During the last week of May in New Mexico, many people participate in the annual 100 mile walk for vocations from five different parts of the state, converging at the end of the week on the Santuario de Chimayo for an outdoor Mass with the Archbishop. Some of our sisters have walked the 100 miles, others have driven the support trucks, and still others have sat on the roadside with water for the pilgims.
Well, this year, I am organizing our older sisters to participate in the pilgrimage for vocations by walking laps inside our 50 bedroom convent. At the closing Mass, which several of us will attend, we will make an offering of these laps. The older sisters are excited! I can’t wait to see how many laps we will complete.
What a great idea, Another Sister Julie!
Well, at our house meeting tonight, we decided that a full lap would be too hard for some of our sisters (One will be 100 yrs old on May 8!) so we may switch to steps. I can loan someone my pedometer, or they can count their own steps. I told them it didn’t matter what they did on the pilgrimage (pray, sing, contemplate), as long as they intentionally walked for vocations.
I’ll let you know how it goes.
We agreed to count steps. It takes 400 average steps to walk the four corridors of our building, and another 50 each way if they make a figure eight using the main corridor.
One sister said, “No wonder I’m so tired. I did four laps!
a habit like daily bread. like breathing. how lovely.