Sister Patricia Flass talks about the slow process of social justice change in parts of rural Alabama and the questions of faith that can arise. Hear the full In Good Faith episode IGF049 at aNunsLife.org.
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Sister Patricia Flass has ministered for over 20 years in small towns around Selma, Alabama, in some of the most impoverished areas of the U.S. She talks with Sister Maxine about her ministry in Alabama, her perspectives on poverty, and her hopes for the future. She is a member of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Rochester, New York.
Sister Maxine
This podcast is brought to you by one of our sponsors, the Sisters of St. Francis of the Holy Cross, Green Bay, Wisconsin. I'm Sister Maxine, and my guest is Sister Patricia Flass. Sister Pat is a familiar face in small towns around Selma, Alabama, where she has lived and worked for over 20 years in some of the most impoverished areas of our nation. She currently leads the new Rural Program, where she introduces other Catholic Sisters and associates to Selma area residents and opportunities for service. Sister Pat, given the work that many people have done and the considerations, and given a commitment of many years of your own life to try to help with this issue of poverty, from a faith perspective, it could maybe lead a person to wonder where's God in all of this?
Sister Pat
Sometimes it is.
Sister Maxine
How do you, at those times where you may feel discouraged--what helps you keep going?
Sister Pat
Well, one thing is, is the goodness and the faith of the people that we serve. Their gratitude. The people there are just so wonderful, and kind and thoughtful of each other, willing to go out and help each other because it's the only support they have. So I guess that's what really keeps you going day by day. And you do see small changes. In the past few years, there have been a few more jobs, a few more companies offering opportunities. The community college here in Selma is offering programs to train people in the trades like welding and carpentry so they can help get better jobs. So there are small things that you can see that are improving the community. Certainly no big changes. Healthcare is better than it was--access to good healthcare. We have a free eye clinic, for example, that comes once a month, it's part of the ehealthlink program where I volunteer, so people can get glasses. That helps a lot of people.
Sister Maxine
Has the faith of the people affected your own faith and your own ways that you look at God or pray?
Sister Pat
Yes, definitely. Definitely has. You know, when you think about people that have nothing, or very little, and they are so grateful. And they are so grateful for what they have and what they are given, that sometimes I have to look at myself and say, you know, where's my gratitude for what I have? Because I have so much more.
Sister Maxine
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