Reflection on VMary Mauldin

By Carol Hamill

Vigil Service – August 29, 2011

When Fr. John asked last Thursday if I would like to comment on Mary’s life, I felt honored and privileged and, of course, responded, “Yes”.

As I prayed with the readings for this liturgy and my memories of Mary, several images and adjectives came to my mind.  Like our Blessed Mother, Mary Mauldin’s life was a “YES” to everything that God called her to live, endure, and celebrate.

As I reflected on Paul’s Letter to the Corinthians (1Cor 12: 4-11) emphasizing the One Spirit and the gifts given through the Holy Spirit, I could only think of Mary’s role as teacher, counselor, and faithful servant.  She was a teacher and facilitator par excellence!  Mary was a collaborative leader who never wanted the spotlight for herself but concentrated on the gifts of her faith community and called on people to develop and share them with one another. Her OCIA team reflected that reality.  She called God’s people, cleric and laity alike, to be involved as disciples in sharing the faith of the early church and the teachings of the Church as they stand today.

As I prayed with John’s Gospel (Jn 13: 1-17), the reality of Mary’s humility, wisdom, insight, and open-mindedness surfaced in my mind and heart.  Mary not only allowed Jesus to wash her feet but was eager to do the same for others who came to know her through her ministry here.  She looked to her God for cleansing on a regular basis through the Living Word of God.  She lived with a hunger and thirst for the Holy Spirit to guide her in her life as she faced the challenges of balancing home life, prayer life, and her life of professional church ministry. We spoke often about how our church ministries challenged us to be the best disciple we could be in our role as parent and spouse, in our prayer and church life, and as citizens in the local and global community.  We talked frequently of our call to be connected to the larger realm of brothers and sisters around the world and in any way we can to address the issues of poverty, oppression, and injustices.

I love the response of Jesus to Peter when Peter requests to have his hands and head washed, in addition to his feet.  Jesus says, “Whoever has bathed has no need except to have his feet washed, for he is clean all over; so you are clean, but not all.”  We often use the phrase “cleansed in Baptism”, but a wonderful Catholic priest named Aiden Kavanagh emphasized that we should use the word “bathed in Christ” for our Baptismal sacrament.  Cleansing can be interpreted as quick and easy, but bathing takes time; Christ takes time with us in this most important step in the Christian life.  Mary allowed herself to be bathed in Christ; she took time in prayer, in preparing sessions for adults and inquirers alike; she took time to let Jesus wash her soul as she contemplated what her diagnosis of leukemia was doing to her, her family, and her parish.  She continued to look toward tomorrow with faith in today.

I first met Mary in mid-1985 when she was hired by Fr. Jim Kelly to work as the Coordinator of Elementary Religious Education.  She had just come from parish work in Albany, GA where she served as the Director of Religious Education in her hometown church.   At that time, I was primarily involved with Adult Faith Formation and RCIA here at St. Philip Benizi, as the Director of Religious Education.  With Martha Tolcher as our Youth Minister and Linda Mace as our Administrative Assistant, we worked together as a team and had many wonderful, faith-filled, and humorous times as a staff.  Mary loved her church in the fullest sense of the word.  She loved the sacramental nature of the church, the rootedness of the Scriptures in its teaching and liturgy, and she loved the community and the wealth of lay ministry within it.

In the Vatican II document, LUMEN GENTIUM, the chapter on The Call to Holiness, states “The forms and tasks of life are many but holiness is one – that sanctity which is cultivated by all who act under God’s Spirit…Each one, however, according to his own gifts and duties must steadfastly advance along the way of a living faith, which arouses hope and works through love.”  Mary knew how to do that well!  Mary not only loved the church of her past, but loved the growing and changing church as well.  When problems arose, she would center on the Scriptures and the Eucharist as the foundation upon which the church was built and the community of the faithful who stood with her.  She believed in broadening the role of the laity from A to Z.  She saw many changes in the church in her 57 years of life and loved it through its difficult times and found comfort in the faithful community that supported and loved her.

The first word that comes to my mind when I think of Mary is graciousness.  She had the unique talent of being able to go beyond just acknowledging and greeting a person; she invited them into her presence.  She truly welcomed people into her ministry and her life.  She made people feel valued.  Mary had an incredible smile that lit up her face – and everyone responded to that genuine expression of welcoming.

More than being a woman with a very fine intellect, she was a woman of compassion.  When I left St. Philip Benizi in 1988 to work for the Diocesan Office, Mary invited me to do Adult Faith Formation sessions and to be a part of the RCIA Team here at this parish.  I was touched deeply by her invitation to me to continue to be present to her and to the parish in this way.

Devoted to her husband, Jim, her parents and her siblings, I watched the joyfulness in her spirit as she welcomed her son, Alex, into her heart and life.

When I think of a symbol or image to describe Mary, I can only think of LIGHT!  She was positive, even when things were tough.  Even when she had low points as she struggled with leukemia, she didn’t dwell on that; rather she kept her eyes on hope, on God, and on tomorrow. 

Mary loved Sacred Scripture and she lived the values of Christ.  Her honest gentleness touched so many people in her ministry here.  She was and will always be the beautiful symbol of Christian Initiation Ministry, the OCIA, at this church.  Mary never emphasized entering the church as “joining” the church; joining the church sounded like signing a paper and paying your dues.  Mary emphasized entering the church as being initiated into a way of discipleship that would be lived out in the Catholic tradition.  She reflected the true nature of what the Order of Christian Initiation was all about.  Many church leaders throughout the archdiocese were also touched by her in the same way as she worked with many groups in this very important ministry.

She was a strong source of LIGHT AND STRENGTH for me the night my 25 year-old son Eddie died.  She knew our family and knew Ed well.  I called the parish to get a priest but got a voice-recording.  Since I was so distraught, I didn’t wait to leave a message; I called Mary.  And Mary did what she always has done best – she responded immediately and totally and before I knew it, both she and Fr. John were at my home.  As Fr. John anointed my son and we prayed the Litany of the Saints, Mary held tightly onto both my shoulders.  I could feel her chin on my back.  I could physically feel her strength, her pain, and her faith in what was happening.  I felt stronger through her strength and compassion…and I sensed LIGHT in the darkness.  She helped me through the darkest night of my life to face the tomorrows.

I also remember the Easter Vigil of two years ago which was her first appearance at this most sacred liturgy after taking a medical leave in order to cope with the treatment for the leukemia that assailed her body.  Fr. Gregory was thanking all those individuals who had helped make the liturgy a wonderful experience…and then he thanked God that Mary was able to come back to us and be here.  There was a thunderous applause and I turned to her and said, “Mary, you are a light to this parish!”  Never one to receive a complement without returning one, Mary looked at me and said, “…and you are light to me!”

Mary dear, no one can ever fill your shoes here and all that you did for so many!  What we trust is that your spirit and the Spirit of Jesus will guide us as we look for direction and renewed purpose in the days ahead.  We trust on your special presence and your continued prayers for us!

In closing, I would like to adapt the Blessing of the Senses that Mary so loved in the Rite of Acceptance and Welcome that are a part of the Order of Christian Initiation.  Because this ministry emphasizes the call to discipleship, the sponsors make the sign of the Cross on the candidates/catechumens head, eyes, mouth, shoulders, heart, hands and feet to emphasize what it means to be a disciple of Christ.  I would ask that all those assembled at her vigil raise their hands in blessing. 

And so we pray…Mary…

Blessed were your thoughts that occupied your mind; you were continually centered on Christ.

Blessed were your eyes, for you saw Jesus and good in everyone.

Blessed was your mouth; you invited and encouraged everyone you met to get involved and to feel valued.

You spoke and people listened.

Blessed were your shoulders, for you did carry the yoke of Christ on every level in your life.

Blessed was your heart, for you knew no boundaries to your love of God and God’s people.

Blessed were your hands, for you reached out to everyone; you did not have it in you to exclude anyone

from your life.  You saw the interrelatedness of all people to one another.

Blessed were your feet, for you truly walked the road of discipleship, bringing Christ to everyone through your

natural ability to smile, welcome, and extend friendship to others.

Mary, filled with grace, the Lord is truly with you and you with Him!  And blessed are those who have had the privilege and blessing of meeting you, crossing your path, and getting to know you as we have.  Mary, blessed are you among women!  You are with the Risen Lord!  Alleluia!

Alleluia, Alleluia, give praise to the Risen Lord!  Alleluia, Alleluia, give praise to God’s Name!

VMary McCoy Mauldin

Born: October 4, 1954

Born to Eternal Life: August 24, 2011