Pilgrims of Hope and Seeds of Hope

by Colleen McGinnity, BVM and Associate Suzie Coulthard

Throughout the long story of the Church, women and men religious have travelled far and wide bringing the good news of God’s love and presence into people’s lives, spreading seeds of hope. Our Community, the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, has been one of them, travelling from Ireland to America and even to Ecuador and Ghana, Pilgrims of Hope.

Most seeds are small, but the power that lives in them has covered the earth. Like seeds, hope often starts small, but when it blossoms, it changes lives. Hope comes in many forms. For some the seed of hope comes in the form of education; for others the seed might be freedom; for still others, perhaps the seed comes in the form of justice.  Words of healing and forgiveness can plant the seeds of hope for one person.  For another, the seed might be a smile of encouragement or a hug of support. Hope can even come in the form of dreams and aspirations. None of the seeds will grow, however, without water. What “waters” all these seeds is the love of the Sower and the sower. We women and men, Religious and Associates, are sowers of seeds of hope. In Pope Francis’ words, we are Pilgrims of Hope.

Love is the motivation that carries all women and men religious and associates into the world to plant and nurture seeds of hope. We are led by the Spirit to where our gifts are most needed. We are called to feed the hungry, shelter the homeless, give drink to the thirsty. We are called to teach, to heal, to forgive, to inspire.  We are invited and challenged to be the Body of Christ, God’s presence in the world.

We are not the only ones called by God, however. All Christians, followers of Jesus, are called to be Pilgrims of Hope and sowers of seeds of hope. We are all given the command by Jesus to love one and care for one another. Wherever we live, whatever we do, no matter our age or vocation in life, we are all called to be God’s presence in the world. We are called to be the Body of Christ in the world.

How do we do that? Through the gifts God has given each of us for this work. As St. Paul says, there are many gifts and all the gifts are needed to build up the Body of Christ. We are all sent by the Sower to be God’s loving presence in the world. It is through our gifts that we carry the seeds of hope—and all the gifts are necessary! The Body of Christ needs all of us—mothers, fathers, teachers, forgivers, encouragers, dreamers . . . Today, in a world torn by division and struggle, we are all called to bear seeds of hope to our hurting world; to be Pilgrims of Hope, and to use our gifts wherever God has planted us. We are all in this together, men and women religious, associates, parents, children, nurses and doctors, farmers who plant the fields and immigrants who help harvest . . . God’s love will be known through us and our love grows as we tend to one another. We are all called to be Pilgrims of Hope.

*As featured in the March 2025 issue of The Serra Club of Dubuque Newsletter.