Being Dominican

Sister Stories

Reflection on Community: Sr. Charlotte Brungardt, OP

Sr. Charlotte Brungardt, OP (right)

In my life I have been part of many communities. My first community was my family. It was there that I experienced love, acceptance, support, also challenge and forgiveness. I belonged to school communities, diverse people coming together to learn, to experience new things, to get along with one another, to form friendships some of which might last a lifetime. I belonged to Girl Scouts, a community which taught me a lot about service, how so much more can be accomplished by working together rather than just as an individual.

It was the gifts of these communities and others throughout my years that led me to consider joining a community of women religious.

Now my primary community is my religious congregation, the Dominican Sisters of Peace. We have thrown our lives in together and we have promised to be there for one another as we serve Christ by serving other people.

First of all we choose to support one another daily. It is not because of family ties. It is not a club of best friends. There is nothing that compares with the support a member knows through the power of her sisters’ prayers.

As sisters spanning generations, I can hear of the faithfulness to prayer and ministry when my own heart may be struggling. What a gift to have such holy women to be guide, mentor for me in my life’s journey. They have much experience and wisdom to share. As a younger member I can respect traditions but also bring new ideas on how to live out the values of those traditions.

Community life is also challenging. Every day calls on the power of love. It is in community that one’s rough edges are worn away. It has been said that the thing that bugs us about another person may just be the same weakness in me. Being part of a community can certainly point that out. It keeps one humble, keeps one growing. One asks for forgiveness, one extends forgiveness.

Our community life also involves the very real day to day life in small living groups. I live in a house in a regular neighborhood with other sisters. We share daily life, the nitty gritty of shopping, cooking, cleaning, yard work. But more importantly we seek and offer each other support in our ministry and in our personal growth. Our time together helps us as we talk about the successes and challenges of the day, sometimes just to laugh at life. By praying together we are reminded that God is in charge of the world, not us. What a relief!