{"id":5165,"date":"2021-02-08T09:27:04","date_gmt":"2021-02-08T08:27:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fdlsagesse.org\/des-tenebres-a-la-lumiere-vivre-a-travers-la-pandemie\/"},"modified":"2021-02-16T14:06:23","modified_gmt":"2021-02-16T13:06:23","slug":"des-tenebres-a-la-lumiere-vivre-a-travers-la-pandemie","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fdlsagesse.org\/en\/des-tenebres-a-la-lumiere-vivre-a-travers-la-pandemie\/","title":{"rendered":"From Darkness to Light: Living Through the Pandemic"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cDark clouds over a closed world\u201d<\/em>
\n(Title of Chapter One of Fratelli Tutti<\/em>)<\/p>\n

Sr. Evelyn Eckhardt DW\u00a0 United States<\/p>\n

The current pandemic has plunged us ever more deeply into the darkness described in these powerful words of Pope Francis.\u00a0 Inherent in the universal human suffering caused by the pandemic lies a fundamental choice.\u00a0 Do we live as isolated individuals or do we act as brothers and sisters to all \u201cwhere there is only one WE?\u201d<\/p>\n

As we moved through the year 2020 here in the United States, we saw countless images of people reaching out to care for one another and finding creative ways of staying connected at a safe distance.\u00a0 We acknowledged the service of front-line workers in health care and food services and thanked them profusely.\u00a0 We shopped for elderly neighbors and donated to food banks assisting those whose jobs had been lost.\u00a0 We utilized ZOOM to be in touch with family and friends and stood outside windows waving to the housebound and those in skilled care facilities.<\/p>\n

\"Congr\u00e9gation<\/p>\n

At the same time here in the United States, the pandemic has brought to light the depth of the racial and economic disparities endured by our people of color.\u00a0 It has also faced us with multiple examples of how our past Administration in Washington, DC, withdrew from collaboration with the broader world community.<\/p>\n

Now, with the new Administration having taken office on January 20th<\/sup>, 2021, we once again have the opportunity as a nation to assess our position in the global community. Hopefully, the words of President Biden will become a reality: \u201cWe\u2019ll lead not merely by the example of our power [but] by the power of our example.\u201d<\/p>\n

We look forward to renewed collaboration beyond our borders on the critical issues of our times so affecting the entire human race.<\/p>\n

As Daughters of Wisdom here in the United States, we, with other members of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious, are committed to doing our part in confronting the systemic racism so rampant in our society.\u00a0 We are becoming more conscious of the advantages of our \u201cwhite privilege\u201d and of the ways we have been complicit in the on-going racial discrimination in our country.\u00a0 In addition, we will continue where possible to offer financial assistance to those in particular need in our ministries.\u00a0 As we become eligible, we will receive the Covid vaccination for the sake of the common good and will support those working to assure the availability of the vaccination world-wide.<\/p>\n\n\t\t