By Kathleen Quiazon, Director of Mission and Ministry

Julie Billiart knew well what it was like to live in uneasy times. Indeed, the tumult of the French Revolution and her own poor health could easily have been cause for anxiety. And yet, Julie gave care and attention to her own spiritual wellness in order to draw strength from the good God. And it was this very spiritual practice that empowered her to respond to the signs of the times with confidence, courage and leadership.

Though we live in a very different time, the invitation to care for our own spiritual wellness is just as important for us as it was for Julie. Her life offers us valuable guidance in two ways.

Be a Contemplative Prophet - Julie recognized how her own personal prayer enabled her to connect with the Divine in stillness. Creating moments of quiet contemplation for ourselves prioritizes our hearts. When we can meditate, reflect or pray, we can pay attention to the ways that God speaks to us in our experiences. From this deep listening, we can then more adeptly stand up and speak for the goodness, justice and peace that is needed in our world. Our giving, service and advocacy are ways that we can be prophets of the kindness, compassion and care we want our neighbors near and far to experience.

Seek Community Creatively - Julie’s life included moments where she was not able to gather with family and friends normally; instead she took the initiative and identified creative ways to cultivate a community beside her. She made invitations, wrote letters daily, and prepared gifts for those she cared about, all of which were reciprocated. And she made sure to pray and give thanks to God whenever she was together with them. We, too, can bring our creativity to the ways we create community now -- whether that is through online worship, chain letters (email or snail mail), meal time prayers, or cell phone nature walks with our friends.

At Notre Dame San Jose, we are engaging Julie’s guidance in our approach to spiritual wellness. Here’s a sampling:

• Campus ministers are offering weekly Ministry Moments as well as prayers via our Google classroom and community-wide social media platforms.
• Virtual gatherings for prayer and reflection are taking place for students in religious studies classes and mentoring groups, and for faculty/staff groups.
• Campus ministry student leaders are preparing ways to harness our creative power for good with a virtual social teach-in (Saturday, April 4) and communal prayer for Holy Week (April 6-9).
• This week we begin an online space for Praying Our Intentions. You may submit a prayer request and it will be added each week.
• This list of resources may serve as a support to your own personal or family spiritual wellness. Campus ministry welcomes additions to this resource.

Our care and attention to our spiritual wellness is strengthened by our mutual practice. Together we can become contemplative prophets and a creative community. And as Julie was so apt to say, “God is indeed very good!”