Sister Blessings

I really had no idea what the Sisters of Pepetual Indulgence Bar Ministry would have in store. I love the Sisters–love how they bring joy and spirituality with a heavy dose of loving sacriglege into their work and activism. This particular Bar Ministry was the brain child of Sister Constance Cravings, and there were four sisters in habit, and about 15 of us followers who all were wearing white t-shirts that as we traveled through the night were asking people to write hate words that they have withstood, words they want to see cast out, gone, so they can never hurt again.

I have some pictures which I will post a little later. But it was really a powerful experience. To take on the pain and hurt from each person, and carry that through the evening, knowing, reassuring them, that at midnight we would have a ritual to cast them off. Our shirts grew heavy with the burden, and we were up to the task. We had to be. Several people asked before they wrote: are you sure you can take this? And my answer was yes, I could, and I was very conscious about what I was taking. This was from people at the conference in the lobby, people in the bars, and people on the streets. Since it was St. Patrick’s Day night, the streets were hopping. The earliest words written on my shirt were FREAK OF NATURE, FAT DYKE, YOU’RE NOT GOOD ENOUGH. As we were walking to our first bar, two (presumably) straight women jumped at the chance to write their words: WHORE and UGLY BITCH. Cast off! And the burden was lifted.

I am a little sleepy and getting ready for breakfast with a friend from California, but I really can’t thank the Sisters enough, thank all my fellow missionaries for the night. We were greeted with such appreciation, from strangers, all of whom really appreciated the opportunity to be rid of hate in their lives in this ritualized way. I highly recommend replicating it in all our communities, at Pride events and other gatherings. It was so freeing and affirming. One of our group relayed during our burning casting-off ritual that someone had said to him “I was going to commit suicide tonight. But this has made me change my plans.”

This was life-giving, life-changing work. Pics later. Blessed be.