A Graced In-Person Visit Between Virtual Friends
by Elena Habersky and Agnes Mucuha
Most Contemplative Leaders in Action (CLA) cohorts meet in person each month. The virtual cohort, however, meets online, enabling participation from people residing outside of the cities where CLA is offered. While the meetings are virtual, the community that is built is very real. In May 2024, two members of the 2021-2023 virtual cohort, both living in Africa, decided to get together in person. Elena Habersky traveled from Egypt to visit Agnes Mucuha and her family at their home in Kenya. Both CLA alums share their reflections on this graced visit…
Elena’s Reflection
One of the joys of my life is that of adventure; it is where I see those little or big glimmer moments of God in all things. Whether it be in my ‘own’ backyards of Pennsylvania or Cairo, Egypt, or even further afield crossing an international border, I get a sense of deep awe when I explore new places, meet new people, attempt to speak in a different language, and try new, and oftentimes, flavorful foods. Yet, most of all, it is in those small, oftentimes mundane moments with newfound friends that stick with me as core memories and little winks from the universe. (It is also a privilege that I was born as a U.S. citizen and carry an American passport which allows me to travel to many places either visa free or after submitting a no-hassle online visa. Most of the world is not so fortunate, though, and I want to acknowledge that reality, here.)
Since I do have the gift of easy travel, it is important to me that the lessons, memories, and experiences I have from these experiences not only form the person I am, but also become seeped into the leader I am and want to continue to grow into: someone who is flexible, willing to try new routes and paths to get the job done, and someone who is always willing to plan for the adventure ahead, no matter where those twists and turns may lead.
Naturally, I brought these lessons to my Contemplative Leaders in Action (CLA) experience. In this two-year endeavor, I met beautiful souls from many different life journeys, thanks to the first-ever virtual cohort option, who came together monthly to share, pray, and grow together under the umbrella of Ignatian Spirituality.
One of my small group members, Agnes, hails from the East African country of Kenya. Living in Egypt and having never been to this beautiful and historically rich country, I knew I had to visit Agnes. I know from having lived on the African continent for many years that people here are generous with their time and hospitality. I was truly blown away, though, by the welcome Agnes and her family gave myself and my roommate for the two weeks we traversed the many corners of their fascinating country. Cliché as it may sound, her family treated me as a daughter, older sister, and dear family friend. I felt like I had known them forever.
CLA also had a part to share in this story. Agnes and I did know each other quite well from our monthly sessions thanks to the openness and honesty amongst the group members and our wonderful facilitator who created a safe environment for us all to share the most vulnerable parts of ourselves. It was a true blessing to then take this journey into a more tangible realm with Agnes and her loved ones. I just hope that one day I can return the favor.
Agnes’s Reflection
May was a beautiful month; I received an extraordinary birthday gift - Elena's visit to my beautiful homeland, Kenya! Having met Elena in the CLA program, we developed a deep companionship amongst all the cohort members, and this has been a second family of dear brothers and sisters journeying together with God, centered on divine purpose and a deep desire to know, love, and serve God in pursuit of our magis.
I grew up faithfully religious, attending Holy Mass, participating in the church prayer group activities, and keeping my faith. In 2019, I experienced my cannonball moment, which left me wounded, distressed, and vulnerable. It was a deep personal crisis of loss and agony - I didn't know where to turn to, and for solace as a Divine Mercy Apostle, I started reading the Diary of St. Maria Faustina Kowalska. It gave me a deep insight into St. Faustina's relationship and friendship with Jesus Christ - they would talk to each other like a friend to a friend. I also discovered that St. Faustina grew in deep fellowship with God through guidance from her spiritual director, who guided her in deepening her spiritual life and drawing closer to God through the direction of Jesus Christ. This awakened a deep desire to be like her and nurture my spiritual life as I realized that I was religiously faithful but spiritually empty! In the diary of St. Faustina, Jesus Christ had said to her that "a spiritual director is a gift from God, and the soul that receives this gift must hold sacred this gift and grow spiritually.”
The insight from St. Faustina led me to a personal quest for a spiritual life. I began my Google search on spiritual directors, which led me to Ignatian Spirituality. I continued learning and participating in the Ignatian Spirituality prayer life guided by the Pray-as-You-Go app and the rich Heart to Heart homily programs of Fr. Michael Sparough, SJ, which opened my heart to receive Jesus Christ like a friend. Having subscribed to rich content on Ignatian Spirituality, it happened that in 2020, the Jesuit Spiritual Center at Milford had posted a spiritual retreat, and they were inviting people to register. I joined this online retreat with curiosity and a thirst for Jesus Christ. I was thirsting to build a personal friendship with Him. Fr. Paul Macke, SJ, was moderating this session, and he welcomed us openly and led us through the spiritual retreat, which awakened in me a desire for more! It dawned on me that I needed spiritual exercises to heal, be renewed, and begin again. Eventually, Fr. Macke agreed to offer my friends and me in Kenya an online spiritual retreat in the fall of 2020. This placed me on a journey of discernment of my spiritual movements, from experiencing consolation, dryness, and desolation to mastering how to respond to each movement. I discovered deep inner peace and quietening of my heart - I was no longer afraid, and I accepted my cannonball moment as an invitation by God to begin again and to draw closer to Him through Jesus Christ.
CLA was running an online recruitment drive on Facebook, and it piqued my interest. I discussed it with Fr. Macke, and he encouraged me to pray about my desire to enroll in the program and to allow the Holy Spirit to guide my decision. Following his guidelines, I discerned a profound invitation to join CLA and deepen my knowledge of God through the spiritual retreat. Fr. Macke endorsed my CLA application, and by the grace and mercy of God, I was accepted into the program. As the first lay Kenyan to join the program, I felt that God had a special plan for me and that I was beginning a new journey; all I needed to do was to show up as I was and to work in collaboration with the Holy Spirit to fulfill the will of God.
CLA became my second family, and I connected and engaged with my cohort members, led by Kate and Elise, journeying together with David, Grace, Bridget, Bridget, Brian, Margaret, Brenda, and Elena, whose embrace and friendship brought her to Kenya, deepening our bonds of community and companionship as the apostles of Ignatian Spirituality. Elena was a blessing to my family, and we enjoyed her presence and adventurous spirit! She connected with my family and took my son Nathan for his first mountain hiking expedition! The bonds of friendship and connection have flattened the globe, as technology took us to each other's homes and conversations brought us together in safe spaces, where our vulnerability became our source of strength and a new beginning. Elena is my companion here in Africa, sitting in Egypt.
This land provided shelter to the infant baby Jesus and the family of Mary and Joseph, a wealthy land of the history of the children of Israel. Indeed, everything comes together unto the greater glory of God. I lift to God with sincere gratitude and humility my friendship with the CLA community and look forward to growing in companionship and service to God in pursuit of our Magis! All unto the greater glory of God!