A few years ago, as we were celebrating our annual Religious Jubilarians' Mass, the Communion Meditation hymn caught my attention: "Hail Mary: Gentle Woman." Seated in the sanctuary was Sister Mary Faith Clarke, SNJM, our Vicar for Women Religious, and a beam of light was surrounding her.

As the words unfolded, I could not help but notice how those words scribed in honor of Mary, the Mother of the Redeemer and of the Church, also fit so well Sister Faith: "Gentle woman, quiet light, morning star, so strong and so bright, gentle Mother, peaceful dove, teach us wisdom; teach us love."

For me, those wondrous expressions captured so well the life and ministry of Sister Faith Clarke in her dedicated service to Christ and to the Church.

Over the years she placed her life at the service of God's plan of salvation for the whole world, and like Mary, she never said "no" to any request. Her various gifts and talents were early recognized by her Community, and she held various leadership roles with the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary --- locally, and as Provincial Superior.

It was my privilege to work closely with Sister Faith during the ten remarkable years she served as our Vicar for Women Religious in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles (1994-2004). She had the remarkable gift to be present to so many Women Religious from so many backgrounds: Sisters with a long and wondrous history over many centuries, as well as Sisters from newer Communities from countries in Latin America, Africa, and Asia Pacific. She recognized the presence of the Holy Spirit in the Church's life, and she realized that new Communities were not a threat to Religious life, but rather, a new impulse of grace and energy for the Church.

She helped to pioneer special inculturation programs for Sisters from other countries, and how they should see their ministry in light of the multi-diverse Church here in Southern California. She was extraordinary in her openness to the Spirit at work in the Church, and never doubted or questioned new initiatives among Women Religious.

I cherished her work as our Vicar for Women Religious, and was so blessed to serve with her in this Local Church during years of great growth, especially among immigrant Catholics.

She was the consummate "gentle woman, quiet light" who never seemed to be disturbed by emerging evangelization models and initiatives. I never saw her upset or disturbed by any event or challenge over the years. She, like Mary, was a woman who was "so strong and bright" in the midst of any struggle.

As the beautiful hymn prays, so I pray that through the intercession of Sister M. Faith Clarke, she will "teach us wisdom, teach us love" for years and generations to come.

May she now rest in the Kingdom of God, and may her selfless and most generous commitment to Christ and the Church give her that eternal life, light and wisdom!