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More Associate Highlights |
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Interview with K. C. McBride, IHM Associate K.C.: Yes. Most Holy Trinity. I: Most Holy Trinity. That's right. So K.C. what has inspired or attracted you to become an associate after being a vowed member of the community? K.C.: Probably just the connection - keeping the connection with the community. Even though I've only taught at IHM places: Holy Redeemer, Holy Trinity, St. Vincent's, now back at Holy Trinity, but wanting to keep that connection strong and vital. I: Some people, K.C., would say that connections have always been there for you in terms of your teaching, your work. K.C.: I didn't become an associate until five or six years ago because up to that point. Sister Irene and Sister Mary King were at Holy Trinity. Then, there were no longer any IHM Sisters employed at the school. And I'd always kept up with communications and information about IHM through them. That was gone and I missed it, so I wanted to re-establish it in another way. I: You really initiated this connection on your own. And you're experiencing some loss in terms of IHMs not being able to be in those places. K.C.: Yes. I would say that's true. Although I will also say that Sr. Pat Guthrie,who was working at the school office at that time, did say to me, "How come you're not an associate?" So that kind of pushed the issue for me. So sometimes asking someone makes them do something that they are only and thinking but not actually acting on. I: That says a lot to us about the power of invitation. K.C., I think it's pretty clear to us the many gifts you bring to the community at this time. Part of what I wonder about is what are your hopes and dreams for the community? K.C: I think, number one - charism of the community I want it to exist in whatever form that may be. And I think it's pretty clear that, given the state of the Church and the way things are at this time in society, it's not possible to continue in the form that it is now, at least not entirely. The charism that lives -- certainly the legacy of the sisters -- that has been where I've taught. I grew up in Francis de Sales, had IHM Sisters my whole life, but that lifestyle is no longer in the present. That's not going to attract people to the community. I guess my biggest thing is that I would like the charism to survive. I: So, working with the poor and the oppressed is really something of the charism that you have taken seriously. K.C.: Oh absolutely, because unless you are the church of the poor, you are not the church of Jesus Christ. IHMs certainly taught that to me. Not that I grew up in a poor neighborhood, but that's where the real work needs to be accomplished. Other people have other means of receiving it. But I don't think that's true with the people that are limited. So in order to have that charism, there has to be an opening to different forms of expressing that charism. I: So that is really an inspiration to all of us in terms of the witness that you give, to the charism. K.C., are there other things that you would hope for in the future? K.C.: Well, I think it has be have a serious look at what needs people have, and ways of expressing charism. We've touched a lot of lives and we need to touch a lot more. And since this form isn't going to be able to do that, I think we have to look at the needs of people and whether they might like a different spirituality expressed other than parish life. That might take the form of alternate ways of vowed members in the community. Really reaching out to people to say that there is room for people with diverse lifestyles and to still be connected with the fundamental grace of the IHM community. I: So, KC, it sounds like you see a lot for the IHMs in the future in terms of what can be. K.C.: Absolutely. But we need a clear idea of how to do this and not just rely on past history, as rich and important as that is. I am a history major, I love history and the history of the IHM and Trinity and all that, but history has to live. I: We're looking forward to the future. Thank you, KC. K.C.: Thank you.
Would you like to read more about associates? For more information about IHM Associate membership, contact:
Monica Stuhlreyer, IHM, Associate Coordinator Phone 734-240-9821 |
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I: Our next person is K.C. McBride who is known to a lot of IHMs. She is the principal at Trinity right now and used to be at St. Vincent's. Is that right K.C.?
