What Spirituality Means To Me

By Katie Beckmann Mahon, Communications Manager

This week’s “Embracing Faith” article will focus on Embracing Faith through Mindfulness.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness.”

-Galatians 5:2

Spirituality is something that has very different meanings to each person.

While some of us may consider ourselves to be spiritual beings, others may not even think about it once during the day and even mock the idea of spirituality.

For Shirley Jeffcott, OP, of the Sisters of Saint Dominic of Blauvelt, NY, she views spirituality as “indeed the search, the pulse, and the center of my being.”

Sr. Shirley went on to add, “There’s someone beyond ourselves and that this greater whole of creation is cosmic and divine. A relationship with this spiritual force requires an opening of the heart and a commitment to developing a bond with our holy one.”

In the most recent episode of the Hearts Afire Podcast, Sr. Shirley further reflected on the meaning of spirituality and when she feels most close to God.

“My spirituality is the stabling force and the energizing reason for my life,” shared Sr. Shirley. “(I feel most close to God when) I can enter into the flow of God’s presence and allow my human nature and the holy spirit’s divine life within me to come together.”

As a former teacher, Sr. Shirley recalled teaching the “young ones” about how “spirituality is a part of who we are” and how she “embraced God’s love, helped them to love themselves, and feel good about themselves.”

Today, as Sr. Shirley focuses on her volunteer work at her long-time ministry at St. Pius V Parish, she hopes to “bring some smiles and assistance to the office environment.”

“I also try to let any trace of the Holy Spirits’ gift within myself to come to the forefront. I do my best to show wisdom, understanding, counsel, knowledge, fortitude, piety, and devotion to the Lord.”